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MASSACHUSETTS

AGRICULTURAL

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SENATE

.No. 4.

riETH ANNUAL REPORT

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COKTAININO AN ABSTRACT OP THB

FINANCES OF THE COUNTY SOCIETIES.

BOSTON:

WILLIAM WHITE, PRINTER TO IB.^ STATE,

1858.

Al 3 3'

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STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

18 5 8.

MEMBERS EX OFFICIIS.

His Excellency NATHANIEL P. BANKS.

His Honor ELIPHALET TRASK.

Hon. OLIVER WARNER, Secretary of Slate.

APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL.

JAMES S. GRENNELL, of Greenfield.
EPHRAIM W. BULL, of Concord.
MARSHALL P. WILDER, of Dorchester.

MEMBERS CHOSEN BY THE SOCIETIES.

Massachusetts, RICHARD S. FAY, of hosion.

Esses, MOSES NEWELL, of West Newbury.

Middlesex, SIMON BROWN, of Concord.

BIiDDLESEX, South, .... WILLIAM a. LEWIS, of Framingham.

Middlesex, North, .... JOHN 0. BARTLETT, of Chelmsford.

Worcester, JOHN BROOKS, of Princeton.

Worcester, West, .... JOSIAH WHITE, of Petersham..

Worcester, North, .... JABEZ FISHER, of FUchburg.

Worcester, South, .... OLIVER C. FELTON, of Brookfield.

Hampshire, Frankuk and Hampden, PAOLI LATHROP, of South Hadley.

Hampshire, LUKE SWEETSER, of Amherst.

Hampdek, GEORGE M. ATWATER, of Springfield.

Hampden, East, CYRUS KNOX, o/ Palmer.

Franklin, THOMAS J. FIELD, of Northfield.

Bbrkshire, CHARLES K. TRACY, of Hinsdale.

HousATONic, SAMUEL H. BUSHNELL, of Sheffield.

NoRPOLE, BENJAMIN V. FRENCH, of Dorchester.

Bristol, NATHAN DURFEE, of Fall River.

Plymouth, CHARLES G. DAVIS, of Plymouth.

Barnstable, GEORGE MARSTON, of Barnstable.

Nantucket, EDWARD W. GARDNER, of Nantucktt.

CHARLES L. FLINT, Secretary.

FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT

SECRETARY

BOAED OF AGRICULTURE

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Common-
wealth of Massachusetts : —

In the Annual Reports which I have had the honor to sub-
mit to the legislature since entering upon the duties of my
office as Secretary of the Board of Agriculture, it has been
my practice, after giving a statement of the proceedings of the
Board during the year, to devote a considerable space to the
investigation and discussion of some special subject connected
with agriculture. To collect materials of immediate and per-
manent value, it was necessary that extensive inquiries of
practical farmers should be made the basis of the greatest
possible amount of condensed information, and this involved not
only an almost incredible extent of correspondence and travel-
ling during a considerable part of each year, but also a vast
amount of labor and time in condensing and arranging the
materials thus collected. But I was persuaded that much good
might be done in this way, and that I could not more advan-
tageously employ the time not occupied by the pressure of other
duties. During the past year, liowever, principally on account
of the State exhibition held under the direction of fhe Board,
my labors liave been so much increased that I have been unable to

6 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

find time to "work out the requisite materials for such an essay,
and to arrange them in proper form. In my present Report,
I shall, therefore, confine myself to a statement of the doings
of the Board, and an account of the State Exhibition and its
results, adding from time to time, such remarks and suggestions
as seem to arise naturally from the subjects spoken of.

Before entering upon a detailed report of the exhibition,
however, I desire to express my deep conviction of the useful-
ness of such exhibitions in general.

The history of agriculture shows that various methods have
been adopted in different ages to advance its interests and
develop its resources, all indicating a conviction on the minds of
leading men in civilized life, that this is the basis of all the other
arts and occupations. Sometimes allotments of land have been
made upon certain conditions, or generous bounties have been
offered with a view of exciting an active competition, and thus
leading to improvement. The same end has been sought by
treatises designed to extend a knowledge of the principles and
practice of the art, and in more recent times by the publication
of journals, the institution of exhibitions of improved stock,
farm implements and farm products, and the establishment of
agricultural schools.

Without doubt, all these methods have been productive of
incalculable benefits by increasing the productiveness of the
soil, thus adding to the comforts and the luxuries of life, and
aiding the progress of civilization.

But probably the most efficient means of promoting the
development of agriculture, is the bringing together of the best
specimens of improved stock, products and implements for the
examination of all who feel an interest in the subject, or in
other words, the agricultural exhibition.

It has been found by experience that the most valuable part
of our practical knowledge, is that gained by intercourse with
our fellow men, and especially those engaged in the same pur-
suits and having the same objects as ourselves. By means of
such intercourse, we have associated, instead of individual
effort, the co-operation of many minds, and not merely the
teachings of one.

But this is not all. The benefit which may be derived from
reading, is greater, wlien the mind is quickened and stimulated

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 7

by contact with others. The reader feels more interest in theo-
ries or facts presented to his notice, and examines them more
attentively, if he has heard them discussed by his neighbors and
friends, or is himself in the habit of joining in such discussions.
Hence he will understand them better and be better able to
apply them to his own practice.

It is so with all arts. The degree of improvement attainable
by individual effort or skill, is very low when compared with
that which may be reached by the united labor of many. In
general, the worker himself — even if he be the greatest inventor
or mechanical genius the world ever knew — can do more if
he have an associate. But after his work is finished — when a
knowledge of the product of his skill is to be spread abroad
that its benefits may be enjoyed by the greatest number possi-
ble— then it is especially, that we see the good effects of all
that tends to make intercourse between man and man more
frequent.

In this State, the importance of agricultural exhibitions was
first appreciated by the members of the Massachusetts Society
for the Promotion of Agriculture, and the first State exhibition
was held in Brighton on the second Tuesday of October, 1816,
for the purpose of encouraging improvements in stock. The
following year encouragement was also extended to agricultural
experiments, mechanical inventions and domestic manufactures,
and these objects have ever since keen kept in view by the
county societies, some of which, as the / Berkshire and the
Middlesex, had held exhibitions in their respective localities
before the State exhibition at Brighton.

Eminent authority existed, even at that time, for the course
adopted by the Massachusetts and other societies. Almost all
the European governments had made it a part of their estab-
lished policy to encourage the development of agriculture, many
of them seeking to produce the desired effect by direct grants
in the shape of loans or premiums for specific improvements,
and others by the incorporation of agricultural societies. The
British government, for instance, appropriated about twenty-
five thousand dollars to the board of agriculture, when it was
established in 1794, besides making a liberal annual grant from
the treasury, and the beneficial results of these measures are
too apparent to admit of dispute. The well known opinion

8 ■ BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

and expressed desire of Washington might also have been cited
as some reason for activity in this direction.

It seems to me that there can be no doubt that the early
exhibitions of the state and county societies of Massachusetts
contributed largely to the improvements in our practical farm-
ing now everywhere apparent, and did much to awaken tho
spirit of inquiry and investigation, now so prevalent among the
farming community, and their continuance will do more than
any other one thing can, to secure the advancement of agricul-
ture among us.

The Massachusetts Society continued its exhibitions till they
"were found to interfere with those of the county societies, which
were established in quick succession all over the State, and were
then abandoned, and the funds of the society devoted to the
importation and breeding of stock, till the different breeds were
pretty generally distributed over the Commonwealth.

Meantime, all the neighboring States had fallen into the
practice of holding State fairs, which were known to be benefi-
cial in promoting the progress of agriculture in their respective
sections, and it was thought by a few individuals in the western
part of the State, that Massachusetts would derive an equal
amount of benefit from pursuing a similar course. A meeting
of citizens was accordingly called at the State House on the 5th
of February, 1857, for the purpose of deliberation upon the
expediency of establishing a new State Agricultural Society,
and the official report of the meeting appeared in the Boston
Journal, as follows : —

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Marston, of Barnstor
ble, and on motion, Col. J. H. W. Page, of this city, was called
on to preside, and was introduced to liis seat by Hon. Marshall
P. Wilder. Hon. Benjamin F. Mills, of Williamstown, was
appointed Secretary.

The chairman in a few words, introduced the subject of the
meeting generally, and called on gentlemen to offer tiicir views
on the establishment of an association of the description men-
tioned above.

Mr. Comstock, of Springfield, at whose suggestion the meet-
ing was called, offered the following resolution : —

Resolved, That a committee to consist of o)ie member from
each county here represented, be appointed by the Chair, to
consider and report on the propriety of organizing a State Agri-

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 9

cultural Society, and, if deemed proper ])y them, to report a
plan of organization for such society.

Mr. Proctor, of Danvers, thought that before the resolution
passed, it would be necessary to consider whether such an asso-
ciation was expedient. There was already a State association,
which was productive of much good, and one which would only
require a hint to do whatever was proper for the interests of
agriculture, Avithout tliere being occasion to establish a new
society. For his part, Mr. Proctor was of opinion that there
was no requirement for the projected organization, so long as
there was one which was capable of doing all that would be
really necessary.

Hon. Marshall P. Wilder expressed his gratification in doing
whatever was demanded, and within his power, at all times for
the benefit of agriculture. He was especially gratified to see
that the western portion of the State had arisen in advocacy of
that good work. He did not wish to olTer any motion, but would
simply suggest that the proposed committee should consist of
members of each agricultural society here represented, when
the expediency of the project would be considered in connection
with the interests of the county societies, which was an impor-
tant matter of consideration. The mover of the resolution
given above accepted the suggestion, and it was incorporated in
the resolution.

Hon. Simon Brown thought that the whole matter could be
better considered in committee of the whole, and he moved that
the resolution be laid on the table, and the expediency of the
estabUshment of a new society discussed. The meeting assented.

The discussion of the general subject was then taken up,
Mr. Proctor desiring in the first place to hear what reasons sub-
sisted for the establishment of the proposed society. Perhaps,
he said, on hearing them, he might have occasion to change his
mind as to the utility of its organization.

Mr. Lewis, of Framingham, said he was a member of the old
chrysalis society, and of the Board of Agriculture. He found
great ignorance among the people concerning the State Agri-
cultural Society ; many knew nothing about it. It had a
respectable existence, he believed, in State Street, and was likely
to be a money-making concern. The State paid it $600 per
annum, and some said it was spent in good dinners ; and he was
glad that the western people came here and demanded to know
what was really done with the money. The result of this
meeting would probably be to bring out the State society to the
doing of some good, as it ought to do ; and it would not be a bad
thing that the incorporation of some Young American blood
should speedily take place among the old-fogy, aristocratic, but
respectable members of the society.

Mr. Marston, of Barnstable, was of opinion that no overpow-

2*

10 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

criiig demand existed for a new society. Tlie smallness of this
meeting was evidence that this idea was a correct one. If the
old society was ineffectual for good, but would do good on the
suggestions of parties who were anxious on the sulyect, if puslied
on to action, there was no more needed. The natural effect of
this meeting would be, in liis mind, to urge the members of the
old society to a more decided action. The formation of the
proposed society would interfere with the relations of the district
agricultural societies and the Board of Agriculture. As things
now stood, the machinery worked well, and in complete har-
mony, and it would be very injudicious to disturb its present
movements.

Mr. Wilder paid a high compliment to the value and effi-
ciency of the old society, and coinmendcd the advantages its
members had procured for the Massachusetts farmers. The
consequences of tlieir publications had been beneficial to a
wonderful degree. Tliey had im])orted many valuable cattle,
and were ready to do it again. They were men of the strictest
integrity, and the funds under their care were, doubtless, prop-
erly spent. There was a complaint that it was difficult to get
access to the society, but this was not precisely the case.
Members from all quarters could be admitted, but there was a
rule, he believed, which required that something should be
Icnovv^n of the parties admitted. Mr. Wilder read an extract
from a letter from a gentleman of eminence, wdiich de])recated
any interference witli the existing State society, as it would bo
the cause of much injury to the agriculture of the State. He
made the statements (embodied above) in justice to the parties
to wiiom tlicy alluded, and gave the extract from the letter,
without at the same time suggesting any action of this meeting.

Mr. Lewis, of Framingham, said tliat all that was required
was that the old society should be awakened to a consciousness
of tlieir existence and functions, and that there should be an
infusion of more active blood into it. If it was in any shape
possible to bring about these tilings, there was no more required,
and if tliis meeting was the means of causing any rattling among
the dry bones, it would do about all it had a design to do.

Hon. B. V. French spoke in laudatory terms of the past
efforts of t]ie State Association, and enumerated many recent
actions in the way of agricultural improvemGiit, whicli were
equally public spirited and judicious. He specified the aj^pro-
priation, last year, of $1,000 fur the best mowing machine,
among other acts of the society. The tales about feastings and
drinkings of wine wliich were paid out of the public funds, were
fabulous. He admitted that the complaints were getting loud,
that the society was becoming a little too conservative ; but they
were, as he heard, willing to go more ahead in future. As a
good beginning, they had taken out of their own pockets,

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 11

.fil,000, and made it as a gift to tlie late exhibition liere under
the auspices of the National Agricultural Society. The society
was not very rich, but had carclully liusbanded its means, and
Mr. French had little liesitation in believing that the memliers
would not require much urging to use their earnest and best
efforts for the progress and improvement of agriculture. Some-
thing indeed should be done, for the west was fast running
ahead of us, and this should not be allowed.

Mr. Wilder stated that the -$1,000 in (juestion came from the
funds of tiie Massachusetts Society, as he had been informed by
the secretary.

Mr. Phillips, of Fitchburg, enumerated the means which now
existed in the shape of agricultural societies in the Common-
wealth for the improvement of agriculture, and thought that
they were sufficient in themselves to serve the legitimate pur-
poses of improvement without the aid of a new society. They
would be peculiarly so if, as was stated, the Massachusetts
Society was willing to engage in a more active course of pro-
ceeding. He was of opinion that the project under discussion
was not required. He therefore moved the following reso-
lutions : —

C Resolved, That the establishment of anotlier State agricul-
tural society would tend to alienate those kin^d and patriotic
feelings which have so uniformly characterized the past and
present trustees of our ancient and honorable State society :
and whereas it is understood that the present State society
would contribute of its funds for exhibitions, under the super-
vision of the State Board of Agriculture ; therefore —

Resolved, That, in the opiraoii of this assembly, it is desirable
that the State Board of Agriculture should hold agricultural
fairs whenever funds are placed at its disposal, either by the
Commonwealth or by the munificence of others.

Resolved, That we recommend the State Board of Agricul-
ture, composed as it is of representatives from, and acting in
harmony with, all the incorporated societies in the Common-
wealth, to take immediately into consideration tlie expediency
of holding agricultural exliibitions, and to make known at an
early day the result of their deliberations.

Inquiry was made wliether there was a State agricultural

society, and sundry parties replied that such a society did exist.

Mr. Copeland, of Lexington, complained that nothing had
yet been said in favor of establishing a new society. And no
one had stated, in describing the advantages held out by the
old society, that these advantages were such as the farmcj-s in
the State demanded.

He thought that, as compared with the associations of other
countries, tlie labors of the agricultural societies were as nothing.
Tiiey hav3 never had, in tha first place, a sufficient support

12 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

from tlic State, and tliey were not able to penetrate below the
crust of information which the farmer demanded. They never
had encouraged the talent of such men as Liebig, Boussingault,
or Jolmston, or had a literature that was as respectable as it
ought to be. The agricultural newspapers of this country, Mr.
Copeland said, were much below the standard of those of other
countries ; and he would not be satisfied that the literary duties
of our agricultural societies were properly done until they
establish a quarterly journal of agriculture, as other countries
had. Agricultural professorships in our colleges should also
be established, and the farmer made to know tliat wearing a
green jacket and blue overalls and driving a team, was not
all that designated a farmer — but that he was a man of mind,
and should impart it to his occupation. He moved that a com-
mittee of five be appointed to take into consideration whether
any tiling can be done to benefit the cause of agriculture in this
Commonwealth in a permanent shape.

A lengthy conversational discussion took place on the powers
and agricultural jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Society
for the Promotion of Agriculture, the lassitude of which had
been the cause of so much comment. The object of the con-
versation was to elicit tlie nature and extent of the connection
it had with the local societies, and in how far the establishment
of a new association would affect the connection and usefulness
of the State and local organizations.

Dr. Loring, of Salem, said he had heard only two questions
mooted since he came here, and these were, whether we had a
State society ? and whether we had a proj^er agricultural liter-
ature ? He liad no doubt that we had a State society, nor tliat
they had not for some time past, but would be willing now to
cojiform to public opinion in a greater measure than they haA^e
done. As to the character of the literature of our agricultural
societies, he was at issue with the gentleman who had com-
mented on it. The State reports were invahiable to the farmer,
as Mr. Loring knew jiracticall}^ and so were the agricultural
papers, and lie was unwilling to stand here and hear them
demeaned in favor of papers and journals published over the
water, whose theories were totally inapplicable to this State.
High sounding theories and speculations were not what was
wanted here. What was really desiderated, were the facts on
which the common farmer built up his prosperity ; and for this
])urposo, and for other useful purposes, the agricultural liter-
ature of jMassacliusetts was not inferior to any foreign literature
— no matter what names or influences gave it endorsement. He
read it himself, and was glad to have the opportunity, and
thousands of the most intelligent of our farmers did the same.
This was a sufficient defence for it. Mr. Loring recommended
that the niecling take no steps to constitute a new society, but

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 13

to lal)or to make the old society, with the State Board, useful
as tliey could, and would be to every interest of the farmer.

Hon. Simon Brown made a brief speech, descriptive of the
advantages which had proceeded from the institution of the
Massachusetts Agricultural Society — showing that they were
beyond estimate, and that it would be injudicious to take any
step which would hinder its continued efficiency. He was
opposed to any new society.

Mr. Loomis, of Springfield, said that the parties who had
originated this question had had their motives misrepresented.
The State society had been called ancient and honorable, but
was it not so more for ornament than for use ? The question
was, was it up to the mark of usefulness ? had it done all the
good it could ? It had done some good, surely, but not the
amount that was sufficient for the requirements of the times.
It was too contracted in its numbers ; and if the old society
would extend its numbers, and admit men into it who would
make its usefulness practically beneficial, no more would be
required. An association in which the aggregate opinions of
the agriculture of the whole State could be represented, was
exactly what was wanted ; and in procuring this, he did not see
in what respect the movement would vitiate the interest, or
hinder the usefulness of the local societies. Besides, the State
society, to be infiuentially operative, and do credit to the whole
State, should not be narrowed in its numbers, and contracted
in its views, as the Massachusetts Society had been.

Mr. Brooks, of Princeton, said that the Massachusetts Society
had partially been driven out of the agricultural exhibition
field by the county societies, and that may have originated, in
part, what was cliaracterizod as closeness on their part. He
had no doubt that when the members know that State shows were
demanded, they would agree to the wish. For his part, he would
guarantee $500 as his share in covering their loss — although
such would hardly be possible. Mr. Brooks moved that the
resolutions offered by Mr. Phillips, of Fitcliburg, be adopted.

The resolutions were passed by an unanimous vote. That of
Mr. Copeland was not put, as he did not offer it either as an
amendment to Mr. Phillips' resolutions, or as an independent
one — and as Mr. Copeland had left the hall when it came before
tlie meeting.

Major Phinney, of Barnstable, with the view to satisfy some
parties present, and to keep a way open for future safe action,
should it be necessary, offered a resolution that a committee be
appointed by the chair, of one from each county, to consider the
propi-iety of establishing anew association, and report to a future
meeting, or through the press, as they should think expedient.

Discussion took place on this resolution — some believing that
sufficient had already been done. The mover was of opinion

14 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

that much good would grow out of a meeting between the com-
mittee and the members of the Massachusetts Association for
the Promotion of Agriculture. By conference, views could be
elicited, and information procured that could not otherwise l)e
had. • He had no doubt the old society would be glad to hold
guch conference.

Mr. Loring moved to amend the motion so that the committee
should submit their report to the State Board of Agriculture.

Mr. Wilder considered the resolution exactly counter to that
passed. Tlie State Board was recommended to hold a State exhi-
bition whenever money was granted for that purpose, Avhich was
a compromise proposition ; and it did ]\ot appear proper, to his
mind, to restore a motion which the compromise had superseded.

Mr. Brooks insisted that as the western members of the
meeting were tenacious of the passage of the resolution, it
should not be withdrawn.

Mr. Loomis was of the belief, after consideration, that the
proposition was of a dictatorial or threatening character, and
he was therefore of opinion that it should not pass.

The resolution was put and passed ; and the first of the reso-
lutions previously passed having been read by request of Mr.
Wilder, the conflict between it and the one just passed was very
obvious.

Mr. Phinney proposed to withdraw the resolution ; but a vote
having passed on it, reconsideration and leave were lirst required.

Reconsideration took place, and leave being granted, the reso-
lution was withdrawn.

The chairman made a few closing observations on the pros-
perity which had attended the agricultural societies in the
►^tate, after which, the meeting, on motion of Mr. Wilder, passed
a vote of thanks to the chair, and adjourned.

A special meeting of the Board of Agriculture was called to
consider the subject embodied in the second and third resolu-
tions passed at the meeting, and it was —

Resolved, That in tlie opinion of this IJoard, it is expedient
to hold a State Cattle Show and Agricultural Pair, at some time
in the months of Se})tember or October next, and that a commit-
tee now be appointed to make arrangements for the same, with au-
thority to fix on a time and place for holding the same, j)rovided
a suflicient guarantee fund is pledged to defray the expenses.

In accordance with the above resolution, Messrs.' M. P. Wilder,
Samuel Chandler, John Brooks, George Marston, William G.
Lewis, Moses Newell, and Thomas J. Field, were constituted
a committee of arrangements. It was subsequently

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 15

looted, That the committee which has heeu appointed to
arrange for the State Cattle Sliow and Agricultural Fair, have
authority to elect a President, Treasurer and Secretary of the
occasion, and to fill any vacancies that may occur on the com-
mittee.

At a meeting of the Committee of Arrangements held imme-
diately after, the Hon. M. P. Wilder was elected President of
the exhibition, William G. Lewis, Esq., Treasurer, and Charles
L. Flint, Secretary.

The Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for the Promotion
of Agriculture, with their characteristic liberality, very gener-
ously volunteered to contribute two thousand dollars towards
defraying the expenses of the Fair. In addition to this, a
guarantee fund of fifteen thousand dollars was immediately
raised, with the understanding that the Fair should he held in
Boston.

The special reason for the selection of this location, was that
the beautiful grounds already fenced and belonging to the city,
could be rented at a reasonable sum, and that this would be the
last opportunity of locating here, as it was contemplated, at
no distant period, to remove the fence and use the ground for
other purposes. The fact of this being the first Fair under the
auspices of the Board and consequently to be regarded somewhat
in the light of an experiment, the pecuniary result of which
would be at least doubtful, had its influence also, since it was
thought desirable to locate as near the centre of population as
possible, in order to insure success. These considerations com-
mended themselves to the good judgment of men in all parts of
the State.

The time of holding the Fair was unanimously fixed at the
20th, 21st, 22d and 23d of October, in order not to interfere with
the county exhibitions, the times of all of which had already
been fixed upon, and some of which fell on each of the six pre-
ceding weeks.

These preliminaries arranged, no pains were spared to make
the preparations for the Fair as complete as possible. The
schedule of premiums was extensively distributed, and ample
and liberal encouragement offered for all classes of farm stock,
farm products, farm implements, domestic manufactures, and
the mechanic arts.

16 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

The weather during the Fair was very cold, so much so as to
make the attendance of visitors in the highest degree uncom-
fortable ; and this circumstance, united with the unexampled
financial crisis under which the whole community was groaning,
and which at that particular time was about at its height, had a
very unfavorable effect. Exhibitors, however, appeared in great
numbers, and with spirited emulation, and the judges being
nearly all present, proceeded promptly with their examinations.

The first class in the published schedule of premiums included
all neat stock arranged in ten divisions, the first of which was
the

IMPROVED SHORT-HORNS.

The opinion has prevailed, especially in tlie eastern part of
the State, that this splendid breed of animals was less adapted
to our climate and short pastures than some of the smaller
races. TVhether this opinion be correct or not, it is certain that
very few pure bred short-horns are to be found in this section.
Many fine specimens are kept in the western part of the State,
and the crosses there obtained with pure bred short-horn bulls
and grade or " native " cows, would do credit to any breeding
section in the world.

This famous breed was originally, as we have reason to
believe, built up by careful selections of fine boned males and
females of the best form and symmetry, especially in the county
of Durham, along the valley of the Tees, in England, from which
it is often called the Durham, and formerly the " Teeswater
breed." There is a dispute among the most eminent breeders,
as to how far it owes its origin to early importations from Hol-
land, whence many superior animals were brought for the pur-
pose of improving the old long-horned breed common in York-
shire, Lincolnshire and Northumberland.

The cattle produced by these crosses were at one time known
under the name of " Dutch." The cows selected for crossing
with the early imported Dutch bulls, were generally long-horned,
coarse animals, a fair type of which was found in the old
" Ilolderness" breed of Yorkshire, — slow feeders, strong in the
shoulder, defective in the fore-quarter, and not very profitable
for the butcher. They are known to have been large boned,
while their meat was said to have been " coarse to the palate,

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 17

and uninviting to the eye." "Whatever may be the truth with
regard to these crosses, and however far they proved effective
in creating, or laying the foundation of the modern improved
short-horns, the results of the efforts made in Yorkshire and
some of the adjoining counties, were never so satisfactory to the
best judges as those of the breeders of Durham, who selected ani-
mals with greater reference to fineness of bone and symmetry of
form, and the animals thus bred soon took the lead, and excited
great emulation in improvement.

The famous bull " Hubback," bred by Mr. Turner, of Hur-
worth,and subsequently owned by Mr. Colling, laid the founda-
tion of the celebrity of the short-horns, and it is the pride of
short-horn breeders to trace back to him. He was calved in
1777, and his descendants, — Foljambe, Bolingbroke, Favorite,
and Comet, — permanently fixed the characteristics of the breed.
Comet was so highly esteemed among breeders, that he sold at
one thousand guineas, or over five thousand dollars. Hub-
back is thought by some to have been a pure short-horn, and by
others, a grade or mixture.

Many breeders had labored long previous to and contem-
porary witli the brothers Charles and Kobert Colling, especially
on the old Teeswater short-horns, yet a large share of the credit
of improving them, and establishing the reputation of the
improved short-horns, is generally accorded to them. Certain
it is, that the spirit and discrimination with which they selected
and bred soon became known, and a general interest was
awakened in the breed at the time of the sale of Charles Col-
ling's herd, October 11, 1810. It was then Mr. Bates, of Kirk-
leavington, purchased the celebrated heifer Duchess I., whose
family sold, in 1850, after his decease, at an average of one
hundred and sixteen pounds five shillings per head, including
young calves. The sale of Robert Ceiling's herd, in 1818, and
tliat of Lord Spencer, in 1846, as well as that of the Kirkleaving-
ton herd in 1850, and especially that of the herd of Lord Ducie,
two years later, are marked eras in the history of improved
short-horns ; and through these sales, and the universal enthu-
siasm awakened by them, the short-horns have become more
widely spread over Great Britain, and more generally fashionable
than any other breed. They have also been largely introduced
into France by the government, for the improvement of the
3*

18 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

various French breeds by crossing, and into nearly every quarter
of the civilized world.

Importations have been frequent and extensive into the United
States, within the last few years, and this unrivalled breed is
now pretty generally diffused over the country.

The high bred short-horn is easily prepared for a show, and
as fat will cover faults, the temptation is often too great to be
resisted, and hence it is common to see the finest animals ren-
dered unfit for breeding purposes by over-feeding. The race is
said to be susceptible of breeding for the production of milk, and
great milkers have often been known among pure bred animals,
but it is more common to find it bred mainly for the butcher,
and kept accordingly. It is, however, a well known fact, that
the dairies of London are stocked chiefly with short-horns, or
high grades, which after being milked so long as profitable, feed
equal or nearly so to pure bred short-horns.

It has been said by very high authority, that " the short-horns
improve every breed they cross with."

The desirable characteristics of the short-horn bull may be
summed up, according to the judgment of the best breeders, as
follows : He should have a short but fine head, very broad
across the eyes, tapering to the nose, with a nostril full and
prominent ; the nose itself should be of a rich flesh color ; eyes
bright and mild ; ears somewhat large and thin ; horns slightly
curved and rather flat, well set on a long, broad, muscular
neck ; chest wide, deep and projecting; shoulders fine, oblique,
well formed into the chine ; fore legs short, with upper arm
large and powerful ; barrel round, deep, well ribbed home ;
hips wide and level ; back straight from the withers to the set-
ting on of the tail, but short from hip to chine ; skin soft and
velvety to the touch ; moderately thick hair, plentiful, soft and
mossy. The cow has the same points in the main, but her head
is finer, longer and more tapering ; neck thinner and lighter,
and shoulders more narrow across the chine.

The astonishing precocity of the short-horns, their remarkable
aptitude to fatten, the perfection of their forms, and the fineness
of their bony structure, give them an advantage over most other
races when the object of breeding is for the shambles. No
animal of any other breed can so rapidly transform the stock 6t
any section around him as the improved short-horn bull.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 19

But it does not follow that the high bred short-horns are unex-
ceptionable for beef. The very exaggeration, — so to speak, — of
the qualities which make them so valuable for the improvement
of other and less perfect races, may become a fault when wanted
for the table. The very rapidity with which they increase in
size, is thought by some to prevent their meat from ripening up
sufficiently before being hurried off to the butcher. The dis-
proportion of the fatty to the muscular flesh, found in this to a
greater extent than in races coming slower to maturity, makes
the meat of the thorough bred short-horn, in the estimation of
some, both less agreeable to the taste and less profitable to the
consumer, since the nitrogenous compounds, true sources of
nutriment, are found in less quantity than in the meat of ani-
mals not so highly bred.

But the improved short-horn is justly unrivalled for symmetry
of form and beauty. I have never seen a picture or an engrav-
ing of an animal which could compare in beauty with many
specimens of this race, especially with tlie best bred in Kentucky
and Ohio, where many excellent breeders, favored by a climate
and pastures eminently adapted to bring the short-horn to per-
fection, have not only imported extensively from the best herds
in England, but have themselves attained a degree of knowledge
and skill equalled only by that of the most celebrated breeders
in the native country of this improved race.

To all short-horn breeders, Coate's Herd-book is an indispen-
sable guide. This is published in alternate years, and several
thousand animals are recorded, whose pedigree is thus fixed
beyond dispute. The number of good herds of short-horns now
in Great Britain exceeds five hundred.

The short-horns exhibited at the State Fair were, mrmy of
them, of a very high order. The premiums offered for them iu
the schedule were as follows : —

Herd Premiums. — For best short-liorued bull and four cows, or heifers of
any age, belonging to any one person — $50 ; next best, Diploma.

Bulls. — Three years old and upwards — 1st premium, $30 ; 2nd, $20 ; 3d, ^15.
Two years old and under three years — 1st premium, $20 ; 2nd, $15 ; 3d, ^10.
One year old and under two yeaj-s — 1st premium, $15 ; 2nd, $10 ; 3d, 35.

Cows and Heifers. — Three years old and upwards — 1st premium, $30 ; 2nd,
?20 ; 3d, $15. Two years old and under three years — 1st premium, $20 ;
2nd, $15 ; 3d, $10. One year old and under two years — 1st premium, $15 ;
2nd, $10 ; 3d, $5. Calves, discretionary.

20 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

ENTRIES OF IMPROVED SIIORT-IIORNS.

No. 1. Bull " Napoleon," 3 years old, weight 1,000 lbs., owned by Joseph A.
Kerman, Newburyport.

2. Bull " Romeo," 3 years old, weight 1,800 lbs., owned by J. A. Har-

wood, Littleton.

3. Bull, and four cows and heifers, owned by Paoll Lathrop, South

Hadley. (For herd premium.)

4. Bull, 4 years old, (imported) owned by Thos. W. Pierce, Topsfield.

5. Bull, " The Count," 3 years old, owned by Wm. Robinson, Jr., Barre.

6. Bull, 20 months old, weight 1,247 lbs., owned by Samuel R. Burroughs,

Warren.

7. Heifer, " Duchess 4th," 2 years old, owned by S. W. Buffum, Win-

chester, N. II.

8. Heifer, " Alida," 2 years old, owned by S. W. Buffum, Winchester,

N. H.

9. Heifer, " Lucky," 2 years old, owned by S. W. Buffum, Winchester,

N. H.

10. Cow, 3 years old, owned by Paoli Lathrop, South Hadley Falls.

11. Cow, 4 years old, owned by Paoli Lathrop, South Hadley Falls.

12. Cow, 3 years old, owned by Paoli Lathrop, South Hadley Falls.

13. Cow, 4 years old, owned by Paoli Lathrop, South Hadley Falls.

14. Heifer, 1 year old, owned by PaoH Lathrop, South Hadley Falls.

15. Bull, 4 years old, owned by Sylvester Phij^ps, Hopkinton.

16. Cow, " Flash," 3 years old, owned by W. G. Woods, Dedham.

17. Cow, " Flashy," 3 years old, owned by W. G. Woods, Dedham.

18. Bull, 3 years old, weighs 2,150 lbs., owned by E. Pease, Middle-

field.

19. Bull, " Nonsuch," 4 years old, owned by David Moseley, Westfield.

20. Bull, 4 years old, owned by Howard Ford, West Roxbury.

21. Cow, 6 years old owned by Howard Ford, West Roxbury.

The judges on the above animals submitted the following
Pt E P O R T :

The judges on short-horn stock have made the following awards : —

The herd premium to Paoli Lathrop, of South Hadley Falls.

Bull three years old and upwards : First premium to E. Pease, of
Middlefield. Second premium to William Robinson, Jr., of Barre.
Third premium to J. A. Harwood, of Littleton.

Bulls one year old and under two : First premium to Samuel R.
Burroughs, of Warren.

A discretionary premium is recommended to Paoli Lathrop, of
South Hadley Falls, for his bull calf.

There being no competitors for the premiums on bulls two years
old, and but one entry for the premiums on bulls one year old, should

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 21

the funds at the command of the Board warrant it, they recommend a
gratuity of ten dollars to David Moseley, of Westfield, for his bull.

Cows and heifers three years old and upwards : First, second and
third premiums to Paoli Lathrop, of South Hadley Falls.

A pair of twin cows, belonging to W. G. Woods, of Dedham, were
very beautiful animals, but as the committee are instructed to have
regard to purity of blood as established and confirmed by pedigree,
they are obliged to pass them with commendation only.

Heifers two years old and under three : First premium to Paoli
Lathrop, of South Hadley Falls.

Heifers one year old and under two : First premium to Paoli
Lathrop, of South Hadley Falls.

The committee recommend to S. W. Buffum, of Winchester, N. H.,
a gratuity of $30 for his three beautiful two year old heifers offered
for exhibition.

Respectfully submitted for the committee,

Joseph Kittredge, Chairman,

The next division in the order of the premium list, comprised
the

NORTH DEVONS.

This valuable race of cattle dates farther back than any well
established breed among us. It goes generally under the simple
name of Devons, but the cattle of the southern part of the
county, from which the race derives its name, differ greatly
from those of the northern, having a larger and coarser frame,
and far less tendency to fatten.

The North Devons are remarkable for hardihood, symmetry
and beauty, and are generally bred for work and for beef, rather
than for the dairy. The head is fine and well set on, the horns
ehort and generally curved ; color almost always bright blood-
red, but sometimes inclining to yellow ; skin thin and orange-
yellow ; hair of medium length, soft and silky, making the
animals remarkable as handlers ; muzzle of the nose white ;
eyes full and mild ; ears yellowish, or orange color inside, of
moderate size ; neck rather long, with little dewlap ; shoulders
oblique ; legs small and straight, and feet in proportion ; chest
of good width ; ribs round and expanded ; loins of first rate
quality, long, wide and fleshy ; hips round, of medium width ;
rump level ; tail full near the setthig on, taperhig to the tip ;
thighs of the bull and ox muscular and full, and high in the

22 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

jflank, though in the cow sometimes tliought to be too light ;
the size medium, generally called small. The proportion of
meat on the valuable parts is greater, and the offal less, than
on most other breeds, while it is well settled that they consume
less food in its production ; but the carcase is generally flatter
than that of the short-horn or Hereford. The Devons are popu-
lar with the Smithfield butchers, and their beef is well marbled
or grained.

As working oxen, the Devons perhaps excel all other races
in quickness, docility and beauty, and the ease with which they
are matched. With a reasonable load, they are equal to horses
as walkers on the road, and when they are no longer wanted for
work they fatten easily and turn well.

As milkers they do not generally excel, perhaps they may be
said not to equal the other breeds, and they have a reputation
of being decidedly below the average ; but this is probably
owing to breeding, in particular families. In their native coun-
try the general average of a dairy is one pound of butter per
day during the summer.

But though the Devons generally are not noted as milkers,
yet I have had occasion to examine several animals bought from
the celebrated Patterson herd, which would have been remarka-
ble as milkers even among the very best milking stock ; and I
am convinced that the reputation they bear as small milkers is
due to the great anxiety which has been often manifested to
breed, as it were, to order, in point of symmetry and beauty of
form, with a disregard to milking qualities.

The most extensive breeders of Devons in this State are Wil-
liam Buckminster, of Pramingham, Harvey Dodge, of Sutton,
and John Brooks, Jr., of Princeton.

The judicious remarks of the chairman of the committee on
Devons, — himself one of the most distinguished breeders in the
State, — in regard to the selection and breeding of stock for
special purposes, as for beef, work or milk, whichever may bo
the object in any particular case, are worthy of consideration by
every farmer who buys or breeds stock for his'own purposes on
the farm. It is difficult, probably impossible, to obtain any race
of animals which will combine all these qualities in an eminent
degree, though undoubtedly some may be found which excel
the average of cattle in these respects.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 23

For the breeders and buyers of North Devons, Davy's Devon
Herd-book, republished in this country under the careful super-
vision of Sanford Howard, is an important guide, as the pedigrees
of most thorough-bred Devons will there be found recorded.

The premiums offered for animals of this breed were the same
as those for short-horns, p. 19.

The entries of Devons made at the State Fair were as
follows : —

No. 1. — Bull, "Alexander," 5 years old, owned by Samuel Chandler, Lex-
ington.
2. — Bull, " Reubens 2d," 3 years old, owned by H. M. Sessions, South

Wllbraham.
3. — Bull, " Comet," 5 years old, owned by H. G. White, South Framing-
ham.
4. — Cow, " Baltimore 3d," 10 years old, owned by Joseph Burnett,

Southborough.
5. — Cow, "Jessie," 3 years old, owned by Joseph Burnett, Southborough.
6. — Bull, " Rob Roy," 2 years old, owned by Joseph Burnett, South- •

borough.
7. — Bull, " Wachusett," 3 years old, owned by John Brooks, Jr., Prince-
ton.
8. — Bull, " Wachusett 2d," 1 year old, owned by John Brooks, Jr.,

Princeton.
9. — Cow, " Susan," 3 years old, owned by John Brooks, Jr., Princeton.
10. — Cow, " Donna," 6 years old, owned by John Brooks, Jr., Princeton.
11. — Cow, " Countess," 6 years old, owned by John Brooks, Jr., Princeton.
12. — Cow, "Alice," 2 years old, owned by John Brooks, Jr., Princeton.
13. — Two bulls, three cows and heifer, by John Brooks, Jr., Princeton.

(For herd premium.)
li. — Bull, " Earl of Devonshire," 2 years old, owned by Harvey Dodge,

Sutton.
1.5. — Cow, " Countess," 7 years old, owned by Harvey Dodge, Sutton.
16. — Cow, " Ellen," 5 years old, owned by Harvey Dodge, Sutton.
17. — Cow, " Silkie," 3 years old, owned by Harvey Dodge, Sutton.
18. — Cow, " Lady Patterson," 3 years old, owned by Harvey Dodge, Sutton.
19. — Cow, "Lady Blakeslee," 2 years old, owned by Harvey Dodge, Sutton.
20. — Calves, four in number, owned by Harvey Dodge, Sutton.
21. — Bull and four cows, owned by Harvey Dodge, Sutton. (For herd

premium.)
22. — Bull, 1 year old, owned by William Buckminster, Framingham.
23. — Bull, 2 years old, owned by William Buckminster, Framingham.
24. — Cow, 7 years old, owned by William Buckminster, Framingham.
2.5. — Cow, 5 years old, owned by William Buckminster, Framingham.
26. — Heifer, 2 years old, owned by William Buckminster, Framingham.
27. — Heifer, 2 years old, owned by William Buckminster, Framingham.

24 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

No. 28. — Bull and four cows, owned by William Buckminster, Fraralngham.
(For herd prcmuun.)
29. — Bull, "May Boy," owned by Charles W. Gushing, South Hinghanau
30. — Bull, " Roebuck 2d," 1 year old, owned by Harvey Dodge, Sutton.
31. — Steer, 2 years old, owned by Harvey Dodge, Sutton.
32. — Cow, •' Lady Devon," owned by the State, and kept at tho State

farm at Westborough. (Entered for exhibition only.)
33. — Cow, 5 years old, owned liy Josiah Gates, Lowell.

The judges on the foregoing entries submitted the following

REPORT:

The committee appointed to judge on Devoii cattle, were all present
at their examination. "We found we had no small task before us,
when we received the Black-hook from our indefatigable Secretary,
and there learned there were over thirty entries, including all classes,
on which we were to judge. There were three entries of one bull
and four cows, each for the herd premiums. One, by the venerable
editor and farmer of Framingham, (William Buckminster ;) one by
the intelligent farmer of Sutton, (Harvey Dodge ;) and one by a son
of the honorable farmer of Princeton, (John Brooks, Jr.)

The rearing of cattle is one of the most important branches of
farming. It should be the object with our farmers to raise such cattle
as mature early, and return the greatest profits for the food consumed-
If we desire a combination of qualities in the same animal, such as
work, beef, milk and early maturity, select that breed which combines
these qualities in the highest degree. If only one object is desired,
Buch as milk, beef, or Avork, procure the breed best adapted to the
purpose for which, it is wanted. We should, in our selection of stock,
be governed by location, soil and feed. By selecting the breed best
adapted to our circumstances, and managed judiciously, we cannot
fail of success. The cattle which were under our examination
were many of them superior, and some two or three in some of th*
classes were of merits so nearly equal, the committee found it diffi-
cult to decide. We had written statements in regard to the dairy
products of Mr. Buckminster's and Mr. Brooks' herds. Mr. Dodge
furnisked a written statement of the purity of blood of his herd.

Mr. Buckminster's statement was confirmed by written certificates
of two of his neighbors, (Abby Freeman and Caroline W^inter,) that
four quarts of the milk of his cows made in October, one pound of
" good yellow butter."

By the statement of Mr. Brooks, it took eight quarts of the milk
from his cows to make one pound of butter.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 25

On tlie above statement of Mr. Buckminster, accompanied with per-
fect pedigrees, with the general appearance of the animals, and taking
into account fineness and uniformity, the committee were unanimous in
awarding him the first premium, ^^50. To Harvey Dodge, of Sutton.
the second, diploma.

Mr. Brooks' herd were, some of them, animals of the first quality,
but as a whole, not so uniform as either of the other herds. We
would gladly have awarded him a gratuity, and also several other com-
petitors in other classes, but the rules in our black-book prohibited it.
This we attributed to curtailing of discounts of the banks, and their
suspension of specie payments.

The other premiums we award as follows, viz. : —

Bulls, three years old and over — First, to H. M. Sessions, of South
Wilbraham, $30; second, John Brooks, Jr., of Princeton, $20;
third, Samuel Chandler, of Lexington, $15.

Two years old and under three — First, to William Buckminster, of
Framingham, $20 ; second, to Harvey Dodge, of Sutton, $15 ; third
not awarded.

One year and under two years — First, John Brooks, Jr., of Prince-
ton, $15 ; second, William Buckminster, of Framingham, $10 ; third,
Harvey Dodge, of Sutton, $5.

Cows and Heifers, three years and upwards — First, John Brooks,
Jr., of Princeton, $30 ; second, William Buckminster, of Framing-
ham, $20; third, Harvey Dodge, of Sutton, $15.

Two years and under three — First, John Brooks, Jr., of Princeton,
$20; second, Wm. Buckminster, of Framingham, $15; third, also $10.

Discretionarj' — John Brooks, Jr., for a bull calf, $5 ; Harvey Dodge,
for four calves, $5.

The animals from the State farm entered for exhibition only, were
very superior. They show signs of having been well cared for ; not
overfed nor kept too short. They possess valuable points, substance,
and desirable qualities of flesh, with light bone and offal.

Mr. J. Burnett, of Southborough, showed some fine cows, and* the
committee would have awarded him a gratuity had they the power and
means of so doing.

P. Lathrop, Chairman.

The next breed in the arrangement adopted in the schedule,
is the

AYRSHIRE.

This race of cattle is justlj celebrated throughout Great Brit-
ain and this country for its excellent milking qualities. It is
4*

26 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

quite distinct from the other Scotch and English races. In
color, the pure Ayrshire is generally red and white, spotted, not
mottled like many of the short-horns, but presenting a bright
contrast of colors. It is sometimes, though rarely, nearly or
quite all red, and sometimes black and white, but the favorite
color is red and white brightly contrasted. The head is fine
and clean, the face long, with a sprightly yet generally mild
expression ; the horns short, fine and slightly twisted upwards ;
the neck thin, body enlarging from fore to hind quarters ; the
back straight and narrow ; broad across the loin ; ribs rather
flat ; hind quarters rather thin ; bone fine ; tail long, fine and
bushy at the end ; hair generally thin and soft ; udder light
color and capacious, extending well forward under the belly ;
teats of the cow of medium size, generally set regularly and
wide apart, milk veins prominent and well developed. The
carcase of the pure bred Ayrshire is light, particularly the fore-
quarters, which is considered, by good judges, as an index of
good milking qualities. On the whole, the animal is good look-
ing, but wants the symmetry and the aptitude to fatten which
characterize the short-horn.

The climate of Ayr and the adjoining counties on the north-
western coast of Scotland is moist, and the soil clayey and well
adapted to pasturage, but difficult to till, and the cattle natu-
rally hardy and active, and capable of enduring severe winters,
and easily regaining condition with the return of spring and
good feed.

The origin of the Ayrshire race is not yet well settled, some
contending that it was derived from the native stock, crossed
with larger southern races, and others that it grew from the
peculiarity of climate, location and soil, and especially from the
circumstances of the farmers of Ayr and the counties of Ren-
frew, Lanark, Dumbarton and Stirling, in which the Ayrshire
race is almost the only stock kept. The three first of these
counties, including the whole region around Glasgow, comprises
a fourth part of the whole population of Scotland, a large pro-
portion of which is engaged in manufactures and commercial
or mechanical pursuits, and furnishing a ready market for milk
and butter, the supply of meat coming from more distant sec-
tions, where no local demand for the products of the dairy
exists. This local demand for fresh dairy products has very

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 27

naturally taxed the skill and judgment of the farmers and dairy
men to the utmost, through a long course of years, and thus
• the remarkable milking qualities of the Ayrshires were developed
to such a degree that they may be said to produce a larger
quantity of rich milk in proportion to the food consumed, or the
cost of production, than any other of the pure bred races. The
owners of dairies in the county of Ayr and the neighborhood,
were generally small tenants, who took charge of their stock
themselves, saving and breeding from the offspring of good
milkers, drying off and feeding such as were found to be
unprofitable for milk, for the butcher ; and thus the production
of milk and butter has for many years been the leading object
with the owners of this breed, and symmetry of form and per-
fection of points for aiiy other object, have been wholly disre-
garded, or if regarded at all, only from this one point of view —
the production of the greatest quantity of rich milk. The Ayr-
shire cow has been known to produce over ten imperial gallons
of good milk a day.

A cowfeeder in Glasgow, selling fresh milk, has been known
to realize two hundred and fifty dollars in seven months from
one good cow, and it is stated on high authority, that a dollar a
day for six months of the year is no uncommon income from
good cows, under similar circumstances, and that seventy-five
cents a day is below the average. But this implies high and
judicious feeding, of course, and the average yield, on ordinary
feed, would be somewhat less.

As already remarked, the Ayrshires in their native country
are generally bred for the dairy, and no other object, and the
cows have obtained a world-wide reputation for this quality.
They are, however, very fair as working oxen, though they can-
not be said to excel other breeds in this respect. The Ayrshire
steer may be fed and turned at three years old, but for feeding
purposes, the Ayrshires are greatly improved by a cross with
the short-horns. . It is the opinion of good breeders that a high
bred short-horn bull and an Ayrshire cow, will produce a calf
which will come to maturity earlier, and attain greater weight
and sell for more money than a pure bred Ayrshire. This cross,
with feeding from the start, may be sold fat at two years old,
the improvement being especially seen in the earlier maturity
and the size.

28 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

The cross with the short-horn may perhaps be recommended
on other i^TOunds. The form becomes ordinarily more symmet
rical, while there is little or no risk of lessening the milking
qualities of the offspring. The experience of the best breeders
in all countries has pretty well established the truth of a prin-
ciple which experiment will only still farther confirm, that in
the breeding of animals, it is the male which gives the external
form, or the bony and muscular system of the young, while the
female imparts the respiratory organs, the circulation of the
blood, the mucus membranes, the organs of secretion, &c., and
if this principle, now generally conceded by practical breeders,
is true, it follows that the milking qualities come chiefly from
the mother, and that the bull could, in no respect, alter the
conditions which determine the transmission of these qualities,
especially when they are as strongly marked as they are in the
Ayrshire or the Jersey races. The best milkers I have ever
known in the course of my own observations, w^ere grade Ayr-
shires, larger in size than the pure bloods, but still sufficiently
high grades to give certain signs of their origin. This cross
would, therefore, seem to possess the advantage of combining to
some extent the two qualities of milking and adaptation to beef,
and this is no small recommendation to the stock of farmers
situated as we are, who wish to milk for some years and then
turn over to the butcher. But opinions differ on this point.

The Ayrshires have been imported into this country to con-
siderable extent. The most extensive herds in this State, are
those of George W. Lyman, of Waltham, and Luke Sweetser,
of Amherst.

There has been no Ayrshire herd-book published, tliough
some record of pedigrees seems to be as desirable for this race
as for some of the others.

The premiums offered for this race in the schedule referred
to, were the same as those for short-horns.

The list of entries of Ayrshires for the State Fair, were as
follows :- —

1. — Bull, " Prince Albert," owned by Leonard Hoar, Lincoln.
2. — Bull, " Wacliusett," 5 years old, owned by John Brooks, Jr., Prince-
ton.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 29

3. — Cow, " Effie," 10 years old, owned by William G. Lewis, Framing-
ham.

4. — Bull, " Young America," 3 years old, owned by A. S. Lewis, Fra-
mingliam.

5. — Cow, " Fanny," 5 years old, owned by A. S. Lewis, Framingham.

6. — Bull, " Zack Taylor, 2d," 2 years old, owned by Moses Newell, West
Newbury.

7.— Heifer, " Daisy," 2 years old, owned by Moses Newell, West New-
bury.

8. — Heifer, "Pink," 2 years old, owned by J. Cochran, Salem.

The committee appointed to judge on Ayrshires, submitted
the following

REPORT:

The committee were much disappointed in not seeing a much larger
number of this noted and valuable race of cattle for exhibition, there
being only offered for their inspection, four bulls, two cows, and two
heifers, none of which, in their opinion, claimed any decided superi-
ority in the family they belong to. This race of cattle, you are aware,
has the credit of producing a large flow of milk, a fair average not
being overrated at from forty to fifty pounds per day. The state-
ments of the two cows offered, fell far below that quantity, and your
committee could not, in justice to the Board, but withhold from them
the liberal premiums offered.

The two heifers were considered entitled to our commendation,
but your committee, by an unanimous vote, decided neither worthy of
the premiums.

Of three of the four bulls offered, we had some difficulty in deciding
upon their superior merits over each other, but on mature deliberation
award to Leonard Hoar, of Lincoln, for his bull, (Prince Albert,) the
first premium, $30 ; to John Brooks, Jr., of Princeton, bull, (Wachu-
sett,) the second premium of $20 ; to A. S. Lewis, of Framingham,
bull, (Young America.) the third premium of $10; all of which is
respectfully submitted.

WiJLLiAM Spencer, /or the Committee.
Lowell, Oct. 31, 1857.

HEREFORDS.

The Hereford cattle derive their name from a county in the
western part of England. Their general characteristics are a
white face, sometimes mottled ; white throat, the white gen-

30 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

erallj extending back on the neck, and sometimes, though
rarely, still farther along on the back. The color of the rest of
the body is red, generally dark, but sometimes light. Eighty
years ago the best Hereford cattle were mottled or roan all
over ; and some of the best herds, down to a comparatively
recent period, were either all mottled, or had the mottled or
speckled face. The expression of the face is mild and lively,
the forehead large, the eyes bright and full of vivacity, the
horns glossy, slender and spreading ; the head small, though
larger and not quite so clean as the Devons ; the lower jaw fine,
neck long and slender, chest deep ; breast bone large, promi-
nent and very muscular ; the shoulder blade light, shoulder
full and soft, brisket and loins large ; hips well developed,
and on a level with the chine ; hind quarters long and well
filled in ; buttocks on a level with the back, neither falling off
nor raised above the hind quarters ; tail slender, well set on ;
hair fine and soft ; body round and full ; carcase deep and well
formed, or cylindrical ; bone small, thigh short and well made ;
legs short and straight, and slender below the knee ; as handlers
very excellent, especially mellow to the touch on the back, the
shoulder and along the sides, the skin being soft, flexible, of
medium thickness, rolling on the neck and the hips ; hair bright,
face almost bare, which is characteristic of pure bred Herefords.

Hereford oxen are excellent animals, less active but stronger
than the Devons, and very free and docile. The demand for
Herefords for beef prevents their being used for work in their
native county, and the farmers there generally use horses instead
of oxen.

In point of symmetry and beauty of form, the well-bred Here-
fords may be classed with the improved short-horns, though they
arrive somewhat slower at maturity and never attain such
weight. The remark is sometimes made by good judges of
stock, that those who desire very much the general qualities of
the Devons, and yet want larger size, will find them combined
in the Herefords.

The Herefords are far less generally spread over England than
the improved short-horns. They have never been bred for milk
as many families of the short-horns have, and it is not very unusual
to find pure bred cows incapable of supplying milk sufficient to
nourish their calves. This system was pursued especially by

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 31

Mr. Price, a skilful Hereford breeder, wlio sacrificed every thing
to form, disregarding milking properties, breeding often from
near relations, and thus fixing the fault incident to his system
more or less permanently in the descendants of his stock. The
want of care and attention to the udder, soon after calving,
especially if the cow be on luxuriant grass, often injures her
milking properties exceedingly. The practice in the county
has generally been to let the calves suckle from four to six
months, and bull calves often run eight months with the cow.

But with the exception of the descendants of Mr. Price's
stock, it has been said that the Hcrefords are, in general, better
milkers than the pure bred short-horns ; though, as already
remarked, neither of these races have been bred with reference
to milking qualities, and neither would be kept for that purpose.

Though not so remarkable for early maturity as the improved
short-horns, yet the Herefords generally arrive at the Smithfield
market well fatted, at two years old ; and so highly is their
beautifully marbled beef esteemed, that it is eagerly sought by
the butchers at a small advance, pound for pound, over the
short-horn. They weigh less than the short-horns, but yield a
larger weight of tallow, which is one reason of the preference
for them.

In an experiment carefully tried in 1828, for the purpose of
arriving at the comparative economy of the short-horns and
Herefords, the latter gained less by nearly one-fourth than the
former, which had consumed far more food. The six animals,
three of each breed, were sold after being fed, in Smithfield
market, the Herefords bringing less by only about five dollars
than the short-horns, while the cost of food consumed by the
latter was far greater, and the original purchase greater than
that of the former.

The short-horn produces more beef at the same age than the
Hereford, but consumes more food in proportion. " In all the
fairs of England," says Hillyard, *' except those of Hereford-
shire and the adjoining counties, short-horn heifers are more
sought after and sell at higher prices than the Hereford ; but it is
not so with fat cattle, for with the exception of Lincolnshire and
some of the northern counties, they much prefer the Herefords.
Then at Smithfield, where the quality of the beef passes its final
judgment, the pound of Hereford beef pays better than the pound

82 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

of short-horn beef. Short-horn beeves produce at the same age
a greater weight, it is true, but they also consume more food.
I can easily conceive why, in the magnilicent pastures of Lin-
colnshire and some of the northern counties of England, they
may prefer the short-horns, and that is, that they may keep a
loss number on a given quantity of land, and only the short-
horn could, under these conditions, produce a greater weight of
beef per acre ; under all the varying conditions it is very
difficult to decide which of the two races in England (the two
best in the world) is the most profitable for stock raisers and for
the community." There are, even in Lincolnshire, many good
feeders who prefer the Herefords to the short-horns. One of
these, when visited the past season, had thirty head of cattle
feeding for the butcher, and only one short-horn. When asked
the reason of this, he replied : " I am a farmer myself, and
have to pay high rent, and I must feed the cattle that pay me
best. Perhaps you think it would be more in fashion to cover
my fields with short-horns ; but I must look to the nett product,
and I get much better Avith the Herefords. The short-horns are
too full of fat and make too little tallow, and they consequently
sell too low in the Smithfield market. Oar Herefords are better
and they sell better ; not as well, however, as those black Welsh
cattle you see down there ; but those are too difficult to fatten,
and if I sell them higher they cost mo more also."

Exceedingly high prices have sometimes been paid for first
quality Herefords for breeding purposes. As early as 1819 a
bull was bought by Lord Talbot, at about $3,000, and Mr.
Westcar, a large feeder of Herefords, sold several years ago,
six Hereford oxen in the Smithfield market for six hundred
guineas.

The Dowley herd, now owned by Mr. Goodell, of Brattlcboro*,
Vt., the herd of Mr. Clark, of Boston, kept at Granby, and those
of Mr. Sotham and Mr. Corning, of New York, are, perhaps,
most widely known of any in this country.

The Herefords owned by the State and kept at the State farm,
at Westborough, are from the Dowley importation. Cronkhill
3d was sired by Cronkbill, imported in 18o2 from Lord Berwick's
stock. His dam was " Milton," imported at the same time with
Cronkliill. The heifer " Cora," also out of Milton by Cronkhill,

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 33

is now two years old. She is a fine specimen of the breed, pos-
sessing remarkable beauty and symmetry of form.

The preceding remarks on the characteristics of this breed
were written before the interesting and valuable report of the
chairman of the committee came to hand.

For Hereford breeders, Eyton's Hereford Herd-book is an
important guide.

The premiums offered for this race at the State Fair were the
same as for the short-horns, as given on page 19.

The entries of Herefords were as follows : —

No. 1. — Cow, " Fanny," (imported) 9 years old, owned by O. C. Clark,

Boston.
2. — Cow, " Fanny 2d," 4 years old, owned by O. C. Clark, Boston.
3. — Cow, " Miss Sotham," 3 yeai-s old, owned by O. C. Clark, Boston.
4. — Cow, " Miss Wheeler," G years old, owned by 0. C. Clark, Boston.
5. — Bull, " Granby," 1 year old, owned by O. C. Clark, Boston.
0. — Steers, 3 years old, owned by Thos. J. Field, Northfield.
7. — Bull and four Cows, owned by O. C. Clark, Boston. (For herd

premium).
8. — Bull, " Cronkhill 3d," one year old, owned by the State, and kept at

the State Farm at Westborough. Entered for exhibition only.
9. — Cow, " INIilton," (imported) 7 years old, owned by the State, and

kept at the State Farm at Westborough. Entered for exhibi-
tion only.
10. — Heifer " Cora," two years old, owned by the State, and kept at the

State Farm at Westborough. Entered for exhibition only.
11. — Heifer Calf, 8 months old, owned by the State, and kept at the

State Farm at Westborough. Entered for exhibition only.

The committee on Hereford cattle for the show, submitted
the following —

REPORT:

The Herefords belong to the class of middle horns, according to
the arrangement of varieties of the ox adopted by zoologists. Like
their congeners, the Devons, the West Highlanders, and the cattle of
Wales, they are considered indigenous to Britain — that is, they were
found in certain districts of that kingdom at the earliest period to
which history or tradition reaches- The breed appears to have under-
gone some changes within the last century, which changes are chiefly
the result of systematic selection and breeding in reference to partic-
5*

34 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

ular purposes, and not the admixture of other blood. The first effort
of this kind, of which we have an authentic account, was made by
Benjamin Tomkins, of Wellington Court, Herefordshire, who, accord-
ing to Professor Low, commenced about the year 1766, with two
cows which evinced a singular disposition to fatten. Mr. Eyton, the
compiler of the " Herd-book of Hereford Cattle," states that he was
informed by the family of Mr. Tomkins, that one of these cows "was
a gray, and the other a dark red with a spotted face." The former,
Mr. T. called Pigeon, and the latter, Mottle. It appears that Mr. T.
kept two branches from these two cows — one of a gray color, called
the Pigeon branch, and the other of a red color, with white or mottled
face, called the Mottle branch — and they have been continued to
this day.

From the two cows mentioned, Mr. Tomkins bred a large herd, and
supplied other breeders with many choice animals during his lifetime,
and shortly after his death, in 1819, the entire stock was disposed of
at public auction. The prices obtained deserve notice. Fifty-two ani-
mals, among which were twenty-two steers, from calves to two-year-
olds and two heifer calves, brought the aggregate sum of £4,673 14s.,
averaging £89 17s. 6rf., ($445.37^) each. One bull sold to Lord
Talbot for £588, and several cows brought £215 to £273 each. The
stock was purchased by breeders in different parts of the kingdom, and
laid the foundation for many eminent herds. (See Herd-hook of
Hereford Cattle, vol. 1, appendix, pp. 1 to 23.)

The Herefords have not been largely introduced into this country.
The first importation of the breed, of which there is a clear record,
was made by the late Hon. Henry Clay, of Kentucky, in 1817. In a
letter from Mr. C. in regard to them, published in the American
Farmer^ 1822, it is stated that there w^ere two bulls and two heifers,
the total cost of Avhich, in EnglftiHl, was £105 sterling. It is not
stated who Avas the breeder of the stock, but the comparatively low
price paid would seem to indicate that they were not from a herd of
the highest repute.

In 1824, Admiral Coffin, of the Royal Navy, presented to the Mas-
sachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, a Hereford bull and
heifer. The documents accompanying them, stated that they were
bred by Sir J. G. Cottrel, whose stock was from Mr. Yarworth, and
his from Mr. Benjamin Tomkins, the first noted breeder of Here-
fords, before mentioned. The cow never bred. The bull was kept
for some time by the late Hon. Isaac C. Bates, of Northampton, and
died in that vicinity at the age of nineteen or twenty years, leaving a
progeny highly esteemed for general usefulness.

The largest importation of the breed, was made by Messrs. Corn-

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 35

ing and Sotliam, of Albany, in 1840, consisting of five bulls and
seventeen cows and heifers. To this herd was added other imported
animals in subsequent years. The stock has since been divided, and
both Mr. Corning and Mr. Sotham have made later importations.
Hon. L. A. Dowley, of Boston, in 1852, imported a bull and two
heifers, which were placed on his ftvrm, at Brattleborough, Vt. They
were bred by Lord Berwick.

The predominant characteristic of the Herefords, is a tendency to
fatten. In a paper by E. F. Wells, published in the London Farmers'
Magazine for February, 1848, the following sensible remarks are
made in regard to the properties of the Herefords : — " It is allowed
on all hands, I believe, that the properties in which Herefords stand
pre-eminent among the middle-sized breeds, are in the production of
oxen and their superiority of flesh. On these points, there is little
chance of their being excelled. It should, however, be borne in mind,
that the best oxen are not produced from the largest cows, nor is a
superior quality of flesh, such as is considered very soft to the touch,
with thin skin. It is the union of these two qualities which often
characterizes the short-horns ; but the Hereford breeders should
endeavor to maintain a higher standard of excellence — that for which
the best of the breed have always been esteemed — a moderately thick,
mellow hide, with a well apportioned combination of softness with
elasticity. A sufficiency of hair is also desirable, and if accompanied
with a disposition to curl moderately, it is more in esteem ; but that
which has a harsh and wiry feel, is objectionable.'' It is for beef,
chiefly, that they, as well as the "improved short-horns," and the
Devons are bred in England. They are more hardy than the short-
horns, and their beef is of better quality, commanding a price in the
English markets equal to any, except the Highland Scotch. As
oxen, they are active, with weight and strength equal to the perform-
ance of any labor usually required. The breed ranks next to the
short-horn in size. As to dairy qualities, they are as good as any
cattle in which the fattening tendency is as highly developed. They
give rich milk, and if it were desirable, the milking property might
be developed to a greater degree, but as it would be at the sacrifice,
more or less, of the fattening propensity, the breed would not proba-
bly be, on the whole, improved by this course. There is a place for
the Herefords, as the breed is at present constituted, in this country,
and so far as they have been fairly tried, they have given good satis-
faction. Wherever beef and labor are the leading objects for which
cattle are kept in New England, and the northern section of the
country generally, the Herefords are worthy of a thorough trial, inas-

36 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

much as the experiments heretofore made with them, indicate their
adaptedness to this purpose.

At the present show, only two lots of Herefords were exhibited,
viz., those belonging to the State Farm, at Westborough — offered for
exhibition only — and those belonging to O. C. Clark, of Boston. The
former lot consisted of the coav Milton, a two-year-old heifer, a year-
ling bull, and a heifer calf, all the offspring of this cow by Mr. Dow-
ley's imported bull, Cronkhill. Milton was also imported by Mr.
Dowley, and together with the heifer mentioned, was purchased at Mr.
D's public sale in 1855. She is a cow of good substance and fine
symmetry, with the exception of a little deficiency in the flanks. The
heifer is a superior animal — almost perfect in symmetry, and as a
grazier, seldom equalled. The bull is large, of good constitution,
and generally well made, but -with hardly the fullness of eye, or the
mellowness of skin that would be desirable. The heifer calf is very
promising.

Mr. Clark's lot consisted of nine head. Most of them were
derived from stock imported from England by William Chamberlain,
of Red Hook, N. Y. ; though one was purchased of Mr. Sotham, of
Owego, N. Y. One yearling and several calves were got by Cronkhill.
The committee award Mr. Clark the following premiums : —
For the best bull and four cows or heifers, " the herd premium " of
$50 — the animals being the bull Granby, fourteen months old, by
Cronkhill out of Fanny 2d, — the imported cow Fanny, nine years
old, — Fanny 2d, four years old, — Miss Wheeler, six years old, — and
Miss Sotham, three years old.

For the best bull, one year and under two years old, Granby, $15.
This is a well shaped animal, of good ^quality and constitution, but
rather small.

For the best cow, three years old and upwards, first premium. Miss
Sotham, $30. This is a very fine cow — compact, symmetrical, hardy,
and of firstrate handling quality. She htid a fine bull calf by her
side, by Cronkhill 3d, bred by Mr. Dowley.

For the second best cow, Fanny, $20. This cow was imported by
Mr. Chamberlain. She has a large, good frame, and good constitu-
tion, with an excellent hide and coat, though shown in rather low
condition. She had a beautiful heifer calf by her side, by Cronkhill.
These were all the regular premiums awarded under this head ; but
as the committee were authorized to bestow a " discretionary " pre-
mium for calves, they rjecommend that $10 be given to Mr. Clark
for the three exhibited by him.

A pair of half-blood Hereford steers, by Cronkhill, were brought
to the notice of the committee, by Thomas J. Field, of Northfield.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 37

They were three years old, large and thrifty. As there were no pre-
miums offered for this description of stock, the committee award a
gratuity to Mr. Field, of $25.

Ceeampots. — The committee were requested by one of the officers
of the Board, to examine some specimens of Col. Jaques's " Creampot "
stock exhibited on this occasion. They were a cow, a yearling heifer,
and a bull calf. These cattle have been bred by Col. J. for upwards
of thirty years, from a cross made between the imported short-horn
bull Ccelebes, and a (so-called) native cow. The cow here exhibited
is large, rather heavy in bone, but of fair symmetry, with a yellow
skin, rather too thin, but mellow. Her general appearance is indica-
tive of good dairy properties, which Col. J. assures us she possesses,
although he made no special statement in regard to her milk or butter.
The heifer is of good size, and of good appearance, as a milker, as
well as neat in form. The bull calf is from the cow just spoken of,
and his sire was also from the same cow — thus making the calf in,
question three-fourths of the blood of his dam. He is large enough,
has a neat head, good limbs, a mellow, but too thin skin, with fine,
soft hair. His first ribs are too flat, and he is too thin through the
chest, but in other respects his shape is not faulty. The color of all
these animals is red, as is that of all Col. J. has bred of this family for
many years. They have been bred from very close affinities, of which
the calf here alluded to, is an instance.

The chairman of your committee had intended to have made a more
particular report in regard to Col. Jaques's cattle, esjDecially in refer-
ence to the system on which they have been bred, together with a
statement of the results as developed by the animals from generation
to generation ; but circumstances have hitherto precluded the perform-
ance of that labor, and it is therefore for the present postponed.
San FORD Howard, of Boston,
Charles Pomeroy, of Northfield,
Elias Grout, of Ashland,
George M. Barrett, of Concord,
Elijah M. Reed, of Tewksbury,

Committee.

The next in order on the premium list were

THE JERSEYS.

The importation of Jersey cattle into this State has heen more
extensive within the last ten years than that of any other breed,
and the show of Jerseys at the State Fair was probably the best
ever made in this country.

38 BOAUD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

Opinions differ widely as to tlie comparative merits of this
race, and its adaptation to our climate and circumstances, and
the wants of our farmers. The most common decision, prevail-
ing among many, oven of the best judges of stock, is, that how-
ever desirable they may be on the lawn or in a gentleman's
park, they are wholly unsuited to the general wants of the prac-
tical farmer. This may or may not be the case. If the farmer
keeps a dairy farm and sells only milk, the quantity of which, and
not the quality, is his chief care, he can satisfy himself better
with some other breed. If otherwise situated, if he devotes his
time to the making of butter for the supply of customers who
are willing to pay for a good article, he may very properly con-
sider whether a few Jerseys or an infusion of Jersey blood may
not be desirable.

The Jersey race is supposed to be derived originally from Nor-
mandy,, in the northern part of France. The cows have been
long celebrated for the production of very rich milk and cream,
but till within a quarter of a century, they were comparatively
coarse, ugly and ill-shaped. Improvements have been very
marked, but the animal is still very far from satifying the eye
of a breeder. The head of the pure Jersey is fine and tapering,
the cheek small, the throat clean, the muzzle fine and encircled
with a light stripe, the nostril high and open ; the horns smooth,
crumpled, not very thick at the base, tapering, and tipt with
black ; ears small and thin, deep orange color inside ; eyes full
and placid, neck straight and fine, chest broad and deep, barrel
hooped, broad and deep, well ribbed up ; back straight from the
withers to the hip, and from the top of the hip to the setting on
of the tail ; tail fine, at right angles with the back, and hanging
down to the hocks ; skin thin, light color and mellow, covered
with fine soft hair ; fore legs short, straight and fine below the
knee, arm swelhng and full above ; hind quarters long and
well filled; hind legs short and straight below the hocks, with
bones rather fine, squarely placed, and not too close together ;
hoofs small ; udder full in size, in line with the belly, extending
well up behind ; teats of medium size, s(|uarely placed and wide
apart, and milk veins very prominent. The color is generally
cream or yellow, with more or less white, and the fine head and
neck give the cows and heifers a fawn-like appearance, and
make them objects of attraction in the park ; but the narrow

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 39

hind quarters, and generally poor appearance behind, meet many
objections among those who have been accustomed to prize full-
ness of form and square hind quarters.

It is asserted by Col. Le Couteur, of the Island of Jersey, that,
contrary to the general opinion here, the Jersey cow, when old
and no longer wanted as a milker, will, when dry and fed, fatten
rapidly, and produce a far greater quantity of butcher's meat,
than is supposed. An old cow, he says, was put up to fatten in
October, 1850, weighing 1,125 lbs., and when killed the 6th of
January, 1851, she weighed 1,330 lbs., having gained 205 lbs. in
ninety-eight days, on 20 lbs. of hay, a little wheat straw, and 30
lbs, of roots, consisting of carrots, Swedes and mangold wurzel,
a day. The prevailing opinion here is based on the general
appearance of the cow in milk, no experiments having been
made, to my knowledge, and no opportunity to form a correct
judgment from actual observation having been furnished ; and
it must be confessed that the general appearance would amply
justify the conclusion.

The common practice of allowing heifers to take the bull at a
year old or little over, can hardly be too strongly condemned.
It checks the growth of the animal, unless she is kept dry dur-
ing the third year, which is not apt to be the case, and otherwise
injures her constitution.

With respect to the profit of crossing our common stock with
the Jersey, too few experiments have as yet been made to afford
correct data on which to form an opinion. In a case of my own,
the Jersey bull and a grade Ayrshire cow have produced a
heifer, now two years old, which for beauty of form, docility of
disposition, and quantity and richness of milk, can with difficulty
be surpassed ; but one experiment proves nothing, and a series
of careful observations are needed to settle it conclusively.

As working oxen, there is no reason to suppose they would
be at all superior, nor indeed equal to the common stock of the
country, and they cannot, therefore, be recommended on that
ground.

Yet notwithstanding the current of opinion is strongly against
them so far as their adaptation to the farmers' wants is con-
cerned, their numbers have largely increased among us, and
there will be opportunity for the farmer to satisfy himself with
regard to the Jerseys, if he wishes to try them. In 1853 there

40 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

were only about seventy-five pure bred Jerseys in the State.
Now they are numbered by hundreds.

The largest herds in the State are those of Thomas Motley,
Jr., of Jamaica Plain; John P. Gushing, of Watertown ; Wil-
liam Spencer, of Lowell ; W. A. Harris, of Newton ; and the
beautiful herd kept by T. M. Stoughton, of Gill. Many superb
animals are owned by individuals who have not full herds of
Jerseys.

The premiums on Jerseys were the same as on short-horns,
the list of which was given on page 19.

The entries of Jerseys were as follows : —

No. 1. — Cow, " Fanny," 3 years old, owned by Ariel Low, Roxbury.

2. — Bull, " Caleb," 1 year old, owned by John P. Cusliing, Watertown.
3. — Cow, " Susy," 5 years old, owned by John P. Cushing, Watertown.
4. — Heifer, " Sallie," 1 year old, owned by John P. Cushing, Watertown.
5. — Ilelfer, " Sukie," 1 year old, owned by John P. Cushing, Watertown.
6. — Bull and four Cows, owned by John P. Cushing, Watertown. (For

herd premium.)
7. — Cow, " Flora," 7 years old, owned by Jonathan French, Roxbury.
8. — Bull, " Czar," 2 years old, owned by Jonathan French, Roxbury.
9. — Bull, " King Phillip," 2 years old, weight 1,085 lbs., and owned by
M. Hartwell, Littleton.
10. — Bull, " Major," 5 years old, owned by Thos. Motley, Jr., West

Roxbury.
11. — Cow, " Flora," 8 yeai-s old, owned by Thos. Motley, Jr., West

Roxbury.
12. — Cow " Susy," 7 years old, owned by Thos. Motley, Jr., West

Roxbury.
13. — Cow, " Flirt," 5 years old, owned by Thos. Motley, Jr., West

Roxbury.
14.— Cow, "Nelly," 3 years old, owned by Thos. Motley, Jr., West

Roxbury. »

15. — Bull, " Dick Swiveller," 1 year old, owned by Thos. Motley, Jr.

West Roxbury.
16. — Bull and four Cows, owned by Thos. Motley, Jr., West Roxbury.

(For herd premium.)
17. — Bull, " Bloomfield," 3 years old, owned by Aaron D. Weld, West

Roxbury.
18. — Bull, " Napoleon," 2 years old, owned by A. S. Lewis, Framingham.
19. — Heifer, " Effie," 1 year old, owned by A. S. Lewis, Framingham.
20. — Bull, " Fremont," 1 year old, owned by Thos. W. Pierce, Topsfield.
21. — Bull, " Napoleon," 3 years old, owned by Joseph Burnett, South-
borouah.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 41

No. 22. — Bull, " Emperor," 3 years old, owned by C. C. Field, Leominster.
2.3. — Bull, " Duke," 1 year old, owned by H. II. Ilnnnewell, Wi'st

Needham.
21. — Cow, " Daisy," 3 years old, owned by H. II. Ilunnewell, West

Needliam.
25. — Bull, " Napoleon," 3 years old, owned by Wm. Speneer, Lowell.
26. — Heifer, " Dolly," 7 months old, owned by Wm. Spencer, Lowell.
27. — Cow, " Ducliess," 7 yeai's old, owned by Wm. Speneer, Lowell.
28. — Bull, " Norfolk," 2 years old, owned by George B. Loring, Salem.
29. — Bull, " Tom Corwin," 5 months old, weight 390 lbs., and owned by

G. T. Thaeher, Dorchester.
30. — Cow, " Alice," 7 years old, owned by the State, and kept at the

State farm at Westboi'ough. Entered for exhibition only.

The committee ou Jersey cattle shown at the first exhibition of the
Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, having attended to that duty,
beg leave to submit the following

REPORT:

The number of animals entered for premium, was twenty-nine,
and the committee were much pleased at their great excellence as a
class ; indeed, it was a source of much disappointment to them, that they
were unable to award more premiums among so many truly merito-
rious animals. All of the cows and heifers entered of this breed,
were, with one expeption, obliged by the rules of the exhibition, to
be entered in one class, and as the committee had but three premiums
to award in each class, they were obliged to pass many deserving
animals, any one of which, under different circumstances, would have
undoubtedly received a premium. In fact, the twelve cows entered as
" three years old and upwards," were specimens of the Jersey breed,
such, as probably cannot be surpassed, as a class, in this country.

To the heifer " Effie," belonging to A, S. Lewis, of Framingham,
the committee awarded the second premium in her class ; had it not
been that her growth was retarded by an accident, she would
have undoubtedly received the first premium.

The bull calf "Norfolk," exhibited by Mr. George T. Thaeher, of
Dorchester, was a remarkably fine animal, also the heifer calf of Mr.
Spencer, but y^eur committee were not authorized by the rules to
award any premiums.

The cattle from the State farm at Westborough, were entered for
exhibition only.

Your committee would embrace this opportunity to impress upon
those interested in Jersey cattle, the importance of ascertaining with
6*

42 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

certaintj% the pedigree of their animals, so as to be able to trace them
back directly to the island of Jersey, as nnless that is done, there is
no certainty of their being of pure blood ; and without purity of
blood, the breed will assuredly deteriorate. Many animals are imported
into this country from England, under the name of Alderney cattle,
which is there understood to mean, cattle from any of the Channel
islands, (of which Jersey is one,) and the so called Alderney, may be
either a Jersey, a Gurnsey, an Alderney, or a mixture of any of them ;
or, it may be a French or Norman animal, which from their outward
resemblance to unpractised eyes, are brought over from France to Eng-
land, and sold under the name of Alderney cattle, by unprincipled
men who make it a business. The only way to obtain the pure Jer-
sey cattle, is to import them from the island of Jersey direct, or to
be able to trace directly to such imported animals. Your committee,
therefore, in their awards, have had due regard to purity of blood, as
the first great point of excellence.

Their awards are as follows : —

Herd Premiuvis. — For the best bull and four cows belonging to any
one person. First premium to Thomas Motley, Jr., of West Rox-
bury; second, diploma, John P. Gushing, Watertown.

Bulls, three years old and upwards — First, to Thomas Motley,
Jr., of West Roxbury, for " Major ;" second, to G. C. Field, of
Leominster, for "Emperor;"' third, to A. D. Weld, West Roxbury,
" Bloomfield."

Two years old and under three jears — First, to M. Hartwell, of
Littleton, for " Pliug Philip ;" second, to Geo. B. Loring, of Salem,
for "Norfolk;" third, to Jonathan French, of Pvoxbury, for " Gzar."

One year old and under two years — First, to Thomas W. Pierce, of
Topsfield, for " Freemont ; " second, to Thomas Motley, Jr., of West
Roxbury, for " Dick Swiveller ; " third, to H. H. Hunnewell, of West
Needham, for "Duke."

Cows (ind Heifers, three years old and upwards — First, to Thomas
Motley, Jr., of West Roxbury, for " Flirt ;" second, to J. P. Gushing,
of Watertown, for " Old Red ;" third, to William Spencer, of Lowell,
for " Duchess."

Two years old and under three years — No entries.

One year old and under two years — Second, to A. S. Lewis, of Fra-
miugham, for " Effie."

For the committee,

Wm. a. Harris, Chairman.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 43

GRADE OR NATIVE STOCK.

The term breed, properly understood, applies only to animals
of the same species, possessing, besides the general characteris-
tics of that species, other characteristics peculiar to themselves,
which they owe to the influence of soil, climate, nourishment
and habits of life to which they are subjected, and which they
transmit with certainty to their progeny. The characteristics
of certain breeds or families are so well marked that if an indi-
vidual supposed to belong to any one of them were to produce
an offspring not possessing them, or possessing them only in
part, with others not belonging to the breed, it would be just
ground for suspecting a want of purity of blood.

If this definition of the term breed be correct, no grade ani-
mals, and no animals not possessing fixed peculiarities or char-
acteristics which they share with all other animals of the class
of which they are a type, and which they are capable of trans-
mitting with certainty to their descendants, can be recognized
by breeders as belonging to any one distinct race, breed or
family.

The term " native," is applied to a vast majority of our New
England cattle, which, though born on the soil, and thus in one
sense natives, do not constitute a breed, race or family, as
properly understood by breeders. They do not possess charac-
teristics peculiar to them all, which they transmit with any
certainty to their offspring, either of form, size, color, milking
or working properties. But though an animal may be made up
of a mixture of blood almost to infinity, it does not follow that,
for specific purposes, it may not, as an individual animal, be
one of the best of the species. And for particular purposes,
individual animals might be selected from among those com-
monly called natives, equal and perhaps superior, to any among
the races produced by the most skilful breeding. There can be
no impropriety in the use of the term " native," tlierefore when
it is understood as descriptive of no known breed, but only as
applied to the common stock of the country, which does not
constitute a breed. But perhaps the vrhole class of animals
commonly called " natives," would l)e better described as grades,
since they are well known to have sprung from a great variety
of cattle procured in different places and at different times on

44 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

the continent of Europe and in England, and in the Spanish
West Indies, brought together without any regard to fixed prin-
ciples of breeding, but only from individual convenience, and
by accident.

The earliest cattle imported into the Plymouth colony, and
undoubtedly the earliest introduced into New England, were
brought over in 1624. At the division of cattle which took
place in 1627, three years after, one or two are distinctly
described as black, or black and white, others as brindle, &g.,
showing that there was no uniformity of color. Soon after this
date a large number of cattle were imported for the settlers at
Salem and vicinity ; and in 1631, '32 and '33, several importations
were made into New Hampshire by Capt. John Mason, who,
with Gorges, procured the patent of large tracts of land in the
vicinity of Piscataqua River, and immediately formed settle-
ments there. The object of Mason was to carry on the manu-
facture of potash, and for this purpose he employed the Danes;
and it was in his voyages to and from Denmark that he pro-
cured many Danish cattle and horses, which were subsequently
diffused over that whole region, and large numbers of which
were driven to the vicinity of Boston and sold. These facts are
authenticated by original documents and depositions now on
file in the office of the secretary of state of New Hampshire.
The Danish cattle are there described as large and coarse, of a
yellow color ; and it is supposed that they were procured by
Mason as being best capable of enduring the severity of the cli-
mate and the hardships to which they were to be subjected.
However this may have been, they very soon spread among the
colonists of the Massachusetts Bay, and have undoubtedly left
their marks on the stock of New England, which exist to some
extent, even to the present day, mixed in with an infinite multi-
tude of crosses with the Devons, the black cattle of Spain and
Wales, and the long-horn and the short-horn, most of which
were accidental, or due to local circumstances or individual con-
venience. Many of these New England cattle were of a very high
order of merit, but to what particular cross it is due it is impos-
sible to say. They make generally, hardy, strong and docile
oxen, easily broken to the yoke and quick to work, with a fair
tendency to fatten when well fed ; while the cows, though often

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 45

ill-shaped, are sometimes remarkably good milkers, especially as
regards the quantity they give.

I have very often heard the best judges of stock among us
say, that if they desired to select a dairy of cows for milk for
sale, they would go around and select cows commonly called
native, in preference to resorting to pure bred animals of any
of the established breeds, and that they believed they should
find such a dairy the most profitable.

But though we have already an exceedingly valuable founda-
tion for improvement, no one would pretend to deny that our
cattle are generally susceptible of it in many rc^spects. They
do not possess the size, the symmetry, nor the early maturity of
the short-horns ; they do not, as a general thing, possess the
fineness of bone, the beauty of form and color, nor the activity
of the Devons, or the Herefords ; they do not possess that uni-
form richness of milk, united with generous quantity of the
Ayrshires, but above all, they do not possess the power of trans-
mitting the many good qualities which they often possess, to
their offspring, which is a characteristic of all well established
breeds. The raising of cattle has now become a source of
profit, to a greater extent, at least, than formerly, and it becomes
a matter of great practical importance to our farmers to take
the proper steps to improve their stock. Indeed, the questions,
what is the best breed, and what are the best crosses, and how
shall I improve my stock, are now almost daily asked, and their
practical solution would add many thousand dollars to tlie
aggregate wealth of the farmers of Massachusetts, provided
they would all study and see their own interests. The time is
gradually passing away when the intelligent, practical farmer
will be willing to put his cows to any mere " runt" of a bull,
simply because his service may be had for twenty-five cents, for
even if his progeny is to go to the butcher, the calf sired by a
pure bred bull, particularly of a race distinguished for fineness
of bone, symmetry of form and early maturity, will bring a
much higher price at the same age than the calf sired by a scrub.
Blood has a money value, which will sooner or later, be gener-
ally appreciated and willingly paid for. The simple object of
the farmer is to get the greatest money return for his labor and
his produce, and it is for his interest to obtain an animal, a calf
for instance, that will yield the largest profit on the outlay. If

46 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

a calf, for which the original outlay was five dollars or two dol-
lars, will bring at the same age and on the same keep, more
real net profit than another, the original outlay for which was but
twenty-five cents, it is certainly for the farmer's interest to pay
the larger original outlay, and have the superior animal. Setting
all fancy aside, it is merely a question of dollars and cents; but
one thing is certain, and that is, that the farmer cannot afford
to keep poor stock. It eats as much and requires nearly the
same amount of care and attention as stock of the best quality.
And it is equally certain, that stock of ever so good a quality,
whether grade, " native," or thorough bred, will be sure to
deteriorate and sink to the level of poor stock, by neglect and
want of proper attention.

How then are we to improve our stock ? Not surely by indis-
criminate crossing, with a total disregard to all well established
principles. Not by leaving all the results to chance when they
are within our own control by a careful and judicious selection-
Two modes of improvement seem to suggest themselves to the
mind of the breeder, either of which, apparently, promises good
results. The first is to select from among our native cattle, the
most perfect animals not known or suspected to be related to
any of the well established breeds, and to use them as breeders.
This is a mode of improvement, simple enough, if adopted and
carried on with animals of any known breed, and indeed it
is the only mode of improvement which preserves the purity
of blood, but to do it successfully, requires great experience,
a good and sure eye for stock, a mind free from prejudice
and indefatigable patience and perseverance. It is absolutely
necessary also to pay special attention to the calves thus pro-
duced, to furnish them at all times, summer and winter, witli
an abundant supply of nutritious food, and to regulate their
food according to their growth and wants. Few men are to be
found willing to undertake the Herculean task, of building up
a new breed in this way. An objection meets us at the very
outset, which is, that it would require a long series of years to
arrive at any satisfactory results, from the fact that no two ani-
mals, made up as our " native " cattle are, of such a variety of
elements and crosses, could be found sufficiently alike to pro-
duce their kind. The principle, that like produces like, may
be perfectly true, and in the well known breeds it is not diffi-

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 47

cult to find two animals that will be sure to transmit their own
characteristics to their offspring, but with two animals which
cannot be classed with any breed, the defects of an ill bred
ancestry will be liable to appear through several generations,
and thus thwart and disappoint the expectations of the breeder.
The objection of time and expense and disappointment attend-
ing this method should have no weight if there were no more
speedy method of accomplishing equally desirable results.

The second mode is somewhat more feasible, and that is
to select animals from races already improved and well nigh
perfected, to cross with our cattle, using none but good
specimens of pure bred males. The offspring of these animals
will lie grades, but grades are often better for the practical
purposes of the farmer than pure bred animals. The skill
of the breeder is especially manifest in the selection of the male,
but this method of improvement requires less exact and practi-
cal knowledge than the first, from the fact that it is easier to
appreciate the good points of an animal already perfected, or
greatly improved, than to discover them in animals which it is
our desire to improve, and which are inferior in form, possessing
only the elements of improvement. It possesses also an immense
advantage, since results may be far more rapidly attained and
improvements effected which would be looked for in vain in the
ordinary life of man, by the first method, that of creating or
building up a race from the so called natives, by judicious selec-
tions. All grades are produced by this second method, but all
grades are not equally good nor equally well adapted to meet
the farmer's wants. It is desirable to know, then, what, on the
whole, are the best and most profitable to the practical farmer.

"We want cattle for distinct purposes, as for milk, beef, or
labor. In by far the majority of cases in eastern Massachusetts
and within forty miles of Boston, the farmer cares more for the
milking qualities of his cows, especially for the quantity they
give, than for their fitness for breeding or aptness to fatten.
These latter points become more important in the western parts
of the State where far greater attention is paid to breeding and
to feeding, and where comparatively little milk is sold as milk,
but in the form of butter and cheese. A stock of cattle that
might suit one farmer might be wholly unsuited to another,
and in each particular case, the breeder should have some

48 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

special object in view and select his animals with reference to it.
But there are some general principles that apply to breeding
everywhere, and which, in many cases, are not well understood.

It would not ho desiraljle, even if it were possible l)y crossing,
to breed out all tlie general characteristics of many of our native
cattle. They have many valuable qualities adapted to our
climate, soil, and the geological structure of the country, and
these should be preserved, while we modify the points in which
many of them are deficient, such as a want of precocity and
aptitude to fatten, coarseness of bone and want of symmetry
often apparent, especially when the form of the animal does not
indicate a near relation to some of the well known breeds.

It is a well known fact, that in crossing, the produce almost
invariably takes after the male parent, especially in exterior
form, in its organs of locomotion, such as the bones, the muscles,
&c. Particularly is this tlie case when the male belongs to an
old and well established breed, and the female belongs to
no known breed and has no strongly marked and fixed points.
Put a Galloway bull, for instance, to a Devon cow, and the
calf will be hornless. Put a ram without horns to ewes with
horns, and most of the lambs will be destitute of horns, that is,
they take the characteristics of the father rather than the dam,
and this rule holds good generally in breeding, though like all
other rules, it has of course, its exceptions. Hence, the first
principle which the good sense of the farmer would dictate,
would be to select a bull from a breed most noted for the quali-
ties he wishes to obtain, as perfect as possible, and especially
in the parts which it is most desirable to increase. A bull of
fine bone and other good points in perfection, will make up for
the deficiency of some of these points in the cow.

On the other hand, the internal structure of the offspring,
the organs of secretion, the mucous membranes, the respiratory
organs, &c., are generally admitted by breeders to be imparted
chiefly by the dam. Hence it has generally been found, that
by taking a cow remarkable for milking properties, though
deficient in many other points, as in the coarseness of bone and
in early maturity, and putting to her a bull remarkable for sym-
metry of form and fineness of bone, the offspring will be superior
to the cow in beauty of form and proportions, and still retain
the milking qualities of the dam. This principle is questioned

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 49

by some, who say that the milking qualities are transmitted
through the male offspring, but I believe it is sustained by the
experience of practical breeders. Mr. James Dickson, an expe-
rienced breeder and drover, says : " A great part of the art of
breeding lies in the principle oi judicious crossing, for it is only
by attending properly to this, that success is to be attained and
animals produced that shall yield the greatest amount of profit
for the food they consume. All eminent breeders know full
well that ill-bred animals are unprofitable both to the breeder
and feeder. To carry out the system of crossing judiciously,
certain breeds of cattle, sheep, pigs, &c., must be kept pure of
their kind — males especially ; indeed, as a general rule, no
animal possessing spurious blood or admixture Avith other
breeds, should be used. ♦ The produce in almost all cases assim-
ilates to the male parent ; and I should say that in crossing, the
use of any males not pure bred is injudicious, and ought to be
avoided." If, therefore, a cross is once effected with satisfac-
tory results, it should be continued by resorting to pure bred
bulls, and not by the use of any grade bulls thus obtained ; for,
though a grade bull may be a very fine animal, it has been
found that he does not transmit his good qualities with any
thing like the certainty of a pure bred one. The more desira-
ble qualities are united in the bull the better ; but the special
reason for the use of a pure bred male in crossing, is not so
much that the particular individual selected has these qualities
most perfectly developed in himself, as that they are hereditary
in the breed to which he belongs. The moment the line is
crossed and the pedigree broken, uncertainty commences ; and
although the form of the grade bull may, in individual cases, be
even superior to that of his pure bred sire, yet there is less likeli-
hood of his transmitting the qualities for which his breed is most
noted ; and when it is considered that during his life he may
scatter his progeny over a considerable section of country and
thus affect the cattle of his whole neighborhood, it becomes a
matter of no small public importance. And hence it was not
thought desiralile to encourage the raising of grade bulls by
offering premiums for them at the State Fair.

Another well known fact in natural history is, that the size of
animals depends very much upon the fertility of the region they
inliabit. Where food is abundant and nutritious, they increase
7*

50 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

in size in proportion to the quantity and quality ; and this size,
under the same circumstances, will run through generations,
unless interrupted by artificial means ; and so if the food is
more difficult to obtain, and the pastures are short, the pliancy
of the animal organization is such that it naturally becomes
adapted to it, and the animal is of smaller size ; and hence Mr.
Cline observes, that " the general mistake in crossing has arisen
from an attempt to increase the size of a native race of animals,
being a fruitless effort to counteract the laws of nature." Mr.
Cline also says in his treatise " On the Form of Animals : "
" Experience has proved that crossing has only succeeded in an
eminent degree in those instances in which the females were
larger than the usual proportion of females to males ; and that
it has generally failed when the male* were disproportionally
large. When the male is much larger than the female, the
offspring is generally of an imperfect form ; if the female be
proportionally larger than the male, the offspring is generally of
an improved form. For instance, if a well formed, large ram
be put to ewes proportionally smaller, the lambs Avill not be so
well shaped as their parents ; but if a small ram be put to larger
ewes, the lambs will be of an improved form." " The improve-
ment depends on the principle, that the power of the female to
supply her offspring with nourishment is in proportion to her
size and to the power of nourishing herself from the excellence
of her constitution ; as larger animals cat more, the larger
female may afford most nourishment to her young."

This would, perhaps, by some be regarded as another princi-
ple of breeding, that when improvement in form is desired, the
size of the female selected should be proportionally larger than
the male ; though Lord Spencer, a successful breeder, strongly
contested it, and Mr. Dickson, an excellent judge of stock,
advised the attempt to build up a new breed by selecting some
Zetland cows, a very diminutive breed of Scotch cattle, of good
symmetry, points and handling, and a high bred West Highland
bull to put to them. " The produce would probably be," says
he, " a neat, handsome little animal, of a medium size between
the two breeds. The shaggy hide, long horns, symmetry and
fine points of the West Highlanders would be imparted to this
cross, which would not only be a good feeder and very hardy,
but the beef of superior quality. The great point would, of

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 51

course, be the proper selection of breeding animals. The next
step towards improving this woidd be the crossing of these
crosses with a pure Hereford I)ull, which would improve the
size, and impart still finer points, more substance, with greater
aptitude to fatten. By coml)ining tliese favorite breeds, the
produce would, in all probability, be very superior, not only
attaining to good weights, but feeding well and arriving at
maturity at an early age. The breeder must not be satisfied
and rest here, but go a point farther, and cross the heifers of
the third cross with a short-liorned bull." These successive
steps imply the use of a bull of larger breed, though not neces-
sarily, perhaps, proportionally larger than the cow in any indi-
vidual case.

But though it is to the influence of the male that we are to
look for improvements in the form, size, muscular development
and general appearance of our stock, the influence of the female
is no less important, and undoubtedly the safest course to pur-
sue to obtain improved animals, is to select the best f-'rmed ani-
mals on both sides.

AVith regard to the particular breeds to select for crossing
with our natives, opinions will naturally differ widely. Those
who are favored with luxuriant pastures and abundance of
winter feed, will have no objection to large sized animals
and will naturally wish to obtain or possess grade short-horns ;
and there is no breed in the world to which it is more desirable
to resort under such circumstances, particularly where improve-
ment in form, early maturity, and general symmetry is sought
in union with other qualities. It is a remarkable and signifi-
cant fact, that the large dairies of London are nearly filled with
the short-horns, or short-horn grades, and the fact that this
breed is selected in such circumstances for the production of
milk to supply the milk market, speaks volumes in favor of this
cross. It is found that grade short-horns, after yielding extra-
ordinary quantities of milk, during which they very naturally
present the most ungainly appearance, will, when dried off and
fed, take on flesh very rapidly, and yield large weights of beef.
If the farmer is so situated as not to desire to raise his calf, but
to dispose of it at the highest price to the butcher, he will
obtain the greatest Aveight of veal and of the highest quality,
from the use of a pure bred short-horn or Hereford bull. But

52 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

on poorer pastures, where there is too little feed to bring young
stock to their most perfect development, the pure bred short-
horns and high grades of tlie short-horn are thought, by some,
to be too large, and consequently unprofitable. How far this
objection to them might be obviated by stall feeding or soiling,
and the use of roots, is for each one to consider who has these
facilities at command.

Of the smaller breeds, we have among us the Devon, the Ayr-
shire and the Jersey. All these breeds give milk of a very rich
quality. The Ayrshires have been bred with reference both to
quality and quantity, and the grades are usually of a very high
order. The best milkers I have ever known in proportion to
their size, have been grade Ayrshires, and this is also the expe-
rience of many who keep dairies for the manufacture of butter.
Though the Ayrsldre has never been considered a great favorite
with the butcher, yet a cross obtained from an Ayrshire cow ol
good size and a pure bred short-horn bull, will produce a stock
which it will be hard to beat, especially if the bull belong to
any of the families of short-horns which have been bred with
reference to their milking qualities, as some of them have.

An exceedingly good cross is got from an Ayrshire cow and
a Hereford bull, especially so far as the value of the meat is
concerned.

The pure bred Devon bull, put to a good, young native cow,
produces a beautiful and valuable cross, and if the cow is a
good milker to begin Avilh, there would be no fear of materially
lessening the quantity in the offspring, while its form and other
qualities would probably be greatly improved. The high charac-
ter of the grade Devons is shown in the awards of the committee
on grade stock. Grade Devons are also very much sought for
working oxen, and high prices are readily obtained for them,
while as beef cattle they are also very highly esteemed. On farms
where the making of butter is an ol)ject of pursuit and profit, an
infusion of Jersey blood will be likely to secure richness of milk
and high flavored, delicious butter. Many good judges of stock
recommend tliis cross for dairy purposes, and it is worthy of
careful trial. One thing is certain, that " if we would rear a
good race of milkers, having regard to the quality as well as the
quantity of their produce, it is absolutely necessary that we
should breed from stock tiiat has already acquired a reputation

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 53

in this respect," and then pay a far greater than the usual
degree of attention to them.

It should not be overlooked that the foundation of all suc-
cessful breeding, whether of pure breeds or crosses, is in good
feeding. A calf never develops the good points he possesses to
any degree of perfection on scanty and poor feed. Good feed
is especially desirable up to the age of two or three years.
When the constitution is fully established and the size well
attained, the necessity of feeding is not so great ; that is, the
animal will have attained some vigor of constitution, which will
enable it to go on and perfect and develop its good points with
less care. The calf should not be overfed, but kept in a thriv-
ing condition.

No better proof exists of the hardy constitution and the adap-
tation of our native stock, than the fact that so many of them
are so excellent, in many respects, notwithstanding the neglect
and want of nutritious and abundant food, from which so
many of them suffer, especially in the early part of their lives.
Large size and a full development can only be attained on
wholesome food and an abundance of it, when the frame of the
young animal is rapidly building up. If a man has valuable
blood animals, and wishes to make the most of them, he knows
lie must take care of them, and he does take care of them, for
without great care and attention they would inevitably deterio-
rate. Many of our " native " animals are equal to good pure
bred stock, even with all the hardships to which they are often
subjected ; and with equal care and attention, many more of
them would be of a superior order.

No premiums were offered on grade or native bulls. The
premiums on grade or native cows, both for the herds and single
animals, were the same as those offered on short-horn cows and
heifers, on page 19.

The entries of grade or native cows and heifers, were as
follows : —

I-^o. 1. — Bull, IS months, one-half Ayrshire, owned by Geoi-ge Babcock,

Brookllne.
2. — Cow and calf, former 5 years old, owned by Geo. R. Sampson,

Brookline.
3. — Four cows, grade Ayrshire, owned by John Brooks, Jr., Princeton.

(For herd premium.)

54 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

No. i. — Cow, " White Belly," halt" Ayrshire, 6 years old, owned by John

Brooks, Jr., Princeton.
5. — Cow, "Maiy," half Ayrshire, 6 years old, owned by John Brooks, Jr.,

Princeton.
C. — Cow, " Alice," three-fourths Ayrshire, G years old, owned by John

Brooks Jr., Princeton.
7. — Cow, " Speckled," three-fourths Ayrshire, 6 years old, owned by John

Brooks, Jr., Princeton.
8. — Heifer, seven-eighths Ayrshire, 2 years old, owned by John

Brooks, Jr., Princeton.
9. — Heifer, seven-eighths Ayrshire, 2 years old, owned by John

Brooks, Jr., Princeton.
10. — Heifer, seven-eighths Ayrshire, 2 years old, owned by John

Brooks, Jr., Princeton.
11. — Heifer, seven-eighths Ayrshire, 1 year old, owned by John

Brooks, Jr., Princeton.
12. — Heifer, seven-eighths Ayrsliire, 1 year old, owned by Jolin

Brooks, Jr., Princeton.
13. — Heifer, seven-eighths Ayrshire, 1 year old, owned by John

Brooks, Jr., Princeton.
1-1. — Bull, fifteen-sixteenths Ayrshire, 1 year old, owned by John

Brooks, Jr., Princeton.
15. — Heifer, fifteen-sixteenths Devon, 2 years old, OAvned by Harvey

Dodge, Sutton.
16. — Heifer, fifteen-sixteenths Devon, 2 years old, owned by Harvey

Dodge, Sutton.
17. — Cow, fifteen-sixteenths Devon, 7 years old, owned bj- Harvey Dodge,

Sutton.
18. — Cow, half Devon and half native, 7 years old, owned by Harvey

Dodge, Sutton.
10. — Heifer, grade, " Daisy," 2 years old, owned by Samuel H. Rhodes,

Concord.
20. — Four cows or heifers, grade Devon, owned by Harvey Dodge,

Sutton. (For herd premium).
21. — Heifer, " Cream Pot," 1 year old, owned by Samuel Jaques, " Ten

Hills Farm," Somerville.
22. — Cow and calf, " Cream Pot," 6 years old, owned by Samuel eJaqucs,

" Ten Hills Farm," Somerville.
23. — Cow, half Jersey and half native, 3 years old, owned by Marshall

P. Wilder, Dorchester.
24. — Heifer, half Jersey and half native, 2 years old, owned by IVIarshall

P. Wilder, Dorchester.
2'). — Cow and calf, grade, 3 years old, owned by John Brooks, Jr.,

Princeton.
26. — Cow, grade, 3 years old, owned by John Brooks, Jr., Princeton.
27. — Heifer, grade, " Nelly," 4 years old, owned by J. W. Ilollis,

Brighton.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 5i>

No. 28. — Heifer, grade, 3 years old, owned by Warren Ordway, Bradford.
29. — Heifer, grade, 1 year old, owned by AYarren Ordway, Bradford.
30. — Heifer, " Valley Maid," fifteen-sixteenths Durham, 13 months old,

owned by Thomas J. Field, Northfield.
31. — Bull, grade, 2 years old, owned by William Davis, Middleborough.
32. — Bull, grade, 1 year old, owned by William Davis, Middleborough.
33. — Bull, grade, 3 years old, owned by William Robinson, Jr., Barre.
34. — For herd premium, eight grade cows, by Wm. Robinson, Jr., Barre.
35. — Heifer, grade, 3 years old, owned by William R. Barrett, Barre.
36. — Heifer, grade, 2 years old, owned b)^ William R. Barrett, Barre.
37. — Bull, " The Czar," grade, 3 years old, owned bj^ William Adams,

West Brookfield.
38. — Bull, "Daniel Webster," grade, 17 months old,* weight 1,068 lbs.

owned by A. Nichols, Bradford.
39. — For herd premium, four cows, natives, by Asa G. Sheldon, Wil-
mington.
40. — Heifer, fifteen-sixteenths, grade Durham, 19 months old, owned by

Calvin Baker, Brimfield.
41. — Heifer, fifteen-sixteenths, grade Durham, 19 months old, owned by

Calvin Baker, Brimfield.
42. — Cow, half Durham and half Ayrshire, 6 years old, owned by Theo-
dore Prentice, Boston.
43. — For herd premium, four grade cows, owned by Henry Boyles,

Princeton.
44. — Heifer, two-thirds Ayrshire, and one-third Durham, 2 years old,

owned by Theodore Prentice, Boston.
45. — Cow, 6 years old, owned by Henry Boyles, Princeton.
46. — Cow, half Ayrshire and half native, 3 years old, owned by Henry

Boyles, Pi'inceton,
47. — Bull, grade, 3 years old, owned by William Adams, Jr., West

Brookfield.
48. — Heifer, " Beauty," grade, 1 year old, owned by S. W. Bufi'um,

Winchester, N. H.
49. — Heifer, " Red Rose,"'grade, 1 year old, owned by S. W. Buffum,

Winchester, N. H.
50. — Cow, grade, 10 years old, owned by Samuel Ellsworth, Barre.
51. — Heifer, grade, " Daisie," 2 years old, owned by Samuel Ellsworth,

Barre.
52. — Heifer, grade, " Lillie," 2 years old,[^owned by Samuel Ellsworth,

Barre.
53. — Heifer, grade, " Cora," 3 years old, owned by Samuel Ellsworth,

Barre.
54. — For herd premium, four grade cows and heifers, owned by Samuel

Ellsworth, Barre.
55. — Heifer, grade, 16 months old, owned by Dexter Washburn, Natick.
56. — For herd premium, four grade Devon cows, owned by Nathaniel

Dodge, Sutton.

66 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

No. 57. — Heifci", "Jennie," half Jersey, IS months old, owned by Thomas

W. Pierce, Topsfield.
.58. — Heilcr, " ]\Iollie," gVade, 2 years old, owned by C. F. Curtis,

Jamaica Plain.
.59. — Heifer, " Peggie," grade, owned by !Moses Newell, West Newbury.
60. — For herd premium, four grade Devon cows, owned by William

Fames, Worcester.
61. — Heifer, " Nellie," grade Devon, 2 j'ears old, owned by William

Fames, Worcester.
62. — Heifer, " Katie," grade Devon, 2 years old, OAvned by William

Fames, Worcester.
G3. — Heifer, " Flirt," grade Devon, 1 year old, owned by William

Fames, Worcester.
64. — Cow, grade Devon, 8 years old, owned by Wm. Fames, Worcester.
65. — Cow, grade Devon, 3 years old, owned by Wm. Fames, Worcester.
66. — Bull, " Hero," grade Devon, 2 years old, owned by S. A. Merrill,

Salem.
67. — Heifer, " Beauty," grade, 2 years old, owned by Samuel H. Rhoades,

Concord.
68. — Heifer, " Jennie," grade, 18 months old, owned by Freeman Ellis,

Roxbury.
69. — Heifer, " CowsliiJ," half Durham, 2 years old, owned by Samuel

Fllsworth, Barre.
70. — Heifer, " Brilliant," grade, 1 year old, owned by Howard Ford,

Roxbury.
71. — Heifer, " Camilla," grade, 3 years old, owned by George B. Loring,

Salem.
72. — Heifer, " Ada," half Jersey, 2 years old, owned by George B.

Loring, Salem.
73. — Bull, grade, 2 j^ears old, owned by Thomas Smith, Dedham.
74. — Heifer, " Myrtle," grade, 3 years old, owned by William Gowen,

Dorchester.
75. — Cow and calf, grade, 9 years old, owned by Thomas Munyan,

Boston.
76. — Heifer, " Nonsuch," grade, 18 months old, owned by Thomas Mun-
yan, Boston.
77.— Cow, " Bettie," grade, 7 years old, owned by S. A. Merrill, Salem.

The committee on " Native and Grade Stock," No. 6, submit the
following

REPORT:

A large proportion of the cattle of the farmers of Massachusetts,
being " native or grade stock," it was wise in the State Board of
Agriculture to offer liberal premiums for that class of cattle. And it

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 67

is a gratifying circumstance that a full response was made by the
farmers in that important department of farm stock.

The importation of English cattle, of the best blood, has been the
means of a great improvement of our stock, and great credit is due
to those individuals and societies who have taken the lead in that
good work. But it is yet a mooted question what breed of English
cattle will best mix or cross with our native cattle and produce the
best result. The Devons and the Ayrshires, when crossed with our
native cattle, have produced a progeny much superior to the native
parent. The Durham also, for early growth, has produced grade
cattle of superior size, and fattening and milking qualities. Bvit it is
supposed by some that the Jersey will not cross so well with our
native stock ; — producing, especially in the second and subsequent
generations, an inferior race — losing, to some extent, its peculiar
milking properties. But that is yet to be tested by experiment and
repeated trial.

A cross of the native and Devon produces cattle of fine form, beau-
tiful color and fair milking qualities. This fact was illustrated in the
cattle submitted to our examination ; — the first and other premiums
having been awarded to cows of that class. For some parts of our
State, where the pasturing is not of a very superior character, middling
sized cattle, undoubtedly, produce the most profit to the farmer.
Working oxen, which, at 7 years of age, will weigh from 3,200 to
3,500 pounds, are for many farmers the most valuable, as they can be
raised at the least comparative cost. But richer and more luxuriant
pastures will, advantageously, produce the larger Durham breed with
much profit.

The cattle of division No. 6, showed evident signs of nearly all the
English breeds — the Devon, Durham and Ayrshire predominating.
But quite a large nurnber of cows were, so far as we could judge, of
native blood ; showing that we have cows of that stock, equal, cr
nearly so, to any of the imported breeds.

Exhibitions like this will afford a great amount of information to
the practical and inquiring farmers of our State, and we shall thus
be able to arrive at correct conclusions on the great questions of native,
grade and thorough bred cattle.

The whole number of entries in this class was 69, including 8
herds of cows and 10 bulls, making a total of over 90 animals, all of
which were of a superior character. As only eleven premiums could
be awarded to these animals, the decision was an onerous and diffi-
cult duty. The committee gave unwearied attention to the matter
referred to them, — examining and re-examining all the animals several
8*

58 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

times, and hope they have done justice to all concerned. They award
the following premiums : —

Herds of four Cows. — Entry. — Number of herds entered, 8 ; first
premium to No. 10, Harvey Dodge, of Sutton, $50; second, to No.
3, John Brooks, Jr., of Princeton, diploma.

Cows three years old and upAvards — first, to No. 54, William Eames,
of Worcester, $30; second, to No. 41, Henry Boyles, of Princeton,
$20: third, to No. 29, William Robinson, Jr., of Barre, $15.

Cows two years old — first, to No. 50, N. Dodge, of Sutton, $20 ;
second, to No. 33, William Barrett, of Barre, $15 ; third, to No. 63,
Samuel Ellsworth, of Barre, $10. •

Yearling Heifers. — First, to No. 37, Calvin Baker, of Brimfield, $15 ;
second, to Nos. 7 — 9, John Brooks, Jr., of Princeton f 0 ; third, to
No. 26, Thomas J. Field, of Northfield, $5. To S. W. Bufi"um, of
Winchester, N. H., for two very fine yearling heifers, the committee
award a gratuity of $5.

Nos. 19 and 20, a grade cow and heifer entered by Marshall
P. Wilder, of Dorchester, richly deserved a premium. But as he
declined to receive it, we award him an honorary notice of the animals.

Bulls. — There were ten entries of grade bulls, all of them superior
animals. As it is the practice of the Board to encourage thorough
bred bulls, rather than those of mixed blood, no premiums were
ofi"ered. As an honorary premium is in many cases considered full
equal to a premium in money, and as the committee decreed several of
the bulls worthy of such a notice, we have awarded them as follows : —

No. 27, first honorary premium, W^illiam Davis, of Middleborough ;
No. 34, second, William Adams, of West Brookfield ; No. 35, third,
H. Nichols, of Bradford, on bull, "Daniel Webster."

Mr. Thomas Smith, of Dedham, also exhibited a fine grade bull,
" Jamestown," by " Beverly," dam Jamestown, a Suff'olk cow presented
to R. B. Forbes, by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, at the time of
his visit in the U. S. ship Jamestown, in 1854. This cow was a great
milker. " Beverly " was sired by " Colonel," a first prize bull in the
island of Jersey, dam " Flora," imported by Thomas Motley, Jr.,
and widely known as one of the best butter cows in the world.

Respectfully submitted,

Henkt W. Cushman, of Bernardston,
Henry R. Keith, of Grafton,
Wm. Buckminster, of Framingham,
Petee Harwood, of Barre,

Committee.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 59

William Robinson, Jr., in entering bis berd, submitted tbe
following

STATEMENT:

I offer for the herd premium, under the head of grade or native
stock, the following eight cows : " Cleopatra," three years old, bred
by myself, sired by the pure bred short-horn "Duke," (Am. herd-
book. — ) Dam, half short-horn. " Daisy 2d," three years old,
bred by me, sired by " Duke," as above ; dam, " Daisy," sired by
" Young Monarch." (Am. H. B. 1,149.) " Flora," four years old, bred
by S. Bemis, Jr., of Barre, sired by " Duke," as above ; dam, native-
" Lady Washington," six years old, bred by S. Bemis, Jr., sired by
Young Monarch, as above ; dam, native. " Fanny," eight years
old, bred by me, sired by "Hawthorn." (Am. H. B., 74.) Dam
half short-horn. "Jessie," eight years old, bred by me, sired by
" Hawthorn," as above. Dam, J- short-horn. " Fountain," ten
years old, bred by me, sired by " Young Monarch," as above. Dam,
native. " Victoria," ten years old, bred by G. J. Bemis, of Barre,
Bired by " Young Monarch." Dam, -| short-horn.

They were all sired, as will be seen, by thorough-bred bulls, whose
pedigrees are recorded in the herd-book, and are all with calf now by
my thorough-bred bull, " The Count."

I exhibit, also, " The Count," with my cov/s, although not required
by the rules of the Board to do so. Yet I consider a well bred sire
of the greatest importance to every herd.

He is three years old, bred by Jonathan Thorn, of Dutchess Co.,
New York ; sired by his imported bull St. Lawrence ; dam, imported
cow. Countess, which has recently been sold for $1,000. Full pedi-
gree in American herd-book, No. 1,028.

He has served 122 cows, at $5 per cow, besides my own cows, 21
in number, the past season. He has been stabled all the time during
the present season, but had been turned to pasture seasons before.
His feed has been three quarts of meal, with from 15 to 20 lbs. of
chopped hay per day ; he gained in weight from the first of May to
the first of September, a period of four months, 120 lbs., and served
most of the 140 odd cows within that time.

I have sold his calves from the cov/s Cleopatra and Flora, to be
taken as soon as dropped, for $50. I have an offer of $30 per head
for the calves of Jessie, Lady Washington and Victoria, if heifers.

It was not known to me during the time of trial, in June, the num-
ber required for the herd premium by the State, therefore, I give you
the statement of the trial of seven made at that time, and one made

60 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

of Victoria in July, she not being in milk during the trial of tho
others, as follows : —

Cleopatra, yielded during tho first seven days of June. 253| lbs.
milk. The three days following yielded 111^ lbs. of milk, from the
cream of which was made 5 lbs. of butter ; 22 lbs. of milk making a
pound of butter.

Daisy 2d, yielded during the same time, seven first days of June,
272 lbs. of milk; the three following days 110^- lbs. of milk, which
made 4 lbs. 9 oz. butter ; about 24 lbs. milk making a pound of
butter.

Flora, yielded during the first seven days of June 298 lbs of milk,
and the three following days 126^ lbs., which made 5 lbs. 2 oz. butter ;
21 lbs. milk making a pound of butter.

Lady Washington, yielded during the first seven days of June,
398^ lbs. of milk, the three following days 171 lbs. of milk, which
made 7^ lbs. of butter ; 22|- lbs. milk making a pound of butter.

Fannie, yielded during the first seven days 311^ lbs. of milk, the
three following days 141^ lbs. of milk, which made 6 J- lbs. butter,
less than 22 lbs. of milk making a pound of butter.

Jessie, yielded during the first seven days of June 293i lbs. of milk,
the three following days 128^ lbs. of milk, which made 6 lbs. of
butter; 21 lbs. of milk making a pound of butter. She had been in
milk fifteen months, having had her last calf in March, 1856. She
gave 60 lbs. of milk a day in June, 1856.

Fountain, yielded during the first seven days of June 381 lbs. of
milk, and the three following days 166^ lbs., which made 6 lbs. 14
ozs. butter ; 24 lbs. milk making a pound of butter.

Cheese was made from the milk of the seven cows during the first
seven days of June, and yielded 232 lbs. of cheese, from 2,207^ lbs.
milk, making one pound of cheese to about 9J- lbs. of milk. A
specimen of the cheese made at that time is presented for your
examination.

The seven cows made, during the three days trial, 41 lbs. 9 oz. of
butter from 955 lbs. of milk, making 1 lb. of butter to 23 lbs. of
milk. It will be seen that the milk which makes a pound of butter
will make 2J- lbs. of cheese.

Victoria, yielded during the first ten days of July, 507 lbs. of milk,
from the cream of which was made 21 lbs. of butter, 24 lbs. of milk
making a pound of butter. The weather during this trial was not aa
favorable for making butter as during the trial of the others.

My cov/s had no extra feed during the trial ; they were turned to
pasture the l5th/3f May, having no other food than pasture until the
10th of August, when they were fed once a day with corn-stalks till

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 61

20th September ; since that time they have had pumpkins once a day.
My dairy consists of 18 cows, one of which has been farrow this
season ; one lost her calf, and of the others I am raising five ; four
Sold at $10 per head, to raise ; two for $6 per head, to raise ; the
other five cows' calves were engaged for $25 ; two of them had
twins, which makes 18 calves raising, equal to the number of cows.
I have made from, my dairy 8,213 lbs. of new milch cheese, and 261
lbs. butter.

My cows are kept in the stable during the winter, except when out
to water. I keep litter under them all the time they remain in the
stable. Corn-fodder, straw, and poor hay is fed to them from the
time of putting up until the first of March, then good hay ; and from
the time of calving till they go to grass, a small allowance of grain
is fed. Extra expense in feeding I do not consider as profitable as
extra pains in the selection of animals for breeders.

John Brooks, Jr., also presented, with his herd, the following

STATEMENT:

I enter the following animals under Class one. Number 6, viz.:
Four cows for the herd premium : White-belly, half Ayrshire, 6 years
old, dropped her last calf June 25, 1857. Sold at six weeks old for
$9. Will calve again in April, 1858. Her live weight is 1,010 lbs.
Her yield of milk the first ten days of August, 1857, was 444 lbs,;
the first ten days of September was 439 J; lbs., in the twenty days
8831 lbs., which milk made 34 lbs. of butter ; 3.869 per cent, of the
milk Avas butter ; average daily flow of milk was 44.162 lbs. ; aver-
age daily flow of milk on her live weight was 4.372 per cent.

Cow, Mary, half Ayrshire, six years old, dropped her last calf in
March, 1857 ; will calve again in March, 1858 ; sold her calf at ten
days old, to raise, for four dollars ; her yield of milk first ten days in
June, 1857, vv'as 429 lbs. ; first ten days in September was 41 6^- lbs.,
which milk made 42 lbs. of butter ; yield of milk in twenty days
845J- lbs. ; daily flow of milk, averaged for twenty days, 42.275 lbs. ;
4.967 per cent, of her milk was butter ; her live weight is 1,120 lbs. ;
average daily flow of milk on her live weight, 3.774 per cent.

Cow, Alice, ^ Ayrshire, six years old ; dropped her last calf March
25, 1857, which I am raising ; it was worth at six weeks old, ten dol-
lars ; calves again in March, 1858 ; her live weight is 1,012 lbs. ; her
yield of milk for ten days in June, 1857, was 358 lbs. ; first ten days
in September 344| lbs., in the twenty days 702^ lbs., which milk

62 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

made 28 lbs. of butter; 3.984 per cent, of ber milk was butter;
average daily flow of milk was 35.137 lbs. ; average daily flow of
milk on ber live weight was 3.472 per cent.

Cow, Speckled, |- Ayrshire, six years old ; dropped her last calf
April 6, 1857; sold to raise at one week old, for $3.50; calves
again in April, 1858; her live weight 980 lbs.; her yield of milk
first ten days in June, 1857, was 327^ lbs. ; first ten days in
September, 316^ lbs., in the twenty days 643^ lbs., which made
25 lbs. of butter ; 3.883 per cent, of her milk was butter. Average
daily flow of milk was 32.187 lbs. ; average daily flow of milk on
her live weight was 3.284 per cent.

All these cows are grade Ayrshires, from the bull " McGregor,"
imported by the Massachusetts Society for the Promotion of Agricul-
ture, and presented by them to the Worcester County Agricultural
Societ)% except " Speckled," whose dam was one-half Ayrshire,
from the bull presented by John P. Cashing, of Watertown, to the
"Worcester County Agricultural Society.

KECAPITULATION.

Yield of milk of the herd in twenty days, 3,075|- pounds.

Yield in butter of the herd in twenty days, 129 pounds.

Average per cent, of the milk which was butter, 4.176.

Average daily flow of milk, for each cow of the herd, for twenty
days, 38.440 pounds.

Average daily yield of butter for each cow of the herd, 1.613
pounds.

Live weight of the herd, 4,122. Daily flow of milk on the live
weight of the herd 3.732 per cent.

Feed of herd, pasture grass only.

MILCH COWS.

In North Holland, the attention of the farmers is devoted
especially to the dairy and the making of cheese. They sup-
port themselves almost exclusively upon this branch of farming,
and hence it is held in the highest respect and carried to a
higher degree of exactness and perfection, perhaps, than in any
Other part of the world. They are especially particular in the
breeding, keeping, and care of milch cows, as on them their
whole success depends. The following characteristics of a well-
developed and well-kept milch cow, I translate literally from
an excellent and practical little treatise on The Dutch System

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 63

of Breeding Cattle, and Dairy Husbandry, recently published
by Ellerbrock. " She should have," he says, " a considerable
size, not less than two Amsterdam ells, or four and a half feet
girth, with a length of body corresponding ; legs proportionally
short ; a finely formed head, with a forehead or face somewhat
concave ; clear, large, mild and sparkling eyes, yet with no
expression of wildness ; tolerably large and stout ears standing
out from the head ; fine well-curved horns ; a rather short than
long, thick, broad neck, with large dewlap, well set against the
chest and withers ; the front part of the breast and the shoul-
ders must be broad and fleshy ; the low hanging dewlap must
be soft to the touch ; the back and loins must be properly pro-
jected, somewhat broad, the bones not too sharp, but well
covered with flesh; the animal should have long, curved ribs,
which form a broad breast-bone ; the body must be round and
deep, but not sunken into a hanging belly ; the rump must not
be uneven, the hip bones should not stand out too broad and
spreading, but all the parts should be level and well filled up ;
a fine tail, set moderately high up and tolerably long, but slender
with a thick bushy tuft of hair at the end hanging down below
the hocks ; the legs must be short and low but strong in the
bony structure, the knees broad with flexible joints ; the muscles
and sinews must be firm and sound, the hoofs broad and flat,
and the position of the legs natural, not too close and crowded ;
the hide covered with fine glossy hair, must be soft and mellow
to the touch and set loose upon the body. A large, rather long,
white and loose udder, extending well back, with four long
teats, serves also as a characteristic mark of a good milch cow.
Large and prominent milk veins must extend from the navel
back to the udder ; the belly of a good milch cow should not
be too deep and hanging. The color of the North Dutch cattle
is mostly variegated. Cows with only one color are no favor-
ites. Red or black variegated, gray and blue variegated ; roan,
spotted and white variegated cows are especially liked."

In the " Farmers' Encyclopaedia," the marks of a good milch
cow are stated as follows : " A milch cow, good for the pail as
long as she is wanted, and then quickly got into marketable
condition, should have a long and rather small head ; a large
headed cow will seldom fatten or yield much milk. The eye
should be bright, yet with a peculiar placidness of expression ;

64 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

the chaps thin, and the horns small. The neck may be thin
towards the head, but it must begin to tliicken, and especially
when it approaches the shoulder ; the dewlaps should be small ;
the breast, if not so wide as in sonic that have an unusual dis-
position to fatten, yet should be very far from being narrow,
and it should project before the legs ; the chine to a certain
degree flcsliy, and even inclining to fulness ; the girth behind
the shoulders should be deeper than is usually found in the
short-horn ; the ribs should be spread out wide, so as to give
as globular a form as possible to the carcass, and each should
project further than the preceding one, to the very loins. She
should be well formed across the hips and in the rump, and
with greater length than the milker generally possesses ; or if a
little too short, not heavy. If she stands a little long on the
legs, it must not be too long. The thigh somewhat thin, with
a slight tendency to crookedness, or being sickle-hammed-
behind. The tail thick at the upper part, but tapering below ;
and she should have a mellow hide, and but little coarse hair.
Common consent has given to her large milk veins. The udder
should rather incline to be large in proportion to the size of the
animal, but not too large ; its skin thin and free from lumps in
every part of it ; and teats of a moderate size."

The characteristics and the treatment of milch cows are
wortliy of the devoted study and attention of every farmer.
Good ones yield more profit with less trouble than almost any
other brancli of farming. Poor ones cost nearly as much to
keep and return a far less net profit in proportion.

The premiums for milch cows, five years old and over, and
three years and under five, were the same as those ofiered for
short-horn cows of those ages, given above.

The entries in this division were as follows : —

No. 1. — Cow, " Fannie," 2 years old, owned by O. Farnsworth, Waltham.
2. — Cow, " White Belly," 6 years old, owned by John Brooks, Jr.,

Princeton.
3.— Cow, " Mary," G years old, owned by John Brooks, Jr., Princeton.
4. — Cow, " Buffalo," 14 years old, owned by Philip L. Osborn, South

Danvers.
5. — Cow, " Polly," 8 years old, owned by John W. Hollls, Brighton.
6. — Cow " Fountain," 10 years old, owned by William Robinson, Jr.,

Barre.
7. — Cow, " Jessie," 8 years old, owned by Willlaua Robinson, Jr., Barre.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 65

No. 8. — Co-w, " Lady Washington," 6 years old, owned by William Rob-
inson, Jr., Barre.
9. — Cow, " Nonsuch," 5 years old, owned by Asa G. Sheldon, Wil-
mington.

10. — Cow, " Lillie," 8 years old, owned by Asa G. Sheldon, Wil-
mington.

11- — Cow, " Daisie," 10 years old, owned by Samuel Ellsworth, Barre.

12. — Cow, " Fannie," 6 years old, owned by Wm. Eames, Worcester.

13. — Heifer, native, 2 years old, owned by Leonard Hoar, Lincoln.

14. — Heifer, " Susie," seven-eighths Ayrshire, 3 years old, owned by
John Brooks, Jr., Princeton.

15. — Cow, " Lois," Devon grade, 4 years old, owned by Philip L.
Osborn, South Danvers.

16. — Cow, " Flora," 4 years old, owned by Wm. Robinson, Jr., Barre.

17. — Cow, " Cleopatra," 3 years old, owned by William Robinson, Jr.
Barre.

18." — Cow, " Daisie," 3 years old, owned by Wm Robinson, Jr., Barre.

19. — Cow, " Jennie," 3 yeai's old, owned by Samuel Ellsworth, Barre.

20. — Cow, " Floi-a," 4 years old, owned by William Eames, Worcester.

21. — Cow, " Sukie," 4 years old, owned by Samuel Ellsworth, Barre.

The committee upon milch cows, live years old and over,
submitted the following

REPORT:

The number of entries for the premiums of the society in this class
was eleven, all of them as far as the committee could judge, very
superior animals, as regarded their milking qualities.

No statements of the quality or quantity of the milk and butter
produced were filed with the secretary, and we could not learn that
any were required by the regulations of the society ; an error
which should be avoided in all future exhibitions. Some of the
exhibitors gave such statements to the committee in writing, and from
others we collected many facts in answer to our inquiries ; a method
altogether too loose in matters of so much importance in deciding the
relative claims to premiums.

The committee, from all the facts they could collect, and after a very
careful examination of the animals, made the following awards : —

The 1st premium to William Robinson, Jr., of Barre, for his fine
cow " Jessie," -^ Durham, J- native.

The 2d premium to Samuel Ellsworth, of Barre, for his large
cow, ^ Durham, i native.
9*

66 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

The 3d premium to William Eames, of Worcester, for his cow,
Fanny, ^ Devon and ^ native.

Your committee think that the farmers of Massachusetts have not
given sufficient attention to the production of milk, forming as it
does a portion of the sustenance of almost every family in its simple
form, and entering still more largely into general consumption in the
form of butter and cheese, it takes rank at once as one of our lead-
ing agricultural productions ; and it becomes a question of the highest
importance to the farmer, how the largest production and the best
quality can be obtained with the least expense in fodder. As a gen-
eral rule, grass in the summer and hay in the winter, will form the
principal food of our stock, and to what extent, and in what propor-
tion, we may substitute for these grain or roots, so as to obtain the
largest relative returns, is a question by no means decided by actual
experiment — and the farmers who shall settle this question by a series
of such experiments carefully conducted, will make a large addition
to the profits of agriculture in Massachusetts.

Your committee found a great difference of opinion in regard to
the value of the different breeds of cattle for the dairy ; and they
would suggest, whether this may not be owing in no small degree to
the great variety of pasturage fi.und in the different portions of the
State. Cannot the State agricultural society, by a careful collection of
facts and results upon these and similar subjects, do much to reduce
agriculture to a more exact science, and thus enable the young
farmer to enjoy the benefit of the larger experience of those, who for
H series of years by careful, well-conducted experiments, have sought
out the most approved methods of agriculture.
For the committee,

William Mixtek, Chairman.
Boston, July 21, 1857.

The committee on milch cows, under five years old, submit-
ted the following

REPORT:

The committee on milch cows, under five years old, award the first
piemium to Warren Ordway, of Bradford.

Second premiiim to William Robinson, Jr., of Barre, for his cow,
" Flora."

Third premium to Samuel Ellsworth, of Barre.

The report of a committee, to be of value, should be made up of
facts. Opinions and speculations, vague and uncertain as they gen-

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 67

erally are, convey no informalion and are often detrimental to the
cause which they attempt to defend. We shall therefore advance no
theories, nor attempt to draw inferences, but confine ourselves to a
brief statement descriptive of the prize animals in this class.

It is a fact worthy of note that the number of young cows entered,
was small. Scattered all over the Commonwealth are very many
superior cows, and is it not a matter worth consideration, whether
some method cannot be devised to bring them out at a State exhi-
bition, even if their owners cannot be persuaded to exhibit them at
the County shows?

As it is supposed by many, that some breeds of cattle are very much
superior to others for dairy purposes, and that these superior breeds
are all foreigners, and in order to be superior must have a long family
record, we will give such facts as we could ascertain respecting the
pedigree of the cow to which we have awarded the first prize.

Her dam and grand-dam, both very superior cows, were kept until
they faltered by reason of old age. The grand-dam was calved before
pedigrees were in vogue, but her ancestors on both sides and for
many generations, probably lived and died in this State. Her dam
was sired by a bull, supposed to have a fraction of short-horn blood
in his composition. She herself was got by a red bull, which might
or might not have had a mixture of Devon blood. Her color is red,
but she has no other Devon characteristic. In fact it is of a less florid
shade than the North Devon, and approaches more nearly to the color
of the Sussex cattle. She was three years old last spring, and dropped
her second calf the 9th day of June, last, and her record of milk com-
mences the loth. Butter has not ordinarily been made from the
milk ; but the little which has been churned commends its quality.
She fed in a good pasture during the thirteen weeks of which an
account is given, and had very little beside — not the equivalent of
one quart of meal per day. Her condition abundantly evidenced this
fact.

With a thin chap and rather long face, horns not large and not
purely white ; ewe- necked; skin yellow, thin and delicate to the
touch ; narrow in the breast and hollow at the back of the shoulder ;
ribs wide apart ■ and flat-sided, rather than barrel-shaped ; a large
belly, broad hips and thin thighs, in every part the opposite of com-
pactness in form ; large, crooked, sub-cutaneous veins extending well
forward; an escutcheon of high order, and a capacious, fleshless
udder, looking as if it was made on purpose to contain milk, — she
was, to the unpracticed eye, a homely, lean, ill-looking beast, to be
passed without notice other than wonder that she should have been
sent to the show. Yet, although she was not above ordinary medium

68

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

LJ an.

size and without beauty of form, without fat, and v/ithout valuable
blood except that which made her old grand-dam valuable, she was
by far the best cow on exhibition in this class. The connoisseur of
milking stock would have marked her in a crowd, and her record
below would have justified his expectations.

The other two premium cows, were grade Durhams. The state-
ment of Mr. Robinson is annexed. His cow in form, size, and gen-
eral features showed that she was what he represented her to be.
Both were of course much larger and much better for the grazier than
Mr. Ordway's cow, and in sections where milk is of secondary
importance to beef, would be the most valuable animals. But where
the contrary is the case as in Massachusetts, they have no particular
title to commendation. They were awarded the prizes because they
were very good cows, and in the opinion of the committee better
entitled to ihem than their competitors. To say, however, that they
were very superior animals in their class, would be more than their
appearance and promise can justify.

Submitted for the committee,

T. E. Payson, Chairman.

Account of Milk for thirteen weeks, of three years old Heifer, owned
by Warren Ordway, of Bradford, Mass., commencing June
15, 1857.

June 15, 37 lbs.

July 8, 42 lbs.

July 31, 33 lbs.

Aug. 23, 31—221

16,33

9,42

Aug. 1, 31

Aug. 24, 32 lbs.

17,34

10,42

2, 31—229

25,33

18, 35

11,44

Aug. 3, 31

26,' 33

19,41

12, 41—295

4, 32

27,33

20,39

Julyl3, 40 1bs.

5,33

28,33

21, 35—254

14,40

6,34

29,33

June 22, 40 lbs.

15,40

7,34

30, 30—227

23,41

16,39

8,35

Aug. 31, 30 lbs.

24,41

17,40

9, 35—234

Sept. 1,29

25,43

18,39

Aug. 10, 33 lbs.

2, 29

26,42

19, 37—275

11,33

3,29

27,42

July 20, 35 lbs.

12, 33

4,28

28, 40—289

21,36

13,32

.5,29

June 29, 41 lbs.

22,35

14, 32

6, 29—203

30,42

23,35

15,32

Sept. 7, 29 lbs.

July 1, 41

24, 37

16, 32—227

8,29

2,40

25,37

Aug. 17, 32 lbs.

9,29

3,42

26, 36—251

18, 32

10,28

4,40

July27, 33 1bs.

19,32

11,28

5, 42—288

28, 33

20,32

12, 28

July 6, 42 lbs.

29,33

21, 31

13, 29—200

7,42

30, 35

22, 31

1858.]

SENATE— No. 4.

69

Week ending June 21,

" 28,

July 5,

" 12,
" 19,
" 26,
Aug. 2,
" 9,

2rA
289
288
295
275
251
229
234

Week ending Aug. 10,

u a 23,

" "• " 80,

" " Sept. 6,

u 13^

227
221
227

203
200

Whole amount, 3,193

Milk measure, 319^*^ gallons ; per day, 14 quarts.
Lawful measure, 399-^ gallons ; per day, 17-|- quarts.

The following statement was made by William Robinson, Jr.
of Barre : —

The cow, Flora, which I present for premium, at the State Fair,
Class 1, No. 7, bred by Silas Bemis, Jr., of Barre, was calved in May,
1853, sired by Duke; dam, native; has had three calves; had
her last in April, and sold to raise ; is to calve again in March, by
Tbe Connt ; ber next calf sold to raise, for $25, as soon as dropped.
Her daily weight of milk for the ten first days of June, was as
follows : —

Pounds— Morning.

Pounds— Evening.

Total pounds.

June 1, .

20

21

41

June 2, .

20f

22

42f

June 3, .

20^

221

42|

June 4, .

20^

2H

41-1

June 5, .

2U|

21

41|

June G, .

22

23^

45i

June 7, .

21i

22i

43i

June 8, .

19

20

39

June 9, .

20f

21|

42^

June 10, .

21f

23

44f

Total, .

424|

Five pounds two ounces of butter were made from the milk of the
8th, 9th, and 10th days of June ; 21 lbs. of milk makes a pound of
butter. Remainder of the season m.anufactured with the milk of the
others.

70 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

WORKING OXEN.

As already observed, the working oxen of New England are
deservedly renowned for their activity, strength, docility and
training. In these respects they are, perhaps, unsurpassed by
any in the world. Sprung as they have from the greatest
variety of sources, with a strain of blood from tlie old yellow
Denmarks, another from the early importations of the colonists
from the mother country, another from the black Spanish cattle,
traces of which remain to this day, another from the imported
and valuable long-horns, and the importations of short-horns,
which have been frequent within the last forty years, and others
still from the Devons, unrivalled among the pure bloods, for
working cattle, they are eminently adapted in many respects to
the climate and the wants of our farmers. This high character
of our working cattle is due to a variety of circumstances, one
of the most important of which is, perhaps, the fact that the use
of oxen instead of horses on the small and often hard farms of
New England, has led us to rely almost exclusively upon them,
and made it necessary to train them.

A celebrated agriculturist and breeder, of Pennsylvania, John
Hare Powell, once said: "I should ascribe the extraordinary
performance of New England cattle to the skill, sagacity, singu-
lar steadiness, and peculiar firmness of the men — to care in
selection, and to the face of the country in which they are bred."
Mr. Powell, who was well known in his day as a man of large
practical experience and extensive and careful observation
on these points, gave his opinion with regard to the compara-
tive merits of the working cattle of old and New England as
follows : —

" Have any instances been brought wherein it appears that,
in activity, patience or strength, they have in Great Britain,
surpassed the oxen of Massachusetts or New York ? I have never
seen in Europe performance of oxen comparable to that, wliich
in Massachusetts would scarcely be remarked."

This high encomium is probably very just, since it is con-
firmed by the testimony of many intelligent Englishmen who
have witnessed the splendid performances of our cattle. On a
recent visit to Kentucky aiid some of the western States, I had
occasion, in one or two instances, to sorvo ou committees on

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 71

working cattle, and consequently had every opportunity to
observe tliem with particular care. In point of form, symmetry
and development, many of them would compare favorably with
the best cattle in this State, but in point of intelligence and
training I did not see a yoke that would not have been ruled off
the ground at a New England cattle show. The drivers, in nearly
every case, used a line or rope attached to the horn of the near
ox, one end of which he held in his hand, and could not drive
without. The idea of ploughing with a yoke of oxen without a
driver was a thing which seemed never to have been heard of.
It is well known that no cattle among us would be considered
" broken " or trained, which, after the age of four or five years,
would not plough without a driver equally well, or even better,
than with one.

But in one respect our working oxen would be improved by
a cross of our native cows and a pure bred Hereford or Devon
bull, and that is, the greater easo with which they would be
matched. Half-bloods of either of these races make very beau-
tiful and valuable cattle, improved in shape and fineness of
bone and uniformity of appearance. Such cattle arc often to
be met with, and always excite the admiration of the beholder.
They are quick, good workers, and w'hen no longer wanted for
the yoke, feed well and make beef of an excellent quality, well
laid on the most valuable parts. We want cattle that possess
such qualities, good workers and good feeders when the time
comes to prepare them for the butcher.

The premiums offered for working oxen, at the State Fair,
were as follows : —

Four years old and upwards — 1st premium, $50 ; 2d, ^10 ; 3d, $30 ; ith,
$20 ; 5th, SJIO.

Two years old and under four— 1st premium, $30 ; 2nd, $20 ; 3d, $15 ; 4th,
$10 ; 5th, $5.

The list of entries in this division was as follows : —

No. 1. — Steers, grade, G months old, owned by George Babcock, Brookline.
2. — Oxen, 6 years old, owned by Wm. Thompson, North Bridgewater.
3. — Oxen, 4 years old, owned by Nathan Brooks, Acton.
4. — Oxen, 5 years old, weight, 3,270 lbs., owned by Nathan Brooks,

Acton.
5. — Oxen, native, 7 years old, owned by Leonard Hoar, Liacolu.

72 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

No. 6. — Oxen, grade Ayrshire, 6 years old, weight, 3,570 lbs., owned by

Isaac Osgood, Newton Lower Falls.
7. — Oxen, native, 5 years old, owned by Rufus King, Sutton.
8. — Steers, native, 3 years old, owned by Rufus King, Sutton.
9. — Oxen, 4 years old, weight, 2,340 lbs., owned by Calvin D. Nourse,

Shrewsbury.
10. — Oxen, half Devon, 6 years old, owned by William Buckminster,

Framingham.
11. — Oxen, grade Devon and native, 5 years old, weight, 3,200 lbs.,

owned by G. C. Sanborne, Westborough.
12. — Oxen, native, 6 years old, weight, 3,600 lbs., owned by Anson

Warren, Westborough.
13. — Oxen, grade Devon, 4 years old, weighed 2,850 lbs., owned by

Nathan B. Reed, Princeton.
14. — Oxen, one pair, 7 years old, weighed 3,030 lbs., owned by John B.

Moore, Concord.
15. — Oxen, one pair, 4 years old, owned by Horace Sheldon, Wilmington.
16. — Steers, one pair, 1 year old, weighed 2,060 lbs., owned by Henry

Johnson, Millbury.
17. — Steers, one pair, 3 years old, weighed 3,350 lbs., owned by S. W.

Buffum, Winchester, N. H.
18, — Steers, one pair, 1 year old, weighed 1,800 lbs., owned by S. W.

BufFum, Winchester, N. H.
19. — Steers, one pair, 3 years old, owned by Nathaniel Dodge, Sutton.
20. — Oxen, one pair, 4 years old, owned by Nathaniel Dodge, Sutton.
21. — Oxen, one pair, 4 years old, owned by T. J. Pinkham, Chelmsford.
22. — Steers, one pair, 1 year old, owned by George B. Loring, Salem.
23. — Oxen, one pair, 4 years old, owned by L. Maynard, Bradford.

The committee on working oxen and steers, consisting of
Harvey Dodge, of Sutton; Aaron D. Weld, of Roxbury ; Asa
G. Sheldon, of Wilmington ; I. Osgood Loring, of North Ando-
ver, and P. P. Severance, of Greenfield, made the following

E E P O R T :

At an early hour on Tuesday, the first day of the exhibition, your
committee, as above, all reported themselves as ready and anxious to
serve, to the best of their ability, in testing the qualities of 23 yoke
of oxen and steers which had been duly entered for their inspection.
No individual member of this committee ever intimated that he wished
to be released from working on this committee, as is too often the
case, but each and every one of them seemed willing and anxious to
devote their time patiently and earnestly to the work, which lasted
nearly two days, in examining the oxen in the ring, on the cart and in

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 73

the pens. And it gives me much pleasure to be ahle to state, that in
no instance was the chairman called upon for his opinion in making
up the awards ; in short, they were unanimous in every instance in the
awards, except in that to Nathaniel Dodge, of Sutton, who offered a
pair of three year old steers for the $30 premium, and in this your
chairman interfered and recommended, for want of competition, only
615 be given to him, and the value of $15 to another and unfortu-
nately an unsuccessful competitor in working oxen, which request
was most cheerfully complied with. And the awards were as follows,
viz. : —

The first premium to John B. Moore, of Concord, for his twin 7
years old oxen, weighing 3,930 lbs., $50 ; to Nathan B. Reed, of
Princeton, for his 4 years old grade Devon oxen, weighing 2,700 lbs.,
the second premium of $40 ; the third premium of $30, to Nathaniel
Dodge, of Sutton, for his 4 years old cattle, high grade Devon, weigh-
ing 2,650 lbs. ; the fourth premium of $20, to Horace Sheldon, of
Wilmington, for his 4 years old oxen, weighing, 2,870 lbs. ; to L.
Maynard, of Bradford, the fifth premium of $10, for his 4 years old
twin cattle, weighing 3,000 lbs.

In the second class r'of our department, we find offered for two
year olds and under four, five premiums; and no entry of any
cattle under this class was offered, except a yoke of three year old
steers, by Nathaniel Dodge, of Sutton, which were truly good steers,
and perhaps worthy of the first premium ; but for want of competition,
your committee award Mr. Dodge $15, and strongly recommend the
balance of $15 to G. C. Sanborn, of Westborough, for his five years
old oxen, weighing 3,200 lbs. ; and your committee regret exceedingly
that they had not a larger and more worthy premium to bestow on
these cattle as well as their driver, who came near being perfect. Next
your committee recommend a premium of $10 to Rufus King of
Sutton, for his native 5 years old oxen.

They also recommend to T. J. Pinkham, of Chelmsford, for his 4
years old oxen ; to William Buckminster, Esq., of Framingham, for
his twin 6 years old cattle, Devon and native ; to Leonard Hoar, of
Lincoln, for his beautiful 4 years old oxen, weighing 3,245 lbs. ; to
Calvin D. Nourse, of Shrewsbury, for his oxen, 4 years old ; also,
to Anson Warren, of Westborough, for his 6 years old oxen, weighing
3,600 lbs. ; a gratuity of ten dollars each or a diploma, believing
as we do that they fully merit the award. We also notice with
much pleasure, a pair of beautiful deep red steers, one year old,
weighing more than a ton, belonging to Dr. George B. Loring, of
Salem; as we have no special premium at our disposal, on steers
10*

74 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

under two years old, your committee would most respectfully recom-
mend a diploma, or a discretionary award in money, as the Board in
their wisdom may think best.

Henry Johnson, of Millbury, also presented a pair of yearling
steers, weighing 2,060 lbs., well matched and broken to the yoke,
and your committee recommend a gratuity to him, as Dr. Loring and
Mr. Johnson are certainly entitled to the thanks of the Board for the
sacrifice they have made in bringing up for our inspection, and so
creditable to themselves, tAvo pairs of most superior steers.

S. W. Buffum, of Winchester, N. H., offered for our inspection a
pair of 3 year olds, weighing 3,350 lbs., and a pair of yearlings weigh-
ing 1,800 lbs., remarkable for nothing more than their weight; yet
your committee would recommend a soiall gratuity on the three year
olds, but nothing on the yearlings.

Last but not least, your committee was requested to take note of a
single 5 years old bull, belonging to Howard Ford, of Roxbury.
This bull was first tested in a horse-cart, with a load of about
4,000 lbs., and his owner performed more evolutions in drawing,
backing, and in hawing around and geeing around, and in going
straight forward, to say nothing of his snow-shoeing and riding on
the back, than any competitor on the ground. The most of your
committee still believe that premiums, even at this advanced stage of
the Fair, should be offered on working bulls, single, in harness or in
yoke, as best may suit the estate or convenience of the .competitor.
We know of no team so cheap as the bull. He can handle the cart,
provoke the soil with the plough or harrow, mow or rake with the
new and useful machines for that purpose, and still be all the surer as
a stock-getter of his kind.

It is said in the early history of the Massachusetts, that a Mr.
Blackstone, for whom the town of that name was christened, " keped a
big bull, and besede the entire evolutions of the farm, rode him to mill
a distance of nearly a dozen miles to the head of NarowGansett Bay,
as well as to meeting on Sundays." Now Mr. Blackstone was a good
farmer, and left a name and substance that but few can do in these
later times ; and the image of this bull may at this day be seen
serving as a weather-vane, on a public building in that goodly town,
as a perpetual monument to his own and his master's worth.

Leaving tl.e above suggestions on working bulls to the wisdom and
fidelity of the Massachussetts Board of Agriculture, your committee,
composed as they are from several of the counties of the State, and
being appointed especially to judge the stock in their department

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 75

upon their merits for a specific purpose, viz., working oxen, found no
small difficulty in making their awards to suit the different competitors.

The competitors from Worcester County have alwiys, and do still
insist, that to be experts in backing insures them of the prize. Whilst
the competitcrs from Berkshire, Hampshire and Hampden counties
see very little use in backing a load either crooked or straight, but
they seem to have a handy way, and. possess a peculiarity of physical
development of their cattle, and the nearer they are fitted for the
shambles the more deserving of the prize. This is their idea of
cattle, but in Essex and Middlesex, the criterion is good form and
size, .fit either for the yoke or the shambles, work well on the cart or
plough, easily fitted for the butcher, and in Suffolk and Norfolk, oxen
must not only work well but look well, draw all that can be put on,
and back the same gracefully and easily, and be really good workers ;
never go to the shambles until they go from the yoke ; or in other
words, always fit for the yoke, the stall, or the shambles. I think
we can safely say that we had all these troubles to contend with
amongst the competitors for the premiums offered by the generosity
of your Board, and it is hardly to be expected that among so many
and so good cattle, all of their owners would be fully satisfied with
our awards, as most of these cattle had taken first prizes at their
respective County shows, and consequently they expected it at the
State, and certainly would have obtained it had there not been better
ones offered. Your committee believe that no team for the farm
generally, in Massachusetts, is so cheap, so useful, and so profitable
as the ox.

Good blooded, well built, well broken, well driven oxen will per-
form as much real labor on our farms as horses or mules, and their
only feed generally is grass and hay, and their only harness simply a
wooden yoke, and in case of any accident he may go to the shambles,
whilst the horse requires grain, expensive harness, and is a complete
loss at last to the owner. There may be exceptions to this, it is true,
but certainly it will hold good in most instances, that the ox always
will be preferred here on our Massachusetts soils. He should be
broken to the yoke young, and always be treated with kindness under
all circumstances. A merciful man is merciful to his beast : yet in
our judgment it would richly pay to inscribe these words on the yoke
if not the horn, of each ox, so that it should always be visible.
Respectfully submitted,

Haevey Dodge, Chairman.

Button. October 24, 1857.

76 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

FAT CATTLE.

The attention of farmers in Massachusetts, especially in the
eastern section, is devoted so little to feeding and the production
of beef, that it was not to be expected that the entries in this
division would be large. The premiums offered were as fol-
lows : —

Fat Bullock— 1st pi'emium, ijJSO ; 2d, $20 ; 3fl, ^10.
Fat Cow— 1st premium, $20 ; 2d, |10 ; 3d, 05.

The following is the list of entries of fat cattle : —

No. 1. — Oxen, 6 years old, 3,700 lbs., owned by George Babcock, Brookline.
2. — Ox, grade Durham, 5 yeai-s old, weighed 2,800 lbs., owned hj

Thomas J. Field, Northfield.
3. — Ox, 5 years old, weighed 1,960 lbs., owned by Samuel Ellsworth,

Barrc.
4. — Oxen, one pair, 8 years old, weighed 3,465 lbs., owned by Reuben

Thompson, Plympton.
5. — Ox, one, 5 years old, weighed 2,400 lbs., owned by Hezekiah Taylor,

Westfield.
6. — Ox, one, 5 years old, weighed 2,400 lbs., owned by Hezekiah Taylor,

Westfield.

The Committee made the following awards : —

The first premium, to H. Taylor, of Westfield, for his ox, 5 years
old, weight, 2,400 lbs.

Second premium, to Thomas J. Field, of Northfield, for his grade
short-horn steer, 5 years old.

Third premium, to H. Taylor, for his ox, 5 years old, weight,
2,400 lbs.

They can also recommend a gratuity of five dollars to Eeuben
Thompson, of Plympton, for his pair of fat oxen, weight, 3,46o lbs.,
and another of ten dollars to Samuel Ellsworth, of Barre, for his fat
ox, 4 years old-

David Moseley, Chairman.

CALVES.

The following premiums were offered : —

For the best pen of calves, not less than five in number, raised by the
exhibitor — 1st premium, $25; 2d, $15.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 7T

The following is the list of entries in this division : —

No. 1. — Calves, a pen of ten, owned by Jolin Brooks, Jr., Princeton.
2. — Calves, a pen of eight, owned by Harvey Dodge, Sutton.
3. — Calves, a pen of five, Devons, owned by William Buckminster, Fram-

ingham.
4. — Calf, bull, 5 months old, Jersey, weighed 390 lbs., owned by G. T.

Thatcher, Dorchester.
5. — Calf, heifer, 8 months old, weight 640 lbs., grade, owned by S. R.

Burroughs, Warren.
6. — Calves, a pen of six, owned by Nathaniel Dodge, Sutton.

The committee on this division submitted the following

REPORT:

The whole number of entries was six, viz. : —

John Brooks, Jr., of Princeton, entered five, three seven months
old, and two nine weeks old.

Harvey Dodge, of Sutton, entered eight, from four to seven months
old.

William Buckminster, of Framingham, entered five, ages not
given.

G. T. Thatcher, of Dorchester, entered one Jersey bull calf, five
months old.

S. R, Burroughs, of Warren, entered a heifer calf, eight months
old.

Nathaniel Dodge, of Sutton, entered six calves, from five to seven
months old.

The quality of the calves was generally very good. The committee
took into consideration as far as possible the value of each animal ;
the care with which they were bred ; the manner in which they had
been reared, estimating the expense, care, &c. The provisions of the
board rendered it necessary that they should take a general survey
of the whole number contained in a pen, and on this account it was
impossible to take any individual animal of a superior character as a
type of a drove. In awarding the premiums therefore they pass
judgment on no single animal, but upon the class in which he might
be found. With these views they award.

The first premium of $25, to Nathaniel Dodge, of Sutton.

The second premium, of $15, to Harvey Dodge, of Sutton.

And they would recommend a gratuity of $12, to John Brooks, Jr.,
of Princeton.

The calves of the Messrs. Dodge, were Devons, and there were among

78 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

them some very superior specimens of that breed of cattle. A bull
calf, in Mr. Harvey Dodge's pen, was the most promising animal of
the kind v/e have ever seen. The calves, entered by Mr. Broolis, of
Princeton, Avere grade Ayrshires, of the McGregor stock. Three
heifers in this drove, six months old, gave evidence of careful breed-
ing, and had every mark of good milkers. Their size Avas good, and
their whole appearance that of hardy and thrifty animals. The pen,
furnished by Mr. Buckminster, showed some fine specimens of Devon
stock, bred with the care for which that gentleman is distinguished ;
but being of the same breed and at the same time inferior in appear-
ance to those of the Messrs. Dodge, although valuable animals in
themselves, the committee regret that they can do no more than
recommend them to breeders of Devon cattle.

The heifer calf of Mr. Burroughs, and the Alderney bull calf of Mr.
Thatcher, did not come under the regulations furnished to the com-
mittee, who were however gratified to witness such evidences of care
and taste on the part of the owners.

For the committee,

Geokge B. Loring, Chairman.

According to tlic arrangement of the schedule of premiums,
class first included all neat stock in ten divisions, and class
second all horses, beginning with the

THOROUGH-BRED.

We have seen that the native cattle of New England had no
common origin, but were derived from the union of a great
variety of stock and blood intermingling in endless crosses,
without any regard to fixed principles of breeding. The same
is true with our "native" horses, which, for the most part,
form no distinct breed, hut owe their origin to sources
equally various, to the English, the French, the Spanish,
the Flemish and the Danish horses, which were imported at
different times by the early settlers, as most suited the con-
venience of each. The only race that can claim exemption
from this general rule is the through-bred which traces its origin
to the hot blood of the deserts, to the Arabian, the barb, and
the Turk.

In some sections, it is true, the identity of some of the races
which formed the original stock, is distinctly traced in the form
and characteristics of some of our horses, but in others it is

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 79

entirely obliterated, no regular pedigrees having been kept, no
regular system of breeding having been adopted ; the general
practice having been, from time immemorial, particularly in the
early history of the agriculture of Massachusetts, to secure the
service of the nearest and cheapest stallion, and to breed from
him.

Yet notwithstanding this want of a common and reputed
origin of the great majority of our horses, they possess, on the
whole, such excellence in many respects, as to justify the enco-
mium of the author of the " Horse and Horsemanshij) of Amer-
ica" when he says that, " for docility, temper, soundness of
constitution, endurance of fatigue, hardiness, sure-footedness
and speed, the American roadster is not excelled, if equalled,
by any horse in the known world not purely thorough-bred."
It may well be doubted whether in many of these essential
qualities he is equalled even by the thorough-bred of the present
day, while for the practical purposes of life among us, it is
evident that the well-trained New England roadster is unsur-
passed, and he bears this reputation abroad as well as at
home.

The pure thorough-])red has been kept for the race course,
and for that specific purpose is unrivalled for speed and endur-
ance, surpassing even the swiftest coursers of the desert, which
he has always beaten when fairly matched, even on their own
ground. The perfection to which he has been brought by long-
continued and most careful breeding for a particular object,
shows what can be done by way of building up a breed of ani-
mals, adapted eminently to the end in view.

The importation of thorough-bred horses into this country
began at an early date, and was continued with great public
spirit long before the revolution, — confined, however, mainly to
the southern States, particularly to Maryland, Virginia and
South Carolina. Many of the most celebrated racers on the
English turf thus found their way to American stables, and have
exerted a powerful and very perceptible influence on the horses
of the southern States, and to some extent, on the horses of all
parts of the country.

The earlier race horses were smaller and more compact than
those of the present day. Greater distances were required of
them, and consequently greater endurance. It is thought by

80 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

many that an irreparable injury lias been done to the race in
modern times, that is, within the past fifty or seventy-five years,
by requiring the greatest possible speed and shorter distances.
The structure of the animal has been greatly changed in conse-
quence. The modern custom of training him for the course at
too young an age, has also led to the same result, and many a
horse has been compelled to leave the track broken down and
unfit for service before arriving at an age at which the racer of
the last century would have been allowed to compete.

The height of the modern thorough-bred racer is usually from
fifteen to sixteen hands, a middling size being preferred to one
above the usual height ; his body is light, his limbs rather longer
than in other horses, muscular to the knee and hock, chest nar-
row but deep — a form which best promotes the power of speed —
his shoulders finely formed, oblique, often lower than suits the
eye ; the back long, not ribbed up like the snug built roadster ;
the croup long ; length and breadth of the hind quarters large ;
the muscular development of the back and hind quarters sur-
passing that of any other breed. The head is fine, usually
small or tapering towards the muzzle, forehead broad, eyes large
and brilliant, ears delicate, of medium length, lips thin, nostrils
wide, the veins under the skin prominent, more so than in other
races ; the neck long, straight and thin ; the legs below the
knees thin and flat ; the pasterns long and oblique, and the hoof
well formed.

It will be seen that the whole structure of the body is light,
and calculated to serve the purposes of rapid motion. Speed
and strength of endurance are the chief requisites in the thor-
ough-bred horses, and perhaps other qualities have been sacri-
ficed to them. The color of the pure bred racer is usually
bright bay or chestnut, with black mane and tail. Eclipse was
a rich chestnut. A few have been jet black, but they are rare.
A few are gray, but this color is not common.

If the above enumeration of the prominent points of the thor-
ough-bred horse be correct, it is evident that his mechanical
structure is different from that most frequently sought for, and
most highly prized in New England. His natural pace is that
of running, and not that of trotting. But Low, the author of
several valuable works on our domestic animals, says: " Foreign
nations are desirous to obtain the race horse of England for

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 81

improving the native breeds, and to this end these noble horses
arc eminently suited." In England, a grade thorongh-brcd of
half or three-quarters blood is used as a lumter, the latter horse
not forming a distinct breed, but only a mixture of the thorough-
bred with a horse of less blood. In Massachusetts, the thor-
ough-bred of the last century laid the foundation of one of our
invaluable varieties of horses, the Morgan, as I think it must be
regarded as well settled, that the original old " Justin Morgan,"
was sired by a horse either pure thorough-bred, or possessing a
large share of blood. But as the thorough-bred of the last cen-
tury was a very different animal from that of the present time,
being, in general, much more compact, no very reliable conclu-
gion can be drawn from that cross, as to the result of the cross
of the thorough-bred horse now upon our excellent New England
roadsters. Those who maybe desirous of trying the experiment
have ample opportunity of doing so.

In judging upon horses entered in this division, the pedigree
is, of course, the most essential point, as without a satisfactory
pedigree running back unbroken, on the side both of the sire
and dam, to the blood of the barb, the Turk or the Arab, no
horse can be proved to be thorough-bred, and therefore entitled
to compete. Of the animals entered as thorough-breds, the
pedigrees of only two, those of" Balrownie," and of " Sultan,"
have been placed in my hands.

The stallion " Balrownie" washy " Annandale " out of " Queen
Mary." " Annandale " was by " Touchstone," (winner of the
St. Leger, 1834,) out of " Rebecca," (dam of " Alice Haw-
thorn," one of the best marcs ever on the English turf,) by
" Lottery," dam by "Cervantes" out of "Anticipation," by
" Beningborough," (winner of the St. Leger, 1794,) by " King
Fergus," by " Eclipse," and " Eclipse " directly descended from
the Darley Arabian, besides uniting in himself on the side of
the dam the very best blood of the turf. Eclipse never met an
opponent fleet enough to put his full power to the proof, for it
was said that the fleetest could not keep by his side fifty yards
together.

" Queen Mary," the dam of " Balrownie," (also dam of

"Blink Bonny," winner of the Derby and Oaks, 1857,) by

" Gladiator," dam by " Plenipotentiary," (one of the finest

horses on the modern turf, winner of the Derby in 1834,) out

ii»

82 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

of " Mjrrha " by " Whalebone," (winner of the Derby in 1810,)
by " Waxy," (winner of the Derby in 1793,) by " PotSos," by
'■■ Eclipse."

" Balrownie " himself has run well at all distances, and was
winner of the Doncaster stakes, the Pontefract gold cup, and
the Caledonian St. Leger.

"Sultan" is a fine animal, and attracted the attention and
admiration of all observers. The following statement of his
pedigree has been placed in my hands : —

" He was sired by ' Norfolk,' out of ' Image,' (formerly ' Zena
na,') by ' Sultan.' ' Norfolk ' was sired by ' Sir Hercules,'
(also the sire of ' Irish Birdcatcher,' ' Faugh-a-Ballagh,' and
many other celebrities on the turf and in the stud at the
present day,) and traces his lineage through him to ' Whale-
bone,' 'Waxy,' ' PotSos,' and the great 'Eclipse.' 'Zenana'
was on the turf in 1835-6, and is recorded as having won several
races when her competitors were among the best. She was
sired by ' Sultan,' who was by ' Selim' — ' Buzzard.' ' Sultan' was
the sire of ' Bay Middleton ' and ' Glencoe ' — the first the sire
of some of the best stock in England, and the latter the most
successful foal-getter ever imported into this country. ' Sul-
tan's ' pedigree, it will thus be seen, includes two of the richest
and most fashionable strains of English blood.

" Sultan is a dark steel gray, sixteen hands one inch high, and
weighs 1,125 lbs. He is a horse of immense bone and muscle,
unexceptionable form, and elegant action. His lean, long head ;
high arched crest ; broad, deep chest ; rounded barrel, well rib-
bed lip ; great length from the hip to the hock ; large hocks
and firm knees ; limbs perfect in shape and sound in every
particular, and the whole machine bounding with the nervous
elasticity of the English thorough-bred in high health and
])looming condition, never fail to attract the attention of all
beholders. ' Sultan ' was never trained for the turf, but judg-
ing from his form, muscle and bone, together with the known
stoutness and speed of all his ancestry and relations, on both
the side of sire and dam, he cannot fail to impart the same high
qualifications to his progeny."

"Crinoline" and " Colleen Dhas " appeared upon the course,
the former winning the first half mile heat in one minute three
seconds, and the tecoud by a neck, in one minute one second.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 83

The premiums offered for thorough-breds were as follows : —

Stallions, four years old and upwards — 1st premium, ^10 ; 2d, 830
3d, $20.

Mares, four years old and upwards — 1st premium, $-10 ; 2J, 30 ; 3d, ^20.
Stallions and mares of less age — Discretionary.

The following are the entries of thorough-bred horses : —

No. 1. — Stallion, " Balrownie," 7 years old, 15 hands 3 inches high, owned by

Quincey A. Shaw, Boston.
2. — Mare, " Comfort," 6 years old (in foal), 15 hands 2 inches high,

owned by Quincey A. Shaw, Boston.
3. — Stallion, " Trustee, Jr.," 8 years old, 15 hands 2 inches high, weight,

1,000 lbs., and owned by J. J. Merrill & Co., Roxbury.
4. — Mare, " Crinoline," 6 yeai-s old, owned by S. Hammond, Boston.
5. — Mare, " Colleen Dhas," 6 years old, owned by S. Hammond, Boston,
6. — Stallion, " Sultan," ov/ned by Phillips and Hammond, Brookline.
7. — Stallion, " Omar Pasha," pure Arabian, 8 years old, weight, 900 lbs.

and owned by I. D. Bradley, ]MIlton.

The committee on thorough-bred stallions and mares, pre-
sented the following

REPORT:

The committee appointed to report on " Thorough-bred Stallions
and Marcs," have attended to the duties assigned them, and respect-
fully submit the following : —

Your committee recommend that the first premium, of forty dollars,
be awarded to thorough-bred stallion " Balrownie," owned by Mr.
Quincey A. Shaw, of Boston.

Also, that the second premium of thirty dollars, be awarded to
thorough- bred stallion " Sultaii,*' owned by Messrs. Phillips and
Hammond, of Brookline.

Also, that the third premium of t ■ enty dollars be awarded to
thorough-bred stallion " Trustee, Jr.," owned by J. J. Merrill & Co.,
of Roxbury.

The committee desire also to make honorable mention of stallion
Omar Pasha, but as no authentic pedigree was furnished, the horse
was not considered in competition for premium,

Maees. — The committee recommend that the first premium, of
forty dollars, be awarded to thorough-bred mare, " Comfort," owned
by Mr. Quincey A. Shaw, of Boston.

84 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

The committee have also examined, with much gratification, two
imported mares, one named "Crinoline," the other " Colleen Dhas.**
They are well-bred and valuable animals, and were entitled to pre-
miums ; but as no pedigrees were produced, the awards could not be
made. We however recommend that a gratuity be awarded to each
of them.

Your committee are satisfied that the importation of valuable
thorough-bred horses into this country, is calculated to be of immense
benefit ; and those enterprising gentlemen Avho are engaged in this
very desirable task of improvement, are entitled to the thanks and
patronage of the whole community.

Respectfully submitted,

Geoeok H- Dadd.

E, F. Thayer.

R. S. Denny.

John Smith.

ROADSTERS.

The term roadster, as used at most agricultural fairs, is not
very strictly defined. It implies a union of qualities — such as
speed, style of action, and endurance, which adapt the animal
especially to light carriages on the road. The terms " family
liorsc," or a " horse for general utility," or a " horse of all
work," though implying different qualities in some respects, are
not unfrequently used as nearly synonymous with it, or rather
the distinction between these several classes is not very clearly
marked. Most of our horses are kept for a great variety of
purposes. They are used on the road, in omnibuses, hacks and
lighter carriages, for draught in trucks, and at the plough, and
sometimes under the saddle. It is often the case that the samo
horse is put, at different times, to all these purposes, and many
of our horses certainly prove themselves equal to any duty
which can reasonably be required of them. A horse for general
utility is a roadster, and the fact of his weighing under or over
one thousand pounds does not prevent him from being used as
such. The divisions adopted in the schedule of premiums were
regarded merely from the point of convenience of classification,
horses weighing less than one thousand pounds being entered
as roadsters, and horses weigliing over that, as horses for gen-
eral utility. But though a horse for general utility must be a
roadster, a good roadster is not necessarily a good horse for

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 85

general utility. If lie is compact, and possessing strength and
endurance, lie may be well adapted for general purposes, though
deficient in weight. Many small horses unite " as much good-
ness and strength as possible in a little space."

A good roadster may have great power and endurance, but
his style, action, or mode of going are important, much more so
than in the horse for general utility. " In harness," says the
intelligent writer on the Morgan horse, " when the reins are up,
and he is told to go, (he should not start before,) he should,
raise his head a little above its position when at rest, keep it
there steadily and quietly, and move off nimbly, with a light
but steady and yielding pressure upon the bit. His feet shoiild
be raised only enough to clear the ordinary inequalities of the
ground, carried well forward in straiglit lines, swinging neither
out nor in, and be set down evenly, so that the entire sole comes
upon the ground at the same time. If tlie heel is set down
first, it is liable to injury from the tenderness of the parts ; and
if the toe is set down first, the horse will almost always prove a
Btumbler. The forelegs should bend well at the knee, instead
of the legs being raised principally by the movement of the
shoulder joints and the leg carried stifly forward, causing an
unsteadiness of motion and a sort of rolling from side to side.
The hind legs should take up light and quick, be carried well
forward under the body, and should have a peculiar, nervous,
springy ' pick-up,' but without any hitching or twitching of
tlie muscles of the haunches. The step should not be long, and
yet it may be too short ; observation can alone determine when
tliis is right."

The good roadster moves off lightly and easily without urg-
ing, and if necessary will keep up his speed hour after hour
without flagging. His favorite pace is the trot, and in this he
excels all other horses. Low, in his history of Domestic Animals,
says of the people of this country : " They prefer the trot to the
paces more admired in the old continent, and having directed
attention to the conformation which consists with this character,
the fastest trotting horses in the world are to be found in the
United States." Among the changes which have been effected
in our horses within the last half century, none is more marked
than the increase of speed. Fast trotting was scarcely known
at the time of the old Justin Morgan, nor was the speed of the

86 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

horse considered of special money value till the invention of the
modern light buggy and the improvement of roads. This qual-
ity has now become, to a great extent, essential to the comfort
and convenience of nearly all classes of societ}^, and lias its
money value accordingly. The wants of the community have
changed even within the last few years, especially since railroad
travel has become so universal. Men accustomed to a speed
of from twenty to thirty miles an hour in the cars, cannot easily
content themselves with the old and common gait of five or six
miles an hour, and the majority of people now want a horse to
go off easily at the rate of eight, ten, or even twelve miles an
hour, and the horses that do it are now very common, whereas
formerly they w^ere only the exception to the general rate of
speed. A demand very soon creates a supply and the farmer
who breeds horses knows his own interest well enough to study
the tastes of the community, and to breed accordingly. In
point of speed, therefore, there can be no question, tliat a very
great increase has been attained by careful breeding, particularly
within the last twenty years. But speed is only one of many
qualities which are essential to a good roadster, and no agricul-
tural society would accomplish its object by encouraging that,
to the extent of practically overlooking others equally essential.
It was, therefore, strongly urged upon the judges of horses in
this division, at the State Fair, to have special reference to gen-
eral good qualities, such as style, action, size, temper, form,
constitution, and enduring properties, as well as the speed of
the animals.

With the exception of an increase of speed, it may well be
doubted whether there has been any real improvement in our
horses within the last twenty years. More care and pains are
taken in keeping and training them, perhaps, and undoubtedly
a larger number of good horses are found now ; but for docility,
power and strength of endurance and general good qualities, it
is not probable that any great improvement has been effected.
The aggregate money value has been greatly increased, because
the number of fast horses has increased and speed will command
its value ; but the tendency has been to congregate the best
horses in cities and to draw them from tlie country. Few
farmers want to keep a horse for farm and family purposes, that
will bring from two or three to five hundred dollars.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 87

Two distinct varieties of horses are now, and have, for the
last few years, been favorites for the road. Neither of these
can have any pretensions to the claim of being a distinct breed
or family, while either offers an admirable foundation for the
skill of the breeder. And yet the peculiarities of each are gen-
erally so well marked as not to deceive the practised eye. Of,
these varieties, the Morgan has already been incidentally alluded
to, as deriving its name from the owner of the first, or " Justin
Morgan," foaled in West Springfield, Mass., in 1793. The sire
of this remarkable stallion, " True Briton," was probably at least
half thorough-bred, and he is said by some to have been pure
bred. " Justin Morgan " soon went to Vermont, and there
laid the foundation of the Morgans of that State, producing
" Bulrush," " Woodbury," and "Sherman," all of which added
vastly to the wealth of the breeders and farmers of that section.
The descendants of these horses have been spread far and wide.
The " Justin Morgan " was a small horse, about fourteen hands
high, and weighing only about nine hundred and fifty pounds. He
and his three most noted sons were put to larger mares, and the
" Morgan " of the present day is of somewhat larger size, but
varies from nine hundred and fifty to ten hundred and fifty,
sometimes rising to eleven hundred pounds. The " Morgan"
is celebrated for compactness of form, strength and power of
endurance, and soundness of constitution. He is consequently
much sought after for stages, omnibuses and carriages. " Peters-
ham Morgan " is an admirable representative of the form and
style of the Morgan horse.

The other prominent variety among us is the " Black Hawk."
The Black Hawks derive their name from a stallion celebrated
for transmitting his qualities to his offspring, as well as for his
great speed as a trotter. "Black Hawk" was foaled in 1833.
It is asserted by some that he was sired by the " Sherman Mor-
gan," which would make him grandson of the old " Justin
Morgan ; " and by others, that he was sired by a French teazer
kept in the same stable with " Sherman Morgan." His dam
was bred in New Brunswick, and is said to have been half thor-
ough-bred, a black mare of very remarkable speed as a trotter.
At four years old " Black Hawk" was bought by Mr. Benjamin,
Thurston, of Lowell, and kept as a family horse till 1844, when
he was purchased by David Hill, Esq., of Bridport, Vt., and

88 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

kept as a breeder till the time of his death in 1856, at the age
of 23. In size he was little less than fifteen hands, and weighed
not far from one thousand pounds. The Black Hawks are
easily distinguished from the Morgans. They are generally
lighter behind. As roadsters, they are often very excellent,
possessing a high and nervous style of action, an elastic step,
and a symmetrical and muscular form. Of these horses, " Trot-
ting Childers" is an excellent specimen. He was drawn from
life by an accomplished artist, who has succeeded in portraying
his fine and symmetrical proportions. He is seven years old —
sired by old " Black Hawk," dam " Lady Forest," commonly
known as the " Maynard Mare." She was noted for remark-
able speed. " Trotting Childers " is fifteen and a half hands
high, and possesses great beauty of form and style and grace of
action. He has won many prizes.

No rules were laid down for the guidance of the judges in
this division, except that already named, with regard to taking
into consideration the general good qualities of the animals,
and that in testing the speed of horses, each animal, four years '
old and over, was to go in carriage, to weigh, including the
driver, not less than 350 pounds.

As might have been anticipated, the competition in all the
subdivisions of roadsters was very great. The premiums offered
for stallions under 1,000 lbs., entered as roadsters, were as fol-
lows : —

Stallions, four years old and upwards — 1st premium, ^10 ; 2d, §30 ;
gd, $20.

Stallions, three years old and under four — 1st premium, $30; 2d, $20;
8d, $10.

Stallions, two years old and under three — 1st premium, $20 ; 2d, $15 ;
8d, $10.

Stallions, one year old and under two — 1st premium, $15; 2d, §10;
8d, $5.

The entries of stallions as roadsters, at the State Fair, were
as follows : —

No. 1. — Stallion, " Empire State," " English Messenger," 4 years old, owned
Ly Charles Walte, Cambridgoport.
2 — Stallion, " Massachusetts Morgan," | Morgan and J- English, 13 years
old, weight, 990 lbs., 14^ hands high, owned by Jalom Gates,
Worcester.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 89

No. 3. — Stallion, " Nicholas," 5 years old, weight, 980 lbs., 15| hands high,
owned by John Chamberlain, Jr., Lowell.
4. — Stallion, " Osceola," Black Hawk, 6 years old, weight, 900 lbs.,

owned by David Hill, Bridport, Vt.
5. — Stallion, " Don Juan," John Anderson and Gipsey, 4 years old,

owned by James F. Thorndike, N. E. Village.
6. — Stallion, " Byron," Black Hawk and Morgan, 4 years old, weight,

900 lbs., owned by E. Goodwin, Boston.
7. — Stallion, " Right Bower," Morgan, 4 years old, owned by W. R.

Wheelock, Grafton.
8. — Stallion, " Pete Jones," Black HaAvk and English, 3 years old,

by D. T. Sargent, Boxborough.
9. — Stallion, "Morgan Empire," Morgan, 4 years old, weight, 950 lbs.,
• owned by John Leet, Roxbury.

10.— Stallion, " Tally Ho," 4 years old, weight, 960 lbs., owned by Wm.

Mathews, Roxbury.
11. — Stallion, " English Morgan," 3 years old, weight, 850 lbs., owned by

J. W. Hollis, Brighton.
12.— Stallion, " Wm. Gilford," Gilford Morgan, 9 years old, weight, 988

lbs., owned by A. L. Brooks, Lowell.
13. — Stallion, " Nicholas," 5 years old, weight, 950 lbs, owned by W. G.

Lewis, Framingham.
14. — Stallion, " Empire State," 4 years old, weight, 050 lbs., owned by

S. O. Richardson, South Reading.
1 5. — Stallion, " Young St. Lawrence," 5 years old, weight, 975 lbs.,
owned by C. Boynton, Georgetown.
6 — Stallion, " Ethan Allen," 4 years old, weight, 950 lbs., owned by
John Leet, Roxbury.
17. — Stallion, " Bulrush," Morgan, 11 years old, weight, 975 lbs., owned

by G. R. Mathews, Roxbury.
18. — Stallion, " Veto," 5 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by S. Lang-
maid, Cambridge.
19. — Stallion, " Columbus, Jr.," 5 years old, weight, 990 lbs., owned by

W. Smith, Orwell, Vt.
20. — Stallion, "Mount Vernon," 7 years old, iveight, 1,000 lbs., owned

by A. Walton, South Reading.
21.— Stallion, " Trotting Childers," Black Hawk, 7 years old, weight,

958 lbs., owned by L. Maynai'd, Bradford.
22. — Stallion, " Young Hercules," 6 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned

by ]j. Maynard, Bradford.
23. — Stallion, " Gen. Warren," Ethan Allen, 1 year old, owned by A.

B. Magoun, Cambridgeport.
24.— Stallion, " Fremont," Ethan Allen, 10 months old, weight, 630 lbs.,

13i hands high, owned by John P. Gushing, Watertown.
25. — Stallion, " Young Justin Morgan," 3 years old, owned by Sewell
Blood, Waltham.
12*

90 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

No. 26.— Stallion, " Young Tally Ho," Tally Ho Morgan, 5 months old,

weight, 490 lbs., owned by S. P. Smith, Holliston.
27. — Stallion. " Young Ethan," Morgan, 2 years old, weight, 875 lbs.,

owned by Bancroft Whitman, Stowe.
28.— Stallion, "Wild Air," f Black Hawk, | English, 2 years old, weight,

900 lbs., owned by O. Clark, Boston.
29. — Stallion, " Hero," -f Black Hawk, -l English, 1 year old, weight,

450 lbs., owned by O. Clark, Boston.
30. — Stallion, " Hector," Black Hawk and Eclipse, 3 years old, weight,

900 lbs., owned by R. S. Denny, Clappville.
31. — Stallion, " St. Patrick," Trustee and Abdallah, 3 years old, weight,

900 lbs., owned by J. H. Billings, West Roxbury.
32. — Stallion, " Echo," owned by Joseph Burnett, Southborough.
33. — Stallion, " Ripton," 3 years old, weight, 925 lbs., owned by E. T.

Northend, Roxbury.
34. — Stallion, " Don Pedro," 3 years old, weight, 850 lbs., owned by G.

W. Todd, Concord.
35. — Stallion, " Gen. Putnam," 16 months old, weight, 800 lbs., owned by

Lyman Kinsley, Canton.
36. — Stalhon, " Prince Albert," Messenger Morgan, 2 years old, weight,

940 lbs., owned by A. Howe, Brighton.
37. — Stallion, " Young Daniel," Messenger, 17 months old, weight, 790,

lbs., owned by C. W. Gushing, South Hingham.
38. — Stallion, " Iron Duke," 16 months old, owned by Joseph Burnett,

Southborough.
39. — Stallion, " Ned Forrest," Messenger, 2 years old, weight, 775 lbs.,

owned by M. Williams, Boston.
40. — Stallion, " Crescent," 2 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by J.

D. Hildreth, Manchester.
41. — Stallion, " Dickey," 2 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by Isaac

Mills, Worcester.
42. — Stallion, "Young America," 3 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned

by S. J. Capen, Dorchester.
43. — Stallion, " Childers," 2 years old, owned by S. J. Capen, Dorchester.
44. — Stallion, " Ethan," 1 year old, owned by S. J. Capen, Dorchester.
45. — Stallion, " Navigator," 2 years old, weight, 800 lbs., owned by S.

Hayes, Natick.
46. — Stallion, " Morrill Rambler," 2 years old weight, 995 lbs., owned

by Wm. M. Parker, Concord, N. H.
47.— Stallion, " Noble," 17 months old, weight, 800 lbs., owned by W.

H. Harrington, Salem.
48. — Stallion, " Doncaster," 2 years old, weight, 850 lbs., owned by George

B. Loring, Salem.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 91

The judges on stallions over three years old and under 1,000
lbs., entered as roadsters, presented the followmg

REPORT:

The committee award the first premium on horses, over four years
old, to Lambert Maynard, of Bradford, for his horse, " Trotting
Childers."

Second, to S. Langmaid, of Cambridge, for his horse, " Veto."

Third, to Charles Boynton, of Georgetown, for his horse, " Young
St. Lawrence."

On horses over three and under four, they award the first premium
to R. S. Denny, of Clappville, for his horse, " Hector."

Second, to Joseph H. Billings, of West Roxbury, for his horse,
" St. Patrick."

Third, to S. Hayes, of Natick, for his horse, " Navigator."

They also recommend the following gratuities : —

To David Hill, of Bridport, Vt., $20 for his horse, " Osceola."

To W. Smith, Orwell, Vt., $20 for his horse, "Columbus, Jr."

For the committee,

Samuel C. Oliver.

The judges on stallions one year old and under three, entered
as roadsters, presented the following

REPORT :

The committee award the first premium for stallions, over two

years old and under three, to A. Howe, of Brighton, for his horse,

" Prince Albert."

Second, to Bancroft Whitman, of Stowe, for his horse, " Young

Ethan."

Third, to I. Mills, of Worcester, for his horse, " Dickey."

For stallions, one year old and under two, they award the first

premium to A. B, Magoun, of Cambridgeport, for his horse, " General

AVarren."

Second, to Wm. H. Harrington, of Salem, for his horse, "Noble."
Third, to S. J. Capen, of Dorchester, for his horse, " Ethan."
The committee also recommend a gratuity of $15 to William M.

Parker, of Concord, N. H., for his horse, " Morrill Rambler," and

another of $15 to Dr. George B. Loring, of Salem, for his horse,

" Doncaster.''

J, N. Bates, Chairman.

92 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

The premiums offered for mares, four years old and upwards,
were the same as those offered for stallions of the same age.
Similar premiums were also offered for geldings four years old
and over, and for mares with foals at their side.

The following entries were made of mares and geldings, as
roadsters, under 1,000 lbs., viz. : —

No. 1. — Gelding, " Dandy," Green Mountain Morgan, 14^ hands high,
owned by Charles G. King, Boston.
2. — Mare, " Waltham Maid," 3 years old, weight, 850 lbs., owned by

Sewell Blood, Waltham.
3. — Mare, " Forest Maid," Morgan, 6 years old, weight, 800 lbs., owned

S. G. Bean, North Andover.
4. — Mare, " Belle," Black Hawk, 9 years old, 15^ hands high, owned by

David Ellis, Cambridge.
5. — Gelding, " Bill Lawrence," 4 years old, weight, 800 lbs., owned by

Amos Spelman, South Boston.
6. — Gelding, " Brown Dell," Rocky Mountain breed, 6 years old,
weight, 925 lbs., 15 hands high, owned by Samuel T. Payson,
Newburyport.
7. — Gelding, "Roan Billy," Messenger, 4 years old, 950 lbs., 1.5^ hands

high, owned by J. A. Cheney, Boston.
8. — Gelding, " Shylock," 8 yearsold, weight, 975 lbs., owned by George

M. Lawrence, Stowe.
9. — Gelding, " Billy Eaton," Hamiltonian and Messenger, 5 years old,

weight, 900 lbs., owned by J. H. Bickford, Meh-ose.
10. — Mare, " Miss Jane," Morgan and Canadian, 7 years old, weight,

850 lbs., owned by B. Ford, Jr., Dorchester.
11. — Mare, " Jennie," 5 years old, weight, 995 lbs., C. W. Griffiths,

Jamaica Plain.
12. — Gelding, " Northern Boy," Morgan and Messenger, 6 years old,
w^eight, 925 lbs., owned by H. F. and C. II. Bright, Watertown.
13. — Mare (with foal at side), " Kate Bacon," Morgan, 13 years old,

weight, 975 lbs., owned by O. Clark.
14. — Mare, " Lady Forrest," Morgan 6 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned

D. F. Flagg, Boston.
15. — Mare, " Kate," 6 years old, weight, 978 lbs., owned by J. P. Whit-
ney, Boston.
IG.— Marc, " Jennie," Messenger, 8 years old, weight, 800 lbs., owned

by Thomas Boylston, Boston.
17. — Mare, " Silver Tail," Messenger, 8 years old, 960 lbs , owned by

Robert Kelrcn, South Boston.
IS. — Brood Mare, " Kate Tucker," (foal at her side,) Messenger, 10

years old, 950 lbs., owned by Joseph Burnett, Southborough.
19. — Gelding, " Doctor," French and English, 7 years old, weight,
950 lbs., owned l)y John Ilagar, South Boston.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 93

No. 20. — Gelding, " Kossuth," 6 years old, weight, 950 lbs., owned by Samuel

H. Rhodes, Concord.
21. — Mare, " Flora," 7 years old, weight, 960 lbs., owned by G. Twichell,

Brookline.
22. — Gelding, " Tom," G years old, weight, QIO lbs., owned by Stevens &

Holt, Boston.
23. — Mare, " Sukle," Messenger, 6 years old, weight, 925 lbs., owned by

T. Ambrose, Boston.
24. — Mare, " Jennie," Sherman Morgan, 9 years old, weight, 900 lbs.,

owned by George W. Teal, South Danvers.
25. — Mare, " Katie," Morrill, 5 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., 15 hands

high, owned by N. D. Hardy, Framingham.
26. — Gelding, " North Horse," Sherman Morgan, 7 years old, weight,

1,000 lbs., owned by John Clark, Framingham.
27. — Gelding, " Joe," 7 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by W. A.

Sprague, South Boston.
08._Gelding, " Charlie," 9 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by W.

Cunningham, Boston,
29. — Mare, " Kate," Morgan, 5 years old, weight, 875 lbs., S. B.

Pelrce, Jr., Boston.
30.— Mare, "Kittle," French Morgan, 5 years old, weight, 950 lbs.,

owned by William McMahon, South Boston.
31. — Gelding, " Old Bones," 2-4 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by

Patrick Greeley, Boston.
32. — Mare, " Kate Hamilton," 7 years old, weight, 875 lbs., owned by

Daniel BIgley, Boston.
33. — Mare, " Bonnet O'Blue," 6 years old, weight, 925 lbs., owned by J.

F. LIppett, Grafton.
34. — Mare, " Bessie," (foal at side,) 5 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned

by A. D. Weld, West Roxbury.
35. — Mare, " Lady Gray," Morgan and English, 7 years old, weight

950 lbs., 15 hands high, owned by W. C. Clark, Worcester.
36. — Mare, " Queen," 9 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by James

H. Waite, South Natick.
37. — Gelding, " Dred," 6 years old, weight, 912 lbs., owned by A. J.

Clark, South Natick.
38. — Gelding, " Andy," 6 years old, weight, 970 lbs., owned by Henry

Daniels, South Natick.
39. — Mare, " Empress," 8 years old, weight, 850 lbs., owned by J. A.

Nye, Boston.
40. — Mare, " Modesty," 8 years old, weight, 850 lbs., owned by T. J.

Fenner, Boston.
41. — Gelding, " Charlie," 7 years old, weight, 925 lbs., owned by George

I. Fullam, Boston.
42. — Mare, " Lady Jane," G years old, weight, 990 lbs., owned by Charles

Boynton, Georgetown.
43.— Gelding, " Murat," 6 years old, 975 lbs., owned by Charles Cope-
land, Wyoming.

91 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

No. a. — Gelding, " Polar Star," Messenger and Morgan, 6 years old, weight,

1,000 lbs., owned by Harvey Rogers, Chelsea.
45. — Mare, " Lady Norfolk," 10 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by W.

W. Uphani, Dover.
46. — ]\Iare, " Mollie," 8 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by L. A.

Hitchcock, Boston.
47. — Mare, " Young Squaw," 0 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by B.

Hibbard, Saugus.
48. — Mare, " Kate," 8 years old, weight, 875 lbs., owned by J. TV. Crosby,

North Bridgewater.
49. — Gelding, " Buckeye," 8 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by J.

]M. Elder, Boston.
50. — Mare, " Black Maria," 7 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by

Thomas Johnson, South Boston.
51. — Gelding, " Billy," 8 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by Thomas

Lynch, Boston.
52.- — Mare, " Flirtilla," Arabian Messenger, 7 years old, weight, 925 lbs.,

owned by Barnard Foi-d, Dorchester.
53. — Mare, " Cora," 4 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by C. D. Snell,

Boston.
54. — Mare, " Kate Miller," 10 years old, weight, 875 lbs., owned by

John H. Henshaw, Brookline.
55. — Gelding, " Paragon," G years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by S. C.

Richards, Worcester.
56. — Gelding, " Robert," 5 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by T. W.

Neal, VVolfborough, N. H.
57. — Mare, " Lady Moscow," 4 years old, weight, 875 lbs., owned by D.

C. Berry, Boston.
58. — Gelding, " Dick," 5 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by Whitte-

more & Henry, Paxton.
59. — Mare, " Fannie," 7 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by C. S.

Fowle, Jr., Boston.
60. — Gelding, " Chicago Jack," 10 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned

by F. E. Faxon, Boston.
61. — Mare, " Medora," 9 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by J. D.

Bradley, Milton.
62. — Gelding, " Jerry," 8 years old, weight, 925 lbs., owned by J. R.

Hill, Roxbury.
63. — Gelding, " Hardroad," 9 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by W.

IL Elder, Boston.
64. — Mare, " Mayflower," Morgan, 9 years old, weight, 950 lbs., owned

by John Dugan, Somerville.
65. — Gelding, " Gray Eagle," Messenger, 5 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs.,

owned by T. Hannum, South Boston.
66. — Mare, " St. Lawrence Maid," 5 years old, weight, 850 lbs., owned

by P. Moley, Brighton.
67. — Mare,. " Jennie," 8 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by J. H.

Pote, East Bostoa.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 95

No. 68.— Mare, " Dolly," 7 years old, weiglit, 880 lbs., owned by W. A. Ford,

Boston.
69. — Mare, " Minnehalia," 4 years old, ■weiglit, 1,000 lbs., owned by

Thomas F. Richardson, Boston.
70. — Mare, " Kate," (foal at her side,) 10 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs.,

owned by James Wise, "South Lancaster.
71. — Gelding, " Lancaster," 5 years old, weiglit, 975 lbs., owned by

James Wise, South Lancaster.
72. — Gelding, " Billy," 4 years old, weight, 980 lbs., owned by S. Law-
rence, East Lexington.
73. — Gelding, " Brown Bob," 9 years old, weight, 950 lbs., owned by E.

T. Balcom, Worcester.
74. — Mare, " Lady Bliss," 7 years old, weight, 950 lbs., owned by R. S.

Denny, Clappville.
75.— Gelding, " Blue Bonnet," 10 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by

Daniel Ewen, Dorchester.
76. — Gelding, " Sleepy David," 7 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by

John T. Keating, Boston.
77. — Mare, " Mystery," 4 years old, weight, 850 lbs., owned by E.

Wheeler, Marlborough.
78. — Mare, "Flying Nellie," 7 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by

B. H. Hinckley, Roxbury.
79. — Gelding, " Black Hawk," 7 years old, weight, 875 lbs., owned by

A. M. Polsey, Roxbury.
80. — Mare, " Mary Ann," 9 years old, weight, 925 lbs., owned by W.

Mcrritt, Boston.
81. — Mare, " Nancy," 8 years old, weight, 850 lbs., owned by James

Buchanan, Boston.
82. — Mare, " Lady Lightfoot," Black Hawk, 5 years old, weight, 850 lbs.,

owned by H. D. Smith, East Cambridge.
83. — Gelding, " Gray Eagle," 6 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by

Edward Gould, Jr., Boston.
84. — Gelding, " Somerville," 5 years old, weight, 920 lbs., owned by John

R. Poore, Somerville.
85. — Mare, " Fannie," 7 years old, weight, 980 lbs., owned by C. T.

Williams, Roxbury.
86. — Mare, " Susan Bell," 6 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by

Thomas Dolan, Roxbury.
87. — Gelding, " Whalebone," 8 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by

M. Williams, Boston.
88.— Gelding, " John," 9 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by H. C.

Nims, Boston.
89. — Gelding, " Spot," 7 years old, weight, 875 lbs., owned by J. F.

Pray, Boston.
90.— Gelding, " Tom," 10 years old, weight, 990 lbs., owned by E.

Johnson, Winchester.

96 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

No. 91. — Gelding, " Dr. Beecher," 8 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by
P. Morton, Boston.
92. — Mare, " Fannie," Morgan, 4 years old, weight, 970 lbs., owned by

LeAvis Wheeler, Boston.
93. — Mare, " Black Hawk Maid," 0 years old, weight, 925 lbs., owned

by C. Campbell, Roxbury.'
94. — Gelding, " Major Ringold," 4 years old, weight, 850 lbs., owned by

Charles Sargent, Boston.
95. — Gelding, " Hector," 9 years old, weight, 975 lbs., owned by James

B. Dow, Boston.
96. — Gelding, " Red Bird," 8 years old, weight, 925 lbs., owned by

William W. Parker, Cambridge.
97. — Gelding, " Lightfoot," 6 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by C. S.

Fuller, Worcester.
98.— Mare, " Kate," 6 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by C. A.

Browning, Boston.
99. — Mare, " Martha Ward," C years old, weight, 990 lbs., owned by J.
W. Hollis, Brighton.
100. — Gelding, " Pet," 5 years old, weight, 950 lbs., owned by B. F.

Porter, Dover.
101. — Mare, " Empress," 7 years old, owned by J. B. Glover, Boston.
102. — Gelding, " Black Raljih," C years old, weight, 950 lbs., owned by

Frank Briggs, Dorchester.
103. — Mare, " Lady Emma," 9 years old, weight, 925 lbs., owned by

Thomas D. Cook, North Cambridge.
104. — Gelding, " Jimmie," 6 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by A. R.

Mathews, Roxbury.
105. — Gelding, " Roman," G years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by C. F.

Whitcomb, Boston.
106.— Gelding, " Prince," 7 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by G. H.

Lancaster, Boston.
107. — Mare, " Lady Jane," 7 years old, weight, 800 lbs., owned by S.

Dane, Hamilton.
108. — Mare, " DoUie," 8 years old, weight, 970 lbs., owned by C. Moulton

Framingham.
109. — Gelding, " Bob," 9 years old, weight, 850 lbs., owned by S. S.

Rowe, Boston.
110. — Mare, " Fannie," 8 years old, weight, 850 lbs., owned by Dr.

Hobbs, Boston.
111.— Geldinij, " Neighbor," 4 years old, weight, 980 lbs., owned by C.

H. Smith, East Boston.
112.— Gelding, " Charhe," 6 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by J. P.

Foster, East Bi'idgewater.
113. — Gelding, " Ben," 8 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by J. D.

Walton, South Reading.
114. — Mare, " Beppo," 7 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by J. N. Burns,
Boston.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 97

No. 115. — Gelding " Butcher Boy," 8 years old, weight, 925, lbs., owned by

H. Ileaton, West Cambridge.
116. — Mare, " Jennie," 8 years old, weight, 890 lbs., owned by W. Davis,

Roxbuiy.
117. — Gelding, " Stranger," Messenger Morgan, 6 years old, weight, 975

lbs., owned by A. Allen, Boston.
118. — Mare, " Flying Arrow," 4 years old, weight, 800 lbs., owned by

K.. S. Flanders, Roxbury.
119. — Mare, " Pretty Kate," 6 years old, weight, 750 lbs., owned by J. B.

Smith, Roxbury.
120. — Gelding, " Hunter," 6 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs., owned by Wash-
ington Simonds, South Danvers.
121. — Gelding, " Hero," 6 years old, weight, 925 lbs., owned by Harrison

Rogers, North Bridgewater.
122. — Mare, " Lady Rogers," 5 years old, weight, 825 lbs., owned by Har-
rison Rogers, North Bridgewater.
12-3. — Gelding, " Prince," 6 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by George

H. Wood, Boston.

The judges on mares and geldings fonr years old and upwards,
not exceeding one thousand pounds, entered as roadsters, not
including mares with foals at their side, presented the following

REPORT:

That they have exerted themselves faithfully to perform their duties,
and are entirely satisfied with their endeavors and tolerably so with
the results of them.

As the committee could not have the track on Wednesday, they
were obliged to proceed to the open space at the northerly end of
the grounds, for their examination, besides visiting the stalls. For
upwards of three hours they were at their post, on one of the coldest
and most disagreeable days of the season, and did not leave until
every animal presented was examined. There was great lack of
knowledge on the part of owners and drivers as to the breeds of
their respective animals.

All the preconceived notions of the committee as to horses were
disturbed and combated. There were Messengers of every shape and
gait. There were Morgans without a single distinctive sign of that
very recognizable breed.

We were asked to believe that one animal, short-legged, a neck like
a bull, and mane and tail like a sheep's fleece, was a half-bred, and
that certain enlargements on others were not spavins. We were
pained to hear that several animals presented were born with certain
defects — and it was urged upon us that those defects did not con-
13*

98 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

stitute unsoundness, as they certainly would in case they were
acquired by straining, or hard usage. The committee, however, not
being veterinary surgeons, and not conceiving themselves called upon
to examine the authorities previous to making their awards and report,
rejected all blemished animals, without considering whether their
defects were congenital or acquired. Perhaps some injustice may
have resulted from this course.

The examination was resumed on Thursday, and all animals exam-
ined which were not presented the first day. On this day the com-
mittee were allowed the use of the track for about half an hour, not
a sufficient length of time for their satisfaction.

The awards of the committee are as follows : —

The first premium for geldings, to E. Johnston, of Winchester, for
his black gelding " Tom."

The committee were unanimous in the opinion that this animal
combines in a remarkable degree the qualities of strength and speed
for which the New England roadster is celebrated.

The second premium for geldings, to Washington Simonds, of
South Danvers, for his chestnut gelding, " Hunter." This was
undoubtedly the most beautiful animal of this class, of extraordinary
spirit, perfect docility, limbs as clean as a thorough-bred, and a grace
of movement rarely seen, with a fair turn of speed.

The third premium for geldings, to Edward Gould, Jr., of Boston, for
his iron gray gelding, " Gray Eagle." This animal besides being fault-
less to the eye and thoroughly broken, possessed considerable speed.

The first premium for marcs was awarded to David Ellis, of Cam-
bridge, for his Black Hawk mare, "Belle." This was the finest
specimen of the Morgan upon the grounds, an animal no lover of the
horse could fail to admire. A finer combination of spirit, strength,
docility and beauty, it Avould be difficult to find.

The second premium for mares, to Joseph B. Glover, of Boston, for
his black mare, " Empress," an animal of fine form, game appear-
ance and considerable speed.

The third premium for mares, to Ginery Twichell, of Brookline,
for his mare, " Flora." The committee were unanimous in their
approval of this animal.

The committee also submit a list of animals deserving of e>:;pecial
commendation : —

Sorrel gelding, "Billy Eaton," the property of J. H. Bickford,

Melrose.
Bay mare, "Jennie," the property of George M. Teal, South Danvers.
Gray mare, " Lady Grey," the property of Wm. C. Clark, Worcester.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 99

Gray mare, " Lady Jcine," the property of Charles Boynton, Georgetown.
Gelding " Paragon," the property of S. C. Richards, Worcester.
Mare, " Minnehaha," the property of Thomas F. Richardson, Boston.
Mare, " Fanny Grey," the property of R. S. Denny, Clappville.
Gelding, " Lightfoot," the property of C. S. Fuller, Worcester.
Gelding, " Redbird," the property of Wm. W. Parker, Cambridge.
Gelding, " Jimmy," the property of A. R. Mathews, Roxbury.
Mare, " Forest Maid," the property of S. G. Bean, North Andover.
Mare, " St. Lawrence Maid," the property of P. Moley, Brighton.

The committee vvoiild have been more entirely satisfied if they had
been allowed a longer use of the track, that they might have had a
better opportunity of observing the action and judging of the merits
generally of the animals of this class.

They would also have been gratified with the exclusive use of the
track for a short time after their awards had been made, for the pur-
pose of exhibiting to the public the preferred animals.

S. E. SpractUe, Chairman.

The judges on brood-mares, with foals at their side, made the
following

REPORT:

The committee awarded the first premium for mares, under 1,000 lbs.,
to Joseph Burnett, Southborough ; the second, to O. Clark, Boston.

Discretionary Premiums. — To J. Wise ; C. D. Nourse, Shrews-
bury, and J. H. Bent.

For mares, over 1,000 lbs., entered as horses for general utility,
they award the first premium to Lambert Maynard, Bradford ; second,
to Samuel P. Smith, Holliston ; third, to J. B. Moore, Concord.

Discretionary Premiums. — To N. Cutler, Medway ; John Dugan,
Somerville.

In consequence of the advanced age of the foals belonging to Mr.
Nourse and Mr. Dugan, the committee did not hold that they could
compete for premium. The mare and foal belonging to Mr. Cutler,
arrived too late to compete for regular premium.

A strong well-bred mare, with foal at her side, owned by A. D.
Weld, West Roxbury, was in the hands of a groom unaccustomed to
his duty, while the mare, evidently intent on maternal duty, refused
to be shown to advantage in any position in which her groom tried to
place her.

For the committee,

Eben Wight.

100 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

The premiums oifered for fillies three years old and under
four, entered as roadsters, were the same as those for stallions
of the same age, and for fillies two years old and under three,
and one year old and under two, the same as for stallions of
the same ages respectively, as given on page 88.

The entries of fillies in this division were as follows : —

No. 1. — Filly, "Lady Ellis," Morgan and English, 3 years old, weight, 870

lbs., 14 hands high, owned by J. Gates, Worcester.
2.— Filly, " Jennie," half Black Hawk, 2 years old, weight, 900 lbs.,

owned by J. C. Ripley, Worcester.
3. — Filly, " Fannie," 16 months old, owned by John P. Cashing,

Watertown.
4.— Filly, " Nellie Bly," 2^ years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by John

Hosmer, Concord.
5. — Filly, " Kittie," Ethan Allen and Morgan, 2 years old, weight,

850 lbs., owned by O. Clark, Boston.
6. — Filly, " Flora," half Black Hawk and Morgan, 1 year old, weight,

400 lbs., owned by O. Clark, Boston.
7. — Filly, " Gipsey, Jr.," sired by Nonpareil, 1 year old, owned by James

F. Thorndike, New England Village.
8. — Filly, " Jennie," 16 months old, weight, 680 lbs., owned by Samuel

P. Smith, Holliston.
9. — Filly, "Abel Lyman," 3 years old, weight, 850 lbs., owned by

George M. Teal, South Danvers.
10. — Filly, " Venus," Nonpareil, 10 months old, owned by C. D. Nourse,

Shrewsbury.
11. — Filly, " Ladie Nellie," Messenger and Morgan, 2 years old, owned

by G. W. Parmenter, Northborough.
12. — Filly, " Young Jennie," 16 months old, owned by John H. Bent,

Concord.
13. — Filly, "Jennie Lind," 3 years old, owned by J. D. Bradley, Milton.
14.— Filly, " Marion," Black Hawk, 2 years old, weight, 860 lbs., owned

by William Peters, North Andover.
15. — Filly, " Fannie," 3 years old, weight, 850 lbs., owned by James Wise,

South Lancaster.
IG. — Filly, " Fannie," 2 years old, weight, 800 lbs., owned by J. J. Carr,

Quincy.
17. — Filly, " Fannie Grey," 4 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by R. S.

Denny, Clappville.
18. — Filly, " Sorrel Pet," 3 years old, owned by G. B. Blanchard, North

Bridgewater.
19. — Filly, " St. Lawrence," 3 years old, weight, 865 lbs., owned by John

M. Gay, Stonghton.
20.— Filly, " Baby Childers," 3 years old, owned by L. Maynard, Brad-

ibrd.
21. — Filly, " Proxy," 3 years old, owned by L. Maynard, Bradford.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 101

The judges on fillies presented the following
REPORT:

The committee on fillies under four years old, found twenty-three
entries, and they award the following premiums : —

For three year olds — First premium, to Lambert Majmard's filly,
" Baby Childers," $30.

Second premium to Lambert Maynard's filly " Proxy," $20.

Third premium, to Sewell Blood's filly " Waltham Maid," $10.

For two year olds — First premium, to William Peters' filly, $20.

Second premium, to J. C. Ripley's filly " Jennie," $15.

Third premium, to G. W. Parmenter's filly, $10.

For yearling fillies — First premium to C. D. Noursc's filly
"Venus," $15.

Second premium, to O. Clark's filly " Flora," $10.

Third premium, to S. P, Smith's filly, " Jennie," $5.

The committee recommend to George C. Teal's gelding, 3 years
old, named " Abel Lyman," a diploma, as a valuable, fine-gaited,
trotting gelding, they not being authorized to judge of geldings in
the class of fillies in which he was entered.

George B. Loring, Chairman.

HORSES FOR GENERAL UTILITY.

As already intimated in speaking of roadsters, this term, as
designating a class of horses, implies the union of a greater
variety of qualities, than would be expected in any other. A
horse best adapted to general utility, or a horse of-all-work, need
not excel to an eminent degree in any one, and the fact of his
excelling in any one point, does not imply that he is well suited
for other purposes. Strength, docility, and kindness at a " dead
lift," and hardiness of constitution, are essential qualities; and
these imply compactness and firmness of form and short legs.
Compact and firmly built horses will generally last longer, do
their work better, and prove more useful in all situations than
larger and longer legged animals, though longer legs may
increase the speed. A small or medium sized horse, with flat
bone, well covered with muscle and sinew, shoulder somewhat
oblique, if the horse is not to be used for too heavy draught,
withers thin and flat, back short and straight, round in the
barrel, with wide, long and muscular hips, will often be more
generally useful than a horse of larger size.

102 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

Tliere is a distinct ar.d widely distributed breed of horses in
Scotland, called the Clydesdale. Their chief points are short
legs, strong and compact bodies, with sometimes a tendency to
longer legs and lighter bodies, fine heads well set on, full chest,
well formed shoulders ; short back, strong in tlie loin with short
coupling, long and well formed hind-quarters, wide and well
formed hips, strong in the hock, with flat bone, and good, sound
feet. This horse is the general favorite for farm-work of every
description.

A horse for general purposes should weigh somewhere from
ten to eleven hundred pounds, though many horses under that
weight prove themselves capable, in point of strength and
endurance, of performing any of the services usually required
on the farm, and for heavy draught twelve hundred may not be
too large. It has been said and with truth that there is no point
more desirable than that the horse should appear to be smaller
than he really is. It is pretty good evidence that the animal is
compact and symmetrically formed.

Most of the horses entered in this division at the State Fair,
were, according to the report of the judges, of a very high
order of merit.

" Petersham Morgan," was sired by " Black Morgan," g sire,
" Green Mountain, 2d," g g sire, " Gifford," g g g sire, " Wood-
bury," g g g g sire, "Justin Morgan." "Black Morgan's"
dam was also sired by " Greeji Mountain, 2d."

Dam of " Petersham Morgan," by " Emperor," her dam by
" Woodbury Morgaii." " Emperor" was foaled in 1837, sired
by " Bulrush," g sire, " Justin Morgan." " Woodbury " was
sired by "Justin Morgan."

" Anglo-Saxon " was sired by a son of old " Black Hawk,"
out of a Sherman Morgan mare ; dam by " Post Boy," by
" Henry," well known thorough-breds. He has therefore a
strain of the Black Hawk, the Morgan, and the thorough-bred.
He is said to possess great muscular development, speed and
power of endurance.

The premiums offered for stallions over one thousand pounds
in weight, entered as horses for general utility, were the same
as those for stallions over four years old, entered as roadsters,
as given above.

The entries of stallions in this division were as follows :—

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 103

No. 1. — Stallion, " Anglo-Saxon," Black Hawk, 7 years old, weight, 1,100 lbs.,

15^ hands high, owned by Bean & Johnson, North Andover.
2. — Stallion, " Signal," Morgan, 6 years old, weight, 1,100 lbs., 16 hands

high, owned by Moses Colman, Newburyport.
3. — Stallion, " Rip Van Winkle," Black Hawk, 5 years old, weight,

1,050 lbs., owned by Noble H. Hill, Boston.
4. — Stallion, " Middlesex," Black Hawk and Morgan, 4 years old, weight,

1,010 lbs., owned by John Hosmer, Concord.
5. — Stallion, " Nonpareil," Cassius M. Clay and Gipsey, 5 years old,

weight, 1,125 lbs., 16| hands high, owned by James F. Thorndike,

New England Village.
6. — Stallion, " Cossack," Black Hawk and Messenger, 6 years old,

owned by G. W. Todd, Concord.
7. — Stallion, " Duroc," Morgan, 5 years old, weight, 1,130 lbs., owned

by llobert Kelren, South Boston.
8. — Stallion, " Petersham Morgan," 5 years old, weight, 1,030 lbs.,

owned by F. Twichell, Jr., Templeton.
9. — Stallion, " Daniel Webster," 9 years old, weight, 1,400 lbs., owned by

Holbrook & Co., Dorchester.
10. — Stallion, " St. Lawrence, Jr.," 6 years old, weight, 1,050 lbs., owned

by P. Moley, Brighton.
11. — Stallion, " Charlie," 8 years old, weight, 1,090 lbs., owned by C. H.

Sherman, Natick.
12. — Stallion, " St. Lawrence," 5 years old, weight, 1,020 lbs., owned by

Charles Law, Cambridge.
13. — Stallion, " Saratoga," Black Hawk, 6 years old, weight, 1,030 lbs.,

owned by S. F. Twichell, Framingham.
14. — Stallion, " Messenger," 5 years old, weight, 1,350 lbs., owned by

Samuel Logan, Portland, Me.
15. — Stallion, " Hampden," Messenger Morgan, 9 years old, weight, 1,110

lbs., owned by N. R. Washburn, Springfield.
16. — Stallion, " Black Prince," 9 years old, weight, 1,262 lbs., owned by

S. Dame, Hamilton.
17. — Stallion, " Natick Cobbler," 6 years old, weight, 1,100 lbs., owned

by S. Hays, Natick.
18. — Stallion, " Massachusetts Morgan, Jr.," 4 years old, weight, 1,050 lbs.,

owned by P. Cahill, Hopkinton.
19. — Stallion, " Mt. Vernon," 7 years old, weight, 1,020 lbs., owned by

A. Walton, South Reading.

The judges on stallions over four years of age, entered as
horses for general utility, submitted the following

REPORT:

Theie were nineteen entries in this division, and the committee
award the first premium of $40, to Francis Twichell, Jr., of Tern-

104 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

pleton, for his horse " Petersham Morgan ; " the second, of -$30, to
Noble II. Hill, of Boston, for his horse " Rip Van Winkle ; " the
third, of $30, to A. Walton, of Soixth Reading, for his horse " Mount
Vernon."

This was unquestionably the best exhibition of horses, of this
class, ever made in the State of Massachusetts.

Every one of the whole nineteen were good horses, and most of
them possessed so many peculiar points of excellence, that it was
extremely difficult to designate those that were above all others
entitled to the premium offered by the Board.

The term, " general utility" involves the necessity of a particular
examination of each animal offered, with regard to their ability to
perform the various kinds of labor — on the farm, the road, for draught,
for light work, speed, blood, powers of endurance, and various other
things. When the limited time allowed for the examinations, or the
great number of animals offered is considered, it will be apparent
that it was impossible for the committee to take each horse and go
into the extended examinations and trials that the case would seem
to demand. Owing to the peculiarities above alluded to, the com-
mittee found themselves under much embarrassment, but proceeded
as best they could, to designate the three horses in their opinion best
entitled to the premiums, and then classify them into first, second,
and third. After doing this, it was the design of the committee to
further classify and designate, and thus indicate in some measure the
committee's opinion of the classified order of excellence, but in addi-
tion to the difficulties above alluded to, it was found that a report
upon that plan would necessarily become too voluminous, and the
committee are compelled to content themselves with making this gen-
eral report, and agreed that they would do no more.

All of which is respectfully submitted by

Iyeks Phillips,

j. s. f. huddlesxon,

M. D. Phillips,

Com7nittee.

The premiums oflfered for mares and geldings four years old
and upwards, entered as horses for general utility, were the
same as for stallions of the same age.

The following is the list of entries of marcs and geldings,
over 1,000 lbs., entered as horses for general utility : —

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 1.05

No. 1. — Mare, "Farmer Girl," owned by S. K. Johnson, North Andovcr.
2. — (Jelding, " CharUe," IG years old, weight, 1,07G lbs., 15 A hand.s high,

owned by William B. Harris, North Woburn.
3. — Jlare, " Young Lady Suffolk," Messenger, 5 years old, weight,

1,010 lbs., 15 hands 3 inches high, owned by Samuel T. Payson,

Newburyport.
4. — Mare, " Dolly ]\Iorgan," Tally Ho Morgan, 12 years old, weight,

1,150 lbs., owned by Samuel P. Smith, HoUiston.
5. — Gelding, " Rob Roy," Sherman Morgan, 6 years old, weight, 1,010

lbs., 15J hands high, owned by C. W. Bellows, Pepperell.
6. — Gelding, " Morgan Rattler," 6 years old, weight, 1,080 lbs., owned

by F. Leonard, East Bridgewater.
7. — Gelding, " Ned Morrill," 6 years old, weight, 1,025 lbs., owned by B.

F. Danforth, Boston.
8. — Mare, " Nellie, (with foal at side,) Black Hawk and English, 6 years

old, weight, 1,010 lbs., owned by O. Clark, Boston.
9. — Gelding, " Farmington Boy," Messenger, 5 years old, weight, 1,075

lbs., 10 hands high, owned by Henry Blanchard, East Stoughton.
10. — Mai-e, " Pocahontas," nearly thorough-bred, 9 years old, weight, 1,200

lbs., owned by R. S. Denny, Clappville.
11. — Gelding, " Major Ringgold," Morgan, 7 years old, weight, 1,013 lbs.,

owned by Elijah Denny, Boston.
12. — Mare, " Jessie," Morgan, 6 years old, weight, 1,050 lbs., owned by

William C. Morey, Boston.
13. — Mare, " Queen Anne," 8 years old. Messenger and Black Hawk,

owned by Alfred Boynton, Pepperell.
14. — JLare, " Lina," 4 years old, weight, 1,070 lbs., owned by Samuel H.

Rhoades, Concord.
15. — Mare, " Nahraeoka," 8 years old, weight, 1,025 lbs., owned by H.

M. Aiken, Dorchester.
16. — Gelding, " Tiger," 10 years old, weight, 1,400 lbs., owned by Burrage,

Stickney & Co., Cambridgeport. (Transferred to draught horses.)
17. — Mare, " Bessie," 12 years old, weight, 1,050 lbs., owned by J. A.

Head, West Roxbui-y.
18. — Mare, " Jennie Lind," 9 years old, weight, 1,100 lbs., owned by

Lyman Kinsley, Canton.
19. — Gelding, " Major," Messenger, 7 years old, weight, 1,250 lbs., owned

by M. L. Seavcy, Winchester.
20. — Marc, " Grace," Messenger, 7 years old, weight, 1,080 lbs., owned

by G. Twichell, Bi-ookllne.
21. — Mare, "Fannie," 8 years old, weight, 1,010 lbs., owned by Joseph

N. Ford, Boston.
22. — ]\Lire, '• Jennie LInd," (foal at side,) Morgan and English, 7 years

old, weight, 1,010 lbs., owned by John H. Bent, Concord.
23. — Gelding, " Major Rogers," 9 years old, weight, 1,300 lbs., owned by

J. L. Brown, Roxbury.

24. — Gelding, " Tiger," 5 years old, weight, 1,014 lbs., owned by E. A.

Allen, Randolph.
14*

106 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

No. 25. — Gelding, " Cliarlic," 8 j'oars old, weight, 1,025 lbs., owned by N.

H. Kill, Boston.
2G. — Gelding, " Lion," 6 years old, weight, 1,050 lbs., owned by T.

Adams, Roxbury.
27. — Gelding "Dentist," 7 years old, weight, 1,050 lbs., owned by J. B.

Lawton, Roxbury.
28. — Marc, " Jennie," 7 years old, weight, 1,050 lbs., owned by F. K

Faxon, Boston.
29. — Mare, " Fannie," Morgan, 6 years old, weight, 1,050 lbs., owned by

Thomas J. Clark, Cambridge.
30. — Gelding, " John," 7 years old, weight, 1,005 lbs., owned by Wil-
liam Peters, North Andover.
31. — IMare, " Messenger Girl," S years old, weight, 1,1-30 lbs., owned by

E. Wheeler, Marlborough.
32. — Gelding, "North Star," 6 years old, weight, 1,125 lbs., owned by P.

Moley, Brighton.
33. — Mare, " Kate," (foal at side,) Morgan, 8 years old, weight, 1,000 lbs.,

owned by J. B. Moore, Concord.
34. — Gelding, " Peacock," 5 years old, weight, 1,050 lbs., owned by

William Barnard, Jr., Boston.
35. — Mare, "New England Maid," 9 years old, weight, 1,060 lbs., owned

by C. D. Nourse, Shrewsbury.
3G. — Gelding, " Jerry," 7 years old, weight, 1,025 lbs., owned by J.

Wooster, Cambridge.
37._Maro, " Nellie," 8 years old, weight, 1,050 lbs., owned by E. N.

Chaddock, Boston.
38. — Gelding, "Joe," 4 years old, weight, 1,140 lbs., owned by Rufiis

King, Sutton.
39. — Gelding, " Charlie Boston," 9 years old, weight, 1,010 lbs., owned

by J. H. Barrett, Boston.
40. — Gelding, " Major," 6 years old, weight, 1,050 lbs., 15^ hands high,

owned by A. H. Mather, Boston.
41. — Mare, " My Mary Ann," 6 years old, weight, 1,100 lbs., owned by

L. A. Hitchcock, Boston.
42. — Gelding, " Tiger," 9 years old, weight, 1,100 lbs., owned by S.

Phipps, Ilopkinton.
43. — Marc, " Fannie," 12 years old, weight, 1,025 lbs., owned by R. A.

Lamb, Jamaica Plain.
44. — Gelding, " Charlie Bent," 6 years old, 1,130 lbs., owned by S. F.

Twichell, Framingham.
45. — Gelding, " Charlie Hamilton," Messenger, 8 years old, weight, 1,150

lbs., owned by J. M. Davenport, Grafton.
46. — Gelding, " Frank Pierce," 9 years old, weight, 1,050 lbs., owned by

Harrison Rogers, North Bridgewater.
47. — Mare, " Jennie," 6 years old, weight, 1,030 lbs., owned by W. H.

Harrington, Salem.
48. — Gelding, " Billy," 4 years old, weight, 1,345 lbs., owned by G. B.

Sanborn, Chelmsford.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 107

No. 49.— Mare, " Lady Bradford," (foal at side,) 9 years old, weight, 1,200
lbs., owned by L. Mayiiard, Bradford.
50. — Mare, " Dollie," (foal at side,) 9 yfears old, weight, 1,200 lbs.,

owned by N. Cutter, West Medway.
51. — Gelding, " Lord Barrington," 5 years old, weight, 1,100 lbs., owned
by Harvey Dodge, Sutton.

The committee on mares four years old and upwards, entered
as horses for general utility, submitted the following

REPORT:

They award the first premium of 840, to R. S. Denny, of Clappville,
for his maiC "Pocahontas."

The second premium of $30, to Ginery Twichell, of Brooldine, for
his mare " Grace."

The third premium of $20, to T. J. Clark, of Cambridge, for his
mare " Fanny."

The committee also recommend a fourth premium of |15, to be
awarded to S. K. Jackson, of North Andover, for his mare " Farmer
Girl." And the committee regret that there w'ere not other premiums
to be aAvarded as there were many others worthy of them, and among
the number the mare " Queen Ann," belonging to A. Boynton, of
Pepperell ; and also a fast mare, " Jennie," belonging to W. H. Har-
rington, of Salem ; and also a very fast mare, " Jenny Lind," belong-
ing to Lyman Kinsley, of Canton; also, a fine mare, "Jenny,"
belonging to F. E. Faxon, of Boston ; another fast mare, " Nah-
meoka," belonging to H. M. Aiken, of Dorchester; also a fine young
mare, " Lina," belonging to Samuel A. Rhodes, of Concord.

F. A. BlLLIlv^GS.

L. Maynaed.
Albekt Nichols.

The awards on mares with foals at their side, entered as
horses for general utility have been given on a preceding page,
in the report of the judges on brood mares with foals at their
side, entered as roadsters.

The committee on geldings four years old and upwards,
entered as horses of general utility, submitted the following

REPORT:

They award the first premium of $40, to B. F. Danforth, of
Boston, for his horse " Ned Morrill."

108 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

The second premium of $30, to Dr. E. A. Allen, of Randolph, for
his horse " Tiger."

The third premium of $20, to C. W. Bellows, of Peppcrell, for his
horse " Rob Roy."

And the committee recommend a premium of $10, to be awarded
to Col. Thomas Adams, of Roxbury, for his horse " Lyon." And
also a gratuity of $5 to Henry Blanchard, of East Stoughton, for his
young horse " Farmington Boy."

There were many other horses in this class entitled to considera-
tion and commendation, particularly the "Morgan Rattler," belong-
ing to F. Leonard, of East Bridgcwater ; and the " North Star,"
belonging to P. Molcy, of Brighton ; also, J. Wooster's horse, of
Cambridge, " Jerry ; " and the horse belonging to H. Rogers, of
North Bridgcwater, " Frank Pierce."

F. A. Billings.
L. Maynard.
Albert Nichols.

The premiums offered for horses, matched for road or car-
riage, were as follows : —

Sixteen bands high and upwards — 1st premium, <^10; 2d, ^20 ; 3d, flO.
Less than sixteen hands — 1st premium, §10 ; 2d, ^20 ; 8d, $10.

The following entries were made in this division, viz. : —

No. 1. — Matched, " Green Mountain Boy," and "Vermont," 15| hands high,

owned by A. Moulton, Framingham.
2. — Matched, " Tom," and " Jerry," weight, 1,950 lbs., 15^ hands high,

owned by John D. W. Sherman, Dorchester.
3. — Matched, " Right Bower," and " Left Bower," Morgan, 4 years old,

owned by W. R. Wheelock, Grafton.
4. — Matched, " Jennie," and " Kittle," 6 and 7 years old, oAvned by J.

H. Chadwick, Roxbury.
5. — Matched, " Fannie," and " Charlie," 0 and 5 years old, owned

by E. Potter, Braintree.
6. — Matched, 16 hands high, owned by William Barnard, Boston.
7. — Matched, 6 years old, owned by L. Gassett, Boston.
8. — Matched, 5 years old, Morgan, T. H. Smith, Boston.
9. — Matched, 7 years old, owned by A. Dearborn, Boston.
10. — Matched, 6 and 7 years old, 16 hands high, owned by George C.

Ricdel, Boston.
11. — Matched, 5 years old, 15 hands high, owned by W. Pierce, Charlee-

town.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 109

No. 12. — Matched, 8 years old, welglit, 2,540 lbs., 16 hands high, owned by E.

li. Parker, Wrentham.
13. — Matched, 6 and 9 years old, owned by T. Adams, Roxbury.
14. — Matched, 7 and 9 years old, "Morgan," and " Peacock," owned by

Capt. Bobbins, South Boston.
15. — Matched " Jupiter" and " Juno," 5 and 6 years old. Black Hawk,

Morgan and Messenger, owned by A. B. Hardy, Boston.
IG. — Jlatched, 5 years old, weight, 2,240 lbs., owned by James P. Putr-

nam, Fitchburg.
17. — Matched, 7 and 8 years old, weight, 1,820 lbs., owned by T. R.

Lucy, Newburyport.

The judges on matched horses presented the following

REPORT:

The committee recommend the following awards : —

The first premium to No. 14, Capt. Robbins, of South Boston, for
his " Morgan " and " Peacock."

The second, to No. 2, J. D. W. Sherman, of Dorchester, for his
" Tom " and " Jerry."

The third, to No. 7, Lotan Gassett, of Boston, for his black horses.

They also recommend a gratuity of $10 to William R. Wheelock,
of Grafton, for his four year old Morgan colts.

For the committee,

G. Tayichell.

The premiums offered for draught horses were as follows : —

Matched— 1st premium, 5?50 ; 2d, ^25 ; 3d, 10.
Single— 1st premium, |25 ; 2d, |15 ; 3d, ^10.

jfl^ The following is the list of entries of draught horses at the
State Fair : —

No. 1. — Matched, Morgan, 8 years old, owned by John Brooks, Jr., Prince-
ton.

2. — Matched, 9 years old, owned by Stevens & Holt, Boston.

3.— Matched, G and 9 years old, owned by W. C. S. Harrington, Water-
town.

4. — Single, 9 years old, weight, 1,800 lbs., owned by John E Wilder,
Chelsea.

5. — Matched, 7 years old, weight, 2,650 lbs,, owned by J. C. Chase,
Cambridgeport.

liO BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

No. G. — Single, " Nigger," 11 years old, weight, 1,340 lbs., owned by Chase &
Hunten, Cambridgeport.
7.— Single, " Tiger," 8 years old, weight, 1,450 lbs., owned by J. T.

Keating, Boston.
8.— Matched, " Charhe" and " Dick," 12 and 7 years old, weight, 2,700

lbs., owned by J. T. Keating, Boston.
9. — Matched, " Gardner" and "Boy," 8 and 9 years old, weight, 2,900
lbs., owned by C. E,. Cutter, Boston.
10. — Matched, 0 years old, owned by Reed & Bartlett, Charlestown.
11. — Matched, 6 and 7 years old, weight, 1,250 and 1,180 lbs., owned by

T. S. Hews, Boston.
12. — Matched, 10 years old, 2,400 lbs., owned by C. Howe, Jr., Boston.
13. — Matched, owned by Norcross, Sanders & Co., Lowell.
14. — Single, 10 years old, weight 1,400 lbs., owned by Burrag'i, Stickney
& Co., Cambridgeport.

The judges appointed under the above division having given
tlie subject a careful consideration submitted the following

REPORT:

The first premium of $50, they award to Mr. T. S. Hews, of Boston,
entry No. 11, for a pair of draught horses, ten years old, weighing
1,200 lbs., each.

The second premium of $25, they award to the City of Boston,
entry No. 9, for a pair of draught horses, named "Gardner" and
" Boy," eight or nine years old, weighing 2,900 lbs.

The third premium of $10 they award to Mr. C. Howe, Jr., of
Boston, for a pair of draught horses, ten years old, weighing 1,200
lbs. each. Entry No. 12.

For single draught horses the committee award as follows : —
The first premium to Mr. John T. Keating, of Boston, entry
No. 7, $25 to "Tiger," eight years old, weight 1,450 lbs.

The second premium to Burrage, Stickney & Co., Cambridgeport,
entry No, 14, single draught horse, weighing 1,400 lbs., $15.

The third premium to Mr. John E. Wilder, of Chelsea, No. 4
entry, single draught horse, weighing 1,800 lbs., nine years old, $10.
In conclusion, we will take this opportunity to state that the trials
were performed in a very satisfactory manner to us, and highly cred-
itable to those under whose charge the work was performed.

ezea forristai.l,
Aktemas L. Brooks,
William Forbes,
John Holland,

Judges.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. Ill

The premiums offered for ponies, at the State Fair, were as
follows : —

Matched, mO ; Single, ^^10.

The entries of ponies were as follows : —

No. 1. — Gelding Pony, " Poppot," 9 years old, bred in Wales, owned by

INIrs. J. Bryant, Jr., Boston, weight, 450 lbs.
2.— Calcutta Pony, "Nellie," 12 years old, weight, 334 lbs., owned by

Charles Waite, Jr., Cambridgeport.
3. — " Archer," 9 years old, weight, 800 lbs., owned by P. Lally, South

Boston.
4. — " Sorrel Billy," 11 years old, weight, G50 lbs., owned by James Kelly,

South Boston.
5. — " Billy," 0 years old, weight, 650 lbs., owned by Thomas Flarrety,

Boston.
6. — " Billy Button," 4 years old, weight, 825 lbs„ owned by G. Bailey,

South Natick.
7. — " Dollic," 6 years old, weight, 783 lbs., owned by 11. Goodnow,

Natick.
8. — " Topsy," 8 years old, owned by B. S. Pray, Boston.
9. — Span of ponies, Morgans, 7 years old, owned by G. M. Dexter,

Boston.

The committee on ponies made the following
REPORT :

They award the premium on matched ponies to George M. Dexter,
of Boston, for his pair of Morgan ponies.

The premium on single ponies, to Mrs. John Bryant, Jr., of Boston,
for her Welch pony, " Poppet," a very superior animal.
For the committee,

S. C. Olivek, Chairman.

The following premiums were offered on saddle horses : —
1st premium, $30 ; 2d, .1?20 ; 3d, f 10.

The following entries were made of saddle horses : —

No. 1. — " Pet," one-half Enghsh, 5 years old, owned by George G. Sampson,

Boston.
2. — "Boston," 7 years old, weight, 970 lbs., owned by Charles Boynton,

Georgetown.
3. — " Bijou," Enghsh and Morgan, 8 years old, weight, 720 lbs., owned

by A. B. Hardy, Brookline.

112 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

No. 4. — " Iloosicr," G years old, weight, 000 ll)s., owned by C. H. Mills,
Boston.
5. — " Wizard,"' C years old, owned by S. Crockett, Boston.
6. — " Comet," French and Morgan, 5 years old, weight, 983 lbs., ownexi

by Joshua Wilkins, Dorchester.
7. — " Charlie," French and English, G years old, weight, 850 lbs., owned

by Aniasa Clapp, Dorchester.
8. — " Flying Morgan," G years old, weight, 950 lbs., owned by R. S.

Denny, Clappville.
9. — " Lady Mayfly," 10 years old, owned, by P. M. Kibby, Boston.
10. — " Peacock," 7 years old, weight, 1,125 lbs., owned by J. Gilson, West

Cambridge.
11.—" Billy Morgan," 4 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by E. B. Met-

calf, Franklin.
12.—" Fannie," 5 years old, weight, 900 lbs., owned by E. B. Metcalf,
Franklin.

The committee on saddle horses presented the following
REPORT:

They award the first premium to R. S. Denny, of Clappville, for
his " Flying Morgan."

The second, to Charles Boynton, of Georgetown, for his horse
"Boston."

The third, to S. Crockett, Boston, for his horse, " Weazle."

The committee would recommend that diplomas be awarded to
Joshua Wilkins, of Dorchester, for his horse, " Comet," and to J.
Gilson, of West Cambridge, for his horse, " Peacock."
For the committee,

Samuel C. Oliver.

SHEEP.

Probably no domestic animal is more widely diffused over the
civilized world than the sheep. It has been under the subjec-
tion of man from the earliest antiquity, and still continues to
be of the utmost importance to him both in an individual and
national point of view.

It has been supposed by some naturalists that the domestic
sheep was originally derived from the wild species, several
of wliich still exist in different parts of the world, as the argali
of central and northern Asia, the musraon found in the mo\m-
tains of the Caucasus and elsewhere, as in the islands of Crete

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 113

and Cyprus, the Rocky Mountain sheep, found on the lofty
mountain ranges of this continent, and some others. If this
Avere the origin of our domestic sheep it is certain that it must
have been subjected to man and its natural habits very mate-
rially changed, at a very early period ; and the contrary suppo-
sition, that the wild species originated either from an animal
very like the domestic sheep in its general characteristics, less
wild and active than the present wild species, and less docile
perhaps than the domestic sheep, is equally probable. However
this may be we know that the early descendants of Adam had
their flocks, and that the pastoral or shepherd's life was that
most generally followed by the early patriarchs, while among
the later nations, the Greeks, the Romans and others,' the
raising and keeping of sheep for the supply of food and clothing,
was always esteemed of the highest importance.

Of the innumerable varieties of the domestic sheep but few
are known among us. The interest in this branch of husbandry
has greatly decreased even within the last few years, the
farmer's attention having been turned into other channels from
a conviction that we could not compete with others in the
raising of wool. The extent to which the keeping of sheep has
fallen off, is apparent enough from the following official statis-
tics. In 1845 there were 33,875 Saxony sheep in this State,
yielding 93,218 pounds of wool, fine, of course, the Saxon
having been improved by the cross with the Merino. In 1855
this number had decreased to 6,806 Saxon sheep, yielding
14,549 pounds of wool. In 1845 there were 165,428 Merino
sheep in this State, yielding 487,050 pounds of wool. In 1855
the number of Merino sheep had decreased to 65,584, yielding
only 188,504 pounds of wool. In 1845 there were of all other
sheep in the State, besides the Saxon and Merinos, 155,640,
yielding 435,962 pounds of wool, and these numbers had
decreased in 1855 to 72,825 sheep of all kinds other than
Saxons and Merinos, yielding 213,103 pounds of wool, while
the aggregate value of all sheep in the State in 1845 was
$568J284, and in 1855 but $309,843. The aggregate value of
all the wool raised in the State had decreased in the same time
from $365,136 to $155,046, showing a very large falling off in
every respect in the course of only ten years. Had the fine-
woolled sheep alone decreased in numbers, this great falling off

16*

114 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

miglit be explained on the supposition that our farmers were
turning their attention more to the raising of mutton to supply
an active and ever increasing demand in our market, but sta-
tistics show an absolute and large decrease of all kinds of sheep.
In the eastern section of the State far less attention is now, and
has been, paid to this important branch of husbandry, tlian in
the western and midland counties ; the chief object of the few
who keep sheep being to profit from the carcase and tlie sale of
lambs in the eastern, and by the fleece in the western.

The breeds among us are exceedingly limited in number,
though the crosses and grades are innumerable. We liave the
Leicesters, the Cotswolds, the South Downs and the Oxford-
shire Downs among the long and middle-woolled, and the
Merinos and their various grades, as the French, Silesian and
Saxon Merinos among the fine-woolled. Occasionally a few of
some other description may be met with, introduced, or kept
from curiosity, but the above includes all the varieties that are
kept to any extent except the large number of " natives'' made
up of unknown crosses.

The new Leicesters may be said to have had their origin with
the experiments of Robert Bake well, undertaken in 1755, and
continued successfully through a long course of years. From
him they are sometimes called Bakewells, and sometimes the
Dishley breed, from tlie name of his place. Tiie manner
in whicli ho improved and remodelled the old Leicesters
was kept a profound secret, and no one knows to this day how
far he used other breeds to obtain crosses, nor how far lie
carried his crosses, but he seems to have " perfectly understood
the relation which exists between the external form of an animal
and its aptitude to become fat in a short time. He saw that
this relation did not depend on size, nor, in the case of the
sheep, on the power of the individual to yield a large quantity
of wool." With him size of body and quantity of wool were
but secondary objects, while his eye was constantly directed to
the form best adapted to yield the largest quantity of fat
and muscle, laid on the best parts, with the least offal. He
bred with the most careful selection, often from very close
relations, and regarded delicacy of constitution incident to
such a system, as of little importance compared with a tendency
to fatten and mature early, and thcr-e last objects he attained in

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 115

an eminent degree and fixed them as permanent characteristics
of the breed.

The new Leicesters have fine heads, wide nostrils, with eyes
full and quick, and ears thin and pricked, the whole expression
of the face and head pleasing and mild. The head is hornless,
long, small, tapering to the muzzle and projecting horizontally
forwards. The neck is broad and full at the base or chest,
tapering gradually towards the head and very fine at the
junction of the head and neck. A line drawn from the top of
the head to the rump is horizontal. The shoulders are broad
and round, the breast broad and full, the arm fleshy down
to the knee, the legs small, standing wide apart, and bare
of wool. The chest and barrel are round and deep, well ribbed
up, the quarters long and full, the muscles extending down to
the hock, the thighs wide and full, legs of medium length,
skin soft and elastic, covered with long, v/hite, fine wool.

The Leicesters are beautiful and symmetrical in form, mature
earlier than any other breed, and produce, perhaps, more mut-
ton and wool in proportion to the food they consume than
other breeds ; but the amount of tallow is generally very small,
and the carcase is not a favorite in the market, the fat not being
well mixed in with the lean. The pure new Leicester can
hardly be said to be a very profitable breed either for the
breeder, the feeder or the butcher, but for improving other
breeds the pure new Leicester ram is, perhaps, unrivalled, and
most admirable crosses are obtained from him with good ewes
of other breeds. It has been said by a very experienced and
practical judge, that the " Leicester sheep can improve all other
breeds, but none can improve them," and the practice of put-
ting the long-woolled Liecester rams to short-woolled ewes has
become very common. South Down ewes are more hardy and
prolific and are far better nurses than the Leicesters. The size
of the offspring of the Leicester ram and the South Down ewe,
will not fall much below the larger sire, if well fed, while the
mutton, taking the tendency to fatness of the sire, and the high
flavor, juiciness and good quality of the dam, will sell at higli
prices.

The Cotswolds form a large breed of sheep with a long and
heavy fleece. They are a cross of an old and celebrated breed
with the new Leicester, but as they have now been kept distinct

116 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

for many years, their characteristics are well fixed. The old
Cotswolds or Gloucestershire sheep were coarser in form and
larger in body than the improved Cotswolds of the present day, but
the latter are somewhat larger, hardier, more prolific and better
milkers than the pure new Leicesters, and they are, with many,
taking the place of Leicesters, on account of their superiority
in these respects and their adaptation to common treatment.
Tliat the quality of their mutton is better than that of the
Leicester is seen in the higher price it commands in the market.
The new or improved Oxfordshire, is only another name for the
improved Cotswold, the result of careful selection. The new
Oxfordshires are somewhat larger sized, and have a great ten-
dency to fatten on account of their wide frames, and quietness of
disposition, and the open texture of their flesh. The taste of
many breeders, at the present time, runs very much to large
size, and in the opinion of some, the largest sized sheep are
most profitable ; but it depends much on the richness and aljun-
dance of food, and with many of us who have but short pastures
the largest sized sheep might prove any thing but profitable.

The South Down is one of the oldest and purest breeds, tracing
its origin even beyond the time of William the Conqueror, It
is middle-woolled, though so good was the fleece that it once
ranked as fine wool and was used for carding, till a large supply of
superior fine wool from the continent took its place. The South
Downs have felt the hand of improvement like most other breeds
of animals in Great Britahi, and in point of form and symmetry
and fineness of bone they far surpass their ancestors of a half
century ago. They possess also greater tendency to fatten,
arrive at maturity earlier, and attain greater weights, still main-
taining great hardihood of constitution and being able to subsist
on poor pasture and hard fare. They will do well where many
other breeds would die or deteriorate. The fineness of the
fleece of the South Downs is only a secondary object generall}--,
and it is as an animal profitable for the butcher that it is most
bred among us. They lay on fat inside, where it is mixed with
the lean to a greater extent than the Leicesters, and hence are
more po})ular with tlie butchers, particularly in the London
market.

The head of the South Down is small and hornless, the face
dark gray, of medium length, the eye bright and full, the neck

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. IIT

thin towards the head, broad and high towards the shoulders,
the breast wide and deep and projecting well forwards between
the fore legs. The back is straight, flat from the shoulders to
the setting on of the tail, rump long and wide, the legs of
medium length, dark color or speckled, the wool short, close,
curled and fine. The meat of the South Down is fine grained,
and remarkable for its fine flavor and juiciness, cutting up well
into handsome joints. They feed easily and lay on large weights
of tallow.

The South Down is a favorite in eastern Massachusetts, where
it is raised chiefly for the shambles. The ewes put to Cotswold
or Leicester rams produce an excellent first cross, in point of
flesh and fleece, coming early to maturity and arriving at great
weight, bringing more per pound than either Leicesters or Cots-
wolds. It is unquestionably one of our most useful breeds of
sheep and adapted eminently to our wants and situation, and
consequently thought to be more profitable for us than the fine-
woolled breeds. They have " a patience of occasional short
keep and an endurance of hard stocking, equal to any other
sheep." They are very healthy and free from rot and other
diseases.

The Oxfordshire Downs are the result of a judicious cross of
the Cotswold with the pure South Down, and though it was
formed at a comparatively recent date, it is claimed that its
characteristics are so completely fixed as to entitle it to the
credit of forming a breed. The specimens of this breed now
in this State were mostly imported or bred by R. S. Fay, Esq.,
of Lynn. These fine animals inherit the size of the larger Cots-
wolds, greatly exceeding in weight the pure South Downs,
while the fleece has a somewhat coarser and stronger fibre, but
heavier by more than a third, than that of the pure bred South
Down. They take from the South Downs a beautiful roundness
and symmetry of form and fulness of muscular development,
laying their flesh and fat on the more valuable parts, while the
brown or gray face and leg seem to distinguish them as " South
Downs enlarged and improved." Both the ewes and the bucks
are larger than the South Down. These sheep seem to offer
great facilities for the improvement of our middle-wooUed
breeds. They are very quiet and docile in their habits, and
have proved themselves perfectly hardy.

118 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

The breeds mentioned above and tlieir various grades, com-
prise the long and middle-woolled varieties known among us.

The premiums offered for long-woollcd sheep were as fol-
lows : —

Two years old and over — 1st premium, ^10 ; 2d, ^7 ; 3d, ^5.
Under two years — 1st premium, ^10 ; 2d, ^7 ; 3d, $5.

The premiums for ewes not less than three in number, were
the same as for bucks of the same ages, and the premiums for
middle-woolled bucks and ewes the same as for long-woolled,
and for coarse and middle-woolled grade bucks and ewes, two
years old and over, the same.

The entries of long-woolled sheep were as follows : —

No. 1. — One buck, Cotswold, over two years old, owned by S. W. BuftiniL,

Winchester, N. H.
2. — One buck, New Oxfordshire, over two years old, owned by S. W.

Buffum, Winchester, N. H.
3. — One buck, New Oxfordshire, imder two years old, owned by S. W.

Buffum, Winchester, N. H.
4. — Five ewes, new Oxfordshire, under two years old, owned by

S. W. Buffum, Winchester, N. H.
5. — Three ewes, over two years old, owned by L. B. Morse, Boston.
6. — Four ewes, under two years old, owned by L. B. Morse, Boston.
7. — One buck, Cotswold, ov/ncd by Baldwin & Whittier, Montpelier, Vt.
8. — Flock of lambs, Cotswold, owned by Baldwin & Whittier, Mont-
pelier, Vt.
9. — One buck, Cotswold, owned by Thomas J. Field, Northfiold.
10. — Flock of ewes, Cotswold, over two years old^ owned by Thomas

J. Field, Northfield.
11. — Flock of ewes, over two years old, owned by Thomas J. Field,

Northfield.
12. — Flock of ewes, Cotswold, under two years old, owned by Thomas J.

Field, Northfield.
13. — Flock of lambs, Cotswold, owned by Thomas J. Field, Northfield.

The following is a list of entries of middlc-Avoollod slicep : —

No. 1. — Five ewes, Oxfordshire Downs, owned by Thomas Motley, Jr., West
Roxbury.
2. — Ewe lambs, Oxfordshire Downs, owned by Thomas ilotlcy, Jr.,

West Roxbury.
3. — Ram lambs, Oxfordshire Downs, owned by Thomas Motley, West
Roxbury.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 119

No. 4. — Ram, over two years old, owned by Waller Field, Northfield.

5. — One buck, under two years, owned by Thomas J. Field, Northfield.
6. — One buck, under two years old. South Down, owned by A. S.
Lewis, Framingham.

The entries of grade slieep were as follows : —

No. 1— One buck and two ewes, eighteen months old, and one ewe twenty-
eight months old, French grade, owned by Charles W. Gushing,
South Hingham.

2. — One buck, over two years old. South Down and Leicester, owned by
E. S. Denny, Clappville.

3. — One buck, two years old, Smyrna, owned by Albert Kelly, Auburn.

4. — Two ewes, five months old, South Down and Leicester, owned by R.
S. Denny, Clappville.

5. — Six ewes, three under, and three over two years old, owned by
Albert Kelly, Auburn.

6. — One buck, native, one year old, owned by Albert Kelly, Auburn.

7. — Two bucks, over two years old, Silesian and Spanish, owned by
George Campbell, Westminster, Vt.

8. — Three ewes, luider two years old, owned by L. B. Morse, Boston.

The judges on long-wooUed, middle-woolled, and grade long
or middle-woolled sheep, presented the following

R E P O R T :

The judges of slieep, to whose inspection Vv'as assigned the long-
woolled, middle-woolled, and grade varieties, respectfully report : —

They found in their department the following entries : long-woolled,
13; middle-woolled, 6; grade or cross, 8; total, 27; and after
careful examination of the folds, and attention to their instructions,
made the following awards : —

Lo7ig-iooolled. — Bucks, tvv'o years old and over, 1st premium to
Thomas J. Field, of Northfield.

Ewes, over two years, Ist premium, to Thomas J. Field ; 2d, to L.
B. Morse, of Boston ; 3d, to Thomas J. Field.

Ewes, under two years, 1st premium to L. B. Morse ; 2d, to Thomas
J. Field ; 3d, to Thomas J. Field.

Middle-woolled. — Bucks, over two years, 1st premium to Walter
Field, of Northfield.

Bucks, under two years, 1st premium, to Thomas J. Field, 2d, to
Thomas Motley, Jr., of West Roxbury ; 3d, to A. S. Lewis, of Fram-
ingham.

120 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

Ewes, over two years, 1st premium to Thomas Motley, Jr.

Ewes, under two years, 2d, to Thomas Motley, Jr.

Grade, or Cross Breeds. — Bucks, over two years, 1st premium to
R. S. Denny, of Clappville.

Bucks, under two years, 1st premium to A. Kelly, of Auburn ; 2d,
to C. W. Gushing, of South Hingham.

Ewes, over two years, 3d premium to A. Kelly.

Sheep out of the State. — Messrs. Baldwin & Whittier, of Mont-
pelier, Vt., exhibited a Cotswold buck, which has not its equal, per-
haps, in the New England States. Weight, 350 lbs., and beautifully
proportioned. Deacon S. F. BufFum, of Winchester, N. H., also
exhibited specimens from his fold ; among which was a very fine New
Oxfordshire buck. To each of these animals your judges could not
refrain from awarding a discretionary premium of $10, their highest
award, accompanied with their thanks to the above mentioned gen-
tlemen for their notable additions to the show of stock.

In assigning our reasons for the foregoing awards, we can sum up
all in very few words: the ribboned animals were, in our judgment,
the BEST siiEEP in the folds ; attention being paid in making our ver-
dict, to the fineness of the fleece and its adaptedness for working ;
and also to the points and qualities of the animals for the shambles.

Mr. Gushing, of South Hingham, informed us that he gave his
sheep no grain, except a little to his bearing ewes in the spring. The
sheep he exhibited were a fine lot, thrifty and hardy, and their shep-
herd apparently inspirited with a laudable ambition to excel in his
occupation. This was also the case with Mr. Kelly, of Auburn,
whose stock showed their master's care and attention to their well-
being. He showed us a fine lot of thrifty-conditioned ewes, every
one of which produced last spring twins, and one of them triplet
lambs. We would make favorable mention of a full-blood Smyrna
buck, two years old, also exhibited by Mr. Kelly ; average weight of
fleece, twenty pounds. Also, of a couple of ewe lambs entered by
Mr. Denny, of Glappville, (Leicester,) very fine animals.

A remark to one of the shepherds by one of the judges: "Your
slieep are your most profitable stock," is one which commends itself
to the consideration of every practical, progressive farmer. The day
has gone by in Massachusetts, when every farmer, with here and
there an exception, kept some sheep, from a " stocking-wool " stock,
to a flock of scores. The unsettled and see-sawing policy of govern-
ment in years agone, on the " tariff"' question, may, perhaps, be
looked to as the primary cause of this great decline in our wool-
growing interest. There is a proverb common with the people, " keep
a thing seven years and you will want it." Those of our shepherds

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 121

who have not "died out" in their occupation, are, at this day,
undouhtedly among our most thriving stock-raisers. Again, we have
known farmers to assign as a reason for not keeping sheep, the diffi-
culty and vexation experienced in keeping them within bounds. Sheep
will thrive upon our stony and poorest pastures, where the bite is
short but sweet, and where our neat stock which cannot nibble, would
barely " live, move, and have being." The natural fencing material
of such pastures lies at hand upon the ground — stones. True, sheep
are great climbers, and will scale a common stone wall at will, with
the ease and coolness with which a Yankee soldier will mount an
enemy's parapet ; but the simple addition to such fence of a rider of
poles, supported by stakes, will turn the sheep and keep them in
statu quo. No stock which a farmer keeps better tells the story of its
owner's care, than the bleating flock. No stock makes a finer show
than a lot of comely and well-conditioned sheep. And, on the con-
trary, there is no meaner looking animal, perhaps, than a poor, " run
down," decrepid sheep. A Calvin Edson, or death on the pale horse,
would suffer in comparison for miserableness.

Many shepherds are wont to trust too much to the natural hardi-
hood and warm coat of the sheep, as sufficient protection in our
severe months. This reliance is not misplaced when sheep are rang-
ing in dry, cold weather ; but need any shepherd be told that his
flock should be provided with dry and comfortable shelter, at this
season, during their hours of rest, and from all cold, driving storms.
And yet we have known large flocks in fine order at the commence-
ment of our late autumnal storms, to fall off" rapidly in condition, and
feed abundantly the winter crows, and manure their improvident
master's fields with their carcasses, by diseases engendered by inat-
tention to proper shelter. Dear manure, that !

Great credit is due to Messrs. Thomas J. Field, of Northfield,
Thomas Motley, Jr., of West Roxbury, and to Messrs. Kelly, Morse,
and others, for the numbers of their respective flocks exhibited.
They are all enterprising and careful shepherds, and we respectfully
invite them to give to the public their personal experience and obser-
vation in wool-growing, respectively.

Mr. Motley's sheep were mostly " Oxfordshire Downs," an English
cross, originally, but of so long standing as to be considered now, w^e
believe, a distinct breed.

Your chairman congratulates himself and the Board, on the valu-
able counsel and services rendered by his peers in judgment, particularly
the gentlemen from Norfolk and Essex counties, than whom no better
16*

122 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

judges of stock generally, and of sheep particularly, can perhaps be
found in the State.

JosiAH D. Canjsting,
Tkuman Clakk,
Joseph Newell,
Joseph B. Callender,

Judges.

Our " native " sheep derive their origin from sources as
various as our native cattle and horses. The date of the ear-
liest importation into Massachusetts is not known, but as sheep
are known to have been kept on some of the islands in Boston
harbor in 1G33, they must have been introduced in, or previous to
that year. In the plantation at Piscataqua already alluded to,
there were ninety-two sheep in 1635, and as early as 1G50 there
were about four hundred in Charlestown alone, and probably
many more in the vicinity of Boston. Sheep were taken to the
island of Nantucket in 1660, at the time of the first settlement,
and the raising of wool was continued with much spirit down
to a comparatively recent date, the number of sheep ranging
from six to ten thousand. It is now nearly abandoned there.

The fine-woolled sheep of this State are, for the most part
pure or grade merinos, such as the Saxons, Silesian, and French
merinos, and crosses of these with coarser or middle-woolled
varieties.

The merinos have been known in Spain for many centuries.
Even the ancient Greeks are said to have imported them from
the peninsula during the palmy days of Athens, and it is
reported that a single buck sometimes cost to import, no less
than a talent, or twelve hundred dollars, while the Romans for
a long time used the fine and beautiful wool for the manufacture
of their finest fabrics till the later days of the empire, when the
luxurious eastern silks were introduced. But the produce of
its flocks formed for many years the chief article of export, and
of course the principal source of the wealth of Spain. The
merino is unrivalled for the fineness of its wool. No English
breed can compete with it in this respect, and in ftict the breed-
ing of finc-woolled sheep has been almost entirely abandoned
by the English farmer for the more profitable business of breed-
ing for the carcass.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 123

Many of the northern states of Europe began early to devote
attention to the raising of wool, but the first country favored
with the use of merinos, was Sweden, to which a small flock
was carried as early as 1723. The experiment succeeded, the
government soon offering generous premiums to the breeders of
fine-woolled sheep and on the sales of the best wool, and the
encouragement thus extended, succeeded to such an extent that
the importation of fine wool soon ceased, and in 1764 there
were no less than C5,000 pure merino sheep in Sweden, and
23,000 grades, whose wool had been greatly improved by tho
merino cross. The merino, though taken from the south to the
north of Europe, has somewhat increased in size and hardihood,
preserving its form and characteristics, and the wool seems to
have lost none of its fineness.

The improvement of German wools dates from the introduc-
tion of Merino sheep. At the end of the seven years' war, in
1765, -the Elector of Saxony procured a hundred rams and the
same number of ewes from the best flocks in Spain, and placed
a part of them on his own estates, near Dresden, and the rest
in various parts of Saxony, for the purpose of improving the
original Saxon sheep. These sheep were soon found to preserve
their high character, producing wool equal to the best fleeces
of Spain, while the cross with the best original breed of Saxony
greatly improved its fleece. The utmost care was taken in the
selection of males for breeding for the fine quality of wool, and
the wool in course of time came to be superior even to the wool
of Spain, and commands a better price, standing, as it does,
unrivalled for cloths of the finest texture. The first importa-
tion was soon followed by others. From these early importations
the Merinos rapidly spread over every country of Europe, and
received many local names which they bear to this day. Some
of these subvarieties, as the Saxons and Silesians, have been
imported to considerable extent into this country. The wool
of Silesia ranks very high, surpassing even that of the finest
migratory sheep of the peninsula. The fleece of the fully
developed Silesian Merino possesses great fineness, evenness,
thickness and weight, being compact over the whole body.

The first importation of pure Merinos into Massachusetts
took place in 1793. It consisted of two ewes and one ram.
At that time no one in the vicinity of Boston understood or

124 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

appreciated their value, and as the gentleman who imported
them was obliged to revisit Europe, he gave them to Mr.
Craigie, of Cambridge, who, not knowing their value, soon ate
them up. Not many years after, Mr. Craigie having learned
something more of Merinos, paid no less than a thousand dol-
lars for a Merino buck. Another small importation was made
in 1802, and again in 1809 or 1810, and a few years after a
complete Merino fever ran through the whole farming commu-
nity.

The Merinos are small, with rather flat sides, narrow chests
and long legs. The skin is of a reddish tinge and loose under
the throat, which is generally considered as indicative of good
fleece. The French Merinos, particularly, possess very great
looseness of skin about the throat, so much as to exhibit large
folds or wrinkles. Their wool is very close and thick, and is so
filled with oil as to shed the water and protect the animal to
considerable extent from the effects of rain. They are bred
exclusively for the fineness of their wool, and have few other
excellences to recommend them. Their carcase is small, they
arrive late at maturity, and are not very good nurses, while
they carry too much flesh on parts of little value to the butcher,
and fatten too slowly for the farmer who breeds for the sham-
bles. For these reasons, probably, more than any other, the
number of fine-woolled sheep kept in this State has greatly
diminished, as already seen, and the farmers are now turning
their attention more to the raising of coarser or middle-woolled
varieties, which arrive at maturity earlier and attain to greater
weights.

The premiums offered for fine-woolled sheep at the State
Fair, were, for Saxon bucks and ewes two years old and over,
and also for bucks and ewes under two years, the same as for
long-woolled sheep of the same ages, and the same for Silesian
Merinos and for French and Spanish Merinos, not less than
three ewes being required on exhibition.

Tliere were no entries of Saxons. The entries of Silesian
Merinos were as follows : —

No. 1. — Six ewes, over two years old, owned by George Campbell, ^yest-
niinster, Vt.
2. — Three ewes, under two years old, owned by George Campbell, West-
minster, Vt.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 125

JJ'o. 3. — Three ewes, lambs, owned by George Campbell, Westminster, Vt.
4. — One buck, over two years old, owned by George Campbell, West-
minster, Vt.
5. — One buck, under two years old, owned by George Camjibell, West-
minster, Vt.
6. — Flock of buck lambs, owned by George Campbell, Westminster, Vt.

There was but one entry of French Merinos, and that of one
buck, two years old, owned by S. W. Buffum, of Winchester,
N. H.

The entries of Spanish Merinos were as follows : —

No. 1. — Ewes, one pen, owned by Walter Field, Northfield.

2. — Ewes, one pen, owned by Walter Field, Northfield.

3. — Three bucks, two years old and over, owned by George Campbell,
Westminster, Vt.

4. — Three bucks, under two years old, owned by George Campbell, West-
minster, Vt.

5. — Flock of buck lambs, owned by George Campbell, Westminster, Vt.

6. — Six ewes, over two years old, owned by George Campbell, West-
minster, Vt.

7. — Three ewes, under two years old, owned by George Campbell, West-
minster, Vt.

8. — Six ewe lambs, owned by George Campbell, Westminster, Vt.

The committee on fine-wooUed sheep submitted the fol-
lowing

REPORT:

There was but one flock in this class entered for premium from our
own State. These were exhibited by Mr. Field, of Northfield, and
consisted of six ewes of the Spanish merino hreed. Your committee
did not consider them possessed of such superiority as to entitle them
to the first premium. They have, therefore, awarded to Mr. Field,
the second premium of $7.

Mr George Campbell of Westminster, Vt., exhibited forty-eight
sheep consisting of Spanish and Silesian merinos. These were of fine
quality, and unquestionably of pure blood, many of them having been
selected and imported by Mr. Campbell.

Your committee were well aware that they had no right to award
premiums to animals from other States. They therefore recommend
to your Board that Mr. Campbell be awarded the following pre-
miums : —

For his Silesian bucks, $15, and a diploma.

For his Silesian ewes, $10, and a diploma.

126 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

For Ills Spanish Bucks, $15, and a diploma.
For his Spanish ewes, $10, and a diploma.

Mr. BufFum, of New Hampshire, exhibited a fine French merino
buck. To this animal, like the last, they could not award a premium.
They therefore recommend that Mr. Buffum be presented with a
diploma for his two years old buck.

For the committee,

John Kittkedge.

The premmms offered for fat sheep were as follows : —

Two years okl and over — 1st premium, $10 ; 2d, $5.
Under two years — 1st premium, $10 ; 2d, $5.

The followmg is a list of entries of fat sheep : —

No. 1. — Pen of five, owned by John W. Hollis, Brighton.
2. — Pen of two, owned by Thomas J. Field, Northfield.
3. — Pen of three, one year old, owned by J. W. Hollis, Brighton.
4. — Pen of fat lambs, owned by J. W. HoUis, Brighton.

The committee on fat sheep, consisting of Messrs. Moses
Newell, of West Newbury, Walter Field, of Northfield, John
G. Mudge, of Petersham, and Alfred Kittredge, of Haverhill,
submitted the following

REPORT:

Only two entries of fat sheep, over two years old, were shown to
your committee. No statement was made relative to the manner in
which the sheep had been fed or kept.

The committee were therefore confined to the comparative fatness
of the sheep ofi"ered for exhibition, and they award the first and
second premium for sheep, over two years old, to Thomas J. Field, of
Northfield.

Your committee also examined three sheep over one year old and a

lot of lambs. There was no information relative to those sheep and

lambs given to your committee, and they award the first and second

premiums for sheep, one year old, to J. W. Hollis, Esq., of Brighton.

By order of the committee,

Alfked Kittredge, Cliairman.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 127

SWINE

Formed the fourth class in the arrangement of the schedule of
premiums, the third being occupied by sheep.

According to official statistics returned in 1845, there were
then 104,740 swine in this State, valued at 1917,435. For
some reason or other this number had fallen off to such an
extent, that in 1855 there were but 51,113, valued at $5581,536.71.
But tliough the number of these useful animals has so much
diminished, there can be no doubt that the quality has improved
with the greatly increased interest in breeding now generally
manifested. The specimens entered in the division of larger
breeds, were mostly Essex. The old Essex was a small hog,
but by crossing with the Neapolitan and the black Chinese,
Lord Western, of Essex, produced an admirable breed known
as the improved Essex, which possesses great merits, and has
often carried off the palm from the Berkshires, during the last
ten years. Their color is black, the nose short, the neck thick
and short, with small, sharp ears, the limbs short and fme boned.
They fatten easily, and their flesh is well mixed and fine grained.
On good feed they arrive at considerable weight ; but rarely,
when fat, exceed 300 pounds, and would scarcely average over
250 pounds. Tliough the improved Essex is black in color, yet
the skin is said to dress quite white in scalding. The Essex
pigs have many of the fine points of the Suffolks.

The Cumberland is a very fine breed, but their origin is not
very well known. Our larger breeds are mostly of the Berk-
shire or Middlesex or Mackay stock, or crosses with them.

The farmer's object is to breed for profit, generally, but the
most profitable hog to one man, in one locality, may not be the
most profitable to another under different circumstances. As
a general thing, however, the farmer wants more size than the
pure Suffolk attains, united with the fine points and the feeding
qualities of the Suffolks. The pure Suffolk boar with a large and
thrifty sow, generally produces a valuable and profitable animal,
much better adapted to our wants, than the pure Suffolk.

The premiums offered for swine of large breed, were as
follows : For boars —

Two years old and upwards — 1st premium $10 ; 2d, ^8 ; 3d, .^5.
One year old and upwards — 1st premium, $8 ; 2d, $5 ; 3d, ^3.

128 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

For sows of the same ages, the same premiums were offered.
The following is a list of entries of swine of large breed : —

No. 1. — Breeding sow, two years old and upwards, AVhitc Essex, owned by

William Thompson, North Bridgewater.
2. — Boar, three years old, White Essex, owned by William Thompson,

North Bridgewater.
3. — Boar, three and a half years old, Cumberland, (Imported,) owned by

Josejih D. Ludden, Bralntree.
4. — One sow, two years old and over, Columbia County, owned by Asa

G. Sheldon, Wilmington.
5. — Sow, three years and six months old, SutFolk and Middlesex, owned

by G. F. Darling, West Needham.
6. — Boar, one year and three months old, Suffolk and Middlesex, owned

by G. F. Darling, West Needham.

The awards of the judges in this division, consisting of Sam-
uel T. Payson, of Newburyport, Orrin Curtis, of Sheffield,
Cephas Porter, of Leverett, Horace Sheldon, of Wilmington,
Joseph A. Harwood, of Littleton, were as follows : —

On boars, two years old. and over, a premium of $5, to Joseph D.
Ludden, of Bralntree. Boars, one year old and under two, the first
premium to Leonard Hoar, of Lincoln ; the second to G. F. Darling,
of "West Needham.

On sows, two years old and upwards, the first premium to Asa G.
Sheldon, of Wilmington, the second to G. F. Darling, of West Need-
ham, for his sow Suff'olk and Middlesex ; the third to William
Thompson, of North Bridgewater, for his white Essex sow.

For the committee,

Samuel T. Payson.

For swine of small breeds the same premiums were offered
as for the larger breed.

The entries of the small breeds were as follows : —

No. 1. — Boar, one year and four months old, Suffolk, weighed, 275 lbs., owned

by N. W. Starbird, Maiden.
2. — Breeding sow, two years and six months old, Suffolk, owned by

Harvey Dodge, Sutton.
3. — Boar, two years old and over, Suffolk, owned by J. & I. Stickney,

Boston.
4. — Sow, two years old and over, Suffolk, owned by J. & I. Stickney,

Boston.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 129

No. 5. — Sow, two years old, owned by Joseph Kittredge, North Audover.
6. — Sow, one year old, owned by Joseph Kittredge, North Andover.
7. — Sow, two years old and over, owned by O. Clark, Boston.
8. — Boar, two years old, Suffolk, owned by J. Kittredge, North Andover.
9. — Sow, two years old, Suirdk, owned by J. Kittredge, North Andover.
10. — Boar, one year old, Essex, owned by David Wilder, North Bridge-
water.
11. — Two sows, one year old and over, Essex, owned by O. Clark, Boston.

The committee oii small breed of swine made the following

REPORT:

The entries were made by six exLiibitors of twelve animals. Of
the first grade, were two boars and five sows of the Suffolk breed.
Of the second grade, were one boar and two sows of the Improved
Essex breed, and one boar and one sow of the Sufi'olk. All these
animals were represented to be of pure blood, and nearly all were of
superior character. They were all kept for breeders ; and the decis-
ions of the committee were made with reference to this fact. The
SufFolks, with one exception, as to color, were entirely white, well
proportioned in frame, and docile and quiet in disposition. With
individual peculiarities, they had thin skins, fine hair, short legs,
small bones, neat limbs, short snouts, and broad, straight backs.
They had been raised and kept on cheap food, and exhibited suffi-
cient proof of what we deem essential to the thrift and health of the
hog, — a close regard, on the part of his owner, to his cleanliness and
comfort. The usual tendency of this breed to fatten more easily than
is desirable in breeding animals, had been wisely checked by mod-
erate feeding ; and with several of them, by pasturing during the
warm season ; a practice, Ave regard as of great utility in other re-
spects, besides economy of feeding. It aS'ords room for exercise, the
advantage of better air and light, and contributes to form muscle
and give due proportion to the frame.

The Improved Essex boar, though smaller than the Suffolks, pos-
sesses many of their best characteristics and is a superior animal of
its class. It is well formed, with round body, thin hair, small bones
and neat limbs, is perfectly docile, and disposed to fatten readily.
The color of this breed may be objectionable, in the opinion of some
farmers, but its flesh is found to be exceedingly delicate and well
flavored. It is said to be almost exempt from cutaneous disease,
which is a strong recommendation ; and it will prove, we think, val-
uable, both as a distinct breed and for crossing with others.

Without extending this report, as we may do hereafter, we proceed
to award the premiums, at our disposal, as follows : —
17*

130 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

For boars, two years old and upwards —

To J. & I. Stickney, Boston, for Suffolk boar, No. 3, Ist premium,
810.

To Joseph Kittredge, Andover, for same. No. 8, 2d premium, $S.
For sows, two years old and upwards —

To Harvey Dodge, Sutton, for Suffolk sow, No. 2, 1st premium,
SIO.

To J. & I. Stickney, Boston, for same No. 4, 2d premium, $8.

To Joseph Kittredge, Andover, for same. No. 5, 3d premium, $5.
For boars, one year old and upwards —

To David Wilder, North Bridgewater, for Improved Essex boar.
No. 10, 1st premium, $8.

To N. W. Starbird, Maiden, for Suffolk boar. No. 1, 3d pre-
mium, $3.
For sows, one year old and upwards —

To Joseph Kittredge, Andover, for Suffolk sow. No. 6, 2d pre-
mium, ^5.

To 0. Clark, Boston, for Essex sow, No. 11, 3d premium, $3.
For the committee,

Charles C. Sewall.

The premiums offered for boars and sows of other breeds
were the same as those for large and small breeds. The entries
of other breeds were as follows : —

No. 1. — Boar, three-fourths Suffolk, weighed 500 lbs., owned by Charles R.

Damon, Cochituate.
2. — Sow and pigs, three-fourths Suffolk, weighed 350 lbs., owned by

Charles R. Damon, Cochituate.
3. — Boar, one year and four months old, Suffolk and Middlesex, owned

by Leonard Hoar, Lincoln.
4. — Two sows, with pigs, one over two years old, and one over one year,

Suffolk and Macka}', owned by Asa G. Sheldon, Wilmington.

The committee on this division awarded the first premium of
ifilO, to Charles R. Damon, of Cochituate, for the best boar over
two years old, and the first premium of $10,'to Asa G. Sheldon,
of Wilmington, for the best sow over two years old. The other
premiums were not awarded.

The premiums offered on pigs, not less than six in a litter,
were as follows : six months old and under ten, first premium,
$)10 ; second premium, $8. Under six months, first premium,
$8 ; second premium, $d.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 131

The entries of pigs were as follows : —

No. 1. — Twelve pigs, five weeks old, White Essex, owned by William
Thompson, North Bridgewater.

2. — Seven pigs, five months old, Essex and Suffolk, owned by David
Wilder, North Bridgewater.

3. — Six pigs, three months and twenty-two days old, Suffolk and Middle-
sex, owned by G. F. Darling, West Needham.

4. — Six pigs, four months and twenty days old, Suffolk, owned by Har-
vey Dodge, Sutton.

5. — Sixteen pigs, three weeks old, sow two years and four months,
owned by John Craffy, Jamaica Plain.

6. — Six pigs, over six, and under ten months old, Suffolk, owned by J. &
I. Stickney, Boston.

7. — Six pigs, under six months, Suffolk, owned by J. & I. Stickney,
Boston.

8. — Six pigs, under six months, Suffolk, owned by J. & I. Stickney,
Boston.

9. — Six pigs, under six months, Suffolk, owned by J. & I. Stickney,
Boston.
10. — Six pigs, under six months, Essex, owned by O. Clark, Boston.
11. — Six pigs, over six months, Suffolk and Mackay, owned by A. S.
Lewis, Framingham.

The committee on pigs in making their awards, presented
the following

REPORT:

No. 11, A. S. Lewis, Framingham, for the best litter of six pigs,
six months and less than ten, 1st premium, $10.

No. 3, G. F. Darling, West Needham, best litter of six pigs, less
than six months old, 1st premium, $8.

No. 4, Harvey Dodge, Sutton, six pigs less than six months old,
2d premium, $5.

The committee would call especial attention to a litter of pigs
exhibited by David Wilder, of North Bridgewater, and would recom-
mend to the Board of Agriculture that there being no exhibitor
entitled to the second premium, over six months old, that it be paid
to Mr. David Wilder.

Respectfully submitted,

J. P. Santmyek, Chairman.
Samuel E. Chandlek.
Charles H. Spkague.
Samuel Newell.

132 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

POULTRY.

The elaborate and able report of the committee on this Class,
(Y.) precludes the necessity of any extended introductory
remarks on the subject.

The premiums offered for the best collection of different
varieties of gallinaceous fowls owned by the exhibitor, were
first, $10 ; second, ^5.

For the best trio of red and buff Shanghse, $Z ; second best,
$2 ; for the best and second best trio of black Shanghai, the
same ; white Shangha;, do. ; gray Shangha? or Brahma Pootras,
do. ; black Spanish, do. ; white Dorking, do. ; gray or speckled
Dorking, do. ; Hamburghs, do. ; white crested black Polish,
do. ; Games, do. ; Bantams, do.

For the best and second best pair of wild turkeys, do. ; domes-
tic turkeys, do. For the best and second best pair of Guinea
fowls, do. For the best and second best trio of domestic
ducks, do. ; Muscovy, do. ; Topknot, do, ; common, do. For
the best and second best pair of Bremen geese, do. ; domestic
geese, do. ; wild, do. For the best and second best pair of
swans, do. For the best and second best collection of pigeons,
do. The entries of poultry were as follows : —

No. 1.- — Different varieties of barnyaixl fowls, owned by Charles K. Damon,
Cocbituate.
2. — One cage of Brahma Pootras, chickens, owned by Daniel Buxton,

South Danvers.
3. — Hamburghs, trio, owned by John W. Hunt, North Bridgewater.
4. — One cage of Bolton Grays, owned by John H. Bent, Concord.
5. — One cage of Persian Frizzle, owned by Isaac Osgood, West Newton.
6. — Two cages of Game fowls, owned by C. F. Curtis, Jamaica Plain.
7. — One cage of Bolton Grays, owned by George Dorr, Dorchester.
8. — White Dorkings, trio, owned by E. P. Hollis, West Needham.
9. — Speckled Dorkings, trio, owned by E. P. Hollis, West Needham.
10. — A collection, owned by E. P. Hollis, West Needham.
11. — One cage of Bolton Grays, owned by S. Southwick, South Danvers.
12. — One cage of Black Spanish, owned by S. Southwick, South

Danvers.
13. — One cage of gold-laced Sebright Bantams, oAvned by E. W. Jacobs,

South Danvers.
14. — One cage of silvei'-laced Sebright Bantams, owned byE. W. Jacobs,

South Danvers.
15. — Three common turkeys, owned by C. F. Curtis, Jamaica Plain.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 133

No. 16. — One pair of wild turkeys, owned by E. P. Hollis, West Needham.
17. — One cage of Aylesbury ducks, owned by William Bent, Cochituate.
18. — Two geese and one gander, Bremen, owned by Samuel Jaques, Ten

Hills Farm, Somerville.
19. — One pair of wild geese, owned by Samuel Jaques, Somerville.
20. — One pair of Chincliu, owned by Samuel Jaques, Somerville.
21. — One pair of Chinese, owned by Samuel Jaques, Somerville.
22. — One pair of Bremen geese, owned by W. G. Lewis, Framingham.
23. — One pair of wild geese, owned by W. G. Lewis, Framingham.
24. — Three pairs of Bremen geese, owned by A. S. Lewis, Framingham.
25. — One pair of -wild geese, owned by A. S. Lewis, Framingham.
26. — One pair of Bremen geese, owned by E. B. Metcalf, Franklin.
27. — One pair of swans, mute, owned by Eben Wight, Dedham.

The committee on poultry submitted the following valuable

REPORT:

Under the head of the largest and best collections, the committee
awarded the first premium to S. Southwick, South. Danvers. The
fowls shown by Mr. Southwick, were pure bred fowls of the several
various breeds shown, and we were glad to see that they had been
so carefully bred.

The second premium under this head was awarded to E. P. Hollis,
West Needham. From the fowls belonging to Mr. Hollis we had a
mixture of pure bred fowls, with the common or barnyard fowl,
which Mr. Hollis had been judiciously crossing for years, and he has
always been careful to secure a pure bred Dorking cock, selecting
the hens from the best models of his own stock, always rejecting
every pullet which had not a good form and other requisite qualities.
This course is adopted by many of the farmers in this vicinity. If
early maturity for market is desired, this is a very judicious course to
adopt. But to the accomplishment of this, no other cock than a Dor-
king, Spanish or Game, should ever be used.

Laege Asiatic Fowls. — Only one entry was made under this
head, and that was by Thomas Smith, Dedham. His fowls (Chitta-
gong,) were very large, the rooster weighing some twelve pounds,
while the hens drew ten pounds each. They were fine looking birds,
and in the days of " the fancy," would have commanded an extraor-
dinary price. The Asiatic fowl is a good layer, and a most deter-
mined sitter, it being a matter of indifi'erence whether she sits on an
egg, a stone, or any other substance. It would be hard to say whether
the introduction of the Shanghjc has been beneficial or not — though

134 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

good layers, yet, when served for the table, little or no meat is to be
found on parts at all desirable. And when we come to the feeding,
a Shanghai will at any time match a duck — and it is well known he
will eat his value about twice a week. When we see one of these
long-legged Shanghac's eating, we are reminded of what a neighbor-
ing farmer said to his wife, who had secured a few of these perfect
monsters. The husband had a perfect detestation of such interlopers,
as he termed them — not so his wife, for in her eyes they were " dar-
ling pets." As the husband was passing through the back yard, and
seeing his good wife surrounded by her pets, with a large pan of
corn under her arm, he said, " Well, my dear, I never heard of a man
failing by keeping the like of these, but it was only that he did not
keep enough of them."

Black Spanish. — There were several coops of this breed, which
were all choice specimens of their kind. This is one of the hand-
somest fowls we possess, and when kept in a large number, without
the intrusion of any other fowl, they prove one of the handsomest
ornaments to a barnyard or a lawn. Both cock and hen are black,
with the most brilliant lustral plumage, and both cock and hen have
extra large combs, the former with wattles to match his immense
comb. Cock and hen have white faces and cheek pieces to match —
this, in shoio birds, is considered an absolute necessity ; and though
an abnormal mark, still it is required. The chairman has been the
possessor of two trios, each prize coops in England, yet from these
he could only obtain two or at most three chicks out of a clutch,
showing the entire white face of the parents and fit to meet the
requirements requisite as prize fowls. In his correspondence with
some of the best breeders on the other side of the Atlantic, he learned
that such was the result of their experience. These facts show plainly
that the idea, entertained by some, that the want of a white face indi-
cates impurity of blood, is not well founded.

The Spanish are the wildest of all our domestic poultry, and con-
sequently the best for a wide range or a large farm, where they can
be allowed room to seek their own food, which they will more effec-
tually do than any other breed.

None lay so large or handsome an egg, often giving them of nearly
four ounces each, with a clear white shell — though it must be borne
in mind that they are not good sitters, in fact, you can hardly find
one willing to perform the duty of incubation — daily their time seems
devoted to laying, when not in pursuit of food. When served for the
table, you find a large sized body of the whitest meat, which is full
in the breast, and of the most luscious flavor.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 135

Should one not be anxious to retain them in purity, his best plan
would be to secure a good Game cock and use Spanish hens, as it
serves to add stamina to the constitution.

Dorkings in sufficient purity were not presented to allow the
committee to give an award. Such as were shown as Dorkings were
mere mongrels, with yellow legs, though retaining the fifth toe. The
true Dorking is a noble fowl, and deserving a place in any poultry
yard. They are short-legged, heavily-bodied and broad-breasted, and
as layers and sitters, most energetic.

From the Dorking, when served at the table, you can get more
slices from off the breast than from any other breed. If not desired
in purity, let a Game rooster be added for the purpose of giving har-
dihood. There is always danger attendant in the removal of the
Dorking from one habitation to another, more so in fact than we have
ever noticed in any other breed ; they are almost always liable to get
the snuffles, which often ends in death.

Hambtjkghs, — Superior specimens of this breed were shown by
J. W. Hunt, North Bridgewater. This is a beautiful fowl, and as an
ornamental bird, commands a good price ; it is claimed that they are
good layers.

Bolton Geays. — Here we have another quite ornamental bird,
which is a good layer, though the eggs are small. The body of this
breed of fowl is quite small and of little value for the table, and one
of the few whose flesh becomes of a dingy black when boiled.
George Dorr, Dorchester, had the best stock of this variety.

Fkizzled. — The only trio of this breed was shown by Isaac
Osgood, West Newton. This, as well as the Negro and the Rumpless
fowl, are worthless, and only deserving a place in some travelling
menagerie. If once mixed with our domestic poultry, it would, in
all after time, give a striking proof that it had once been there ; in
the event of its having become mixed, the only certain and sure
method is, to kill off all your fowls and start anew.

Game, — Some of the choicest of these were shown by Rupp, Hunt
& Co., Wilmington, and several others. We are surprised that so
few of this breed of fowl are kept by our farmers. They are the
smallest feeders, good layers, determined sitters, and in maternal
charge would fight a dog or vermin even to the death. One fact is
worthy of mention, viz. : they are never placed on the "sick list,"
which shows a stamina of constitution unequalled by any other

136 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

breed. And so solid and heavy is the body when ready for the table,
that one might easily doubt, when balancing a Game in one hand and
a bag of sand of the same size in the other, as to which was the
heaviest.

Turkeys. — We found, on examination, one coop marked " wild,"
which were certainly a long remove from the wild fowl of the wood.
The mingling of wild stock with our domestic turkey, gives the prog-
eny a stamina of constitution and increase of size truly astonishing
to one who has never tried the experiment, and from the experience
of the chairman of your committee, who has had much experience in
turkey raising, we Avould say, where it is possible, secure the services
of a pure wild male ; if a wild one is not to be had, get a three-
fourths or half breed male, always (year after year,) selecting your
largest and best females for perpetuating the stock. The person
alluded to above, at one time had one of the largest and finest speci-
mens of a captured bird, which, when trapped in the Western wilds,
weighed thirty-five pounds, and after undergoing the fatigue of trans-
portation, weighed on arrival here, over twenty-eight pounds. When
turned at large with the hen turkeys, and the sun was shining, his
plumage was handsomer than is a peacock. He was pinioned on his
removal from the box, and allowed as free a range as the domestic
fowl. The sight of a dog would always induce him to forget his com-
panions, and seek the woods.

Though the hen turkeys were the largest and finest procurable in
New England, he added fully one-third in weight to the progeny, and
at the same time, he gave a strength of constitution to the young
chicks, which enabled them to pass through their early maturity
unharmed, though uncared for by the owner. Had he have been dis-
posed to have interfered in their "bringing up," he would have been
at a loss to have known of their whereabouts. The hen turkeys
(which were themselves half and three-quarters bred,) would go back
into the woods and so carefully conceal the nest, that neither the
turkey or the nest could be found. When hatched, she kept away
from the dwelling and foimd food, such as worms, &c., by scratching
away leaves, and thus she kept away, till, finding herself and young
short of food, she would, all of a sudden, bring them up to the yard
for feeding. Notwithstanding this was the first time of bringing
them to the door, there was no shyness in the young, and from that
time forward, all were as tame as any of the feathered tribe about
the premises.

We have been somewhat more prolix on this subject than we had
intended, hoping to induce others to make trial of the experiment.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 137

feeling certain that if the introduction of wild stock is a new feature
to them, they will thank us for the hint.

Mr. D. R. Gates, of Worcester, Mass., has one turkey, eighteen
months old, which weighs thirty-two pounds, and is still growing.
We understand that the above was the produce of a pure wild fowl
crossed on our domestic turkey.

Aylesbuky Ducks. — William Bent, Cochituate, exhibited a
handsome coop of those ducks. It was the only coop of domestic
ducks, and we did not regret this, believing as we do, that this is one
of the few only worth raising except as ornamental poultry. The
Aylesburys attain to a large size, and if well fed while young, on meal
and refuse meat, are ready for market at less than two months old.

Geese, Bkemen. — Of thi^ variety there were quite a number of
coops, the best, however, belonging to W. G. Lewis, Framingham.
The committee had never seen so large and handsome a pair of Bre-
mens. Even the venerable Col. Jaques viewed them with evident
satisfaction, being as they were descendants from stock which he
imported more than thirty years ago ; (here is a nut to crack for
either advocates or non-advocates of in-and-in breeding,) and not-
withstanding this breeding in-and-in, the Col. says they are more
sizable than were the parents he imported. We understood the
Col. to say, that he had in his possession (or recently had) one of
the original pair.

Geese, India or African. — This is one of the largest varieties of
recent introduction, and proves much more prolific than the Bremen or
any of the common geese seen about the country ; it is a stately looking
goose, of a gray upper plumage, with white under the bofly, and any one
not having a large dew-lap or pouch, should be rejected as less likely
of attaining to the largest size. And here again, we would give our
brother farmers a hint to act upon. Some three or four years since,
a person had a gander of this breed Aveighing twenty-five or six
pounds ; having lost his mate, he coupled him Avith his Bremen
geese. Of this progeny or cross he saved two of his best geese, still
retaining the old gander. In the winter months the geese commenced
laying, ar,d continued through the summer (not laying every day,
however) without showing any disposition for incubation. The
owner said the two laid about one hundred and eighty eggs that year,
but having no convenience to keep them out of the way of dogs he
disposed of them to the chairman of your committee. One of the
two geese purchased was disposed of by the writer to a friend, the
19 •

138 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

other retained. In 1856, the one so retained laid sixty-seven egga
without so much as proposing to pass through the sitting process ; in
1857 she laid sixty-five eggs before the feathering of her nest, pre-
paratory for sitting. Her mate, in the hands of another person, has
done about as well. The eggs, as fast as five were gathered, were
placed under hens and hatched — in this way a fine flock was obtained
before autumn.

The experiment has not been tried to learn whether they would
breed amongst themselve3, but the probability is they would not.
Recourse has always been had to the pure bred, on one side or the
other. Here was the off'spring of two distinct species, (BufFon and
some others hold that they are distinct species,) the progeny of which
should, as a matter of course, be mongrels, yet, by resorting to one
or the other of the originals, the eggs prove prolific. An attempt
has been made to induce her to mate with a wild or Canadian gander,
hoping to obtain a stock of mongrels from that cross, but so far without
avail. In the same pond with this goose and the wild geese, is a
pair of swans, the male of which proved false to his mate and coupled
with the goose. This fact being noticed, great care was taken of her
eggs from this time forward ; though late in the summer, two of the
eggs hatched ; the goslings (or whatever else they should have been
called) were very large on coming from the shell, and for several
weeks throve finely, when one night both disappeared, and no trace
could be found of them. The hen alone was left.

We would advise others to procure, as above mentioned, a gander to
couple with Bremen geese, hoping for the same result as above stated.
The raising of geese would then be an easy and profitable business,
and should one such chance to mate with a Avild or Canadian gander,
it would prove still more profitable, as the general price of such
mongrels (fcAr the last two years in Quincy Market) has been three
dollars each at first hands.

Geese, China. — There were several coops of this variety. This
goose is much smaller than the preceding, though about equally pro-
lific in eggs with the pure African, yet it is so noisy as to prove a
nuisance about the premises, for it will hang about the dooryard in
preference to taking to the water.

Geese, Wild or Canadian. — Some half-dozen coops of these
geese grace^ the tent. In our eyes, this is the handsomest and most
intelligent of all geese, and they afi'ord the owner more pleasure than
almost any other water fowl.

We wish some writer fitted for the undertaking, would write out an

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 189

account of them, and give anecdotes ijertaiuing to them alone. We
say alone, for there is an abundance that could be said of them which
is worthy of being placed on record.

Here, again, comes in a poser on in-and-in breeding, for the largest
and best of those on exhibition were known to be descendants from
stock which Col. Jaques brought from Canada in 1818 No cross had
been introduced since that time, yet the Col. assured us they were
more sizable than the original pair. We could easily believe this
fact, from the knowledge of our stock, which is all of extra size, and
this too is known to be from the same original source. The fact of
their being well fed while young, may account for the increased size
over the pair alluded to by Col. Jaques, since his were caught when
wild. Though bred for generation after generation, every spring and
autumn they show the original disposition to emigrate, and are alone
prevented by the pinioning of the wing ; notwithstanding ail this,
they will come at call and feed from the hand.

When bred in purity they are of little value for the table, and are
kept as an ornament to grace the water, or for coupling with other
geese and giving mongrels — in which case it is better to use a wild
male, by which course we get a larger number of eggs than we could
possibly get by using a tame gander to a wild female.

SvvAXs Mute. — A large and handsome pair was shown by Eben
Wight, Dedham. These were only four years old and have not yet
given young. They were bred by the late R. L. Colt, of Paterson,
New Jersey, and sent to the present owner when some two months
old. The parents of these were procured in England. This is the
most beautiful bird that graces the water, and when v/atched for a
time they seem to take on as much vanity in showing off as would a
peacock. Sailing to the utmost extent of the water with despatch, they
turn about, the neck is gracefully arched, with wings raised and gently
arched so as to take the breeze, will they come sailing down to the
visitor. They are called " tame swan." To be sure the attachment
of home in them (as in the Canadian goose) is strong, when the
wing is pinioned and there is no getting away by flight, yet they are
no more tame than a hysena. They will come &t call, feed from the
hand, allow you to smooth the neck and body feathers, so tame are they,
and will remain while there is no chance for soaring higher than the
sheet of water allotted as their home.

It is best, in securing a pair, that you should make choice of cyg-
nets, and see that the wings are pinioned before bringing them home,
that they may have no sad recollection of its having been done while
in your possession, the place where they are ever to remain. While

140 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

cygnets they are of a blueish or slate color, and do not attain a
perfect plumage till a year or two old, or breed till the third or fourth
year. During the time the water is open, free of ice, they will get
much of their food on the edges of the pond, often feeding on small
fish, using the frogs as a desert. Should the frog prove too large,
the mate comes in for a share, and each taking hold of a hind leg he
is about equally divided between the two. At the time of placing
the pair in the pond the frogs had almost taken possession of the
pond in its circling bounds, while now nearly all have vanished except
the old aldermanic inhabitants, who, the swans are aware, would
prove a little too tough for a relish. The swan would withstand the
cold of our winters, but, since on land they coiild not defend them-
selves against dogs and vermin, it would be cruel to leave them
exposed — they are safely housed for the winter, with the liberty of a
range during pleasant days. Their principal food is corn, though they
will eat almost any kind of grain. In the. summer they require but
little food, yet this little they must have regularly or you may chance
to lose them. During the winter they are small feeders, and these as
well as the wild and China geese seem to (as it were) be in a partial
dormant state, particularly if the premises are kept well darkened.
A pair of swans, six wild geese and two tame geese do not eat more
than about one quart of corn per day ; if an excess in quantity is
given it is almost certain to be left. Wild geese are the smallest
eaters, and it has often been a puzzle to know how they could subsist
on the merest quantity of food, during the long winter months.

In addition to the premiums already named to S. Southwick and
E. P. Mollis, for their collections, the judges recommend a discretion-
ary premium to Isaac Osgood, West Newton, $3.

Division 31. — Buff Shanghai's to Thomas Smith, Dedhara, $3.
Division 32. — Black Spanish, Rupp, Hunt & Co., Wilmington, $3;
H. P. Perrin, Brookline, for do., $2 ; Discretionary to Eben Wight,
Dedham, for do., $2. Best Hamburghs, to J. W. Hunt, North Bridge-
water, $3 ; second best, to H. P. Perrin, Brookline, for do., $2.
Best Games, to Hupp, Hunt & Co., Wilmington, $3; second best, to
C. F. Curtis, Jamaica Plain, for do., $2. Best Black Bantams, to
Eben Wight, Dedham, $3. Best White Bantams, to Eben Wight,
Dedham, $3. Bolton Grays, to George Dorr, Dorchester, $3 ; second
best, to J. H. Bent, Concord, for do., $2 ; Discretionary for collection
to C. R. Damon, Cocliituate, $3.

Division 35. — Aylesbury Ducks, to William Bent, Cocliituate,
$3. Isaac Osgood, for Frizzled Fowls, $2.

Division 36. — Best Bremen, to AV. G. Lewis, Framingham, $3 ;
second best, to A. S. Lewis, Framingham, for do., $2 ; Discretionary

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 141

premiums to Samuel Jaques, Somerville, for do., $2 ; E. B. Metcalf,
Franklin, for do., $2. Best China Geese, to Samuel Jaques, Somer-
ville, $3. Best Hong Kong Geese, to Samuel Jaques, Somerville,
^3. Best Wild Geese, to A. S. Lewis, Framingliam, $3 ; second
best, to W. G. Lewis, Framingham, for do., $2 ; Discretionary pre-
mium to Samuel Jaques, for do., $2.

Division 37. — Best Swans, to Eben Wight, Dedham, $3.

Division 34. — Best Turkeys, to C. F. Curtis, Jamaica Plain, S3 ;
second best, to E. P. Hollis, West Needham, $2.

The importance of the subject of poultry justifies the length to
which the preceding remarks have been extended. The interest in
this department of agriculture appears to be fully kept up in Eng-
land. At the last show of fat cattle and poultry at Birmingham,
first week in December, 1857, no less than fourteen hundred and
ninety-eight different coops of poultry were exhibited, numbering not
less than four thousand three hundred and ninety-four birds.
For the committee,

Eben Wight, Chairman.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.

The season of 1857 was, in many respects, peculiar, and the
character of the season has an essential influence on the agri-
cultural products of the year. The rains were unusually
abundant and distributed well over the season. The yield of
grass was, therefore, much larger than the average of years^
though its quality was, perhaps, inferior. The yield of Indian
corn was less than an average, though the growtli of the stalk
was large. Indian corn requires a warm and genial sun, and
endures a drought rather than a flood. Great apprehensions
were felt in the early part of the season, that this crop would
be an entire failure, but the result was better than had been
anticipated. It was, however, very late on account of the cold,
late spring, and some pieces failed to ripen before the frosts.

Class sixth was devoted to agricultural products, embracing
field crops, flour, grain, seeds, vegetables, grasses, bread, &c.

With regard to field crops samples were to be shown in
barrels at the exhibition when practicable, with assurances that
they were an average of the crop, with detailed statements of
the mode of cultivation, expenses, &c. The grain, seeds, vege-

142 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

tables and other products to be grown by the exhibitor, and cer-
tificates of the crop to be forwarded to the Secretary by the
first of January, 1858. The premiums offered in this class
were as follows: —

For the best crop of winter wheat, not less than two acres, nor less than

thirty-five bushels per acre, $10 ; second best, $5.
For the best and second best crops of spring wheat, the same premiums were

offered, the crop to be not less than thirty bushels per acre.
For the best crojj of Indian corn, not less than two acres, to be shelled and

weighed during the month of December, not less than 100 bushels per

acre, $10 ; second best, $5.
For the best and second best crops of flax, reference being had to the extent

of ground and the product, the same premiums were offered.

For the best and second best crops of the following articles,
the premiums offered were the same as for Indian corn, viz. : —

Buckwheat, not less ihan one acre, 30 bushels ; Pease, one acre, not less than
25 bushels ; Beans, not less than one acre, 25 bushels ; Broomcorn, not
less than 1,000 lbs. brush per acre, and 80 bushels of seed; Cabbages;
Onions ; Marrow or other Squash ; Tobacco, not less than one acre ;
Barley, not less than two acres, nor less than 40 bushels per acre ; Rye,
not less than two acres, nor less than 40 bushels per acre ; Oats, not less
than two acres, nor less than 65 bushels per acre ; Potatoes, not less than
one acre, nor less than 300 bushels per acre ; Ruta-baga, not less than one
acre, nor less than 800 bushels per acre ; Sugar Beets, not less than one
acre, nor less than 800 bushels per acre ; Carrots, not less than one acre,
nor less than 800 bushels per acre ; Mangold Wurzel, not less than ono
acre, nor less than 1,000 bushels per acre ; Hops.

For the best barrel of flour made from wheat grown in this State, a diploma ;

second best, $5.
For the best barrel of winter wheat, $5 ; second best, $3 ; third best, $2.

For the best, second best, and third best barrels of tlie follow-
ing named articles, the premiums offered were tlie same as for
winter wheat, viz. : —

Spring Wheat ; Rye ; Barley ; Oats ; Indian Corn, in the ear, for bread ;
Buckwheat ; Potatoes, for the table.

For the best barrel of red clover seed, $5 ; second best, $3.
For the best barrel of Timothy grass seed, $5 ; second best, $2.
For the best barrel of redtop seed, $5 ; second best, $3.
For the best bale of hops, $5 ; second best, $3.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 143

For the best collection of vegetables, -i^lO ; second best, ^5.

For the largest and best collection of grasses, properly named, $20 ; second

best $10.
For the best experiment in the growth of Chinese sugar- cane, including

trials for fodder, sirup and sugar, $25 ; second best, $15 ; third best, $10.

The quanity of grains and vegetables to be ascertained by weight, as fol-
lows : — Wheat, 60 lbs. to the bushel ; Corn, 56 ; Rye, 56 ; Barley, 45 ; Oats,
30 ; Potatoes, 60 ; Carrots, 55 ; Sugar Beets, 60 ; Ruta-bagas, 60.

Agricultural produce of any description were received for exhibition, and
where found of special excellence, discretionary premiums were awarded.

For the best loaf of wheat bread, two to four pounds, $3 ; second best, $2.
For the best loaf of rye and Indian bread, two to four pounds, $3 ; second

best, $2.
For the best loaf of wheat and Indian bread, two to four pounds, $3 ; second

best, $2.
For the best unbolted wheat grown In this State, $3 ; second best, $2.
For the b*t rye grown In this State, $3 ; second best, $2.

The entries of agricultural products were as follows : —

No. 1. — A collection of vegetables owned and raised by S. A. Merrill, Salem.
2. — Two barrels of potatoes, owned and raised by John Brooks, Jr.,

Princeton.
3. — Beans, cabbages, &c., owned and raised by W. G. Lewis, Framing-
ham.
4. — Barrel of corn, owned and raised by William Clapp, Dorchester.
5. — Chinese sugar cane, sirup, paper, &c., by J. F. C. Hyde, Newton

Centre.
6. — Potatoes and other vegetables, owned and raised by J. F. C. Hyde,

Newton Centre.
7. — Squashes, two varieties, by Jesse Fogg, Cambridgeport.
8. — Chinese sugar cane, seven experiments, by J. Lake, Topsfield.
9. — A collection of vegetables, by George R. Sampson, Brookline.
10. — Bread, best wheat and Indian, and rye, by M. F. & J. A. Brigham,

Boston.
11. — A collection of vegetables, by B. S. Young, Brighton.
12. — A collection of vegetables and bread, by A. Newell, Needham.
13. — Wheat bread, by Mrs. Joseph T. Ludden, Bralntree.
14. — Wheat bread, by Mrs. William Harden, Quincy.
15. — Wheat flour, four barrels, by Chase & Nason, Fall River.
16. — Bread, wheat and brown, by Mrs. E. Stebbins, Boston.
17. — A collection of vegetables, by Edward Dole, Newbury.
18. — A collection of vegetables, by A. W. Coppenhagen, Dorchester.
19. — One barrel of Davis's seedling potatoes, by J. F. C. Hyde, Newton
Centre.

144 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

No. 20. — One barrel of potatoes, Jackson AVbites, by J. F. C. Hyde, Newton
Centre.
21. — One barrel of spring wheat, by O. Curtis, SlieHield.

22. — One barrel of winter rye, by O. Curtis, Sheffield.

23. — One barrel of corn, by O. Curtis, Sheffield.

24. — A collection of grain, vegetables, and quinces, by E. W. Gardner,
Nantucliet.

25. — Chinese Sugar Cane, by A. Bowditch & Son, Roxbury.

26. — A collection of grasses, millet, and Chinese sugar cane, exhibited by
Leander Wetherell, Boston.

27. — A string of seed-corn, by William Buckminster, Framingham.

28. — One loaf of rye bread, by Mrs. Abel F. Adams, Fitchburg.

29._One loaf of wheat bread, by Mrs. E. B. Metcalf, Frankhn.

30. — A collection of vegetables by John Forbush, Bolton.

31. — A collection of grasses, by Dennis Murray, Roxbury.

32. — Cucumbers, California, by A. B. Rice, Newton Upper Falls.

33. — Carrots, specimens of, raised on an acre, by J. B. Hull, Stockbridge.

34.— Turnips, specimen of, raised on an acre, by Benjamin Hull, Stock-
bridge. *

35. — Chinese Sugar Cane sirup, by F. H. Williams, Sunderland.

36. — One barrel of rye, by S. A. Merrill, Salem.

37. — A collection of seedling potatoes and apples, by D. A. Bulkeley,
Willi amstown.

38. — One barrel of redtop grass seed, by S. T. Thurlow, West Newbury.

39. — Bread, wheat, and Indian, by Mrs. A. Newell. Needham.

The judges on agricultural products presented the following
REPORT :

The judges on agricultural products make the following awards.

To S. A. Merrill, of Salem, for his fine collection of vegetables,
which were well grown ; his cabbages weighing 45 lbs., his enormous
squashes, and great variety, entitles him to the first premium of $10.

To J. F. C. Hyde, Newton Centre, for his large collection of vege-
tables, including his select varieties of seedling potatoes, the judges
award to him the second premium of $5.

To J. F. C. Hyde, Newton Centre, for his experiments in the growth
of the sugar (fane, manufacture of sirup, and the manufacturing of
paper from the residuum of the cane — entitles him to the first premium
of $25.

To Joel Lake, of Topsfield, for similar experiments, except tlie
manufacturing of paper, entitles him to the second premium of $15.

To John Brooks, Jr., of Princeton, for the best barrel of potatoes
(these are St. Helena's, large and very smooth,) the first premium of $5.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 145

To J. F. C. Hyde, of Newton Centre, for a barrel of Davis's seed-
lings, the second premium of $3.

To Orrin Curtis, of Sheffield, for the best barrel of corn, in the
ear, first premium of $3.

To William Clapp, of Dorchester, for a barrel of corn, in the ear,
second premium of $5.

To Chase & Nason, of Fall River, for the best barrel of flour,
manufactured from wheat grown in Massachusetts, a diploma.

To Orrin Curtis, of Sheffield, for the best barrel of spring wheat,
the first premium of $5.

To E. W. Gardner, of Nantucket for the second best barrel of
spring wheat, which was a little shrivelled, but was from a field of
over thirty-two bushels per acre, we award the second premium of $3.

To S. A. Merrill, of Salem, for the best barrel of winter rye, the
first premium of $5.

To E. W. Gardner, of Nantucket, for the second best barrel of
winter rye, the second premium of $3.

To Orrin Curtis, of Sheffield, we award the third premium of $2.

To S. T. Thurlow, of West Newbury, for a barrel of redtop seed,
$5.

To l^rs. William Harding, of Quincy, for the best loaf of wheat
bread, $3.

To Mrs. J. T. Ludden, of Braintree, for the second best loaf of
wheat bread, $2.

To Mrs. E. Stebbins, of Boston, for the best loaf of brown bread,
$3.

To M. F. & J, A. Brigham, of Boston, for the best loaf of "wheat
and Indian bread, $3.

To Mrs. A. Newell, of Needham, second premium on wheat and
Indian bread, $2,

To Mrs. Abel F. Adams, of Fitchburg, for the best loaf of rye
bread, $3.

Your judges, cannot in justice to their feelings, close their report
without noticing other matters on exhibition Avorthj' of note and com-
mendation which a mere award does but imperfect justice to the exhi-
bitor. The time, skill, and outlay by Messrs. Hyde, Lake, and
others, in their experiments should be noticed, particularly Mr. Hyde,
whose outlay for a mill and boilers, together with an outlay of sixty
dollars in an experiment in manufacturing paper from the refuse stalk,
which has proved successful ; and his opinion in regard to its future
success, is of importance to the public. He thinks he would take the
risk of the seasons, and engage to contract to furnish sirup for forty
20*

146 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

cents per gallon. Mr. Bulkeley, of Williamstown, says that he has
grown fourteen hundred varieties of seedling potatoes ; if Mr. Bulke-
ley has made no mistake in his count, he has certainly done up a work
on an extended scale, which from the specimens shown do not promise
to be of much importance to the public. Experiments, such as are
noted above, should be tried, but few individuals are willing to try
them, and very few can afford the outlay ; they should be borne by
the public.

The vegetables exhibited by Mr. B. S. Young, of Brighton, George
R. Sampson, of Brookline, Mr. Coppenhagen, of Dorchester, and
W, G. Lewis, of Framingham, all deserve our notice, and had there
been other premiums offered, would have been awarded to them.
Their fine squashes, cauliflowers, cabbages, turnips, beets, &c., &c.,
were creditable to them as cultivators. Mr. Merrill, of Salem, and
Mr. Fogg, of Cambridgeport, exhibited some monstrous squashes ; also
one from Mr. Newell, of Needham. They are sightly, but not to be
preferred to the vegetable marrow, crookneck or Canada, for table
use. Edward Dole, of Newburyport, had a fine display of vegeta-
bles, which were not entered ; his corn was judged the best, but no
premium could be given as he had not complied with the rules. The
committee recommend, however, a gratuity of five dollars, equal to
the first premium. Fine strings of corn and onions were exhibited
by Mr. A. D. Weld, William Buckminster, and Mr. Dole, and Harvey
Dodge. Of grasses, a fine collection was made by Mr. Leander Weth-
erell from the office of the Board of Agriculture, for exhibition only..
A collection was also offered for premium by Mr. Dennis Murray, but
was not adjudged worthy of a premium ; fine specimens were offered
of field crops, which will be noticed in full in the coming reports. A
specimen of the noted Nantucket pumpkin, and fine turnips of the
varieties of the snow-ball and green globe, larger than the draAvings
of them, by E. W. Gardner, of Nantucket ; the Messrs. Hovey exhibit-
ed the largest dioscorea batatas* or Chinese potatoes, ever seen at our
Massachusetts exhibitions, measuring twenty-three inches in length.
Chinese sugar cane, from Azel Bowditch. Sirup from the cane was
exhibited by Franklin H. Williams, of Sunderland, and John Whit-
ley, of Shirley Village. The flour exhibited was made from white winter

• Dioscorea Batatas. — The following notice lias been received from the Chairman of the Com-
mittee on Vegetables : —

" Dear Sir : — Since my report on vegetables was rendered to you, I have caused the two fine root*
of the Dioscorea Batatas, given to me by Messrs. Ilovcy, to be cooked, one by being boiled, the
other by being roasted ; they .vero submitted to the taste of a company of amateur Horticulturists,
who were of the opinion that if they were ripe, there waa nothing in them to recommend their
•uperiority over the Irish, or Sweet potato.

Yours truly, B. V. Feench."

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 147

wheat, grown by Moses Stebbins, of South Deerfield ; he sows his
wheat in August, and has been successful in his crops for manj
years ; his price for seed is $2,50 per bushel.

For the judges,

B. V. French, Chairman.

Mr. Hyde, in making his application to the committee, pre-
sented the following

STATEMENT:

My cane was planted the 20th of May, the larger part ; the remain-
der the 22d day of May. Manured the same as for corn, a shovelful
of compost mud and horse manure in a hill. One and a half pounds
of seed used — came up very well. It was hoed the 15th of June for
the first time, and hoed twice in all, being about two inches high
when first hoed. I used the cultivator among it. I sowed some in
hills for sirup making, and prefer to have it in hills. The number of
hills to half an acre is 2,400, with an average of four stalks to a hill.
The hills were near both ways, three feet one way by about two and
one-half to three feet the other. The cane was in bloom about Sept.
20th to 25th. I made sirup on or about the 15th. It was dark
colored Vnd not good. Selected canes from this field would furnish
a pint of juice. The whole yield of the half acre was 90 gallons. I
will give some of the experiments. On Sept. 25th the cane was in
blossom, and 15 canes weighed 25J- lbs. ; Begasse or waste, 9 lbs. ;
juice, 16 lbs. ; loss, ^ a lb. The juice measured 7^ quarts ; yield gf
sirup 1^ pints.

Oct. 1st. — 50 canes weighed 80 lbs. ; juice, 49 lbs. ; Begasse or
waste, 30 lbs. ; loss, 1 lb. ; yield of juice, 5^ gallons ; weight about
9 lbs. to a gallon; made only two quarts of thick sirup.

Oct. 19th. — One gallon of juice from cane in the "dough state,"
gave 1^ pints of sirup of as light color as honey.

Average yield of sirup to the gallon of juice, from fresh cane as
cut from the field, one pint.

Oct. 17th. — I made paper from the begasse or waste, and continued
five days, at an expense of about $60. It made thick paper board,
as well as paper.

I should have stated, that the amount of dry fodder, leaves and
tops from the half acre was, by actual weight, 1,590 lbs. Average
height of my sugar cane 11 feet, though much of it reached 13 feet.

My experiment with the cane for green fodder, was as follows : I
sowed sugar cane side by side with Burr's sweet corn, on poor sandy

148 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

land, about the 25th of May. Both came up well, and the 1st of
August both were cut and fed green to cows, pigs and horses. The
corn did not start again, but the sugar cane got up from two to three
and a half feet, and some of it showed panicles. I have tried the
juice for cider and vinegar — it ferments like cider. What it will give
in the end I cannot say.

I have many other matters in connection with this subject if they
are wanted.

Mr. Lake, in presenting his experiments with the Chinese
sugar cane, made the following

STATEMENT:

I planted the seed the jRrst of June, in drills ; slightly manured in
the row ; it was hoed once ; wood ashes were put round the stocks
once ; the soil was sandy loam, rather shady ; it should be grown on
warm sunny land ; some stalks attained the height of thirteen feet.

No. 1. — September 11th. As soon as the seed tassal appeared
upon the top of the stock I expressed some of the juice, which w^as
very thin and mean, and boiled it down eleven-twelfths, (or 12 gallons
to one,) which made a light kind of molasses.

Four more experiments, in four days, with about the same'success.

No. 2. — Four more experiments were made from the 17th to the
20th of September, and found the yield to be twelve gallons reduced
to two.

No. 3.— September 26th. This experiment was much better than
it had been ; ten gallons were reduced to three, and a fine sirup.

I had some cane cut up and laid away in the barn for ten days before
the frost came ; and I have every reason to approve of the wilting of
the cane prior to expressing the juice ; I cut and lay them aside during
that period, when a great portion of the water the stock contains
evaporates. Five gallons of juice that Avas expressed from the wilted
cane will furnish as much sirup, and of as good quality, as seven gal-
lons taken from the green stalks. As the necessary evaporation in the
boiling of the sap from the wilted cane is much less than from the
green, the saving of fuel is proportional.

No. 4. — October 2d. This experiment was successful ; four gallons
produced one of superior sirup.

No. 5. — October 10th. An experiment was made, the result of
which was that the juice was much thicker as it came from the stalks,
consequently less water to evaporate and less fuel to be used ; ten
gallons were reduced to three.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 149

No. 6. — October 17. Five gallons reduced to one, the best yield.
The juice was pressed out with a large iron roller, the same kind
used by shoemakers.

In boiling, the kettle must be well heated before the juice is put
into it ; when it arrives at the boiling point then skim off the floating
substance, and then let it simmer down to the substance of molasses,
which will be in about two hours ; then strain through cotton or
woollen cloth and it is fit for use.

As the result of my own observation and sixteen experiments made
by me from the 11th of September to the 17th of October, I have no
doubt it will succeed — and the fair yield of Avell cultivated Chinese
sugar cane will be about 225 gallons of good sirup, to the acre, if a
proper process is applied to express the juice.

The leaves that are taken from the stalk before pressing, are worth
as much for cattle as the cost of wood will be to boil out the sirup.

The stalks taken green and cut up in a machine are good for cattle
if done before the frost comes.

Pigs will thrive quite well on the stalk cut up in the same way.

My opinion is that the sirup will not granulate without a chemical
process.

The liquid must be boiled in nothing but iron kettles or pans, as
copper or tin destroys the flavor.

I am fully impressed that the cultivation of the Chinese sugar cane
is a subject that interests all our farmers greatly, and they should
take hold of the subject and investigate for themselves.

Mr. Roys, of Sheffield, Mass., also made the following

STATEMENT:

I planted 25 square rods of Chinese sugar cane the 22d of May;
soil limestone loam; several years a meadow. Applied 20 cart loads
of yard manure to the acre — ploughed under and well harrowed —
marked in rows three feet apart. A handful of compost, plaster,
ashes and hen manure applied to each hill. Used cultivator and hoe
three times, and thinned to four stalks in a hill the first time. Had
a frost Sept. 9th, that killed the ends of the leaves. Commenced
cutting to feed cattle and make sirup, without much success. After
some experimenting, however, I succeeded in getting quite a palatable
article of sirup by the following method : First, Ave expressed the
juice by means of a mill of our own manufacture, made with hori-
zontal rollers, two in number, about eight inches long and six inches
in diameter, fixed ia pieces of plank for bearings and one end of
each protruding on opp^vslte sides, to which was attached a crank,

150 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

thus giving two men a chance to tarn while a boy inserted the stalk.
The mill was placed in an inclined position, thus bringing one roller
above and little behind the other — about one-fourth of an inch apart
— while underneath was placed a vessel covered with flannel, to strain
and receive the juice.

We have used both brass and copper kettles in boiling it away,
keeping it thoroughly skimmed, and when half finished have mixed a
table-spoonful of lime water to one gallon of the juice, straining again
through white flannel when finished. We get half a pint of juice
from each stalk, and make from 8 to 10 per cent, of sirup from the juice.

Our cane has not matured in consequence of the early frost, which
came soon after the heads or seed appeared. This sample of sirup
offered Avas made Oct. 10th.

Carrots. — Mr. J. B. Hull, of Stockbridge, subsequently pre-
sented the following

STATEMENT:

The acre of land on which my carrots were raised, was a dark
loam, ploughed twelve inches deep. Two pounds of the long orange
carrot seed were sown on the 13th of May. They were hoed four
times and weeded twice, the rows twenty inches apart and the carrots
about four inches in the row. While digging we were hindered very
much by rain, and were unable to take them all, one and a half miles,
to the scales, to weigh. The only alternative was to weigh a certain
number of rows. Accordingly I took two rows near one side of the
piece ; measured two rods and dug two more, and so on, until I had
dug eight rows, which yielded 96 bushels. The piece was 20 rods
long and 8 wide, having 76 rows, which would yield 91^ bushels. In
my estimate I charged 54- cents per bushel for harvesting and deliver-
ing 275 bushels more than the actual yield, $15.12. I charged $60
for manure on the acre, and allowed nothing for what remained in
the soil. I suppose one-half would not be too much, $30. Thus
reducing the expense $45.12.

Estimated income, 1,185 bushels, 28 cents,
Overestimate, 273 " " "

Income from an acre, 912 '' " "

Estimated expense, ....

Overestimate, .....

Actual cost, ......

Net income, $155 48

.

$331 80

.

76 44

$255 36

$145 00

45 12

99 88

1858.]

SENATE— No. 4.

151

In justice to myself I must say, that my estimate was made by dig-
ging, and that no agricultural committee would take a poorer rod.

Turnips'. — Mr. Benjamin Hull also presented the following

STATEMENT:

The piece of turnips" with which I wish to compete for premium is
represented by a sample which I have forwarded to the Fair, and
which are an average of the acre. The land is worth $100. Soil
fair; mixture green sward. Ploughed last fall ; not ploughed in the
spring. Sixteen loads horse manure to the acre; harrowed in rows ;
raised seed v/hite Swedish Turnip. Hoed twice ; cultivator run
through several times.

Cost of cultivation,

Interest and taxes on soil,

J 6 loads manure at $2. .

Expense of harvesting 960 bushels,

Seed, 25 cts., ....

The acre yields at this time 28-^ tons, or 960 bushels, at

$8.33 per Ion, amounts to .....

Cost of cultivation, .......

Net proceeds, ........

$12

00

6

75

32

00

9

60

25

$60 60

$233 00
60 60

$172 40

I notice there is no p - mium rffercd for the best acre of turnips,
but as the ruta-baga is a species of turnip I take the liberty to
o.Ter this place.

FRUITS.

The lateness of the season at which the Fair was held mad©
the display -of a large number of favorite varieties which would
havj been expected at an earlier date, impossible. Under the
circumstances the display was very remarkable and completely
successful, and afforded not only the most gratifying evidence
of the progress made in this department, but also of the public
spirit and enterprise of our fruit-growers.

The premiums offered for fruit, Class YII., were as follows : —

152 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

For the largest and best exhibition of named varieties of apples, not less than
three specimens of each, $20 ; second best, $15 ; third best, $10.

For the best twelve varieties, not less than six. specimens each, f 15 ; second
best, $10 ; third best, $5.

For the best dish of apples, one variety, not less than twelve specimens, $5 ;
second best, |3 ; third best, $2.

The same premiums were oflfered also far pears.

For the best collection of peaches, $15 ; second best, $10 ; third best, $5.
For the best dish, not less than twelve specimens of one variety, $5 ; second

best, $3.
For the best half-bushel of quinces, $5 ; second best, $3.
For the best barrel of cranberries, $10 ; second best, $8 ; third best, $6 ; fourth

best, $1.
For the best new or seedling grape, hardy, and equal or superior to the

Isabella, with a history of its origin, a premium of $20 ; second best, $10.
For the best display of native grapes, $20 ; second best, $15 ; third best, $10.
For the best display of foreign grapes, $20 ; second best, $15 ; third best, $10.

•

The entries of fruit were as follows : —

No. 1. — Pears, twelve varieties, by Ariel Low, Eoxbury.

2. — Pears, a single dish, by Ariel Low, Roxbury.

3. — Grapes, native, by George B. Cutter, Weston.

4. — Pears, twelve varieties, by Henry Vandine, Cambridgeport.

5. — Pears, one hundred varieties, by Marshall P. Wilder, Dorchester.

6. — Apples, a collection of, by T. Clapp, Dorchester.

7. — Peaches, a collection of, by T. Clapp, Dorchester.

8. — Peaches, not less than twelve varieties, by T. Clapp, Dorchester.

9. — Pears, not less than twelve varieties, by T. Clapp, Dorchester.
10. — Grapes, native, by C. E. Grant, E-oxbury.
11. — Cranberries, one barrel, by Edward Reed, Burlington.
12. — Pears, forty varieties, by John Gordon, Brighton.
13. — Pears, twenty-seven varieties, by William Bacon, Roxbury.
14. — Grapes, Concord, by E. W. Bull, Concord.
15. — Pears, two varieties, by E. A. Story, Brighton.
16. — Apples, forty-two varieties, by J. Lake, Topsfield.
17. — Pears, twelve varieties, by R. W. Ames, Roxbury.
18. — Apples, collection of, by D. C. Brewer, Springfield.
19. — Pears, two varieties, for exhibition, by D. C. Brewer, Springfield.
20. — Grapes, three varieties, and wine, by D. C. Brewer, Springfield.
21. — Pears, one variety, by Aaron Livermore, Roxbury.
22. — Grapes and pears, by John M. Ives, Salem.
23. — Pears, four varieties, by William Page, Cambridge.
24. — Apples, one basket of Hubbardston Nonsuch, by John B. Moore,
Concord.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 158

No. 25. — Apples, thirteen varieties, by W. W. Wheildon, Concoi-d.

26. — Apples, Hubbardston Nonsuch, by Joseph Fenno, North Chelsea.

27. — Prunes, one box, by Edward Clark, Northampton.

28. — Melons, orange-water, and flesh-colored pumpkins, by William F.

Gay, Watertown.
29. — Apples, one variety of winter, twelve, by Ira Curtis, Sheffield.
30. — Pears, four varieties, by Jacob Eaton, Cambridgeport.
31. — Pears, six varieties, by Jesse Haley, Cambridgeport.
32. — Cranberries, one barrel, by E. W. Gardner, Nantucket.
33. — Apples, twelve varieties, and one dish of pears, by "Wright Stratton,

Northfield.
34. — Apples, thirty-four varieties, by Asa Clement, Dracut.
35. — Peaches, four varieties, by Asa Clement, Dracut.
36. — Quinces, one-half bushel, by Ariel Low, Roxbury.
37. — Cranberries, one barrel, by A. R. Leland, Sherborn.
38. — Pears, one hundred and fifty varieties, by Hovey & Co., Boston.
39. — Watermelons, one box, by William Buckminster, Framingham.
40. — Grapes, Isabella, one basket, by Kendall Bailey, Charlestown.
41. — Pears, thirty-two varieties, by Henry Vandine, Cambridgeport.
» 42. — Plums, three varieties, by Henry Vandine, Cambridgeport.
43 — Quinces, by Henry Vandine, Cambridgeport.
44. — Apples, by Henry Vandine, Cambridgeport.
45. — Persimmon, by Henry Vandine, Cambridgeport.
46. — Pears, twelve varieties, by Hovey & Co., Boston.
47. — Apples, by Hovey & Co., Boston.
48. — Pears, by Barnabas Hedge, Plymouth.
49. — Dish of Apples, by Thaddeus Clapp, Dorchester.
50. — Grapes, by R. M. Copeland, Boston.

51. — Cranberries, cultivated, one barrel, by E. D. Miller, Dorchester.
52. — Grapes, foreign, seven varieties, by Nathan Durfee, Fall River.

The committee on fruit submitted the following
AWARDS:

Appxes. — For the largest and best exhibition of apples, the com-
mittee award the first premium to Thaddeus Clapp, of Dorchester.
To Joel Lake, of Topsfield, a gratuity of $10. To Asa Clement, of
Dracut, a gratuity of $8. The second and third premiums were not
awarded.

For the best twelve varieties of apples, they award the first premium
to Wright Stratton; of Northfield. For the second best, they award
the second premium to D, Chauncey Brewer, of Springfield. For
the third best, the third premium to Wra. W. Wheildon, of Concord.

For the best dish of apples, they award the first premium to Joseph
Fenno, of North Chelsea, for Hubbardston Nonsuch. The second
21*

154 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

premium to J. B. Moore, of C )n:;ord, f)r th3 seond best dish of
apples, also Hubbardston Nonsuch. The third premium to Messrs.
Hovey & Co., of Boston, for the third best dish, Baldwins.

Pea.rs. — For the largest and best exhibition, tbey award the first
premium to John Gordon, of Brighton. To Messrs. Hovey & Co.,
of Boston, they recommend a gratuity equal to the first premium, $20.
To Henry Vandine, of Cambridgeport, they award the third premium.

For the best twelve varieties, they award the first premium to Ariel
Low, of Roxbury, the second to William Bacon, of Roxbury, the
third to R. W. Ames, of Koxbury.

For the best dish of pears, they award the first premium to Thad-
deus Clapp, of Dorchester, for Seckels. The second to William
Bacon, of Roxbury, for Glout Morceau. The third to Jesse Haley,
of Cambridgeport, for Duchesse. To Aaron Livermore, of Roxbury,
they recommend a gi-atuity of $5.

Peaches. — For the best collection, they award the first premium
to Thaddeus Clapp, of Dorchester. For the second best, the second
premium to Asa Clement, of Dracut. The other premiums not
awarded.

Quinces. — No premiums were awarded on quinces, no one pre-
senting the requisite quantity.

Cranbeueies. — The first premium for the best barrel, to A. R.
Leland, of Sherborn, the second to Dr. Fi. D. Miller, of Dorchester,
the third to Edward Reed, of Burlington, the fourth not awarded.

Grapes. — The first premium, for the best native or seedling grape,
to E. W Bull, of Concord. The second premium not awarded.

For the best display of native grapes, they award the first premium
to C. E. Grant, of Roxbury, the second to George B, Cutler, of Wes-
ton, the third to Kendall Bailey, of Charlestown.

For the best display of foreign grapes, the first premium to Dr.
Nathan Durfee, of Fall River. The other premiums not awarded.

The committee also recommend the following gratuities : To Edward
Clark, of Northampton, for prunes, $2. To Samuel Chandler, of
Lexington, for plums, $2. To H. "Vandine, of Cambridgeport, for
plums, $3.

For the committee,

Joseph S. Cabot, Chairman.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 156

THE DAIRY

Formed the Eiglitli Class, and in this the following premiums
were offered : —

For the best butter, 50 pounds, made in June, $15; second best, flO; third

best, $5.
For the best, second best, and third best 50 pounds made since that time, the

same premiums were ofiered.
Also, for the best, second best, and third best box of 20 pounds of lump

butter, the same.
The same amounts were offered for the best, second best, and third best lot of

100 pounds, one year old or over.
And the same, for the best, second best, and third best 100 pounds new

cheese.

The following is a list of entries in this class : —

No. 1. — Butter, lump, by Lucy Morse, Medfield.

2.— Butter, lump, 22 lbs., by Elijah M. Reed, Tewksbury.

3. — Butter, firkin, 58 lbs., by Mrs. Wilkes Roper, Princeton.

4. — Butter, lump, 27 lbs., by ^Irs. Wilkes Roper, Princeton.

5. — Cheese, new, 150 lbs., by S. W. Lincoln, South Adams.

6. — Cheese, new, 118 lbs., by Job Ranger, New Braintree.

7. — Cheese, new, 103 lbs., by M. Thompson, New Braintree.

8. — Cheese, new, 115 lbs., by Peter Harwood, Barre.

9. — Butter, lump, 52 lbs., by Asa G. Sheldon, Wilmington.
10. — Butter, lump, 25 lbs., by Nathan Caswell, Fitchburg.
11. — Butter, lump, 21 lbs., by William Robinson, Jr., Barre.
12. — Butter, firkin, 53 lbs., by William Robinson, Jr., Barre.
13. — Cheese, new, 210 lbs., by William Robinson, Jr., Barre.
14. — Butter, lump, 22 lbs., by Joel Hayward, Ashby.
15.— Butter, lump, 28 lbs., by T. M. Stoughton, Gill.
16.— Butter, box, 50 lbs., by T. M. Stoughton, Gill.
17. — Cheese, new, 158 lbs., by Samuel Ellsworth, Barre.
18 — Butter, lump, 22 lbs., by Jlenry Boyles, Princeton.
19. — Butter, lump, 20 lbs., by William Fames, Worcester.
20.— Butter, lump, 20 lbs., by W. G. Woods, Dedham.
21.— Butter, lump, 28 lbs , by C. C. Sewell, Medfield.
22. — Butter, one tub, by P. M. Wright, Windsor,
23. — Cheese, by Hollis Tidd, New Braintree.
24. — Butter, lump, 23]bs., by Jonathan Forbush, Bolton.
25. — Butter, firkin, 30 lbs., by Jonathan Forbush, Bolton.

156 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

The committee on dairies submitted the following valuable

REPORT :

Only seven lots of new cheese were entered and submitted for
examination. Of these lots the committee considered that made by
William Robinson, Jr., of Barre, entitled to the first premium of $15.
The second premium of $10 was awarded to Samuel Ellsworth, of
the same place ; and the third of $5, was adjudged to Hollis Tidd,
of New Braintree.

In awarding these premiums the committee have confidence that
full justice was done to the several competitors.

There were found among other lots a particular cheese of decidedly
superior quality to any one of the successful lots of cheese.

Far superior to any, was one cheese made by S. W. Lincoln, of
South Adams ; but the decidedly bad condition of the second one
tasted by the committee, and the varied quality of the remaining two
of the lot, compelled the rejection of the cheese as a whole.

So the two sage cheese of Mr. Ellsworth, were of such supe-
rior excellence as to raise the whole exhibited by him to a point which,
had these been omitted, the lot would not have reached.

The cheese of Job Ranger, and Moses Thompson, of New Brain-
tree, and Peter Harwood, of Barre, were so good as only to be infe-
rior to the other more successful lots.

A slight variance in the mode of manufacture, particularly in the
amount of salt added to the curd, might in the opinion of the judges
have changed the direction of some of the premiums.

No old cheese, as such, was entered, an absence of which was
especially regretted.

Thirteen boxes of lump butter, and five lots of tub butter, duly
returned by the Secretary, and ranged upon the tables, admonished
the committee of the extent and delicacy of their labors.

Although no lot was duly entered as having been " made in June,"
the committee adjudged that such was the date of the manufacture of
that entered by Mrs. Wilkes Roper, of Princeton, and, although the
only lot of the kind, its good quality entitled it to the first premium
of $15 offered for such butter. •

Of the four lots of tub butter made since June, no member of the
committee hesitated a moment in declaring that of T. M. S tough ton,
of Gill, decidedly superior to any other offered. The sense of sight,
of smelling, and of taste were alike gratified; and had the com-
mittee been in possession of this lot, their only want, so far as this
article goes, would have been satisfied. Of course the first premium

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 157

of $15, for tub butter made since June, was given to Mr. Stoughton,
Of the other lots, that of William. Robinson, Jr., of Barre, was
adjudged the second best, and that of P. M. Wright, of Windsor, the
next best in quality ; and to the former of these gentlemen is awarded
the second premium of $10, and to the latter the third, of $5.

In the lots of lump butter there was greater difference in quality ;
and in one or two instances a re-examination on the morning of the
second, compelled a change of the opinion formed by the inspection
and taste of the first day.

Especially was this true in the case of Mr. Stougton, of Gill, whose
butter (in tub was unapproached by other lots, in " lump,") was
spoiled by a new box, in which it was exhibited. The re-examina-
tion on the second day convinced the committee of the correctness
of their first adjudication, by which Henry Boyles, of Princeton, is
entitled to the first premium of $15.

The second premium of $10, is awarded to J. Forbush, of
Bolton and the third of $5, to William Eames, of Worcester.

The committee refrain from commenting particularly upon the
butter of the unsuccessful competitors, in the assurance they have,
that each one of them will be able, from the general remarks which
follow, to draw a correct conclusion as to the particular cause, which,
in his own instance operated unfavorably with the committee.

Butter, as such, is the mere fat, or oily particles of milk, separated
from the serous portion by agitation. Yet to its perfection of taste
an addition of foreign matter to a certain extent is necessary. Pre-
cisely what amount of this foreign matter, salt, should be added, is
not determined, and varies in a good degree with the amount of water
contained in the food of the animal from whose milk the butter
results. Good cows, sweet feed, and pure water are first of all requi-
site to the manufacture of good butter. Good cows, that, other things
being equal, proper color and right consistency be secured, sweet feed
and pure water, that no fiavor be imparted to the milk which should
render the butter unpalatable. What breed, or what mixture of
blood is best adapted for the dairy it is not proposed to consider,
inasmuch as a slattern must make a poor article from the best cow.

Among the grasses of our pastures are found some peculiarly
adapted to the secretion of deep rich and high flavored milk, mingled
however, wfth many kinds of inferior quality. Hence the importance
of proper attention as well to the grazing as the mowing fields. Im-
portant, however, as would be a cultivation of our pastures, and,
dependent as is the quality of the article manufactured, upon the good-
ness of the food, a proper degree of care and skill on the part of the
dairy-woman is of much greater consequence. Care, that all the uten-

158 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

sils of the dairy are kept dry and svveet ; that the milk-room is well
ventilated — of a proper temperature, free from dampness and the
unpleasant smell generated by moisture ; that the cream is not suf-
fered to stand too long upon the milk, nor after skimmed ; that it be
churned at a proper temperature, the operation neither being hurried
unduly nor carried too far, that it be salted; not injured by the
addition of either sugar or saltpetre, and that all the buttermilk be
properly and effectually removed.

None but the experienced and the successful dream to what nicety
attention to these things should be carried, and many are unaware
how much slight deviations from the true course affect the quality of
the article they manufacture.

Butter is judged of by its color, aroma, taste and consistency. Its
color should be of a delicate pale straw, not approaching white, and
yet perhaps that is better than the deep orange tint almost always
sure indication of extraneous coloring matter.

Every one recognizes that peculiar smell which is alwaj'^s given
off from the nicest butter. The better the quality of the butter the
more delicate is this smell, while as the quality of the article degen-
erates, in almost the same proportion does this aroma vary to that
which is positively offensive. This fragrance is dependent very much
upon the process of manufacture.

No rule can be given by which the uninitiated can secure it ; for
the most skilful do not always succeed' in attaining it, though with
due care success is measurably certain.

All know the high reputation of " Orange County " butter ; few
are aware how much that is made in other places is sold as from that
territory, and that the dairy maid of that county transferred to a dif-
ferent locality will still manufacture Orange County butter.

Any inattention to the proper care of either the milk, cream, or
the vessels in which they are kept, will be betrayed by the taste of
the butter. So is the addition of any foreign matter, by which the
taste is to be affected, easily detected.

Certain of the competitors will place to the account of the sugar
worked into their butter, their want of success in obtaining a pre-
mium. So far from improving the flavor, in the opinion of the com-
mittee, it materially impairs the proper taste of butter.

From the sugar of milk and the sugar of commerce the same ulti-
mate is reached. But because the sugar cane yields a sweet, it does
not follow that its addition imparts the right sweet to butter.

Some of the butter examined by the committee would have been
assigned a very different rank had not its sweet been so very decided.

So, too, the quality of this article is injuriously affected by the too

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. • . 159

great or too little salt added to it, as well as by the quality of the
salt itself. Butter should be salted with the nicest salt to be obtained.
In examining the lots of butter before us some were fv)und in
which the salt was of so coarse quality as to be left in quite large
particles in the mouth upon the dissolution of the butter. Of course
its maker will know the reason of its rejection.

While the committee do not believe in an excess of salt, they are
far from admitting that good butter can be made entirely fresh, and
for such reason they feel compelled to reject one lot which otherwise
would have received a premium.

It is believed that a certain amount of salt is necessary to bring
out the true flavor of butter in its greatest delicacy. Whether this
could not be obtained by salting ihe cream previous to its being
churned, is worthy consideration. But, however that may be, or
how great the quantity to be added to the butter or the cream, all
will agree in the propriety of using none but the best article.

Unfortunately a good article is difficult to be procured. From his
own experience the chairman would use none but the " ground rock
salt," labeled as prepared for dairy use, though that same experience
warns him of its occasional great difference in strength as well as
purity.

Among the lots examined by the committee, perhaps there was
greater difference in the texture or consistency than in any one other
point. Some were waxy, leaving no mark upon a knife after being
thrust into a lump, with hardly enough moisture to dim its bright-
ness, while other lots were soft, leaving greasy streaks upon the blade
and large drops of an opaque liquid oozing from the newly-cut surface.
The existence of either of these signs gives sure indication of imper-
fect if not bad process of making. The utmost moisture which
should be found in thoroughly worked butter is a very slight dew,
and it should be of such firm, waxy consistency as to slice down,
hardly dimming the brightness of a knife- blade. No butter is prop-
erly made unless it will bear these tests.

The committee regret that so few competitors saw fit to file with
the Secretary, or present to them, any written account of their mode
of management, and that the few statements given to them were so
meagre and imperfect in their detail.

It was a source of gratification to them to find, upon examining
the statements in their possession, (which was not done till after they
had made their first decision,) that their own taste agreed with the
statement of the competitor as to the presence of sugar, in one
instance to as great an amount as a teaspoonful of sugar to each
pound of butter.

160 BOARD OF ACxRICULTURE. [Jan.

The butter of Mr. Stoughton, of Gill, was of the very nicest qual-
ity, aside from the taste imparted to it by the new box in which it
was exhibited. It was delicately salted, it was thoroughly worked,
and no other lot gave off so delightful aroma.

Mr. Stoughton states, as his process of manufacture, that, " When
the butter is well formed the buttermilk is drawn, and a pail of water
of proper temperature is poured on to the butter, and the churn set
in motion for four or five minutes ; the water is then drawn off and
another pailful applied. The butter is then worked on an inclined
table with a square cover, and salted with three-fourths of an ounce
of salt per pound of butter. Butter stands twenty-four hours, when
it is worked again, and made ready for market or the table."

The testimony of the chairman, in favor of the use of water and
the butter-table, upon which, without the contact of hands, to work
out the buttermilk and work in the salt, cannot be withheld, more
especially as one lot was condemned on account of the presence of a
peculiar flavor suggested by one of the committee as having been
derived from the hand of the dairy maid, and which, upon a subse-
quent reading of the statement of its owner, appeared to have been
worked by hand.

The statements of other competitors disclose no point of manu-
facture of peculiar value.

It must have been matter of regret to all spectators as it was to
the committee, that so few farmers saw fit to join in the competition
for the liberal premiums off"ered for the products of the dairy. One-
half of all the butter offered at the exhibition, and of the cheese
every lot but one came from the county of Worcester.

As a whole, the quantity of either was less than is frequently seen
at many of our county shows. The committee can only regret a want
of interest so unaccountable, and have to commisserate that peculiar-
ity which prompts our females to contribute their crotchet and crewel
work to the vanity fairs of the day, at the expense of withholding
from exhibitions like this the more meritorious and substantial con-
tributions of their skill in housewifery.

For the committee,

Will. S. Lincoln, Chairman.

As this subject is attracting considerable attention, both on
account of its intrinsic importance and the increased extent to
which it is carried as a branch of practical farming, it may not
be out of place to say that a method, in some respects new,
has been invented by a German agriculturist, Baron H. von

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 161

Un worth, and for which a patent has been applied for. The
object aimed at in this metiiod will appear in the following
letter from Prof. Ilorsford to the inventor.

" Cambridge, Jan. 4, 1858.

Dear Sir : — I have examined with great interest the method
of treating milk which yon have devised, with a view to pro-
duce from a given supply of milk, the largest practicable
measure of excellent butter.

The use of block tin pails, pans, and chnrns, commends
itself as well for the f icility with which the vessels may be
cleaned, as on account of the impossibility of their imbibing
and retaining traces of milk, [to become acid, and in its turn
rapidly cliange other sweet milk to sour,] and the insuscepti-
bility of the metal to corrosion from the joint action of the air
and milk.

The permanently elevated temperature to which the milk is
subjected, and the shallow layer of milk in the pans which is
prescribed, will obviously facilitate the separation of the butter
particles [tlie cream] from the other ingredients of the milk.

The idea of lessening the chances of good butter becoming
rancid, by effectually separating the butter particles from the
caseinc at tlie outset, — and the necessity for providing for the
absolute cleanliness and freedom from all traces of milk previ-
ously in the vessels, on the theory of their being ferment in the
sour milk which will greatly hasten the changes in sweet milk,
are, it is needless to say, sound in a chemical point of view.

If attention to the particulars, which you have made promi-
nent might become general, it can not be doubted that great
advantages would result to both producer and consumer.
I am very respectfully and truly yours,

E. N. HORSFORD."

In making a statement of his method Baron Unwcrth speaks
as follows : —

" The breeding of cattle is one of the most interesting ana
profitable branches of farming. The production of beef and
tallow, and especially the production of milk and the making
of butter and cheese, furnish food indispensable to man. This
branch of agriculture is so extensive that the least mistake, or

22»

162 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

any want of economy is seriously felt, while on the other hand
any improvement, however small, either in the treatment of the
dairy itself or in converting the produce of it into money, will
add vastly to the aggregate profit of this branch of farming.

" To procure a perfectly uniform stock of dairy cows is as
difficult as to build up a uniform flock of sheep.

" The geographical and geological position of the country and
the political and statistical position of the farm itself are to be
taken into consideration in the selection of any particular breed
or stock, and the farmer will follow his judgment according to
circumstances. A good animal does not need any more food in
proportion to its live weight, than a poor one, while it yields a
hundred per cent, more profit, though at the same time, the old
German proverb may be true, that ' The cow milks only through
the throat.^

" But I shall confine myself to remarks on the product of the
dairy. This may be converted into money in various ways: —
" 1st. By direct sale of the milk.
" 2d. By making it into butter.
" 3d. By making it into cheese.

" In the vicinity of good markets the direct sale of milk is the
easiest, though the cost of man, horse, and wagon is to be con-
sidered, and when it is deducted, the net profit may be less than
that of butter.

" The making of cheese requires the most accurate practical
knowledge, and the article itself is usually disposed of in the
market witli greater inconvenience than either milk or butter.
In the making of butter the farmer is sure to find a ready mar-
ket ; and whether near or remote from the city he can com-
mand, in a measure, his own price, by selecting his market, and
the net-work of railroads covering the greater part of the
United States, and constantly extending, greatly facilitates his
operations.

" Besides the use of butter is so universal that the supply
always falls short of the demand, and this must necessarily be
the case for some time to come.

" With few exceptions, butter is bought and sold in this
country in a salted state. Salted butter is never so good nor
so palatable as fresh butter, one or two days old only, and this
brought to market in a proper foi-m, will be sold more readily

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 163

and a few cents a pound higher, than salted butter. Salted
butter kept in its usual state, that is more or less exposed to
the air, will absorb oxygen, and is therefore more injurious and
unhealthy than fresh butter.

" After Uutter is made, especially if the cream was sour, a
decomposition takes place which, to a greater or less extent, is
unavoidable, and if this decomposition reaches far, butyric
acid is produced and other offensive matters, and the conse-
quences must be injurious to the consumer.

" To prevent the absorption of oxygen, both in the making
and keeping of butter, I have, after several years of practical
and theoretical examination and experiment, adopted the fol-
lowing conclusions, viz. : —

" 1st. It is not necessary to have a large and expensive
cellar for the keeping of the milk. Common house cellars are
wholly unfit for keeping milk. Too many other things are
often stored there which pregnate the air with gases injurious
to the milk. A room devoted exclusively to it, and situated
on the north side of the house is better.

" Cleanliness is essential in every part of the room, and every
thing in it. The room should be whitewashed once a year, and
all the wood work and the floor should be painted with oil
paint. The temperature of the room should not be over
seventy-five or eighty degrees Fahrenheit, and never under
sixty degrees ; and this temperature, should, in winter, be kept
up if necessary, by a stove, and in summer by good ventilation
with blinds, or wire screens on the windows.

" 2d. Milk Utensils. — To prevent, if possible, the milk from
turning acid, no utensils should be of wood, as, even with the
greatest cleanliness, wood is apt to be infected by the all-pene-
trating acidity. The same is the case with those made of metal
or stone, which were formerly either round or angular, and
which were more or less uneven in their surfaces, and oftered no
protection against the infectious acidity. Those not made of
metal are easily broken, and those of copper or iron, to prevent
their rusting, must be worked over from time to time. The
worst kind of utensils are those made of zinc, as milk acidity
acts as a dissolvent of zinc.

" All these disadvantages are avoided by using tin. Tin veg-

164 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

sels mado in proper form, and fewer in number, will save half
tlie expense of those now in use in a short time.

" The milk pail should also be of tin, as well as the pans and
tlie churn.

" I would recommend the washing of the pail befiire milking
with hot water. The milk, as it comes from the cow, is about
blood heat (100° Fahr.,) and should be cooled off as little as
possible before coming to rest iu the milk pan. Even by the
most careful treatment the milk falls in temperature from 30°
to 40°, and hence the nearer the milk room is to tlie stable the
better, especially in winter. The milk should be prevented
from cooling too much and too rapidly.

" Figure I. represents the best construction of the milk-pan.
It is made of tin in an oblong shape, the corners carefully
rounded. The pan is two inches in depth and large enough to
hold eight quarts of milk, which is strained in to the depth of 1^
inches. It can be made of course to hold more or less quarts.
The important end of least exposure to tli$ air is attained with
my pan in the following manner : —

" I fill it to the depth of only an inch and a half, and keep it
at a temperature of from 70° to 80° Fahr. The cream (the
butter particles) have a shallow space to move through, and the
fluidity and bulk of the milk having been increased by the
warming, the facility of separation of the butter particles is
such that less than twenty-four hours are required for the com-
plete rising of the cream, while with the old method in general
use, from two to three days are necessary. The cream that is
produced at lower temperature contains more or less caseine
(cheese ])articles) which give rise by fermentation, at a later
period, to offensive products before named. As milk has its
greatest density at 41° Fahr., it is obvious that the nearer its
temperature approaches this point, the slower will be the move-
ment of the butter particles, and the more time will be con-
sumed in the separation of the cream. That the greater the
depth of the milk, the slower will be the separation of the cream
is sufficiently clear. By my process the cream is quite free
from cheese particles, and may be employed to make a good
quality of cheese or for cooking purposes.

" Butter obtained from a certain quantity of milk in the old
way is

1858.]

SEXATE— No. 4.

165

" 1st. Lgss.

" 2d. By the greater absorption of oxygen, it loses its fine
taste and is more apt to become rancid.

" 3d. By tlie greater quantity of caseine (cbecsy matter)
contained in tlie cream, tbe butter will never pos-^ess so delicato
a flavor, and contains far less fatty matter. This may be seen
on melting it, bad butter giving maro effervescence than good,
or than butter which is free from caseine.

" For a strainer for the milk into the pan I use a very simple
contrivance, as shown in Figure II. It is pierced with holes,
and the centre is half an inch lower than the rim, to whicli aro
fixed three hooks, which hold it at pleasure to the top of the
pan. Over this strainer I lay a coarse linen cloth, and the milk
passes through the cloth and the tin strainer al^o, and this
arrangement serves to separate all foreign substances in the
milk more effectually.

" The cloth should be kept as clean as possible. The smallest
degree of acidity left in it may be detected .by the smell, and
this will have an injurious effect on the milk and butter if
allowed to remain. The least admixture of old milk should
be strictly guarded against, both in the strainer, the pans and
the pails. An atom of sour milk may render acid any quantity
of sweet milk, just as the diastase in the distilling and brewing

166 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

of beer, or as the least particle of yeast produces the sugar
transformation, or the least quantity of leaven turns a large
quantity of dough sour.

" This power of transformation, possessed by a small quan-
tity of ferment, is one of the remarkable facts of science. It
is called by the celebrated chemist Berzelius, the ' Katalytic
power.' Figure III,, on a larger scale, may serve to explain
the milk pan Figure I., more fully.

" In the bottom of the milk pan, near one end, is an opening,
«, through which the milk is drawn, after the cream is all
risen or separated from it, by raising a brass pin, b. The
opening is lined with brass, and is three-fourths of an inch in
diameter. A tin cylinder, c, is fitted into the opening, and
this is pierced, to the height of an inch, with many small holes,
diminishing in size towards the top. The cream is all risen in
twenty-four hours. I then draw the pin from the cylinder and
the milk flows out, leaving the thick cream, which is prevented
from flowing out by the smallness of the holes in the cylinder.

" As the removal of all sour matter is of the utmost conse-
quence, the churn is also of great importance. Most churns
now in use are made of wood, and are apt to injure the butter
in consequence of their liability to infection with milk acidity.
To avoid this difficulty I have constructed a churn, as shown in
Figure IV., made entirely of tin, and I consider it better
adapted for its use than any now in use. The churn consists
of the following parts : —

"a, a cylinder with two handles at the top, (the size of this
cylinder may be regulated by the quantity of cream to be used.)

" Z), two flanges or projections from the outer edge of the
bottom of the churn, with holes through which it may be
screwed to the floor, so as to keep it steady while churning.

" c, a kind of dasher, made of strong tin, and therefore
light. The lower part of the dasher is in the form of an
inverted tunnel, which fits pretty tightly to the inside of the
churn or cylinder. The tunnel is pierced with numerous holes.
This hastens the formation of the butter exceedingly, giving a
greater impulse to tlie dasher without great effort. The handle
of the dasher is so made as to be screwed on or taken ofi" at
pleasure.

" d, the cover of the churn. It is of tin, and in the

1858.]

SENATE— No. 4.

167

form of a tunnel, the smaller part of which goes into the churn.
Two hooks on the edge or rim of the cover hold it tight to the
churn. All the buttermilk thrown up during the churning is
caught by the inside of the cover and has therefore to run back
into the churn.

" The time taken to churn in this manner is only from four
to six minutes in a temperature of 60° Fahr.

"It is desirable to churn once in twenty-four hours. It
requires but little labor in the manner above described, and no
prudent farmer would want to omit it when the advantage is so
great.

" As to the skim-milk obtained in this method, it remains
perfectly sweet and may be made into almost any kind of
cheese, and I think it is poor economy to feed it to cattle or
swine, or to use it even for baking bread. At the end of the
year no farmer will be much better off for it, while the skim-

1G8 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

milk mid^ into cheese will give him from two to ten dollars per
cow more profit.

"To sum lip the advantages of this method of butter-
makiiig, they may be said to l)0,

"1st. The cleanliness and exclusion of acidity, which can-
not hd attained (even by gre.it care) by the old methods, and
which this invention secures in the most perfect manner.

"2d. The same room will answer in summer as well as in
winter, by kccj)ing a pretty nniform degree of temperature, for
the purposes of butter making.

" yd. The butter is free from acid, which is of great ad-
vantage.

" 4th. The taste and flavor of the butter is improved and is
made conducive to the health of the consumer.

" 6tli. It* sweetness of taste and flavor is thus secured and
made subservient to the hcalih of the consumer, the demand
for the article will increase and the price become higher in a
corresj)ondijig degree.

" Gth. Tlie rapidity with Avhich the cream will rise enables
me to dispense with half the number of pans, and only half the
amount of room and other conveniences are required.

" 7th. As only half the space is required, instead of an
expensive celllr on purpose, or a cellar used also for other pur-
poses, and therefore unfit to keep milk in, besides the trouljle of
going up and down a flight of stairs, even tiie backwoodsman
in his log-cabin in the far West, can get a better profit from his
cow with a less expenditure of labor and money.

" 8th. The milk keeps perfectly sweet while the cream is
rising, in a temperature of from 70° to 80° Fahr., and it is there-
fore more useful for domestic purposes, and may be made into
any kind of cheese and turned into money.

" Remarks. — 1st. The milk pans can rest on a strip of board
which is grooved out so as to allow the skim-milk to run into
a vessel ke])t for the purpose underneath.

" 2d. In winter nearly all butter, made by all ])revious
modes, has a bitter taste, while with my method it remains per-
fectly sweet.

" 3d. If the rules as I have stated them above, are closely
observed, it will take at the hig-kest only twenty hours from
the time of milking to produce butter.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 169

" 4th. I propose to affix to the churn a very simple con-
trivance, to make the process of churning much easier, which
may be required in large dairy establishments."

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

Class IX. included all agricultural and horticultural imple-
ments, and in this department the exhibition was unrivalled by
any ever made in New England, and probably by any ever made
in this country. The enterprising iirms of Boston are deserving
of great credit for the public spirit wliich they manifested in
making this the most splendid and the most successful depart-
ment of the Fair. The premiums offered in this class were as
follows : —

For the best collection of agricultural and horticultural iaiplement5, a diploma
and $50 ; second best, .flO ; third best, $30.

For the best assortment of Ploughs, a diploma or medal ; best portable Steam
Engine for farm purposes, <5 10 ; best Harrow, f 3 ; best Cultivator, f 3 ;
best Drill Barrow, ^5 ; best hand Corn Planter, $2 ; best horse-power
Corn Planter, $5 ; best broad-cast Seed Sower, $5 ; best Roller, for general^
use, $G ; best Potato Digger, $2 ; best Shovels, half-dozen, cast-steel, f 2 ;
best Shovels, half-dozen, ^2 ; best Spades, half-dozen, $2 ; best Hoes,
half-dozen, $2 ; best Road or Farm Scraper, $5 ; best Horse Hoe, §5 i
best Mowing Machine, $25 ; best Mower and Reaper combined, a diploma
and $25 ; best machine for distributing Fertilizers, $5 ; best Threshing
Machine and Separator, $5 ; best Fanning Mill, $5 ; best Corn-stalk
Cutter, $5; best Hay Cutter, $5 ; best Horse-rake, $5 ; best hand Corn
Sheller, $3 ; best horse-power Corn Sheller, $5 ; best Clover Machine, $5 ;
best Corn and Cob Crusher, $5 ; best Portable Grist Mill, $10 ; best
Portable Saw Mill, $10 ; best Horse-power, $10 ; best Grain Cradle, $3 ;
best hand Rakes, twelve, $2 ; best Hay Forks, six, $2 ; best Scythes, six,
$2 ; best Scythe Snath, $2 ; best Manure Forks, six, $2 ; best Vege-
table Cutter, $25 ; best Collection of Harnesses and Saddles, $10 ; best
Axes, dozen of, $5 ; best Churn, $5 ; best Cheese Press, $5 ; best Ox
Yoke, $5 ; best Horse Cart, for farm, $3 ; best Farm Wagon, $5 ; best
Pump, for farm use, $5.

The following is a list of entries of agricultural and horti-
cultural implements : —

No. 1 — Agricultural and horticultural implements, collection of, by Nourse,
Mason & Co., Boston.
2. — Agricultural and horticultural implements, collection of, by Parker,
White & Gannett, Boston.
22i*

170 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

No. 3. — Agricultural and Iiorticultural implements, collection of, hy Nours©
& Co., Boston.

4. — Garden hoes, six, by J. W. Crosby, North Bridgewatcr.

5. — Agricultural and horticultural implements, collection of, by Blake,
Barnard & Co., Boston.

6. — Plough, S. Ilurlbert's patent convex mouldboard and iron-beam, by
J. Vankerman, & Co., Boston.

T.-^IIorse-Power, by Burt, Wright & Co., Harvard.

8. — Potatoe Diggers, six, by 11. I^artridge & Co., ]\Iedfield.

9. — Manure Forks, eight, by II. Partridge & Co., Medfield.
10. — Revolving Horse Rake, by Tliomas R. Roach, West Needham.
11. — Danford's improved Grass Cutter, by J. W. Thompson, Greenfield.
12. — Rotating Harrow and Cultivator, by II. Hall Putnam, Muskingum

Co., Ohio.
13. — Combined Reaper and Mower, by Ball, Aultman & Co., Cantfjn,

Stark Co., Ohio.
14. — Ploughs, collection of, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
15. — Harrow, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
16. — Cultivator, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
17. — Drill Barrow, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
18. — Broad-cast Seed Sower, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
19. — Potatoe Digger, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
r 20. — Shovels, cast-steel, six, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
21 — Shovels, six, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
22. — Hoes, six, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
23. — Horse Hoe, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
24. — Cornstalk Cutter, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
25. — Hay Cutter, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
26. — Horse Rake, by Blake, Barnard & Co.', Boston.
27. — Hand Corn Shellcr, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
28. — Horsepower Corn Sheller, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
29. — Corn and Cob Crusher, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
30. — Portable Grist Mill, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
31. — Hand Rakes, twelve, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
32. — Hay Forks, six, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
33. — Scythes, six, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
34. — Scythe Snaths, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
35. — Manure Forks, six, by Blake, Bai-nard & Co., Boston.
36.— Vegetable Cutter, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
37. — Axes, twelve, by Blake, Barnard & Co. Boston.
38. — Churn, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
39. — Cheese Press, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
40. — Ox Yoke, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
41. — Pump, for farm use, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.
42. — Ploughs, collection of, by Dickerman & Stevens, Taunton.
43. — Seed Drill, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
44. — Horse Hoe, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
45. — Road Scraper, by Nourse & Co., Boston.

1858.] SENATE— Xo. 4. 171

No. 46. — O.K Yoke, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
47. — Iloes, six, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
48. — Cheese Press, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
49. — Harrow, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
50. — Cultivator, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
51. — Corn and Cob Crusher, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
52. — Hand Corn Sheller, by Nourse & Co , Boston.
53. — Vegetable Cutter, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
54. — Gates's Eagle Corn-stalk Cutter, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
55. — Gates's Eagle Hay and Straw-cutter, by Nourse & Co , Boston.
56. — Horse Corn Planter, by Nourse & Co , Boston.
57. — Manny's Mower and Reaper combined, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
58. — Manny's Mower, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
59. — Manny's Iron Mower, by Nourse & Co , Boston.
60. — Manure Forks, six, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
61. — Hay Forks, six, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
62. — Potato Diggers, six, by Nourse,& Co., Boston.
63.-^Patent Scythe Snaths, six, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
64. — Stevens's j^atent Scythe Snaths, three, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
65. — Grant's patent Fanning Mill, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
66. — Grant's patent Grain Cradle, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
67. — Tyler's patent Churns, three, by Nourse & Co., Bo.sbou.
68. — Pratt's Axes, twelve, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
69. — Emery's Changeable Horse-power, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
70. — Emery's Thresher and Separator, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
71. — Seed Drill, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
72. — Portable Saw Mill, Nourse & Co., Boston.
73. — Johnson's patent Fanning Mill, by Nourse & Co., Boston.
74. — Ploughs, assortment of, by Nourse, Mason & Co., Boston.
75. — Harrow, by Nourse, Mason & Co., Boston.
76. — Drill Barrow, by Nourse, Mason & Co., Boston.
77. — Horse-power Corn Planter, by Nourse, Mason & Co., Boston.
78. — Field Koller, for general use, by Nourse, Mason & Co., Boston.
79. — Horse Hoe, by Nourse, Mason & Co., Boston.
80. — Horse-power, by Nourse, Mason & Co., Boston.
81. — blowing Machine, by Nourse, Mason & Co., Boston.
82. — Mower and Reaper combined, by Nourse, Mason & Co., Boston.
83. — Hay Cutter, by Nourse, Mason & Co., Boston.
84. — Corn-stalk Cutter, by Nour.se, Mason & Co., Boston.
85. — Hand Corn Sheller, by Nourse, Mason & Co., Boston.
86. — Horse Rake, by Nourse, Mason & Co , Boston.
87. — Road or Farm Scraper, by Nourse, Mason & Co., Boston.
88. — Churn, by Nourse, Mason & Co., Boston.
89. — Ox Yoke, by Nourse, Mason & Co., Boston.
90. — Allen's ]\Iowing Machine, by Parker, White & Gannett, Boston.
91. — Allen's Mower and Reaper combined, by Parker, White & Gannett
92. — Whitman's Double Horse-power, by Parker, White & Gannett
93. — Whitman's Single Horse-power, by Parker, White & Gannett,
Boston.

172 ^ BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

No. 94. — Whitman's Thresher, Separator, and Cleaner, by Parker, "White k
Gannett, Boston.
95. — Whitman's Portable Sawing Machine, by Parker, White & Gan-
nett, Boston.
96. — Wheeler's Cast-steel Axes, handled, twelve, by Parker, White 8c

Gannett, Boston.
97. — Darling's Cast-steel Scythes, twelve, by Parker, White & Gannett.
98. — Tyler's patent Churns, four, by Parker, White & Gannett, Boston.
99. — Cylinder Churns, five, by Parker, White and Gannett, Boston.
100. — Rotating Vegetable Cutters, two, by Parker, White & Gannett.
101. — Corn-cob Crushers, two, by Parker, White & Gannett, Boston.
102. — Field and Garden Roller, by Parker, White & Gannett, Boston.
10,3.— Portable Fruit Mill, by Parker, White & Gannett, Boston.
104. — Road and Farm Scrapers, two, by Parker, White and Gannett.
105. — Horse Hoe, by John Shares, Hampden, Conn.
106. — Harrow, by John Shares, Hampden, Conn.
107. — Stone Elevator, by the Stqte Farm at Westboro'.
108. — Spades, six, Blake, Barnai'd & Co., Boston.
109. — Knox's Gang Cultivator, Nourse, Mason & Co., Boston.
110. — Vegetable Cutter, Nourse, Mason & Co., Boston.
111. — Apple Paring and Slicing Machine, Marvin Smith, New Haven

Conn.
112. — Self-sharpening Hay Cutter, Parker, White & Gannett, Boston.

The committee presented the following valuable

REPORT:

The most extensive and most magnificent collection of farm imple-
ments that was ever exhibited in Massachusetts, and probably in the
United States, was presented to the committee, rendering the work
of examination a work of great labor, and one which required much
time and consideration.

In many instances, it was a matter of great difficulty to arrive at
results satisfactory to the committee themselves, and they cannot
expect that their decisions will, in all cases, be satisfactory to the
parties more immediately concerned. Men who have expended much
time, thought and money in inventing and constructing an imple-
ment, and bringing it to perfection, are apt to look upon it with feel-
ings somewhat akin to those of paternity, and to attach to it more
value and importance than will those for whose use it was designed,
and hence they will be dissatisfied with the judgment of those who
are disinterested, and who aim to strike an impartial balance between
the inventor and the public.

The great number of implements exhibited will render it impossi-

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 173

ble to speak of each, in detail, to specify all the new implements, or
even those which have been remodelled in some important respect.

The manufacturers of agricultural implements are every year
exhibiting a great increase of skill in the construction and finish of
their work, and of ingenuity and judgment in the adaptation of their
articles to the various purposes for which they are designed.

The surgeon has an instrument designed for, and adapted to, every
operation upon the human body, from the extraction of a cataract to
the amputation of a limb.

The mechanic has a tool for the most delicate and intricate opera-
tion he has to perform, and success in these operations depends,
essentially, upon the adaptation and perfection of the instruments.

So in the operations of horticulture and fiirm husbandry, the ease,
the certainty, and the success of their results depend, in no small
degree, upon the perfection of the instruments employed. This fact
is becoming, every year, more fully appreciated by the cultivators of
the soil. They are constantly calling for implements better suited to
their varied operations, and are constantly suggesting improvements
in those already made. These suggestions are received by the manu-
facturers in a spirit which indicates not only a regard to their own
interest, but also to the convenience and advantage of the public.
The amount of intellect directed to the invention and improvement
of agricultural implements and machinery, is truly surprising. The
combination of mechanical powers according to scientific laws, is
working out the most complicated results with mathematical accuracy.
The grain separator and cleaner, which, driven by an improved horse-
power, threshes the grain from the straw, winnows and cleans it, and
separates it from small seeds and imperfect grains, and deposits it in
the bag, is an illustration of the combination of various processes in
the action of one machine.

The union of strength with lightness, is an idea which has ever
been prominent among American manui'acturers. In hand imple-
ments and portable machines, this is the chief reason of the superi-
ority which they have attained over European manufacturers. It is
attained by the use of the best materials, tempered to the point
which affords the greatest degree of strength, and by giving to
every part that form which presents the least possible resistance and
friction. This idea is well illustrated in several ploughs in common
use, which are so constructed that they insinuate themselves into the
earth, and raise it from its bed, while at the same time the furrow is
being turned, and present at no one point a dead resistance to the soil.
It is possible that the idea of lightness in several patterns of the
plough, has been carried quite as far as is desirable. English and

174

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

[Jan.

Scotch plou;;^hs for doing the same work, are mucli heavier than ours,
and (he English and Scotch farmers believe they do tlieir work with
more evenness and uniformity than do ours. It is probable that a
cert liu amount of weight in the plough is necessary to the perfection
of its work Whicli possesses the proper weight must be determined
by experience and the nature of the soil. The plough is the most

important implement in agriculture, and the man who improves th«
structure of the plough, and renders it most capable of reducing the
soil to a good degree of tilth, with the least outlay of dynamic force,
does a good service to his country. In this connection, your com-
mittee cannot refrain from remarking, that Mr. Knox, going on from
the vantage ground previously reached by Mr. Joel Nourse, has con-
tributed greatly to this object, and we would award him our highest

1858.]

SENATE— No. 4.

175

commendation, and we are happy to believe that his efforts are duly
appreciated by the agriculturists throughout the country. In the
collection of ploughs presented by Nourse. Mason & Co , an ingenious
plough, devised by Hon. J. Holbrook, President of the Vermont
Agricultural Society, was shown to your committee. This plough

consists of a series of twelve mouldboards, of different forms and
eizes, adapted to almost every conceivable kind of work, fitted to one
frame and standard. The union of the mouldboard to the frame is
simple and firm. A similar series of mouldboards of steel is fitted
to one frame, Avith a wrought iron standard. The contriver of this
plough claims that there are many advantages in having the various
mouldboards, needed for different soils and modes of culture, com-
bined in one general implement, rather than in having several imple-
ments, and a great saving of expense and storage thereby. The
frame, and either one or any number of the mouldboards, may be

176 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

purchased separately. The whole collection of ploughs presented by
Noiirse, Mason & Co., as well as those presented in the other collec-
tions, was one of the leading features of the exhibition, and marks,
perhaps, more distinctly than any thing else, the march of improve-
ment in agriculture.

A series of ploughs with iron beams, presented by Dickerman and
Stevens, of Taunton, and invented by Ricb, is worthy of notice. In
these ploughs the moving power is applied near to the work, and in
certain descriptions of soil they do their work with great ease and
efficacy. The smaller sizes, especially the horse ploughs, are man-
aged with much ease and convenience.

Iron beam ploughs, which were highly finished, and which have
the peculiar advantage of Rich's ploughs, viz. : that they bring the
power near the work, were presented by Vankerman & Co. Their
form of mouldboard is found in Nourse, Mason & Co.'s collection.

In the union of strength with lightness, in the construction of
mowers and reapers, it is not to be supposed that perfection has yet
been reached. It is but a few years since this machine was intro-
duced, and the improvements that have been already made warrant
the belief, that a much higher degree of perfection will soon be
attained than has as yet been reached in even the most highly fin-
ished machines that have been manufactured. This is a machine of
almost inestimable importance, both to the grain producer and the
grain consumer. It enables the former to gather harvests of unlimited
amoimt, while it materially rapduces the price to the latter.

As the cotton gin, in years gone by, created a source of boundless
wealth to the planters of the South, so the reaper renders possible
the production of an amount of grain that can be reckoned only by
millions of bushels, and Avhich is increasing in a ratio that almost
exceeds belief. In proportion to the high cost of manual labor will
be the estimation in which this machine will be held. It is of
scarcely less value when used as a mower than when used as a reaper.
The number and variety already in the market is great, and annually
increasing, showing that the demand for them is great, and that per-
fection has not yet been reached. Each has its points of excellence.
Some are constructed wholly of iron and steel ; wood enters largely
into the construction of others. The various excellences of each
have not, as yet, been combined in any one. The machines of Manny
and Heath seem, to your committee, to combine more of the proper-
ties desirable in a mowing machine, than any others which they
examined. Each of them affords a basis upon Avhich improvements
may be made, until a high degree of perfection shall be reached.

An iron mower, presented by J. W. Thompson, of Greenfield,

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 177

called Danford's improved grass cutter, is an ingenious macliine. It
is light and simple, and does not seem likely to get out of order.

A machine from Ohio, has its cutter arm attached by a hinge, by
which it may be readily applied to an uneven surface. '

A light, portable machine, which may be easily worked by the one
horse owned by most small farmers, is still a desideratum.

As the machines here presented, together with many others, have
been recently subjected to a severe test by eminent men, who had the
most favorable opportunities to examine their actual working, under
different and various circumstances, and as your committee had no
opportunity whatever to test them, they decided to award no premium
to this class of machines.

HoRsic-PowERs. — ^This machine may be profitably employed upon
farms to a much greater extent than it is at present. It may be
applied to the threshing and winnowing of grain, and the shelling of
corn. One machine may be made to do this description of work on
several farms. It may be used to cut the wood for family use, and
upon large farms, to cut the hay, corn-fodder and roots. The single
horse-power presented by Burt, Wright & Co., of Harvard, appeared
to your committee superior to any other examined. It runs with a
more uniform and even motion, avoiding the jerking motion so com-
mon in this class of machines, and so wearing to the horse. The
iron rail upon which the rollers traverse, describes the figure of an
elipse. By a slight deviation from the eliptic form, near the ends of
the elipse, the jerking motion is obviated. The gudgeons upon which
the rollers play, are furnished with a collar of chilled iron, which
prevents, in a great measure, the friction, and consequently the wear.
The Avhole machine appears to be faithfully made, and is very com-
pact and highly finished.

Whitman's double horse-power, exhibited by Parker, While & Gan-
nett, is a valuable machine. It is faithfully manufactured, and seems
capable of great endurance. When applied to move the thresher and
grain-cleaner, or the portable saw mill, it may accomplish a vast
amount of woik.

HorsE Hoes, Cultivators and Hakkows. — A great variety of
these implements were on exhibition, adapted to work of various
kinds.

We saw no horse hoe superior to Knox's, presented by Nourse,
l^.Iason & Co. Mr. Knox probably believes that no instrument is so
suitable for stirring the s. il as the plough. In this implement he has
23*

178

BOAUD OP AGRICULTURE.

[Jan.

Uorse Iloe— Eutered by Parker, White & Gannett.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 179

combined two single with one double plough, and has thus attained
the most perfect horse-hoe that has yet been constructed.

Knox's gang cultivator is an implement of great value under certain
circumstances, and will do the work which no other implement will
do.

A great variety of harrows were presented of very perfect work-
manship, among which we would particularly mention a steel tooth-
folding harrow, introduced by Mr. Plolbrook, of Vermont, in the
collection of Nourse, Mason & Co., which appeared to us capable of
doing its work with great rapidity and thoroughness, and a very
ingenious implement called the rotating harrow and cultivator, pre-
sented by Mr. H. Hall, of Putnam, Muskingum Co., Ohio. This is
very light, but is rendered sufficiently heavy by being loar ed with a
movable iron weight. On a soil free from stones or sods, it must
do very fine work. It is drawn by an iron rod attached to a central
pivot on the upper surface of the harrow. When it is to be moved
from place to place, it is turned upon its periphery, and pushed by
the rod as easily as a-wheel is moved. When the rows of corn or
other crops are sufficiently distant from each other, it is capable of
doing the work of the cultivator very eff"ectually.

Among the implements for preparing the soil for the seed, we would
notice a ridging plough, more used at the South than with us, but
which seemed to us capable of being very useful for certain purposes.
When it is desired to throw the surface into ridges, for the cultivation
of turnips or other crops, it will do it with great rapidity and even-
ness.

Seed Soaveks and Corn Planters — Many of these useful
articles were presented, among which we would specially notice
Howe's Drill Barrow, which appears to combine all the excellences,
and to avoid most of the defects, of other drilling machines.

Billings' Horse Corn Planter is entitled to particular commenda-
tion, as doing its work with more evenness and certainty than any
other.

Bundy's Potato Planter, which is an extension of the principle of
Billings' Corn Planter, did not arrive until the third day of the Exhi-
bition. This implement your committee, deem worthy of particular
notice, and believe that, when it shall be constructed of less weight
and better finish, it will be appreciated by the farmers of Massachu-
setts, as well as by those of Nova Scotia, where it was invented.

Field Roller, for General Use. — We had no hesitation in
giving the preference to the Roller presented by Nourse, Mason <Sf

180

BOARD OP AGRICULTURE.

[Jan.

Co. This consists of five iron rollers on one shaft. It is an imple-
ment of great power, is capable of being loaded to any extent that
may be desired, and cannot fail to do its work effectually. Were it
used, in the early spring, upon mowing lands or grain fields, where
the surface has been thrown bv the winter frosts, it would return the

Entered by Parker, White & Gannett.

plants to the earth, where many of them would take root and vege-
tate, instead of perishing from exposure to the sun and air, and thus
what is termed winter-killing, would be, in a degree at least, pre-
vented, as well as the convenient working of the mower and reaper
greatly promoted.

Haki) Implements. — In hand implements for working the soil,
such as shovels, spades, forks, potato diggers, hoes, scufflers, Avheel
hoes and garden tools, an almost countless number and variety were
presented. In these instruments, the combination of strength and
lightness is attained in the highest degree. The amount of muscular
exertion thus saved to the laborer, is beyond computation. In the

1858.]

SENATE— No. 4.

181

perfection of their finish they are all that can be desired. With euch
implements, the laboring man can accomplish -his work with incom-
parably more ease, comfort and success, than is possible with heavy,
coarsely-made tools. In the manufacture of such implements, Part-
ridge and Ames have long possessed an enviable reputation, and are
not only forging for themselves an independent fortune, and rolling
out an honorable escutcheon for the mechanics of the State, but are
conferring an immense benefit upon the agriculturists of the whole
country.

(■/-

-J^^Jd^r

I-ce Cutter— Entered by Blake, Sarnard & Co.

Lcafer Rase— Entered by r-atfeer, Wliite & Gannett,

ScTTHEs, Snaths, Gkain Cradles and Rakes. — In these
implements we know not that any thing further can be desired.
There is every form and size that utility or fancy can demand.

Absolute perfection, in material and temper, is aimed at by our
manufacturers, and if competition and constant eiFort can enable them
to arrive at it, they will not fail of success.

A snath, presented by Blake, Barnard & Co., with an ingenious
thumb-screw fastening, is deserving of approbation, as is Stevens'
Patent Iron Snath, presented by Nourse & Co.

Hand rakes, of the best ash timber and of the most beautiful
finish, were found in all the colled ions.

182

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

[Jan.

Had our mothers used instruments as light, elastic and polished as
these, when they accompanied their fathers and husbands to the hay-
field, we opine that they would have taught their use to their daujijh-
ters, and that it would not have been as rare a sight as it is at the
present day, to see the wives and daughters of the farmer cheering
his labors by their presence. If any rakes can tempt the ladies into
the field, we are sure it must be such rakes as these. Several pat-
terns of horse rakes were presented, each of which has its excellences,
and its friends, and all of which are capable of performing good
work.

Hay Cutters. — Several patterns of hay cutters and stalk cutters
were exhibited. Gale's Eagle Stalk Cutter and the Self-sharpening
Hay Cutter appeared to us deserving the preference, and we accord-
ingly awarded to them the premiums.

Vegetable Cutter — Entered by Parktr, White & Gannett.

Vegetable Cutters. — The best one presented to our notice, was
in the collection of Nourse, Mason & Co. This does its work with
rapidity and ease, and leaves the vegetables in a better state than
any cutter with which we are acquainted. 'Ihe knives are short and
semi-circular in form, and reduce the vegetables almost to a pulp.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 183

Churns. — We award the premium to Tyler's Patent Churn. This
has been sometime in use, and we believe all who have used it give
it the preference.

Ox Yokes. — An instrument of this description was presented by
Blake, Barnard & Co., the beauty and comfort of which must be
appreciated by the patient animal for which it is designed, if he has a
tithe of the good taste, which he has of patience and perseverance. It
must be comparatively a pleasure to wear such a yoke.

Thresher and Grain Cleaner. — This is a complicated imple-
ment, and performs several distinct operations simultaneously. It is
precisely one of those machines that suggest to us the want of a farm
steam engine, and we understand that a similar implement, or at
least, one that does similar work, is driven by an engine in several
places at the west. This machine affords evidence of much thought
and ingenuity, and in the grain growing sections of the country, must
be of inestimable value.

Best Pump for Farm Use. — An ingenious pump, which acts
both as a suction and force pump, was presented by Blake, Barnard
&, Co. The piston of this pump works horizontally. It works easily,
and does not seem likely to get out of gear. The valves consist of
India rubber balls, instead of the common clapper. It is easily pro-
tected from the frost. We think the inventor must have seen Lewis'
or Davidson's Syringes, for it is, in fact, an iron syringe applied to
the moving of water. We think it will prove an implement of great
value. It may be used for all the purposes of a garden engine.

Miscellaneous Articles. — In addition to the articles we have
enumerated, there was a legion which we have not enumerated,
besides a long list of miscellaneous articles, which were referred to
another committee, all which afford proof of the ingenuity of their
inventors, and the skill of their manufacturers. Many of them are
instruments of much value, and they all afford evidence, if indeed that
were not already a fact of world wide notoriety, of the versatility of
Yankee intellect.

In closing their report upon this department of the exhibition, your
committee remark, with much pleasure, that they Avere seldom
annoyed by the pertinacity of exhibitors, who insisted upon demand-
ing for their individual articles an undue proportion of their time and
attention. They were uniformly treated with polite regard, all their
inquiries were definitely answered, and all their requests complied

181 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

with. The whole exhibition was conducted with perfect order, and
afforded us the highest satisfuction, and was in all respects honorable,
not only to the exhibitors themselves, but to the whole Common-
wealth.

The following is the list of premiums awarded by the judges on
farm implements : —

To Nourse, Mason & Co., for the best collection of Agricultural
and Horticultural Implements, Diploma and $50 ; To Blake, Barnard
& Co., for second best collection, $40 ; To Parker, White & Gannett,
fur third best collection, ^30.

To Nourse, Mason & Co., for the best assortment of Ploughs,
Diploma or Medal.

To Nourse, Mason & Co., for Steel Tooth Harrow, $3.

To PL Plail, Ohio, for Rotating Harrow, $3.

To Nourse, Mason & Co., for Knox's Gang Cultivator, $5.

To Nourse, Mason & Co., for best Horse Hoe, Knox's patent, ^5.

To Nonrse, Mason & Co., for Howe's Drill Barrow, $5.

To Nourse & Co., for Billings' Corn Planter, (Horse,) $5.

To Nourse, Mason & Co., for best Field Roller, $6.

To H. Partridge, for six best Potato Diggers, $2.

To Nourse & Co., for Gale's Corn-stalk Cutter, $5.

To Parker, White & Gannett, for Self-sharpening Hay Cutter, '$5.

To Burt, Wright & Co., Harvard, for best Single Horse- Power,
$10.

To Parker, White & Gannett, for best Double Horse-Power, $10.

To Nourse & Co., for Stevens' Iron Scythe Snaths, $2.

To Blake, Barnard & Co., for Scythe Snath, $2,

To H. Partridge & Co., Medfield, for best Manure Forks, $2.

To Nourse, Mason & Co., for best Vegetable Cutter, $5.

To Blake, Barnard & Co., for 12 Pratt's Axes, $5.

To Nourse & Co., for best Churn, (Tyler's,) $5-

To Blake, Barnard & Co., for best Ox Yoke, $5.

To Blake, Barnard & Co., for best Pump for farm use, $5.

To Nourse & Co., for best Portable Saw Mill, $10.

To Parker, White & Co., for Whitman's Separator and Cleaner, $5,

To Nourse & Co., for Grant's Fanning Mill, $5.

To Nourse, Mason & Co., for best collection of Baskets, $2.

To. J. W. Crosby, of North Bridgewater, for 6 Garden Hoes, $1.
All of which is respectfully submitted,

For the committee,

JOSETH RkYNOLDS.

1858.]

SENATE— No. 4.

187

Seed Sower — Entered by Nourse, Mason & Co.

Root C«tte^-Snt«red by Nourse, Mason & Co.

188 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES,

The sum of two hundred dollars was set apart to be awarded
in discretionary premiums for articles not enumerated in the
preceding classes, and which should be found worthy of merit.

Ample opportunity was given also, for the exhibition of
implements, machinery, &c., offered without reference to any
of the above premiums, but for exhibition only.

The following is a list of entries of miscellaneous articles : —

No. 1. — Adams's Bean and Potatoe Assorting Machine, by Sanford Adams,
Boston.
2. — Adams's patent Coal Sifting Machine, by Sanford Adams, Boston.
3. — Knapp's patent Lamp, by E. F. Jones, Boston.
4. — Farmers' Gate, patent, by L. D. Woodbury, Craftsbury, Vt.
5. — Chinese Sugar Mill, by Lyman Kinsley, Canton.
6. — Abby's patent Pig-Pen, by Cushman & Marston, Brighton.
7. — Corn Husker, by Alden Graham, Roxbury.
8. — Winter Garden, by Mrs. Wra. Ashby, Newburyport.
9. — One set of Ice Tools, by T. A. Brown, North Cambridge.
10. — Broadcast and Drill Seeding Machine, by John AVarren, Boston.
IL — Refrigerator, by Charles Winship, New Haven.
12. — One case of Lisects, and of Vegetable Eggs, by F. G. Sanborn,

Andover.
1.3. — Illustrations of Sexuality in Minerals, by E. Sanborn, Andover.
14. — One Protective Bee Hive, stocked with bees, and one model Pro-
tective Bee Hive, and six boxes of honey, and show-case of comb
and bees, by Henry Eddy, North Bridgewater.
15. — One model Coal Sifter, and one model of a Self-feeding Stall, for

horses, by Henry Eddy, North Bridgewater.
16. — One Truss of Pop-Coi-n, for exhibition, by H. Eddy, North

Bridgewater.
17 — One Granulating Mill, by E. Ptichmond, Boston.
18. — Torrey's Self-adjusting, Double-action Door Spring, by Thomas

Bruton, New York.
19. — Kerosene Oil. By Thomas Bruton, New York.
20. — American Solidified ]\Iilk, by H. C. Brooks & Co., Boston.^
21. — Telescope, by William Grosser, Boston.
22. — Assortment of Boots and Shoes, by Edv/ard Harney, Boston.
23. — Three Bee Palaces, or combination bee hives, by George Calvert,

Upperville, Va.
24. — Largest lot of Honey, yield of one brood of bees, by George Cal-
vert, Upperville, Va.
25._Lot of Drain Tile, by James M. Crafts, Whately.
26. — Surveying Instriunent, by George D. Varney, Newburyport.
27. — Lot of Carving Knives and Sharpeners, by John Stiuson, New York.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 189

No. 28. — Assortment of Boots and Shoes, by Balch & Page, Groveland.

29. — Lot of Cranberry Rakes, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.

30. — Ox Bows, finished, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.

31. — jMounted Grindstone, by Blake, Barnard & Co., Boston.

32. — Fay's Hand Hay Press, by Nourse & Co., Boston.

33. — Hall's Stump Puller, by Nourse & Co., Boston.

34. — Corn Husker, by Nourse & Co., Boston.

35. — Bundy's Potato and Corn Planter, by J. "W. Wiggin, Boston.

36. — Lot of Wine, five varieties, by Charles E. Savill, Roxbury.

37. — Oscillating Dash Churn, and patent Window Spring, by C. H. Dana,
W^est Lebanon, N. H.

38. — Sifter for coal cinders, &c., by Neilson & Langley, South Boston.

39.— Leffert Carriage Stove, by J. W. Lefiert, New York.

40. — Two lots of Wine, by E. Paige & Co., Boston.

41. — Scales, by Howard & Greenleaf, Boston.

42.— Safe, by J. E. Wilder, Boston.

43, — Cart Harness, by George Springall, Boston.

44. — Hay Protectors, Chases & Fay, Boston.

45. — Two bags of Cotton Seed Meal, by Union Oil Co., Providence, R. I.

46. — One box of Cotton Seed Cake, by Union Oil Co., Providence, R. L

47. — Specimen of Cotton Seed Oil, Union Oil Co., Providence; R. L

48. — Native Peanuts, by Sheldon Benson, Wareham.

49.— Native Wine, by E. W. Bull, Concord.

50. — Collection of Domestic Manufactures, by Mrs. Edward Dole, New-
bury.

51. — Rugg, by M. O. Hodge, Newburyport.

The judges on miscellaneous articles presented the following

REPORT:

The judges on miscellaneous articles found scope for the full exer-
cise of judicial functions in their department, ranging from a patent
pig-pen to a bottle of native wine, and from a hay press to a box of
honey.

The first thing on our list of entries was a patent " bean and potato
assorting machine." This seemed to be a very useful apparatus. The
business is done by a combination of different sized screens admitting
the different seeds and sending them to separate boxes. A screen
with larger mesh is used for potatoes, which will sprout as well as
sort the potatoes. This is for sale at No. 5 iSatterman's Block,
Lincoln Street, Boston.

A coal sifter was also exhibited by the same. Not so convenient,
and more expensive than

Bartlett's sifter, sold by Neilson ds Langley, No. 96 Broadway,
South Boston, which is cheap and efficacious.

190 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

E. F. Jones, Boston, exhibited Knapp's patent lamp, for burn-
ing rosin oil; the peculiar construction of which is to form an
increased draft to consume the superfluous smoke ; it gave a bright
and economical light, but hardly equal we think to

The Kerosene oil, exhibited by Thomas Bruton, of New York,
which is one of the products of the Breckenridge coal, and affords a
very brilliant light at a low cost. Our means of comparing the two,
however, were very limited.

" Farmers' gate," by L. D. Woodbury, Craftsbury, Vt. An inge-
nious arrangement for hanging a gate so that it might be raised
or lowered in a moment. The model appeared well, but we could
not pronounce upon it without seeing a full-sized gate.

Cushman & Marston, Brighton, exhibited a '• patent pig-pen,"
which is well thought of by some.

Patent " corn husker," by Alden Graham, Roxbury ; this worked
tolerably, but not equal to

" Corn husker," exhibited by Nourse & Co., of Boston, which
with a very little practice would husk the corn quickly and neatly.
We however, doubt whether any of these machines will come into
general use in New England ; but in the West, where the corn is
picked, they would save much labor in husking.

Mrs. William Ashby, of Newburyport, sent to the exhibition
a very tasty and elegant piece of work of moss, evergreens and
perennial flowers, styled a "■ winter garden."

Set of " ice tools," planes, plough, marker, follower, chisels,
&c., showing much skill in the manufacture, was exhibited by T. A.
Brown, North Cambridge, Mass.

" Patent refrigerator," by Charles Winship, New Haven, Conn.,
is so arranged that the ice being placed above the provision chamber
the cold air passes over the ice, down through the provision chamber,
escaping near the bottom, keeping the provisions cool and sweet.

F. G. Sanborn, of Andover, exhibited a case of 1,000 varieties of
carefully preserved insects, a very valuable and useful collection,
accompanied by an interesting statement which is appended.

Dr. Henry Eddy, of North Bridgewater, showed a bee hive of his
own invention, with all the component parts, the various stages of
the bee and its habits, with a very handsome specimen of honey.

Another display of bee hives and culture, was George Calvert's
" improved common sense patent premium bee hive," from Upperville,
Fauquier, Co., Va. There was a large display of honey made this
year. Great advantages are claimed by the inventor — in the raising
of bees, protection against the moth, and production of honey. It
was as gratifying as unusual, to see from the Old Dominion, such

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 191

an evidence of ingenuity, and such devotion in this interesting and
important subject. We trust the indefatigable exhibitor will receive
the substantial encouragement to which his energy and perseverance
entitle him.

A model of a " patent horse stall," invented by Dr. Eddy, of
North Bridgewater, seemed to possess such excellences as to entitle
it to general favor.

" Granulating mill," by E. Richmond, of Boston, was perhaps the
most interesting and valuable machine brought to our notice. And
seemed to us well adapted for common use among farmers — and the
only mill we had ever seen that was. The operation is caused
by a set of square-edged blades, on cylinders, which on being turned
alternated with another set of fixed blades, — so that corn, oats, and
any grain was cut, chipped, or granulated fine enough even for table
use ; instead of being crushed or mashed as in ordinary mills. The
advantage of this in preparing food for stock will be readily perceived
by any one who witnesses the operation of this mill.

With the small size, costing $75, one man will grind three bushels
an hour ; the larger size, adapted for horse-power and costing more,
will turn out twenty-five bushels an hour. They are made and sold
by Nourse, Mason & Co.

Various sizes of " drain tile," by James M. Crafts of Whately ; the
advantages of under- draining are now too well recognized to make it
necessary for us to say any thing more than that Mr. Crafts makes
very perfect tile at his factory in Whately, and furnishes them upon
the cars, at such rates, as bring them cheaper to Massachusetts men
than the Albany tile.

George D. Varney, of Newburyport, exhibited an ingenious instru-
ment for surveying, combining the advantages of a theodolite, com-
pass, and level, in one.

Beautifully finished boots and shoes, by Balch & Page, Groveland.

Blake, Barnard & Co., of Boston, aside from their fine display of
agricultural implements, showed us grindstones, cranberry rakes, and
ox bows, all of first rate material, and superior finish.

Fay's "hand hay press," shown by Nourse & Co., of Boston,
seemed to be well made and a useful thing, dispensing with horse
power, and baling hay at a much less cost than by the old method.

Hall's "stump puller," by the same firm, looked like a powerful
machine, and is more portable than most machines for that purpose.
We had no opportunity to test its capacity.

A " patent potato planter," entered by J. W. Wiggin, of Boston,
did not seem to us as a valuable machine ; it may work well.

C. H. Dana, of West Lebanon, N. H., exhibited an " oscillating

192 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

churn," which seemed to work well. The butter-bringing principle
was that of the old fashioned dash churn — a common churn being set
into a frame is swung to and fro, while a simple cam motion is thereby
given to the dash, which moves up and down with the required speed
and perfect uniformity of motion.

J. W. LefFert, of New York, showed a Carriage Stove, for warm-
ing the feet in riding, by an alcohol lamp. It has been favorably
noticed in the American Institute at New York.

Howard & Greenleaf, of Boston, entered " Fairbanks' Platform
Scales," of a world-wide re])utation.

J. E. Wilder, of Boston, " Safe " conveniently arranged, neat-
looking, and presumed to be fire-proof.

Chases & Fay, of Boston, Hay Caps or Covers, for protecting cocks
of hay in foul weather, and should be owned by every good farmer.

Charles E. Savill, of Roxbury, exhibited five varieties of Wine.
The Currant Wine was especially good.

E. Paige & Co., of Boston, presented a number of samples of Wine
made from the native grape, currants, blackberries, raspberries and
elderberries. These gentlemen are making wine on an extensive
scale, from native gi-apes. It is very palatable, and, being pure, is
recommended by physicians.

Native Wine, from the famous Concord Grape, by E. W. Bull, of
Concord, however, was by far the best wine exhibited. The demand
upon Mr. Bull for this favorite vine, has hardly left him enough to
manufacture. Last year he made about eighty gallons, which only
requires age to make it equal to any sherry, with the advantage of
being known to be pure juice. He has kindly furnished us with his
method of the manufacture, which is simple, and ought to be under-
stood by every one Avho has any vines.

The Union Oil Co., of Providence, E. I., sent Cotton Seed Oil
which looked clear — Cotton Seed, Oil Cake and Meal. This meal
looks well, it is aff'orded at a much less cost than Linseed Oil Meal,
and in the opinion of one of the committee who had used some of it,
was equal to that in milk-producing qualities. We should recom-
mend that it be thoroughly tested by farmers. Its composition and
agricultural value are stated on a subsequent page.

Sheldon Benson, of Wareham, exhibited some Peanuts grown in
that town. They looked handsomely, but whether or not they can
be grown profitably we did not learn. A failure of the peanut crop
would be severely felt in some quarters most certainly, and the con-
sumers would constitute the largest body of unemployed in this
country.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 193

Mrs. Edward Dole, of Newbury, exhibited beautiful specimens of
knitting- work, consisting of gloves, mittens, socks, &c., all of M'hich
gave evidence of great skill and patience.

Mrs. M. O. Hodge, of Newburyport, exhibited a beautiful rug,
and" we regret there were not more specimens of that kind of work.

The committee reconiraend the following awards of diplomas and
gratuities : —

To Sanford Adams, South Boston, for Bean and Potato Assorting
Machine, Diploma.

To E. F. Jones, Boston, for Knapp's Patent Lamp, Diploma.

To Cushman & Marston, Brighton, for Abby's Patent Pig- Pen, copy
of Secretary's Report.

To Mrs. William Ashby, Newburyport, " Winter Garden," Secre-
tary's Report on the Agriculture of Massachusetts.

To T. A. Brown, North .Cambridge, for set of Ice Tools, Diploma.

To Charles Winship, New Haven, for Refrigerator, Diploma.

To F. G. Sanborn, Andover, for case of Insects, copy of the Secre-
tary's Report.

To Henry Eddy, North Bridgewater, for Protective Bee Hive
stocked with Bees, Diploma ; also for Patent Self-Feeding Horse
Stall, copy of Secretary's Report.

To E. Richmond, Boston, Granulating Mill, Diploma.

To Thomas Bruton, New York, for Double Action Door Spring,
Diploma.

To Thomas Bruton, New York, for Kerosene Oil, Diploma.

To George Calvert, Upperville, Va., Combination Bee Hives,
Diploma.

To George Calvert, Upperville, Va., largest lot of honey, copy of
Secretary's Report.

To James M. Crafts, Whately, for Drain Tile, Diploma.

To George D. Varney, Newburyport, for Surveying Instrument,
Diploma

To Balch & Page, Groveland, assortment of Boots, copy of Secre-
tary's Report.

To Nourse & Co., Boston, for Fay's Hand Hay Press, Diploma.

To Charles E Savill, Roxbury, for varieties of Wine, copy of
Secretary's Report.

To C. H. Dana, West Lebanon, N. II., for Oscillating Dash Churn,
copy of Secretary's Report.

To J. W- LefFert, New York, for Carriage Stove, Diploma.

To E. Paige & Co., Boston, for native Wine, Diploma.

To Howard & Greenleaf, Boston, for Fairbank's Scales, Diploma.

To J. E. Wilder, Boston, for Safes, Diploma.
25*

194 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

To Chases & Fay, Boston, for Hay Protectors, Diploma, and Secre-
tary's Report.

To Union Oil Co , Providence, R. I., for samples of Cotton Seed
Cake, Oil and IMeal, Diploma and Secretary's Report.

To Sheldon Benson, Wareham, native Peanuts, copy of Secretary's
Report.

To E. W. Bull, Concord, native Wine, from the Concord grape.
Diploma.

To Mrs. Edward Dole, of Newbury, for specimens of Knitting,
Diploma.

To Mrs. M. O. Hodge, Newburyport, for Rug, copy of Secretary's
Report.

For the committee,

Samuel Chandler.
John Brooks,
James S. Gkennell.

Among the implements entered was a Stone Elevator from
the State Farm, at Westboro'. This powerful and simple
machine was designed to save great labor in the removing of
large rocks, the clearing up of rocky fields, and the building of
stone walls. The elevator or digger has such a purchase,
especially when fitted with double gearing, that a lad of fifteen
years can easily raise a stone of from two to three tons from its
natural bed. It will raise stones from five to eight or ten tons,
and if the chains were strong enough, the power gained is
doubtless considerably greater. It also saves the labor of
teams, since one yoke of oxen move a very great weight when
suspended from the machine, and this can be dropped over the
foundation for a wall, or any where else most convenient. It
consists of four upright standards set upon two horizontal
beams, which rest upon powerful axletrees. The gearing above
can be cither single or double, according to the strength desired.
The end of the chain is furnished with strong hooks, wliich, as
the crank is turned, causes them to grapple tighter and tighter,
so that there is little danger of slipping, especially if a slight
indentation is made, by drilling, in tlie sides of the stone.
This machine is easily made. If tlic wiieels were made
expressly for it, the whole cost would amount to from one hun-
dred to one hundred and twenty-live dollars, but the hind
wheels of a strongly built ox-wagon would answer the purpose
and save a considerable part of the expense. The gearing can

1858.]

SENATE— No. 4.

195

be cast at any foundry, at a cost of about fifteen or twenty
dollars.

This machine has been used to great advantage at the farm
at Westborough, in clearing up several acres of rocky land,
from which many hundred tons of large boulders had to be
removed.

196 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

Wine. — Mr. E, W. Bull, of Concord, with the sample of wine
from the Concord Grape, presented the following

STATEMENT:

The wine which I exhibited at the State Fair, on the 20th of Octo-
ber, was made from the Concord grape in 1855 and 185G.

That of 1855 was fermented in the mash tub forty-eight hours
before pressing, in order to give to the wine a portion of the astrin-
gency residing in the stem and seeds, such wine being considered the
best for long keeping. After pressing, the juice was put into a cask
and the bung laid lightly on ; it was carefully watched during the fer-
mentation, and the cask occasionally filled up with juice saved for
that purpose, to supply the waste by working over, the cask being
kept full on purpose to work oflf the scum. This wine has lain upon
the lees ever since ; it would have been better if it had been bottled
at the end of the first year.

The wine of 1856 was pressed from the grapes immediately upon
gathering them, and there being too little of it to keep in wood,
was bottled as soon as the fermentation was over ; it is more delicate
than the first, and the delicate aroma of the grape is more distinct in
it than in that fermented on the skin and stem.

One pound of sugar to the gallon of juice was added. In some
very favorable seasons I think no sugar would be required, while in
seasons particularly unfavorable to the grape, more than one jDound
to the gallon would be needed.

A very convenient and easy test for the weight of the juice, is
found by putting a fresh egg into the juice ; if it float about one-fifth
of its surfice above the liquid it is heavy enough, if not, add sugar
until it does ; the sugar should be refined, to avoid any peculiar
flavor which would impair the delicacy of the wine.

To make wine which shall have all the best qualities of the grape
from which it is made, the grapes should be fully ripe, free from
decayed berries, and pressed immediately; see that the weight of the
juice is right, and put into the cask, which should be in place, so as
not to disturb the wine, and should be perfectly clean.

A brisk fermentation makes the best wine ; if it is too cold to secure
this, warm a few gallons of the wine to 120 degrees of Fahrenheit, so
as to bring the temperature of the Avhoie body to 65 or 70 degrees.
Stop up tight as soon as you think it will do. I have never found it
necessary to add any thing to the wine to fine it ; it has always
worked itself fine and been fit to bottle at the end of the first year.
I never add any kind of spirit.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 197

After all, wine making is an art which is not to be acquired in a
day, for although the principles which govern fermentation are immu-
table, yet so many circumstances of soil, and season, and quality of
grape, occur to modify the rule of the case, that much practice
and skill are required to insure the desired result — a sound wine.

Wine making is in its infancy in this country, but I venture to pre-
dict that the man is now born who will see New England supplying
herself with native wines, and even exporting them.

Entomology. — On this subject Mr. F. G, Sanborn, of Andover,
presented, with his large case of insects, the following

STATEMENT:

The increased interest which this important subject is now excit-
ing not only among scientific men, and students of nature, but also
among those whose interests are inseparably connected with the agri-
culture of the community, demands our attention. If, after having
contracted to his service the labor and produce of every choice breed
of stock under the sun, and procured for his benefit every new and
improved labor-saving machine on the face of the globe ; if, after hav-
ing expended heaps of gold and silver in obtaining new and approved
manures for the formation of his compost-heap, the farmer still finds
that his efforts are naught, that all his labor and expense is rendered
useless by the depredations of some tiny insect, then most certainly
he should himself either study the works and ways of these little
pests in order to know best how to meet their attacks, or employ
some one to do it for him. The former of course is most desirable,
as besides the advantages of such acquirements in a business point of
view, the knowledge of nature and the pleasure to be gained by
them, are strongly apparent to any one who has paid the least atten-
tion to this fascinating study ; but if it is incompatible with the other
avocatioDS of the farmer, as of necessity it must be with a large pro-
portion, v/hy should not one or more entomologists be appointed to
every town and village, who should be prepared to describe the des-
strayers of agricultural products, to classify and name each specimen
brought to them for examination, aad direct the best means of treat-
ing it. Such a plan, if carried out, would not be destitute of its
advantages ; and something of this kind should be devised and main-
tained, and esteemed as important and necessary a post as that of post-
master or town clerk. For the myriads of insects which abound
in this State, as in all other places, a large amount of nutriment must

198 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

be required, and it is a matter of great moment to the farmer whether
he is obliged to supply this from his garden, his field, his orchard,
and his woodlands, or whether they obtain their subsistence from their
own resources ; therefore he should be enabled to distinguish between
those which are beneficial, and those which are injurious, in order
that he may treat the one as friends and the other as enemies. Among
the latter, one of the most hurtful and dangerous to his interest is the
apple tree borer, the Saperda bwittata, of Say. This insect, which is
most destructive to the apple and quince orchard in its secondary
stage, is probably well known to every agriculturist, in the shape of
a yellowish white grub about half an inch in length, with a small
blackish head quite hard and horny ; it is destitute of feet and moves
by contracting the rings of its body. It bores upwards from the
root of the tree or the base of the larger branches (where the egg
had been laid) nearly one foot, during the two or three years that it
remains in that stage, and about the first of June, directing its hole
outwards, it undergoes its second transformation, concealed only by
the bark ; then the beetle gnaws its way through, comes forth and lays
its eggs in turn for the production of another generation. In this last
stage very few recognize it even if they see it upon the tree. This prob-
ably arises from the fact of its going through all its transformations
in the night and remaining concealed among the leaves during the
day. The best description of it will be found in " A Treatise on
some of the Insects of New England which are injurious to vegeta-
tion," by Thaddeus William Harris, M. D. He says : " The upper
side of its body is marked with two longitudinal white stripes between
three of light brown color, while the face, the antenna;, the underside
of the body, and the legs are white. This beetle varies in length
from a little more than one-half to three-quarters of an inch." The
modes of destroying this pernicious insect are various, but the three
following meet with most favor. Fistly, killing by repeated thrusts
from a wire inserted into its hole ; the wire may be crooked at the end
or barbed like a fish-hook, and so bring forth the grub on its with-
drawal. Secondly, cutting it out with a knife or gouge ; but these
must be used with a due regard to the safety of the tree, or the remedy
may prove worse than the disease. Thirdly, pushing a fragment of
gum camphor into the hole and then plugging up the entrance with
soft wood, has been recommended ; in this method the bark for an
inch or less in diameter should be removed by a sharp knife where
the infallible signs of its presence are detected in the shape of a small
heap of reddish saw dust adhering to the bark. Any of these means
if thoroughly and carefully attended to, would produce a correspond-
ing benefit in the orchard, but owing to the insidious cViaracter of

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 199

this insect they must be annually followed up with the same perse-
verance and industry in order to be permanent.

Another insect of the beetle tribe has of late years been most
troublesome to the nurseryman or market gardener, who attempts to
raise certain kinds of stone-fruit, as plums, cherries, &c., and has
even extended its depredations to apples. I refer to the plum
weevil or curculio, Rhynchamus Nemiphar. As this insect is described
at length in the previously mentioned treatise, and has been fre-
quently noticed and commented upon in other agricultural publica-
tions, it is only necessary to say, that it is a small beetle about one-
fifth of an inch long, having a snout curved downwards, with which
it makes its crescent-shaped punctures in the fruit in order to
deposit its eggs. It is of a dark brown color, rough and hard in
texture, and has the power of contracting itself so completely into
the shape of a dead bud, when disturbed, as to deceive often the
most experienced eye. The grub when hatched, so injures the young
and tender fruit by its gnawing, that it drops upon the ground
before it is half ripe, and decays, while the grub enters the ground
tp complete its transformations. The only method of arresting
their ravages with any degree of success, seems to consist in jarring
the trees, when they first begin to appear, by heavy blows, while the
weevils, bitten plums, and other insects, if there be any, fall into a
sheet held underneath and may be collected and burned ; this opera-
tion should be repeated morning and evening during the weeks of
their stay.

Another small beetle, the Crioceris trilineata, often greatly injures
the potato by consuming the leaves of the plants, causing them, if in
great numbers, to turn black and wither. While in the beetle state
it is of a light yellow color about one-quarter of an inch long, with,
two black spots on the thorax, and three black stripes on the back,
and has the power of making a creaking noise when held in the
fingers. These lay their eggs on the underside of the leaves about
the middle of June, and in about a fortnight there is hatched from
these a fat yellow grub, with a blackish head and two black spots on
the top of the first ring ; they have six legs and crawl sluggishly over
the plant, covering that as well as themselves with their filthy excre-
ment. When they have finished eating, which is generally in about
a fortnight, they crawl down the stem into the ground, whence in
another fortnight they reappear in a second brood of beetles in
August ; these again lay their eggs, the grubs from which enter the
ground in the fall and remain during the winter before their final
change into beetles. Lime, in fine powder, has been thought
beneficial in checking these devourers if dusted on the leaves after a
rain, or early in the morning before the dew is ofi"; and brushing' them

200 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

from the plants into pans full of salt and water or vinegar, has been
approved ; but this must prove unavailable in large extents of ground.
The field for new discoveries in this line is open, and any one who
finds a new and practicable means of diminishing the number of this
or any other of these little destructives, will be considered in the light
of a public benefactor.

It is impossible, of course, in a paper of this kind, to enumerate
one-quarter of the insects which are productive of injury to the crops,
and I will mention but one more, which, although one would think
we were sufficiently well acquainted with, yet some of the inquiries
received the past summer show an almost incredible ignorance of its
habits.

The common apple tree or lackey caterpillar, Clisiocampa Ameri-
cana, of Harris. The eggs of this moth can be seen in the fall and
winter, in great numbers, clustered around the small twigs of apple,
wild cherry, and other trees, covered with a water-proof varnish to
withstand the winter storms, and now should be the time for destroy-
ing them by examining the trees and removing the eggs ; these should
be collected in boxes and burned. If suffered to remain, in the fel-
lowing April there will begin to .come forth from these eggs crowds
of little woolly caterpillars, which assemble in the nearest and most
commodious fork of the tree and begin to build their tents, from
which they make regular forays in fine weather, and devour every
leaf in a very short space of time, while they increase correspondingly
in size until they measure two inches in length, have a glossy black
head, a long white stripe on the back, a dark yellow one on each side,
then a broad black one, and lowest a narrow yellow one. After they
are full grown they spin their cocoons — which appear as if sprinkled
with flour of sulphur — in cracks and crevices of fences, &c. In
about a fortnight the moth comes forth of a reddish brown, with two
white lines across each upper wing. The distance from the tips of
the wings when expanded, averages an inch and a half. Among the
various methods suggested, for the destruction of the caterpillar after
it has been suffered to escape from the egg, the most efficient, next
to removing the nest by a grasp of the hand and crushing it, is to
insert a long-handled brush into the nest, and twisting it round, bring
the whole to the ground and crush it underfoot ; a mullcn-head
attached to a pole, is a tolerable substitute, or a mop of rags, or
sponge saturated frequently with " strong soapsuds, strong whitewash
or cheap oil.'" This should be repeated a's often as once a week
while the caterpillars remain on the trees, early in the morning, at
noon or at night, and will produce a corresponding diminution in

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 201

their ranks, still the most expeditious and the cheapest way, is to
remove them while in the egg.

Among the insects that may be considered aids to the farmer — as
they annually destroy thousands which are hurtful to him — are the
dragon-flies or devil's needles, as they are familiarly called ; spiders,
several species of flies, (including the lace-wing, Chrysopa perla,
which subsists entirely on plant lice during its larva stage, and devours
an incredible number annually,) nearly all of the extensive tribe of.
wasps, hornets, ichneumon flies, &c., several varieties of beetles,
together with others whose influence is less direct. The ichneumons
(a tribe nearly allied to the wasps) contribute greatly to keep within
bounds the exuberance of insect life, and none more so than those
which deposit their eggs beneath the skin of living caterpillars, whose
fleshy bodies afford the young larva of the ichneumon a plentiful
supply of food until arrived at maturity, when, bursting through the
skin, they leave the caterpillar disabled from completing its transfor-
mations, and thus prevent the birth of multitudes the following year.

In this connection, although perhaps not strictly in place, I would
advert to the best and most available protection against these enemies,
that of encouraging and protecting in our turn the feathered tribes,
whose eyes are sharper than the most keen-sighted hunter's, in spy-
ing out the lurking places of grubs and worms, whose size enables
them to penetrate places inaccessible to the bulkier form of man, and
whose powers of flight permit them to pick oflT the spoilers from the
remote tops of trees, or to capture those whose wings would other-
wise aff'ord them the means of escape. Let us cherish the birds, and
remain assured that, for every one we shall invite to our homes by
building them nest-boxes, or by guarding them from prowling cats,
or still worse, the firearms of sportsmen, we shall be amply repaid in
the immunity of our crops, not to mention their sweet music, which
Avill continually cheer and enliven our dwellings.

Of the specimens of cotton-seed cake and meal it may be
proper to state, as the article is comparatively new, that a reliable
analysis has been made of it by Prof. S. W. Johnson, of Yale
Analytical Laboratory, at the request of Henry A. Dyer, Esq.,
Secretary of the Connecticut State Agricultural Society, and
the results were given in a letter to Mr. Dyer, as follows : —

Dear Sir: — Respecting the sample of cotton- seed cake, received

from you for chemical examination, I have the honor to report, that

its composition is not inferior to that of the best flax-seed cake, and

in some points its agricultural value surpasses that of any other kind

20*

202

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

[Jan.

of oil-cake of which I have knowledge, as will appear from the
fallowing statement of its composition compared with linseed cake.
No. I. is the cake you sent me. No. II., analysis of cotton-seed
cake by Dr. C. T. Jackson. No. III., analysis of cotton-cake, by Dr.
Anderson at Edinburgh. No. IV., average of eight samples of Ameri-
can linseed cake. No. v.. Meadow grasses, Saxony, Dr. Wolff.

I.

II.

in.

IV.

V.

Water,

6 82

-

11.19

9.23

16.94

Oil,

16.47

-

9.08

12.96

-

Albuminous bodies, .

44.41

48.82

25.16

28 28

10.69

Muci'aginous and Saccharine
matters, ....

1 12.74

}■ •

48.93

34.22

40.11

Fibre,

1176

i

9.00

27.16

Ash,

7.80

8 96

5.64

6 21

5 04

100 00

100.00

100.00

lOO.OO

Nitrogen,

7.05

775

3.95

447

-

Phosphoric acid in ash, .

2.33

2.45

-

-

-

Sand,

.94

-

132

-

-

The two points of interest before us are, the nutritive and the
manurial value of this cake. With reference to both, chemistry and
practical results agree in their conclusions. The great value of linseed-
cake, as an adjunct to hay for fat cattle and milch cows, has long been
recognized ; and is undeniably traceable in the main to three ingredi-
ents of the seeds of the oil-yielding plants. The value of food depends
upon the quantity of matters it contains which may be appropriated by
the animal which consumes the food. Now, it is proved that the fat of
animals is derivable from the starch, gum and sugar, and more directly
and easily from the oil of the food. These four substances are, then,
the fat-formers. The muscles, nerves, and tendons of animals, the
fibrine of their blood, and the curd of their milk, are almost identical
in composition, and strongly similar in many of their properties, with
matters found in all vegetables, but chiefly in such as form the most
concentrated food. These blood (and muscle) formers are character-
ized by containing about 154 per cent, of nitrogen ; and hence are
called nitrogenous substances. Since albumin (white of egg) is the
type of these bodies, they are often designated as albuminous bodies.
The bony framework of the animal owes its solidity to phosphate of
ime, and this substance must be furnished by the food. A perfect
food must supply the animal with these three classes of bodies, and in

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. ♦ 203

proper proportions. What proportions are the proper ones, we have
at present no means of knowing with accuracy. Tiie ordinary kinds
of food for cattle, contain a large quantity of vegetable fibre or woody
matter, which is more or less indigestible, but which is indispensable
to the welfare of the herbivorous animals, as their digestive organs are
adapted to a bulky and rough food. (See analysis V.) The addition
of a small quantity of a food rich in oil and albuminous substances,
to the ordinary kinds of feed, has been found highly advantageous in
practice. Neither hay alone, nor concentrated food alone, gives the
best results. A certain combination of the two presents the most
advantages.

For fattening animals, and for increasing the yield and quality of
, milk, linseed-cake has long been held in high estimation. This is to
be expected from its composition. The muscle of flesh and the curd
of milk are increased in quantity, because the albuminous substances
of the linseed constitute an abundant and ready source of them ; the
fat of the animal and the butter of the milk are increased by the pres-
ence in the food of so much oil and mucilaginous matters.

A year or two since Mr. M'Lugan, of Scotland, reported in the
Journal of the Highland Society, some trials on the value as food of
linseed-cake, cotton-seed cake, and bean-meal. Analysis III. repre-
sents the composition of the cotton-cake ; IV. that of the linseed-cuke.
The bean-meal has 25 per cent, of albuminous matters, but 1^ per
cent, of oil, and correspondingly more of the bodies that have the
same nutrient function as the mucilaginous and saccharine matters.
Six animals of nearly equal size and quality were fed during three
months in winter, with all the turnips and straw they would eat, and
in addition, two of them received daily four pounds of linseed-cake,
two, four pounds of cotton-seed cake, and two, four pounds of bean-
meal. The animals thrived as well on the cotton-seed cake as on the
other kinds of food — as shown by their appearance, and by their
weight when slaughtered.

When linseed-cake is fed in too large quantity, it purges the animal.
The quality of beef is excellent when the daily dose of oil cake does
not exceed six pounds for an animal of 700 pounds. Cases are on
record where more than this quantity has spoiled the beef, giving it a
taste like' tallow.

Probably like results would follow excessive feeding with cotton-
seed cake. In the best cotton districts of India, the cotton-seed bears
a high value as food for fat cattle, I know of no experiments with it on
milch cows, but it is to be expected that here also it will have the same
effects as linseed-cake.

A Bavarian farmer has recently announced that heifers fed for three

204 t BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

months before calving with a little linseed-cake, in addition to their
other fodder, acquire a larger development of the milk vessels, and
yield more milk afterwards, than similar animals fed as usual. Cotton-
seed cake must have an equally good effect.

Some of those who have used cotton-seed cake have foimd difficulty
in inducing cattle to eat it. By giving it at first in small doses, mixed
with other palatable food, they soon learn to eat it with relish.

On comparing the analyses II. and I., with the average composition
of linseed-cake, IV., it will be seen that the cotton-seed cake is much
richer in oil and albuminous matters than the linseed- cake. A cor-
respondingly less quantity will therefore be required. Three pounds
of this cotton-seed cake are equivalent to four of linseed-cake of
average quality.

The value of the article in question as a manure, is very obviously
considerable. The dung of cattle, &c., fed upon it, will be greatly
richer, both in nitrogen and phosphates, than that of animals fed on hay
alone. Where stock is kept, probably the best manner of using this
cake as a fertilizer, is to feed it to the cattle, and carefully apply the
manure they furnish. In this way, whatever is not economized as
fat or flesh, will be available as manure.

In England and on the continent of Europe, linseed and rape-cake
have been used directlj^ as a dressing for the soil, and with results
fully equal to what is indicated by their composition. These kinds
of cake decompose readily, and their effect is usually finished in one
season. Five hundred to six hundred pounds per acre is considered
a good application; more is liable to be injurious. It is found that
when applied with the seed, these kinds of cake prevent germination
to a considerable degree ; but if applied a week or so previous to
sowing, this detriment is not encountered.

The cotton-seed is often employed in the Southern States, with
good effects, as a manure for Indian corn, dec. I do not know whether
like rape and linseed-cake, it destroys the seed. For manuring pur-
poses, it is about one-third richer than linseed- cake. Its effects are
mostly due to the nitrogen it contains, and therefore are similar to
those of guano. It is best used in conjunction with other fertilizers.
I should judge that a mixture of 400 pounds of this cotton-seed cake
with 50 bushels of leached wood-ashes per acre, would ' make an
excellent application for most crops. It is highly important that the
cake be uniformly distributed and thoroughly intermixed with the soil.

This cotton-seed cake is doubtless an excellent material for comjjosts,
owing to its ready decomposability.

Its commercial value, if calculated from the highest estimates, is as
follows : per cwt., 7 pounds nitrogen equals 8^ pounds of ammonia,

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 205

which at 16 cents per pound, is worth $1.36; 2l pounds phosphoric
acid at 2 cents per pound, is 4^ cents ; together, $1.41. This multi-
plied b}' 20 gives $28.20 as the value per ton. If the English prices
are adopted, viz., 12 cents for ammonia and 3 cents for phosphoric
acid, we have $21.80 as the value per ton. The market price, you
say, is $25. Therefore, next to Peruvian guano, this is a substance
which, if its composition proves uniform, is most nearly worth what it
costs.

k

Yale A^jalytical Laboratory, March 16, 1857.

Dr. E. Sanborn, of Andover, presented an ingenious con-
trivance, to illustrate the influence of magnetism and electricity
in the material world, and with it the following

STATEMENT:

This arrangement of magnetic needles, with the accompanying
lode-stone or magnetic iron ore, is presented for a place in your exhi-
bition, to invite from farmers, philosophers, and all original thinkers,
more general attention to some of the subtle agencies and latent
principles of action which exist in nature. Examine, for instance,
the powerful chain of attraction between the j)ositive and negative
poles of magnetism, or rather magnetism itself and electricity, and
the corresponding but no less powerful lever of repulsion which
exists between the usually termed positive and positive, and negative
and negative qualities. If even one individual is hereby prompted
to deeper thought and investigation into the beauty, simplicity and
similarity of laws by which the All-wise Artificer controls his won-
drous works, and manifests His all-harmonizing and reproducing
influences in mineral, vegetable and animal worlds, my object will
be accomplished.

The needles, you will please to observe, are equally balanced, and
so arranged as to revolve Avithin the circle and sphere of each other's
attraction and repulsion. To make the illustration the more life-
like, and suggestive to seekers for truth, of the analogy which may
exist between the laws of mind and matter, and account for phenom-
ena which sometimes occur in social relations, each point or pole of
each needle is made to represent its corresponding sexual distinction.
The positive or magnetic ones are distinguished by male, and the
others by female attire. In revolving, each coldly repels each, or its
similar; that is, positive repels positive, and negative repels negative,
and as ardently seeks and attracts each its opposite. The positive seeks

20G BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

the negative and the negative the positive, till, ceasing to move, they
stop in a natural, harmonious association and connection, represent-
ing one of the brightest links in the

" Vast chain of being which from God began."

Does not the same principle prevail through all matter as the
parent of attraction, cohesion, harmony and reproduction ? If the
lode-stone is reduced to powder each particle still retains its polarity,
its innate tendency or desire for reunion.

That,

" All are but parts of one stupendous whole,"

seems not so very incredible. And it seems, too, quite as obvious,
that the poet had these agencies in view in a dual capacity, when he
Bays : —

" Warms in the sun, refreshes in the breeze,
Glows in the stars, and blossoms in the trees," &c.

If it be objected to the fairness of this illustration, that the material
through which these manifestations are made is solely of the mineral
kingdom, it is justly replied, that the vegetable and animal worlds
are still more perfect media through which these subtle agents are
evolved in correspondingly more refined and elevated conditions.
But, whether guiding planets in their orbits, controlling their various
motions and revolutions, or causing their cohesion and productive-
ness, their growth, form and quality of plants and flowers, their
germin;ition of seed and fructification of fruit, and all the staminate
and pistillate conditions of vegetable life, or rising still upward,
through more animated matter, to crown the human race, the glory
and masterpiece of creation, with the sacred distinctions of equally
balanced association, it is intensely interesting to every inquiring
mind.

No student of nature with soul of pure aspiration, can pursue the
investigations to which this subject invites, without the most devout
admiration of the wisdom which, by so simple laws, sustains unceas-
ing action, revolution, reproduction, and consequent interminable
progression.

From what has already been said, together with the lists of
entries given under the various classes, it will have been seen
that the Fair, in itself, was completely successful, both in point
of the quality and the number of the animals and articles
exhibited.

Tlie most ample accommodations were furnished by the beau-

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 207

tiful mammoth tents of R. M. Yale, of Boston, many of which
adorned the grounds, and had the weather proved favorable,
they would, of themselves, have fully repaid the trouble of a
visit to the Fair. The peculiar state of the times and the late-
ness of the season, have already been alluded to as operating
greatly against the success of tlie exhibition in a pecuniary
point of view. It being known that, on account of the cii'cum-
stances above alluded to, the income from the exhibition fell
short of the necessary expenditures, Messrs. Nourse, Mason &
Co., and Blake, Barnard & Co., of Boston, Thomas Motley, Jr.,
Esq., of West Roxbury, Hon. E. W. Bull, of Concord, and
others, very generously and voluntarily relinquished the pre-
miums which had been awarded to them, while the subscribers
to the guarantee fund very promptly met the remainder of the
deficiency. And thus ended the first State Fair held in Massa-
chusetts for many years, a Fair which, in many respects, was
the best ever held in New England, and in some respects,
undoubtedly, the best ever held in the United States.

THE STATE FARM.

Operations have been continued as usual on the farm at
Westborough, during the past year. Employment has been fur-
nished for about two hundred boys a day, and they have been
instructed, so far as practicable, in the details of practical farm-
ing. As the object of the farm was, in part at least, to supply
the institution with its products, the crops selected were neces-
sarily such as would meet its wants so far as the farm should
be capable, and not such as might be found most profitable for
boys labor. A large proportion of the labor of the boys was of
necessity, therefore, confined to permanent improvements which
could make no immediate return either in money or crops.
This, though swelling the expenses of the farm, should not be
regretted when the employment of tlie boys in the open air is
considered in a sanitary point of view, or when its necessity in
an educational point ^f view is taken into account.

The details of the management of the farm will be found in
the following reports of the various committees, which were
presented to the Board at the meeting held at the State House
on the 8th of December.

208 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

The first Report presented was the following from the com-
mitee on

LAB OR:

It is now the fourth year since this Board has had the control and
management of the State Reform School Farm, at Westborough.

The peculiar circumstances vmder which this farm is held, and the
nature of the same, have annually tended to render the expense of
carrying it on, much greater than it would have been, had it been
owned and carried on by one individual, which should be distinctly
understood before an opinion can be correctly formed, whether the
money expended by your Committee has been judiciously or other-
wise expended.

The State Reform School was located in the town of Westborough
from its geographical relation to the other parts of the State. The
farm selected bounded upon a beautiful pond, surrounded on three
sides by hills, upon one of which the school building was erected,
facing the south, and giving a fine prospect of the pond and surround-
ing country.

The character of the soil nor shape of the farm seem to have been
hardly considered by the parties locating the buildings ; the land
being rough, stony, and either cold and wet, or sandy loam, having
for years been devoted chiefly to pasturage ; in fact, a fair sample of
a New England farm.

The shape resembles a crescent, the buildings being located on one
end, giving a range of teaming, on the premises, of nearly three-
quarters of a mile ; much of the arable land being situated at a dis-
tance from the barns. The farm consisted of about two hundred and
eighty- five acres of land, walled with stone chiefly, but in a dilapi-
dated condition.

The barns having been built previously to the State Board of Agri-
culture having possession, are, although well constructed, sadly
located for a profitable result in farming, if the remark made by one
of our most thrifty farmers in Norfolk County is true, "That the
location of the barns on a farm gives the difierence in result to the
owners, between success and failure."

Upon taking possession of the farm two things appeared prominent,

First. As a Board of Agriculture, the fariR should be carried on
judiciously, and economically, as good farmers in the State do theirs ;
also certain experiments with land, manures, crops, cattle, fruit, (fee,
were expected to be tried, and reported upon, diffusing useful infor-
mation at the State's expense.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 209

Secondly. The noble object for which the school was founded, by
General Lyman, viz ; The reformation of erring youth; the educa-
tion and proper direction of the fatherless, homeless, and forsaken
boys, who are daily coming to the notice of the law, was the one great
object, in, fact, to be always borne in mind which, although second in
order, is always first in the minds of the trustees having this peculiar
charge, and our Board, who are to all intents assimilated with those
gentlemen in this great enterprise.

The first year, 1854, this Board had the charge of the farm, an
average of only forty-two boys per day, (taking the year through,) at
an expense of eight hundred and seventy- four dollars and ten cents,
(8874.10) were employed on the land.

The second year, twenty-five thousand six hundred and fifty-one
days' work were performed by the boys, averaging eighty-three per
day, at the sum of two thousand five hundred and sixty-five dollars
and ten cents, ($2,565.10.)

The third year, an averagia of ninety-seven boys daily, costing us
nineteen hundred and ninety-eight dollars and thirty cents, ($ 1 ,998.30,)
were employed ; while the past year an average of ninety-five boys
have been employed daily at a cost of nineteen hundred and sixty-one
dollars and sixty cents ($1,961.60) to our Board, making the sum of
seven thousand three hundred and ninety-nine dollars and ten cents
($7,399.10.) Of this sum labor has been done for the Reform School
in grading, carting coal, &c., &c., to the amount of $797.60, and in
permanent improvements on the farm, $2,000, during the year 1857,
say $2,797.60, two thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven dollars
and sixty cents which should be deducted from said amount of
$7,399.10 in estimating the expense of carrying on the farm. (It
should be borne in mind that the average of days' work put down
were not performed all the year through, but a large proportion done
during warm weather, as in 1856 and '57, some two hundred boys
were daily employed on the farm.)

This sum of $7, 399.10 having been paid directly back to the State
out of the money appropriated towards carrying on the farm, while
the equivalent in labor has in no degree been given to us ; the main
object being the great sanitary benefit which the boys experience from
working on the land in the open air, whether engaged in weeding root
crops, hoeing corn, or general farm work. Each and all tend to develop
the man, educate and direct the mind to some active employment and
present some great industrial aim to view which, to boys, can be
much more directly brought to bear out-doors, than however other-
wise employed in-doors, the latter being the undisputed field for
woman.

27«

210

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

[Jan.

The general appearance of the farm has from the beginning attracted
much attention, and one of the first objects of this Board has been,
to remove some of the prominent rocks and stones, to rebuild walls,
draining and trenching land, very little of which could be profitably
done by children of the age of those which have been employed.

The men we have been obliged to employ were those of good moral
character who could govern themselves, and set good examples, as
well as physically control the boys under their charge.

To obtain the requisite traits of character, we have been obliged to
give much higher prices for equal quality of labor, in other respects,
than usually paid by our farmers, and the usual foreign laborers which
are employed by our farmers generally, at much less prices, we have
been obliged to dispense with.

A schedule of the prices paid by us we annex as follows : —

Samuel N. White, head farmer, per annum., .

G. L. Rockwood, $32 per month,

L. P. Chamberlain $23 per month, and board,

C. F. Fisher, $16.67 • "

N. Miller, 8 mos., at $20 " "

S, I. Foster, 8^ mos., at $20, per month, and board,

H. McNeil, 8 mos., at $18

C. R. Thomas, 8 mos., at $16 "

M. L. Bishop, 41 mos., at $20 "

F. Winslow, 2^ mos., at $18

P. Holloran, (stone layer,) $1.75 per day,

I. Doyle, gardener, $1.50 per day,

C. Hayden, " $1.50 " . . . '.

E. T. Brigham, $20 per month and board.

Board of men, at $3.25 per week,

Boys' labor to Trustees State Reform School,

Total amount paid for labor, say

$650

00

387

00

85

00

194

00

160

00

166

00

144

00

128

00

90

00

45

00

318

00

275

00

210

00

18

35

745

00

1,961

60

55,576 95

Your committee would suggest that, in future, the Board furnish
the provisions and supplies for the help, and let the products of the
farm be used in maintaining the same.

We can safely say that, with half the number of men, and one-
tenth of the number of boys which we have employed, more actual
labor could have been performed and to more profit to the State, so
that the great sanitary, corrective, and beneficial interest of the boys
have been primarily considered by us, and our head farmer, Mr.
Samuel N. White, instead of the pecuniary aim alone.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 211

From the first, this Board have been favored with an excellent
head man, Mr. Samuel N. White, who is a practical farmer, having
been brought up and always been engaged in the calling ; to him we
are much indebted for the general detail in the management of the
farm.

Wm. G. Lewis.
Justus Tower.

The following is the Report of the committee on

CROPS:

Hay. — The amount of hay harvested upon the State Farm, includ-
ing Rowen and Millet, is 115 tons, in the following proportions:
English hay, 80 tons ; Meadow, 25 tons ; Rowen, 8 tons ; Millet, 2
tons.

Those lands which received an application of guano, Gould's muri-
ate of lime and gypsum in 1856, produced as good a crop, in quality
and quantity, as last year. A few strips of the same land which was
top-dressed with guano last year, received an application of the same
fertilizer this y«ar, and in every instance the result was an increase of
hay. An application of liquid manure to grass lands has been made
to considerable extent, and in every instance with good success.
Wherever the liquid manure has fallen on grass land it has left its
niarl^ producing hay and feed in abundance.

Corn. — The number of acres planted, not including sweet and
fodder corn, is 32. The Avhole yield (including sound and soft) is
2,228 bushels of ears, or 1,114 bushels of shelled corn, giving an
average of 34|fths bushels per acre. The varieties planted were
King Philip, Smutty White or Plymouth, Connecticut River, Loring
and Brigham Corn. As compared with last year, we have about two-
thirds of a crop.

Of the 32 acres planted, 17 only were upon the State Farm, 15
acres being upon land rented by the committee. The yield of the
17 acres was 1,224 bushels of ears, and was manured as follows : —

Field No. 1, in front of piggery, containing 1^ acres, received 10
cords of manure from the piggery, per acre, spread on and ploughed in
to the depth of 7 inches. The yield was 156 bushels of ears, all
sound and good, being 52 bushels of shelled corn per acre. Variety :
Brigham Corn.

Four acres on Warren lot received 8 cords of reservoir compost
per acre, (consisting of loam, muck and sewerage from the institu-

212 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

tipn,) the same spread and ploughed in to the depth of 9 inches.
The yield was 236 bushels of ears, or 29^ bushels of shelled corn
per acre. This land was trenched two years ago, to the depth of 15
inches, and all the stones sunk to the depth of 9 inches, since which
it has not been highly manured.

Five acres, an old carrot bed, was this year manured with 80 loads
(236 gallons each) of liquid manure per acre, 40 loads previous to
ploughing, and 40 loads afterwards. Yield 403 bushels of ears, or a
minute fraction over 40 bushels of shelled corn per acre. This corn
was planted June 3d, but was sound and good. Variety : Connecti-
cut Kiver.

Six and one-half acres on Sibly lot, was manured with 300 lbs. of
guano per acre, and produced 429 bushels of ears, or 33 bushels of
shelled corn per acre. Variety: Smutty White or Plymouth, a late
but prolific variety if highly manured.

Supplementary Report of Corn upon hired land : —

Twelve acres on land of T. A. Smith, produced 720 bushels of
ears of the King Phillip variety, being 30 bushels of shelled corn per
acre, all of which was of an inferior quality.

This land was manured as follows : Seven and one-half acres (old
land) were dressed with^ 114 loads (28^ cords) equally distributed
over the l^- acres, and 100 lbs. of Coe's super-phosphate of lime, with
50 lbs. of plaster per acre, in the hill.

Four and one-half acres was sod land, but was ploughed in October,
1856, and sowed to rye, the same, however, being badly winter-killed,
and what little there was on the ground May 1st, Avas ploughed in.
This la.nd received only 100 lbs. of the phosphate and 50 lbs. of
plaster mixed in the hill, per acre. The corn on this new land was
much better than that iipon the old land.

Three acres on land hired of A. M. Brigham, and manured with
3 cords of manure per acre, ploughed in, and a handful of leached
ashes in each hill, produced 285 bushels of ears or 47^ of shelled
corn per acre, of the Smutty White or Plymouth variety.

PoxAXOKS. — Whole number of acres planted, 12. Yield, 790
bushels. Varieties : Slienangocs, Jenny Linds, or Lincoln seedlings,
Davis seed, Riley or Dover, Worcester seed, long reds and peach
blows. Five acres were planted with the three following varieties :
Shenangoes, Worcester seedlings and peach blows. The crop was
almost a total failure, in consequence of disease, there being only 45
bushels of marketable potatoes from the five acres. Three acres of

1858.] SENATE— Xo. 4. 213

Jenny Linds produced 309 bushels of sound, large potatoes, being
103 bushels per acre. One acre of Riley or Dover potatoes produced
80 bushels of good potatoes. One acre of long reds produced 100
bushels of sound but rather small potatoes.

All the 10 acres alluded to above were manured with liquid manure
from the reservoir, at the rate of 85 loads per acre, ploughed in, and
200 lbs. of gypsum per acre, in the hill. Two acres planted with
Jenny Linds received 165 lbs. of gypsum only per acre, in the hill.
Three acres in all were planted Avith this variety and manured as
follows : One acre with liquid manure and gypsum, and two with
gypsum only. The two manured with gypsum only produced seven
bushels per acre less than that manured with liquid manure and
gypsum, but the tubers were much larger. The land was of equal
fertility, but the two acres which received gypsum only, were more
elevated, and consequently dryer. Two acres of Davis seedling, in
another field, manured with 300 lbs. of Coe's super-phosphate per
acre, in the hill, produced 87 bushels per acre of fine tubers.

Cakrots. — Five acres were sown on the plain lot, and the yield
was 1,800 bushels, an average of 360 bushels per acre. All this land
had been planted with corn the three previous years. Three acres
had received yearly 8-^ cords of manure per acre. One acre had been
dressed Avith guano and one with potash for three years. This year
each acre received 85 loads of liquid manure, except a strip 18 feet
wide across the end of each of the three acres. This strip received
no manure of any kind this year. In addition to the liquid manure,
each acre received 11 cords of best barn cellar manure, ploughed in
to the depth of 12 inches.

Acre No. 1, which has been dressed yearly with 8j cords of manure
previous to this year, and 85 loads of liquid manure and 11 cords of
barn cellar manure the present year, yielded 430 bushels.

Acre No. 2, heretofore dressed with guano, and manured this year
like acre No. 1, yielded 380 bushels.

Acre No. 3, previously manured with potash, but dressed like the
two above named this year, yielded 400 bushels.

The strip of land alluded to above, comprising but a portion of
each of the above three acres, yielded as follows : That portion
previously manured with guano produced at the rate of 180 bushels
per acre.

That portion dressed in former years Avith potash, gave at the rate
of 288 bushels per acre.

The portion Avhich had received manure gave at the rate of 300
bushels per acre.

214 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

Two acres more were dressed with the same quantity of liquid
manure as the three acres just described, (85 loads to the acre,) and
as an additional dressing to one acre of 500 lbs. of Loyd's super-
phosphate of lime, and to the other 500 lbs. of guano.

The acre manured with the super-phosphate produced 320 bushels.
The acre dressed with guano yielded 270 bushels, an advantage of
50 bushels in favor of the super-phosphate over the guano.

A strip 18 feet wide, in continuation of that before described, but
connected with the two acres last spoken of, was dressed with liquid
manure only, and yielded at the rate of 225 bushels per acre.

TuKNiPS. — Number of acres sown was four; yield, 1,760 bushels.

Two acres upon the plain lot, manured with 85 loads of liquid
manure and 300 lbs. of guano per acre, produced 902 bushels, or 451
bushels per acre.

One acre of Skirving's Swedish turnip, manured with 300 lbs. of
guano, produced 385 bushels.

One acre of white French turnips, manured with 8^ cords of barn
cellar compost, produced 473 bushels of large, fine turnips.

Beets. — The number of bushels of beets, including all varieties,
was 285, raised on about one acre of land.

Parsnips. — 124 bushels were raised on half an acre of land.

Cabbages. — The number of cabbages raised was 5,000 heads,
2,900 of which were on the trenched land in front of the piggery, and
2,100 from seeds scattered among the onion seed when purchased,
and were allowed to grow among the onions.

Onions. — 448 bushels of onions were raised upon two acres of
ground. One acre on the plain, manured with 50 loads of liquid
manure and 8-j cords of barn cellar manure and 200 bushels of leached
ashes, produced 383 bushels of fine onions and 1,012 heads of drum-
head cabbages.

One acre on field No. 1, (trenched land,) manured with 8J- cords of
barn cellar manure and 300 bushels of leached ashes, produced 110
bushels of marketable onions, a small yield, but as much as could be
reasonably expected, since sufficient time has not yet elapsed since
the trenching, for the completion of the chemical changes which must
be wrought in the upturned subsoil to render such soil productive.
The land is, however, in fine condition for future operations, and the

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 215

results of the deep stirring of the subsoil will be watched with much
interest, both by the advocates and opponents of deep ploughing.

Beaxs. — Seven acres of beans yielded 68 bushels of the white
marrowfat variety. Manure, 300 lbs. of guano per acre, harrowed in.
Yield, 9^ bushels per acre.

EucKAVHEAT. — Two acrcs and a half, without manure, produced
48 bushels, 19-i- bushels to the acre.

Oats. — Five acres on the Sibley lot yielded, without manure, 119
bushels, or 23y bushels per acre. This lot was sown with grass seed
and looks well.

Fruit. — 55 bbls. of good winter ap pies were gathered, and peachea
and pears were abundant in proportion.

Sweet axd Fodder Corn. — One and a half acres of sweet corn
produced well, and was sold green, for the table.

Two acres of fodder corn produced a heavy crop, and was fed
green.

Chinese Sugar Cane. — Two acres were planted on light, poor
land. The seed vegetated poorly, and the crop had a sickly appear-
ance for some time. In the language of the head farmer of the
Farm, "At the last of August, when, varying froni one to four feet
in height, thinking its appearance no credit to the farm, it was cut
down, and first given in small quantities to the cows, and after being
repeatedly offered to them, and as often by them refused, it was
offered to the oxen ; they reluctantly ate a little of it ; it was then
offered to the horses and they refused to taste it ; it was then offered
to the hogs, and with the same result."

We quote the experience of our excellent head farmer, because
the same result has been experienced by many others, owing to the
mistaken idea that the sugar cane was a profitable crop to be fed to
stock green. So far as our own experience and observation go, we
think the crop of no value as fodder, until the proper time for making
sirup from its juice ; after which period, although dry and frost-
bitten, it is eaten very eagerly and with great benefit, by all kinds of
stock, and we trust the experiment will be tried again, if only upon a
small scale, before it is thrown by as " a humbug."

It will be seen, that the peculiar character of the past season has
affected many of our crops very sensibly, but we think not more

216 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

than those of the State at large, and in the appropriate language of
Deacon White, " We, in common with our neighbors, have received
the blessings of Providence beyond our deserts, and on the whole
the year has been a prosperous one."

In closing our Report, we would respectfully offer to the Board a
few suggestions upon some points connected with the cultivation of
the farm, and first, we recommend a more careful attention to the
preparation and saving of manure.

We think the time has gone by for mere experiments with fertili-
zers, and we would recommend that no more should be purchased
until all the home-made manure, which the great facilities of the farm
will allow to be made, has been used.

The reservoir should be drained, in order that it may be thoroughly
examined, until the leakage is discovered and prevented. We think
its contents should be freely distributed upon the mowing and pasture
lands, and no where else. We would also recommend, that no more
land should be hired under any circumstances, but that the whole
attention of the Board should be given to the State Farm. We would
also suggest, that the Superintending Committee should be positively
required to meet at the farm once every month during the season for
farming operations, and that no member of the Board should be con-
sidered eligible as a member of the committee, who will not pledge
himself to perform this duty.

Respectfully submitted, by

Marshall P. Wilder.
John C. Bartlett.

The experiments on stock, which have been conducted with
great care and accuracy, under the direction of a competent
committee, will be found to be of great practical value.

It will also be seen from the report that the number of cows
which the farm has been capable of keeping, is inadcqiiate to
supply the institution with milk. An outlay of about one
thousand dollars will be needed for the purchase of additional
cows for the coming year.

The following is the Report of the committee on

STOCK:

The committee on stock have made, as directed by the Board, an
inventory of the personal property belonging to the State Farm at
Westborough. They find the amount to be nine thousand three

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 217

hundred and forty-four dollars, which will be seen by reference to the
inventory annexed. ••'

The stock on the farm December 1st, consisted of eight oxen, sev-
enteen grade cows, one Hereford cow, one Jersey cow, one Devon
cow, one three-year old Hereiford heifer, one two year-old Hereford
bull, one Hereford heifer calf nine months old, one Jersey heifer one
year old, one Jersey heifer calf nine months old, one Devon heifer
one year old, one Devon heifer calf nine months old, one grade
Devon heifer calf ten months old, one grade Jersey calf nine months
old ; in all thirty-three head of horn cattle, and we have also five
horses. There has been fattened and sold to the institution within
the year, four oxen and seven cows, and one cow has been lost by
sickness and death. The committee have purchased within the year,
six oxen and one horse. The number of swine on the farm December
1st, of all ages, was 79, valued in the inventory at 8742 ; number of
hogs sold of all ages, during the year, 9G. The food given the swine
besides the swill from the school, amounts to $98.40 for the year.
For the amount of sales and purchases the committee refer to the
account of the Board with the Commonwealth. f The Hereford stock
on the farm continues to manifest its ability to withstand our climate,
apparently coming to maturity earlier, and therefore better for beef,
and quite as good for the yoke. The committee have purchased
standing grass for hay to the amount of $80, and have paid out for
pasturing'$90.84, and have received for pasturing $10.50.

The committee, in February, March, April and May last, made
experiments in feeding six cows, with a view of testing, so far as
trials so limited in time can test, the comparative value of the food
made use of. The details of these experiments are seen in the fol-
lowing tables, and show first, that two and forty- six hundredths per
cent, of English hay daily, on the live weight, will keep cows in
present condition. The second trial shows that shorts, compared
with English hay at $15 the ton, are worth for feed $27 the ton.
The third trial shows that meadow hay and corn fodder, as iised in this
trial, compared with English hay at $15 the ton, is worth three and
eighty-four hundredths dollars the ton, or a fraction more than one-
quarter the value of English hay. The fourth trial is between shorts
and Indian meal, and shows that if shorts are worth $27 the ton,
Indian meal is worth $40.54 the ton. The fifth trial shows, that
Indian meal at $46.54 the ton, equals carrots at $3.78 the ton. The
sixth trial is between meadow hay and corn fodder, and English hay,
and shows that English hay at $15.68 the ton, equals the meadow
hay and corn at $3.84 the ton — nearly the same result as shown in

♦ See Appendix, [C] t See Appendix, [E.]

28*

218

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

[Jan.

the third trial. The English hay used in these trials was a mixture
of Timothy and redtop, and would be called good English hay. The
meadow hay was made up of coarse grasses, such as are common in
the Westboro' meadows. The corn fodder was corn cut up by the
roots, and consisted of the whole stover. The cows were all with
ealf, and all gave milk during the whole time of trial.

Memorandum of feeding six Cows at the Slate Farm, Westhoroiujli^ffteen days,
from February 20, to March G, holh inclusive, on cut English hay.

.2

1

)3

o

a

a
■a

C3

a

a

i

o

5

3

o

First day,

24

18

23

21

25

25

-

Second day, .

26

22

24

22

28

28

-

Third day, .

25

21

22

21

26

26

-

Fourth day, .

24

20

21

22

24

24

-

Fifth day, .

25

19

21

19

22

22

-

Sixth day, .

27

21

23

22

27

27

-

Seventh day.

25

20

21

22

25

25

-

Eighth day, .

22

22

22

22

24

24

-

Ninth day, .

26

19

25

23

26

26

-

Tenth day, .

27

22

22

24

27

27

-

Eleventh day,

28

25

26

25

29

^29

-

Twelfth day,

28

26

27

27

28

28

-

Thirteenth day,

28

26

28

27

28

28

~

Fourteenth day.

28

26

28

27

28

28

-

Fifteenth day.

25

24

25

24

25

25

-

Total hay consumed in 15 days,

388

831

358

348

392

392

2,209

Average daily consumption in
pounds and hundredths,

22.66

22.60

23.86

23.20

20.00

26.13

-

Average morning and evening w't
on the first day of trial,

1,027

1,000

950

880

1,065

1,037

6,019

Average weights on last day of trial

, 1,027

1,060

940

880

1,000

1,040

C,007

Average weight for fifteen days, .

1,027

1,000

945

880

1,062

1,039

-

Per cent, of hay consumed on live
weight, daily.

2.52

2.14

2.53

2.63

2.45

2.51

These cows consumed in English hay in fifteen days, twenty-two
hundred and nine pounds, a fraction oA'er two and forty-six hundredths
per cent, on tlieir average live weight daily, and were in as good con-
dition at the end as at the commencement of the trial, having lost
only twelve pounds in weight, showing this amount of hay equal to
keeping them in present condition.

1858.]

SENATE— No. 4.

219

Memorandum of feeding six Cows at the State Farm, Westborour/li, fifleen days,
from March 7, to March 21, both inclusive, on cut EncjUsh hay andfve pounds
of shorts, dailij — shorts given dry.

cS

1-^

a

03

3

o

First day,

25

23

24

23

26

25

-

Second day, .

26

25

23

23

28

27

-

Third day, .

26

28

23

22

25

28

-

Fourth day, .

25

23

23

22

25

25

-

Fifth day, .

25

24

24

24

24

25

-

Sixth day, .

24

21

23

22

27

24

-

Seventh day.

27

22

25

24

25

27

-

Eighth day, .

25

22

23

22

25

25

-

Nintli day, .

26

22

24

23

26

26

-

Tenth day, .

26

22

25

24

26

26

-

Eleventh day,

26

22

24

22

23

26

-

Twelfth day.

23

21

23

21

25

23

-

Thirteenth daj', .

24

23

24

23

25

25

-

Fourteenth day, .

25

- 24

24

23

26

26

-

Fifteenth day,

n 15

21

24

25

25

26

26

-

Total hay consumed

days, 374

346

377

343

382

384

2,206

Average daily consump
in pounds and hun

tion 0
dreth

f hay

s, . 24.93

23.06

25.13

22.86

25.46

25.60

-

Average morning and evenin
ou the first day of trial.

g w't

. 1,027

1,060

940

880

1,030

1,040

6,007

Average morning and evenin
ou the last day of trial.

gw't

1,125

1,057

950

920

1,040

1,067

6,159

Average weight for 15 days.

1,076

1,059

945

900

1,050

1,053

-

Per cent, of hay and cor
ed on live weight, c

n con
ally,

sum-

2.32

2.17

2.66

2.54

2.43

2.43

-

In this trial the six cows consumed twenty-two hundred and six
pounds of English hay, (tliree pounds less than in the last trial,) and
four hundred and fifty pounds of shorts, and gained in weight one
hundred and fifty-two pounds. Supposing the gain in weight to be
worth four cents the pound, and to be attributable to the shorts as it
fairly may be, the consumption of hay being only two pounds less
than in the last trial, the value of the gain in weight would be $6.08,
showing the shorts to be worth 1.35 cents the pound, equal to $27 the
ton.

220

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

[Jan.

Memorandum of feeding six Cows at the State Farm, Westhoroufjh, ffteen days,
from March 22, to April 5, both inclusive, on cut meadoio hay and corn fod-
der, half each, and five pounds of shorts; three pounds of the hay was wet,
and the shorts, tohenfed, sjmnkled over it.

•3

a

13

a
<u
Ui

S

s

3

First day,

25

21

2^

22

22

23

Second day, .

24

21J

25

22i

221

24i

-

Third day, .

19i

16i

17i

181

19

20

-

Fourth day, .

191

20i

26

25

24

23i

-

Fifth day.

16^

19

19i

201

201

21

-

Sixth day,

161

19

18|

21i

191

20}

-

Seventh day.

15

19

18J

19

1V|

19

-

Eighth day, .

18

19

19

20

18

19}

-

Ninth day, .

IC

23}

23

23i

211

24

-

Tenth day, .

15i

19|

21!

221

191

21i

-

Eleventh day,

\^

191

21

211

22

23J

-

Twelfth day, .

18i

223

24

23i

25?

26

-

Thirteenth day,

18

24}

24i

23]

251

25

-

Fourteenth day,

17

18}

23

221

231

23

-

Fifteenth day.

18

19

22

221

23

24

-

Total hay and fodder consumed.

274

303

327

327

323

338

1,892

Average daily consumption in
pounds and hundredths.

18.26

20.02

21.81

21.80

21.53

22.53

-

Average morning and evening w't
on lirst day of trial,

1,125

1,057

950

920

1,040

1,067

6,159

Average morning and evening w't
on last day of trial.

1.047

990

930

892

985

992

5,836

Average weight for the 15 dajs, .

1,085

1,023

940

906

1,013

1,030

-

Per cent, of hay co
■weight, daily.

nsumed o

1 live

1.63

1.96

2.32

2.40

2.12

2.19

-

The cows consumed in this tl'ial eighteen hundred and ninety- two
pounds of meadow hay and corn fodder, and four hundred and fifty
pounds of shorts, and lost in weight three hundred and twenty-three
pounds, which, at four cents the pound, comes to $12.92. The English
hay in the last trial, at three-fourths of a cent the pound, comes to
^16.5.5 ; deduct from this $12.92, the value of the lost weight which
is chargeable to meadow hay and corn fodder, leaves $3.62 as the
value of the eighteen hundred and ninety-two pounds of meadow
hay and corn fodder consumed in this trial, a fraction over $3.83 the
ton, showing the meadow hay and corn fodder to he less than one-
quarter of the value of English hay.

1858.]

SENATE— No. 4.

221

Memorandum of feeding six Cows at the Slate Farm, Westhoroiigh, fftecn dai/s,
from April 6, to April 20, hoth inclusive, on cut meadow hay and corn fodder,
half each, and four pounds of Indian meal, three pounds of the hay wet and
the meal sprinkled over it ichen fed.

First day,

Second day, .

Third day, .

Fourth day, .

Fifth day, .

Sixth day.

Seventh day.

Eighth day, .

Ninth day, .

Tenth day, .

Eleventh day,

Twelfth day.

Thirteenth day, .

Fourteenth day, .

Fifteenth day.

Total hay and fodder consumed,

Average daily consumption in
pounds and hundredths,

Average morning and evening w't
on first day of trial,

Average morning and evening w't
on last day of trial.

Average weight for the 15 days, .

Per cent, of hay consumed on live
weiglit, daily,

17

14i

17

16

14

13

14

15

11

17

15

14

18 1

18|

16

230
15.33

1,047

1,032
1,039

1.48

m
m

19}
19i
21

18]

18,V

1^

221

20

21]

19i

221

22i

21?

24 1

19!

20]

19|

21|

20]

201

20 1

18

19

18

22 !

22

221

21?

305

20.33

990

980
985

2.06

311

20.70

993

875
902

2.29

di

211
191
191

19i

22

211

221

24'

18

20

21

221

22

24

22|

24

18}

19|

19]

221

211

211

22}

23

21

22}

22}

25

25

24}

320
21.33

892

877
885

2.41

333

22 20

985

977
981

2.26

^

24}

20

19}

20}

20

20

211

21}

19}

22i

22]

24}

23

22}

319
21.26

992

985
985

2.15

1,818

5,836
5,726

As the feed in this trial is the same as in the last, with the excep-
tion of the substitution of meal for shorts, the diminished loss may
fairly be attributed to the increased nutriment in the meal com-
pared with the shorts ; valuing this diminished loss at four cents the
pound, it amounts to $8.52. The consumption of hay in this trial
was seventy-four pounds less than in the last, which, at $3.83 the
ton, its value, as shown in the last trial amounts to fourteen cents,
which, deducted from $8.52, leaves $8.38 as the value of the dimin-
ished loss and as the difference between the value of three hundred
and sixty pounds of Indian meal and four hundred and fifty pounds
of shorts — showing that if shorts are worth $27 the ton, as shown
in the second trial, Indian meal is worth $46.54 the ton.

222

BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.

[Jan.

Memorandum of feeding six Cows on the State Farm, Westhorougli, fifteen days
from April 21, to May 5, both inclusive, on cut meadow hay and corn fodder,
half each, and twenty pounds of carrots.

First day,

Second day, .

Third day, .

Fourth day, .

Fifth day, .

Sixth day, .

Seventh day,

Eighth day, .

Ninth day, .

Tenth day, .

Eleventli day.

Twelfth day.

Thirteenth day.

Fourteenth day.

Fifteenth day,

Total hay and fodder consumed,

Average daily consumption in
pounds and hundredths,

Average morning and evening w'
on first day of trial.

Average morning and evening w't
on last day of trial.

Average weight for the 15 days.

Per cent, of hay consumed on live
weight, daily

16|
18
15i

l"i

15,V

loi

16

14!

17i

14]

14]

18|

18

16i

17X

24G|
16.43

1,032

932

1,007

1.63

221
23}
19}
211
20i
20

19}
18J
191
17|
15}
18J
18]
20i
19

21 1

22}

20

21'

185

19

19}

20

20|

16J

18}

16}

17

20

161

24

23}

19

22}

20

20|

20}

19|

21}

19}

19}

19}

211

21}

221

241

25}

21}

23}

21}

23}

23}

20

23}

191

20

22

22

21}

24}

295}

19.70

980

961
970

2.00

288:;

19.25

875

847
861

2.24

8143

20.98

862
870

2.41

336

22.40

977

980
979

2.29

22'

25i

211

22}

21}

23

23}

19}

233

193

21

22

221

211

233

333}

22.21

985

970
978

2.27

1,8141

5,725
5,602

The six cows in this trial consumed eighteen hundred and fourteen
and three-fourths pounds of meadow hay and corn fodder, and eigh-
teen hundred pounds of carrots, and lost in weight one hundred and
twenty-four pounds, which, at four cents, comes to $4.90. The hay
and corn fodder consumed in this and the last trial Avas so nearly the
same, the comparison of the two comes directly between the value of
carrots in this trial and the Indian meal in the last, and shows three
hundred and sixty pounds of Indian meal to be worth -$4. 96 more
than eighteen hundred pounds of carrots ; or, if Indian meal is
worth $40.54 the ton, carrots are worth $3.78 the ton, or a fraction
over twelve pounds of carrots are equal to one pound of Indian meal.

1858.]

SENATE— No. 4.

223

Memorandum of feeding six Cows on Uie Stale Farm, Wcslhoroiu/h, eight days,
from Mag G to Mag 13, hotli inclusive, on cut English hag and twentg pounds
of carrots, dailg.

First day,

Second daj',

Third day,

Fourth day,

Fifth day,

Sixth day,

Seventh daj',

Eighth day,

Total hay and fodder consumed,

Average daily consumption in
pounds and hundredths,

Average morning and evening w't
on first day of trial,

Average morning and evening w't
on last day of trial.

Average weight for the IS days, .

Per cent, of hay consumed on live
weight, daily,

.3

A

S

20

19

21

18

19

18

22

20

21

21

20

21

22

22

21

20

21

20
19
20
20
19
20
19

1C6

159

20.75

19.87

932

961

1,029

987

1,005

974

2C2

2.04

19.75

847

874
861

2 29

19
20
IS
20
21
21
20
22
161

20.12

862

876
869

2.32

n

a

o

S
S

22

22

21

£3

20

20

21

21

21

22

23

23

22

21

22

22

172

154

21.50

19.25

980

970

990

989

975

919

2 21

2.94

970

5,602
5,745

It was the intention of the committee to continue this trial fifteen
days, but the supply of carrots failing, they were compelled to close
it at the end of eight days. The six cows consumed in eight days
nine hundred and seventy pounds of hay and nine hundred and sixty
pounds of carrots, and gained in weight one hundred and forty-three
pounds, Vv'hich, estimated at four cents the pound, comes to $5.72.
The roots consumed daily, the same as in the last trial, the compari-
son comes between the meadow hay and corn fodder in the last, and
the English hay in this trial — showing the nine hundred and seventy
pounds of hay in this to be worth $5.72 more than the nine hundred
and eighty-one pounds of hay and fodder consumed in eight days of
the last trial, or meadow and corn fodder in the fifth trial, at $3.83
the ton ; the value shown in the third trial equals English hay at
$15.G8 the ton, corresponding, nearly, with the result shown in the
third trial, in which English hay was estimated at $15 the ton.

John Beooks.

224 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

The following is the Report of the committee on

I M P 11 O V E M E N T S :

The committee on permanent improvements, in pursuance of the
duty assigned them, visited the farm at Westborough, in March last,
and after a careful examination of the premises, and consultation with
Mr. White, the farmer, in relation to the most urgent wants pertain-
ing to improvements, farm arrangements, &c., concluded that the
interests of the State, and the objects of the Board, rendered it expe-
dient that certain improvements should be made ; accordingly a plan
embracing the various improvements contemplated by your com-
mittee, with instructions to the farmer for conducting the same, Avas
submitted to the Board at their regular meeting in April last, and
approved. Operations were immediately after commenced, and prose-
cuted during the past season at times and intervals when other work
on the farm was less pressing, with the following results : —

Many hundred tons of stones and large boulders that had been pre-
viouslv dug, and blasted out, and which completely covered a large
space of the surface in front of the farm house, have been hauled off,
and such as were suitable, deposited near the piggerj^, to be used for
a cellar wall under the same ; the small stones were taken to the
garden and used for filling underneath the walks, and a large quantity
were deposited near the north shore of the pond, where if not wanted
for other purposes, they can conveniently be used for building out a
pier a short distance into the pond.

On the 1st of January, 1838, Mr. White reports, " that by the
removal of the stones the lands in front of the farm house, although
not entirely completed are still rendered beautiful when compared
with their former condition. A fine field of winter-rye is now grow-
ing Avhere one year ago nothing but rocks were visible. This has
been accomplished at a cost, including the wages paid for labor of
the boys, of $248.25.

The decayed and worthless fruit trees which stood on the grounds
near the farm house, and north of the barn, have been dug up and
hauled to the steam-mill for fuel. About half of the wood lot west
of the institution has been trimmed and the underbrush removed.
To render the work more complete, as far as it has progressed, many
more of the small and stinted undcr-growth of trees should be taken
out. When the whole lot shall have been properly finished, its
appearance as a grove will not only be greatly improved, but it will
afibrd excellent facilities for gathering many cords of leaves every
autumn, which can be used for litter at the barn and piggery, and
thus converted into manure.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 225

The land about the old reservoir, comprising about one and a half
acres, which till now has been literally a rocky waste, has this year
been trenched over to the depth of one and a half feet, and every
rock has been dug and blasted out or sunk below the reach of the
plough or spade ; and it is now a beautiful undulating side-hill fit for
any crop or trees of any variety.

The road built by the meadow and below the grove was an impor-
tant work, furnishing easy access to the new reservoir and to the
lower part of the meadow which has been inaccessible by teams.

The amount of lands trenched on the " Warren lot," (so called,)
this season, is two and a half acres. It has been thoroughly dug
over to the depth of fifteen inches, and all the stones taken out
or sunk below the reach of the plough. Three more acres still
remain in an unfit state for cultivation, and will furnish a good place
for one hundred boys part of another season, who cannot otherwise
be so profitably employed. When this shall have been completed it
will comprise about seventeen acres on the " Warren lot " of excel-
lent land, ten of which will then have been changed from a rocky
brush pasture, to a beautiful lawn. The cost of operations on this
lot during the past season has been $870.10.

The apparent cost of reclaiming this lot, may seem to be greater
than the worth of the land, after it is finished, would justify ; under
ordinary circumstances it would be quite true, but it should be con-
sidered that it is situated in the immediate proximity of the institu-
tion, that it was much needed for the purposes for which it is now
fitted, and that a large proportion of the cost has been made up by
the wages paid for labor of boys.

The whole amount charged to permanent improvements, for the
past season, as appears by the report of Mr. White, is as follows,
viz. : —

On lands front of farm-house, ..... $248 85

" by old reservoir, ...... 392 75

road below the grove, . . . . . . 210 20

Warren lot, 870 10

miscellaneous jobs, . . . . . . . 221 00

Cost of powder, 2110

Repairing tools, chains, &c., ...... 36 00

Total cost, $2,000 00

B. V. Fkench.
Samuel Chandlee.
29*

226 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

At the same meeting of the Board a committee was appoint-
ed, to consider and report at the next meeting of the Board,
some plan of operations at the Farm for the coming year. This
committee was chosen by ballot, as follows : Messrs. Tower, of
Lanesborough, Fisher, of Fitchbnrg, Grennell, of Greenfield,
Felton, of Brookfield, and Newell, of West Newbnry. This
committee accordingly visited the Farm, and at the annnal
meeting of the Board, held at the State House on the 26th of
January, 1858, presented a detailed report for the use of the
Board. A committee was thereupon chosen, by ballot, to
superintend the management of the Farm, as follows : Messrs.
Brooks, Newell, Fisher, Tower, Field, Felton, Gardner and
Bartlett.
■ It was voted, Tliat the superintending committee shall have
the whole charge of the Farm in all its details. At the first
meeting of said committee, they shall organize by the choice
of a clerk, mature their plans for the general management of
the Farm during the season, and no new enterprise sliall be
commenced without the consent of a majority of the committee.
The committee shall meet at the Farm not less tlian once a
month, and the record of all their meetings shall be left in the
hands of their chairman, who shall communicate all directions
to the farmer, who shall look to no one else for directions as
to crops, labor, stock and improvements.

The chairman shall be at the Farm as often as circumstances
shall require, and shall spend some days there during the plant-
ing of the crops.

It was also voted. That the Board ask of the legislature an
appropriation of four thousand dollars, for the purchase of
additional stock at the Farm, for sundry necessary improve-
ments, and for the labor of the boys during tlic year.

For the latter purpose two thousand dollars would, it was
thought, be needed. It is necessary that tlie boys should be
furnished with work, and it was the intention of the founder of
the institution that they should be employed on the Farm. It
cannot be supposed that so large a number can be worked to
any profit, especially when it is considered that the crops raised
must be such as the institution needs, and not merely such as
would be raised to most advantage with boys' labor. The expe-
rience of four years has shown, that in point of fact the labor

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 227

of the boys is a source of great expense to the Farm, instead
of profit, inasmuch as it is absohitely necessary to hire an intel-
ligent class of men, at high wages, to superintend them, and to
keep them for a considerable portion of the year on permanent
improvements which make no immediate pecuniary return.
With the necessity of employing the labor of the boys, nearly
twice as many men are required as would be needed to carry
the Farm on without this necessity. The character of tlie men
who compose the superintending committee of the Farm, every
one of whom was chosen to the Board by the farmers them-
selves, to act for and to represent them, and the fact that they
devote their time and their services to the public without the
slightest compensation, and without personal emolument of any
kind, should be regarded as a sufficient guarantee that they
will manage the Farm as judiciously and as economically for
the Commonwealth, as any body of men could be reasonably
expected to do under the same circumstances.

It was voted not to hire any land at the Farm except for
pasturage.

The subject of holding' another State Fair coming up for
consideration, it was voted to defer the final decision of the
matter to the next meeting of the Board. It was also

Resolved, That the thanks of this Board be tendered to the Massa-
chusetts Society for the Promotion of Agriculture, for the very cor-
dial support it has ever rendered this Board, and especially for the
generous approimation of two thousand dollars made to the funds for
sustaining the late State Agricultural Exhibition held in Boston.

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Board present a copy of the
above vote to the Trustees of said Society.

At the same meeting a committee appointed at a previous
one, to investigate the causes and remedy of the diseases of the
potato, with reference, especially, to the applications made for
the bounty offered by the Commonwealth, presented the follow-
ing preliminary

REPORT:

The committee to whom was referred the investigations of the
various methods of arresting the disease of the potato, proposed by

228 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

sundry applicants for the bounty of the State, beg leave to report to
the Board, that they have attended to their duty so far as to take the
necessary steps for collecting the facts which must be made the
foundation of every sound theory in science.

We have distributed very freely, in this and in other States, the
accompanying circular,--' and we have felt that the importance of the
subject forbade us to form any hasty conclusions from the limited
number of those which have yet been returned to us. It is very
much to be desired that all those who have received a copy of this
circular should fill its blanks, not with their theories, but with
answers based only upon well-attested facts.

Your committee, having no particular hobby to ride in connection
with this subject, ask leave of the Board to continue their researches
after important facts, which, when properly sifted, classified and com-
pared, may afford some more just and stable foundation for a theory
than any which has yet been built upon.

* The following is the Circular referred to : —

What is the character of the soil upon which your potatoes are planted?

AVhat were the crops and the manure for one or two previous years ?

Kind and quantity of manure applied to the present crop ?

Character of the season as to heat and moisture ?

Variety of potato planted, color and size, whole or cut?

Time and quantity of inflorescence and amount of balls matured?

Fungous or other unnatural growths upon stalk or leaf?

Will you be good enough to. send specimens of any insects that commit ravages upon any part of
the plant?

Upon harvesting the crop do you find the new tubers vegetating?

Date of the first appearance of rust upon the leaf?

If disease attacks the tuber, note its date, its form — whether dry or soft rot— and, as far as
possible, describe its progress to its termination ?

What variety shows the greatest liability to disease ?

Is the disease general throughout the crop, or confined to single tubers, or certain locations, and
if the latter, state the differences of soil ?

Have your potatoes been propagated from the seed, and if so, how many years since?

Have you been in the habit of getting tubers for planting from other localities ?

How far back can you remember the first appearance of disease, whether of the dry or soft form ?

When did it first assume the epidemic form ?

How much has the yield diminished, per acre, within the last twenty years upon soils of a
similar character?

If there are any facts in your possession bearing upon the subject, cither of a historical nature
or otherwise, please note them.

The undersigned, having been appointed a committee by the Massachusetts Board of Agricul-
ture, under the authority of a Resolve of the legislature, to investigate the vai-ious methods of
arresting the disease of the potato, proposed in sundry applications, and otherwise, desire to call
your attention to the foregoing Circular, and ask your assistance in collecting and furnishing us
all the facts iu your possession bearing on the subject.

If you will bo good enough, after having filled the answers to the above series of questions, to
direct this Circular to the Secretary of the Ma.ssachusetts Board of Agriculture, at Boston, with
the endorsement " Potato Disease " upon the envelop, you will much oblige.

Yours, very truly,

John C. Bartlett,
Jabez Fisher,
Natuan Durfee,

Comtnittee.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 229

The Board may rest assured that this investigation will not be
suffered to slumber, and we would, in this public manner, invite any
person in possession of a fact upon the subject, to communicate the
same to us although he may not have received a copy of the circular,
always premising that we seek no man's opinion but simply his facts.
All which is respectfully submitted, by

John C. Baktlett,
Jabez Fishek,
Nathan Durfee,

Commiltee.
Boston, Dec. 8, 1857.

The Secretary read the following letter from the Earl of
Clarendon, acknowledging the receipt of the Reports of the
Board : —

Fokeign Office, Nov. 13, 1857.
Sib. : I have had the honor to forward to his Royal Highness, the
Prince Consort, your letter of the 29th July, with the accompanying
volumes upon the Agriculture of the Commonwealth of Massachu-
setts, and His Royal Highness desires that I will convey to you and
to the gentlemen composing the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture,
His Royal Highness's warmest thanks for this very flattering and
gratifj'ing mark of attention on their part.

These volumes will form a very valuable addition to His Royal
Highness's library, and he accepts them with the greatest pleasure.
I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your most ob't serv't,

Clakendon.
Charles L. Flint, Esq., &c., &c.

«
THE LIBRAEY.

The Agricultural Library connected with the office of the
Secretary of the Board, has now become the largest and most
valuable collection of the kind in New England, and is proba-
bly the most extensive in the United States. A complete cata-
logue is to be found in the Appendix, and is now published for
the use of those who are active in creating similar agricultural
libraries in the various towns of the Commonwealth. The
frequency with which applications are made to me to suggest
such a list of books as would be most suited for such libraries,

230 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

leads mc to hope that it may be of essential service by way ol
suggestion, to all who are interested in the matter.

I acknowledge with pleasure, the receipt, for the use of the
library, of files of the early numbers of the Boston Cultivator,
the Massachusetts Ploughman, and the weekly New England
Farmer, from Gen. William Sutton, of Salem ; of valuable
public documents from L. A. Huguet Latour, Esq., of Montreal,
Canada ; of Studies in the Field and Forest, from the author,
Wilson Flagg, Esq., of Andover ; of a copy of the Memorial of
the Inauguration of the Statue of Franklin, from J. S. Damrell,
Esq. ; besides a large number of documents and reports from
various sources, received by way of regular exchanges.

All donations to this library hereafter, w\\\ be formally
acknowledged in the Report next succeeding, and the thanks
of the Board tendered on behalf of the State.

THE MUSf]UM.

By an Act of the legislature of 1857, the room originally
•designed for this purpose, in the recent enlargement of the
State House, has been fitted up to receive the State Cabinet,
and such other contributions as should be made, from time to
time, illustrating the past and present condition of our agricul-
ture, and the natural history of the State. The arrangements
for receiving the Cabinet, were completed on the first of the
current year, and the Museum now contains between three and
four thousand specimens of various kinds, which, though only
a beginning, is rapidly increasing by contributions made by my-
self and others. I take pleasure in acknowledging the receipt,
on behalf of the Commonwealth, of a Chinese plough from
Charles H. Lunt, Esq., of West Roxbury ; of various rehcs from
the ruins of the house built and occupied by Capt. Miles Stand-
ish, at Duxbury, from Mr. James Hall ; of Indian spear heads
found at Grcenlield, from James S. Grennell, Esq., of tliat
place ; of beautiful specimens of feather grass fi'om Mrs. Peck,
of Roxbury ; of a collection of grasses and mosses from Mr.
William Richards, of Sharon ; of specimens of coal from the
coal formation at Attleborough, from Mr. Henry Rice, of North
Attleborough ; of a model of a patent self-feeding horse-stall,
designed to economize food and labor in grooming, from Dr.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 231

Henry Eddy, of North Bridgewuter ; of twenty-four species of
birds from Mr. J. W. P. Jenks, of Middleborough ; and of
several varieties of Indian corn from different individuals. Mr.
Jenks has kindly consented to present specimens of a large
number of varieties of the birds of this State, and individuals
in all sections are respectfully invited to aid in this collection,
by forwarding any curious and rare specimens which they may
chance to have, in order to make it what it should be, the
largest and finest collection of Massachusetts birds now in
existence. Capt. N. E. Atwood, of Provincetown, has under-
taken to supply the Cabinet with specimens of all the varieties
of salt water fishes in our waters, and this department will
soon be creditable to the State. The cooperation of individuals
in all parts of the Commonwealth, is respectfully solicited, and
contributions of any kind, illustrating any part of the natural
history of the State, will be thankfully received and acknowl-
edged in subsequent reports.

The practical value and importance of this Agricultural
Museum will become more and more apparent as the collection
increases.

In conclusion, I take great pleasure in reporting the continued
usefulness of the county agricultural societies. There never
was a time when, as a whole, they were more active in promot-
ing the true spirit of emulation. There never was a time when
the spirit of inquiry and enterprise in agricultural improve-
ment was more widely spread among the people of this State,
or when it was having a more lasting effect upon the future
prosperity of the community.

When I entered upon the duties of my office, five years ago,
the aggregate amount of the permanent fund of the societies
was 192,816.54. It has now increased to $156,791.73, while
the total amount of all the property of the societies has risen
in the same time from $109,911.10, to 1178,175.50. The
amount received from new members and donations in 1853, was
$6,376.50. The amount received from the same sources last
year, was $9,214.10. The total amount of receipts by the
societies in 1853, was $30,251.82. Tlic total amount of receipts
by the societies in 1857, was $33,228.42, or more than double
that of 1853. The amount of premiums and gratuities dis-

232 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

tributed in 1853, was ^8,489.11. The amount paid out last
year in premiums and gratuities, was $18,546.13, besides tlie
large amount distributed by the State Fair.

Equally gratifying evidence of an increased interest is to be
found in the multitudes which now throng the exhibitions of
these societies, eager to see and to hear. They have become,
indeed, the grand holidays, and the chief festivals of the farm-
ing and mechanical population of each county, promoting alike
the social and intellectual progress of the young and old. It
would be difficult to devise a substitute for these exhibitions
which should be open to so few objections. They are meeting
the wants of the mechanic as well as the farmer, by developing
the material resources of the State, encouraging domestic indus-
try, dignifying manual labor and leading to a higher and more
genial social culture among us.

CHARLES L. FLINT,
Secretary of the Board of Agriculture.

Boston, January 28, 1858.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

APPOINTED TO VISIT THB

AGRICULTUEAL EXHIBITIONS

30*

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 235

ESSEX.

The sickness of Dr. Bartlett, who was appointed by the State
Board of Agriculture to visit and report upon the Essex County
Cattle Show, in 1857, preventing him from performing the duty
assigned him, for which he expresses regret, as it was a county
show he was desirous of witnessing. And which I am free to
say was a source of great disappointment to the officers of the
society, who would gladly have introduced him to all depart-
ments of their show, with the assurance that his industry and
devotion to such pursuits would have enabled him to suggest
subjects for consideration that would have been practically ben-
eficial to us. But circumstances beyond his control, compel us
for this year, to forego the aid which his presence and counsel
would impart, and has induced him to ask me to give a sum-
mary account of the society's show for this year, which I have
consented to do with some reluctance, as my time was occupied
almost exclusively in arranging and providing for the animals
uporfthe ground for exhibition.

The fair was held at Newburyport, on the 30th of September
and the first of October, and the attendance on both days larger
than usual.

The City Hall was assigned for the display of fruit, flowers,
domestic manufactures, and fancy articles, &c. And in a tent
in the immediate vicinity, was exhibited the vegetables and car-
riages.

The cattle pens were arranged upon a field of Dr. Kelley's,
adjoining High and Kent Street, where were on exhibition
cattle, horses, sheep, swine, poultry, &c.

The ploughing field was upon the Pettingill farm, at the
western end of Plumb Island turnpike, a lot uniform in quality,
being sandy loam, and had been for some years in pasture.

There were in the pens, for exhibition and premium, more
than one hundred and thirty head of cattle, embracing most
of the different breeds, of all ages ; there were a larger pro-

236 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

portion of yearlings and calves than I have ever seen at this
county fair.

Among others Mr. Aaron Dodge,of Beverly, has gone largely,
for an Essex farmer, into the rearing of calves, having raised
within the last year eighty-six, at a cost until weaned, as he
states, of about $2.50 each ; whether his farm is sufficiently
extensive to bring this number annually to maturity I am not
advised ; or whether he has gone thus extensively into this
portion of farming to try experiments or as a permanent busi-
ness, he does not state. He does state that he purchased most
of them from the milk farms at one dollar each ; and that he
has tried oil meal, corn meal, and flour mixed with milk. But
I do not learn that he has instituted any comparison as to the
value of the different food, or the quantity fed ; a part of them
were weaned at from three to four weeks old, on pasture feed.
He says he has tried to raise them as cheap as he could ; he
has lost thirteen from various causes during the year. The
coming winter will probably determine whether it is good
economy to wean calves so young.

Dr. George B. Loring, of Salem, is perhaps the next largest
rearer of stock in the county, having raised ten or fifteen annu-
ally for the last few years. He states that he takes them from
the cow when young, feeds on milk, meal and water made into
gruel, but docs not state the quantity or proportion of oach ;
he ceases to feed milk at from six to eight weeks old ; he has
crossed the Jersey with other stock.

Among the entries there were thirteen pair of working oxen,
and they were fine specimens. There were good cows and
heifers exhibited, but none noticed so much superior to the
average quality as is sometimes reported.

Twenty-eight teams competed for the various premiums
offered on ploughing, amounting in all to $140, and the quality
of the work done was evidence enough that ploughing is no
new feature at the Essex show. There were upon the ground
all kinds of ploughs in modern use.

In the exhibition and trial of horses they were only exercised
to test their qualities for the various uses they arc designed for
by practical and business men.

There were for exhibition or premium thirteen stallions, two
of which had received the first premium of the society. One

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 237

belonging to Lambert Maynard, and tbe otber to Cbarles Boyn-
ton, therefore not competing this year.

There were nineteen brood mares with foals by their side,
and the committee report that there were no unsound ones, and
none unworthy of a premium, had they as many to bestow.

There were forty-three colts entered for premium, besides
those entered with their dams.

There were fifty-seven dollars offered in premiums on butter,
and it brought to the show thirty samples, so different in quality
as to working and salting, that the committee had little diffi-
culty in unanimously awarding all the premiums, being six.

Of cheese there were four specimens, and not of a very supe-
rior quality.

Considering the short crop of fruit this year there was a full
supply on exhibition. More perhaps than ou any former year.
There were 921 baskets and dishes, from 204 contributors. A
better display could not be expected in any county.

There was a large collection of vegetables of all the varieties
grown in New England. Tiiis portion of the show is made up
as it usually is from towns in the immediate vicinity of the
exhibition. Seven-tenths of the lots exhibited were from New-
buryport, Newbury, and West Newbury. The largest number
of varieties exhibited by any one persou was seventy, from the
Derby farm, Salem.

The display of flowers and green-house plants added much
to the brilliancy of the spacious hall, which was crowded with
the above described articles, domestic manufactures, and all
kinds of ornamental and useful handy-work.

The carriages and harnesses were of high finish and appar-
ently durable and valuable articles. Those which obtained the
first premiums were from the manufactory of Nichols & Thomas,
West Newbury, and from Sargent, Gunnison & Co., Amosbury.

The hall was opeu two evenings and one day, and the receipts
for admission, at ten cents each, amounted to $840.

The annual address was delivered by Dr. E. G. Kelly, of
Newbu'ryport ; his motto " Home, and its embellishments," and
happy will be those who heard his well-timed and able illustra-
tions.

The public dinner was under a tent where more than six
hundred were seated. And after partaking of a diimer suited

238 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

to the occasion, the president, Richard S. Fay, Esq., rose and
congratulated the society and its several committees, on their
entire success in carrying out the objects of the association in
all its departments, commenting with particular interest upon
the abundance, variety, and fine quality of the vegetables ; and
he paid a flattering compliment to the city authorities and the
citizens generally of Newburyport, for their generous aid in
forwarding the enterprise. And then, in his very happy style,
introduced to the audience His Excellency Governor Gardner,
Hon. Josiah Quincy, Jr., and others, who addressed them for a
brief period, when the party dispersed to their homes, made
happier and better by these two days' interview.

Moses Newell.

MIDDLESEX.

As a delegate from the State Board of Agriculture, I attended
the agricultural show and fair of the parent society of the
County of Middlesex, held in Concord on the 29th day of Sep-
tember, under the most favorable auspices. It was a warm and
pleasant day.

At an early hour the competitors on ploughing, eight ox and
eight horse teams, were upon the field ready to show their skill ;
liberal prizes were offered to the most worthy.

There was a spirited contest, sixteen men with good teams
were striving to excel each other, in the presence of a large
collection of people. As a whole the work was well done. The
ploughs were of the most approved kinds. The furrow was
from six to ten inches deep, having some double teams.

The ploughing is a part of the exhibition that is practical.
It may be asked what is gained ? I would answer — the plough-
man shows his oxen or horses ; their training, their ability to
work. The holder of the plough shows his physical ability,
and his skill in holding the plough, in the presence of the con-
gregated farmers ; shows the plough, the skill of the maker or
inventor approved or condemned. The width or depth of the
slice is discussed, opinions given, experience related, conclusions
gained, and many go away profited.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 239

I would here suggest, that before plots are laid out, the pro-
priety of ploughing a few furrows at the ends, that the com-
petitors on coming out need not make such ragged work, which
mars the whole appearance of their ploughing. Straight fur-
rows are a great recommendation in ploughing. That plough-
man who is mechanic enough to turn a straight furrow is sure
to do his work well.

A few moments walk on the outside of the village, is located
the fair grounds, which are inclosed with a good fence. Within
its limits is located a commodious exhibition hall ; also a course
for the exhibition of horses and cattle, which has been made
the past year.

There were 200 head of cattle on exhibition. The Devon
oxen and steers ; some of them were very superior in size, in
color, in activity, making profitable and beautiful oxen. There
were some very large and superior Durham, crossed with native,
showing points of great physical ability, and frames well calcu-
lated fer the stall. A discerning farmer will have two objects
in view in raising cattle ; first, size and muscle for labor, for
the stall, and we might add beauty in form ; all these qualifica-
tions should be combined. The Ayrshire, Alderney and Jersey
stock gave character to the show.

The number of cows and heifers was not large, nor many
very superior ones ; not as good as their importance deserves.
The raising of stock is attracting more attention among our
enterprising farmers every year.

What is there upon the farm that a farmer exhibits with
more complacency than a good animal. Men of all professions
admire the calf of promise, the noble steer, that is rising to
maturity in beauty and strength ; the majestic ox fully devel-
oped, exhibiting the perfection of his kind ; or the young heifer
with feminine beauty, and marks of promise even superior to
her mother in cowhood.

And the cow, the mother cow, the noble representative of
them all, can there be too much said in the way of improve-
ment of this useful animal?

Has not the time come in which we may report progress ?
Surely it has. Our dairymen are waking up to this subject ;
they are calling for the best blood and crosses, to raise the per-
fect cow, and best milkers for butter and cheese. It is true

240 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

that there are more or less good milkers in every community,
but it is generally more accidental than otherwise.

Tiie idea is not very prevalent among the great mass
of farmers, that you may raise an animal very much to your
own taste, by judicious crosses; that you may make this point
more prominent, or that less, alter materially the shape of your
stock ; can raise large or small cattle, good milkers or poor
ones. If this be true, and I believe it is reduced to a science
among our best stock growers, it is an important fact.

The first year's growth of a calf is of great importance. Noth-
ing pays better than to make pets of all of our calves the first
twelve months. No one can afford to raise a poor calf. A good
one pays well.

The i-how of horses was very respectable. More good horses
than are usually seen at our fairs. Some very superior Black
Hawks and Morgans were on exhibition, and other very supe-
rior single and matched horses ; also mares and colts. The
show was imposing as they passed around the course ■at com-
mon speed. I was forcibly impressed that this is the true way
to show to advantage a horse ; then you can see their true
form, their motion, and muscles — the noble animal in his pride,
without his form being distorted under the spur and lash.
There was no fast trotting there. I saw no fancy horse men,
whose greatest pride is sporting with fast horses. But I found
myself among a civil people, lovers of good order and good
horses, well knowing the proprieties of the farmers' festival, and
the humanity that belongs to the lower animals.

The show of swine was not large but good, mostly of the
Suffolk cross, which is the best cross extant.

There was some good specimens of poultry.

The spading match was well contested, and the work well
done.

The trial of the strength and discipline of oxen was well
contested ; heavy loads were drawn, and backed with ease,
showing that a proper training adds much to the value of an
ox team.

The exhibition hall was the place of great attraction, and
well it might be, for every department was most beautifully
arrayed ; more taste and system is seldom seen in exhibition
halls. The show of apples and pears far exceeded any show I

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 241

have ever had the pleasure of seeing ; the varieties were very
numerous. Mr. S. Tuttle, H. A. Wheeler, of Concord, James
Eustis, and others, are worthy of the highest commendation for
their rich specimens of apples. W. H. Allen, of North Cam-
bridge, and John Gordon, of Brighton, exhibited fifteen varie-
ties, each of the best varieties of pears, which was a rich display.
The peaches were large. General Chandler, of Lexington,
exhibited a dish of the golden-drop plum, the largest and best
specimen I have ever seen.

Hon. E. W. Bull took the first premium on the Concord
grape. Mr. Bull is the propagator of this grape, and it proves
to be one of the very best grapes for our northern climate, as
they mature in September. The specimens on exhibition were
good size, purple color, and good flavor. Every man who has a
garden spot, should have one or more of these vines. Mr. Bull
is supplying all calls.

The display of vegetables was large, of all kinds, and the
most perfect varieties. Much attention is given to sauce vege-
tables for market. Gov. Brown exhibited some sweet potatoes
from his garden, which were well matured, which demonstrates
the fact that they can be raised in this latitude.

A. H. Wheeler, of Concord, exhibited forty Jenny Lind pota-
toes which weighed 60 lbs. ; also some Davis seedlings which
were very perfect, and it is said they do not rot.

The ladies' department was well arranged, and the articles
showed good taste in design, manufacture, and display.

There were twenty specimens of butter, and as many of
bread, and New England over can't produce any better dis-
play of the staff of life and the indipensable article from the
churn, than the ladies of Middlesex brought together. Such
wives and daughters may well be called " useful ornaments,"
the pride of their husbands and fathers.

At one o'clock a procession was formed and proceeded to the
Town Hall, where about three hundred partook of a good
dinner worthy of the occasion. After feasting upon the good
things which were abundant, Mr. President Keyes called the
house to order, and introduced to the audience the Rev. Mr.
Babbidge, of Pepperell, who delivered an address, full of inter-
est, sliowing a knowledge in the science of agriculture.

The toast-master was then introduced, and by a sentiment

31*

242 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

called out His Excellency the Governor of the Commonwealth,
who spoke some twenty minutes, interesting the audience touch-
ing the subject of agriculture.

Other men were called out who interested the audience.
Among the rest Benjamin Dix, " relic of another age," who
is ninety-one years old, retaining all his faculties in a remark-
able manner— one of the originators of the society in 1798, and
had attended every anniversary during the whole time. This
is the oldest society in the State ; it was chartered in 1802.

The dinner table is an interesting part of this annual gath-
ering. The farmers, with their wives and daughters, set down
together, enjoy an hour or two around the festive board is a
privilege.

There is an influence for good in drawing men together ; not
only farmers, but mechanics, manufacturers, professional and
commercial men, breaking down the walls of partition, and we
are brought to feel that we are one great family, and there is
one great interest in which all are dependent — the success of
the farmer. When they prosper all prosper.

And finally it was the best managed exhibition and fair
throughout I have ever attended. One day's duration. Every
thing done in order, in season, and well done. No rows, no
drimkenness, all civility. And now I have only to thank the
officers of this society for their kind hospitality.

Justus Tower.

MIDDLESEX NORTH.

The undersigned attended the third annual exhibition of the
Middlesex North Agricultural Society, at Lowell, on the 16th
of September, as representative of the State Board of Agricul-
ture, and was most cordially received and hospitably entertained
by the officers and other gentlemen of the society.

The day was fine, and the exhibition of a character to do
honor to the society and promote the interests of Agriculture.

The exhibition ground of the society, which was purchased
last year at fifty dollars per acre, is situated on the line of the
Boston and Lowell Railroad, about a mile from the city of

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 243

Lowell, and is inclosed by a high and siibstantiar wooden fence.
It has a pine grove at the north end, and an evenly-graded
half-mile track for the exhibition of cattle and horses.

Portions of the ground were judiciously assigned for plough-
ing, cattle-pens, exhibition of swine, poultry, &c., and the
trials and the examinations by committees, came off at the
times specified in the programme, so that before one o'clock,
the examinations had closed, and a procession had formed on
the ground to proceed to the dinner table.

The ploughing match commenced at 9 o'clock, and was well
contested. There were twelve competitors for the premiums,
three single and nine double teams, which were, in general,
well trained, and performed their work with very little use of
the whip. The ground ploughed consisted of a light, sandy
loam, and perfectly free from all obstructions.

Your delegate did not witness tlie trials of strength and
training of working oxen and horses, which took place immedi-
ately after the ploughing, as the time had arrived for him to
witness the exhibition at the hall, but he was credibly informed
that they were highly successful and satisfactory to those
immediately interested, and that they attracted the attention of
a large crowd of spectators.

The pens were well filled with the v;. :-ious breeds of foreign
and native stock, to the number of about one hundred and
twenty-five, and there were many very fine specimens. Among
the twenty-seven bulls exhibited, " Napoleon," a fine Alderney,
stood pre-eminent, and attracted great attention. He was three
years and three months old, was raised in Roxbury, and owned
by Mr. W. Spencer. The cows were of good appearance, and
a few had the reputation of being great milkers.

A pair of four years old steers, owned by G. Roby, of Dun-
stable, were large, well matched, and attracted much notice.

The swine exhibited were of rare excellence — the Suffolk
and Mackay blood seemed to predominate ; a sow and thirteen
pigs, owned by Mr. Joseph Richardson, of Dracut, were of the
first class, as were also several specimens of swine owned by
A. G. Sheldon, of Wilmington.

In the pine grove were exhibited a large number and great
variety of domestic fowls, as turkeys, Bremen geese, ducks,
hens of various breeds, and pigeons, all of fine appearance.

244 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

Some hens of the Spanish variety, were very large and beauti-
ful. There were seen, also, in the grove, several tribes of
smaller animals, as rabbits, Guinea pigSj and swarms of bees.
The bees were lodged in a patent hive called the Common
Sense Hive, combiuing a brood and a store hive. They were
owned by a Virginian.

The exhibition of fruits, vegetables, bread, butter, needle-
work, &c., which took place at Central Hall, was of a character
to be admired by the lovers of choice fruits, and by such as
can duly appreciate symmetry and order in arrangement. The
exhibition was by no means extensive, biit the specimens were
so fine and so judiciously arranged, as to give to the whole an
appearance of great beauty.

The mechanic arts were not very fully represented, owing,
probably, to the exhibition of the Mechanic Association, which
was being held in the city at the same time ; there were, how-
ever, some very superior specimens of mechanical skill. The
bread, butter, and needle-work, were highly creditable to the
skill, industry, and correct taste of the ladies of Middlesex
North.

At half past one, the society, with a respectable number of
ladies and its invited guests, among whom were His Excellency
Gov. Gardner, Hon. N. P. Banks, Hon. C. L. Knapp, and otlier
distinguished gentlemen, sat down to a sumptuous entertain-
ment at French's Hall, and when the demands of the physical
nature had been supplied, enjoyed an intellectual repast from
E. F. Sherman, Esq., which, though not strictly an agricultural
address, was, nevertheless, a matter of general interest. It
was an essay on the kinds and qualities of human food.

Several sentiments were then announced by Mr. Wightman,
toast-master for the occasion, which were promptly responded
to, and the reading of the reports of the committees closed the
exercises of the day.

Perfect order prevailed through the day, in every department
of the exhibition, and no specimen of intemperance came under
the observation of your delegate.

0. 0. Felton.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 245

MIDDLESEX SOUTH.

The undersigned was delegated, by the Massachusetts Board
of Agriculture, to visit the annual show and exhibition of the
Middlesex South Agricultural Society, in September last. In
performance of the duty imposed by this appointment, I was
present on the second day of the exhibition, the first day having
been very rainy and uncomfortable.

The society appeared to be active, energetic and ambitious.
The officers are interested in their duties, and efficient and
capable. The grounds of the society are not sufficiently exten-
sive to enable them to concentrate all the parts of their exhibi-
tion upon a single point. There is not room there for the
ploughing match, and for some other of the operations of the
annual exhibitions. The hall of the society is well arranged
and adapted for its purposes, though not yet completed.

The show of cattle and swine was excellent. The exhibition
of horses was not extensive. The display of fruits was very
fine, especially of apples. The character and variety of vege-
tables shown was superior.

The popular interest in the festival appeared to be general
and deep. Large numbers of persons visited the grounds, and
attended the annual dinner. An eloquent and suggestive
address, on the finer aspects of agricultural life and its litera-
ture, was delivered by Rev. T. Starr King, and brief speeches
were made by other gentlemen.

On the whole the anniversary was successful and profitable,
and this society is entitled to be considered among the useful
associations connected with the great interest of agriculture.

Geo. Marston.

246 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

WORCIJSTER WEST.

The animal exhibition of tlic Worcester West Society, took
place at Barre, September 17th ; and I considered it a favor to
be delegated to that section of the Commonwealth, as I long
have had a desire to extend my acquaintance to a locality so
noted for their fine cattle, and superior daily products.

I suppose that the main object of the Board in appointing
delegates to the agricultural exhibitions, is to learn what is the
condition of the art, what improvements have been made, and
what improvements are most required.

It is obvious that such investigations can at present only be
an approach to some definite result ; but it is in the highest
degree encouraging that some facts have already been brought
out in respect to the increase of crops, and the vast economy of
labor-saving machines that are of great value.

The day selected was unfavorable as far as the weather was
concerned ; but I was told that the number of persons in attend-
ance was nearly equal to an average of previous exhibitions.

At their ploughing match the furrows were turned to a good
depth, the work unusually well done, showing a great degree
of skill, good ploughs, and well-trained teams.

In the cattle department, the most prominent animal was a
thorough-bred Durham bull, wliose symmetrical proportions
made him an object of universal admiration ; he was owned by
William Robinson, Jr., of Barre. There were several other
fine bulls on .exhibition, most of them of the Durham grade.

There was a large number of cows on exhibition, and of a
superior quality. They were most of them of the Durham
cross, showing convincing proof that although the high-bred
Durhams maybe, as is generally supposed, poor milkers, a cross
with this breed has given us some of the most valuable animals
for the dairy.

There was a large show of working cattle, and young stock,
many of them worthy of especial notice.

The swine and sheep were not largely represented, but showed
some excellent specimens of the former ; I believe, without an
exception, of the Suffolk breed.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 247

Among the horses, although the rain kept a great number of
them in the barn, we found some fine animals, one of them, a
beautiful gelding, owned by Joseph Wilson, Esq., of Petersham,
in which speed, endurance, and perfect form, were wonderfully
combined.

The usual in-door exhibition, consisting of manufactured
articles, fruits, vegetables, &c., made an excellent display and
were much admired ; but I only found time to notice the most
prominent feature of this department, namely, the products of
tlie dairy. There was a large quantity of butter and cheese of
a quality well calculated to sustain the high reputation that has
for a long time been awarded to' this portion of the county.

At an appointed hour a procession was formed, which pro-
ceeded to the Town Hall, to partake of the usual annual din-
ner, after which a highly instructive address was delivered by
Prof. Nash, of New York, editor of the " Plough, Loom and
Anvil."

As the address and dinner necessarily occupied nearly one
half of the day, my time was so limited that there was undoubt-
edly mucli of interest that I was unable to give more than a
casual glance at, if it did not entirely escape my observation.

I would respectfully notice one or two matters in which
improvements are required.

The society needs more than one day for its exhibition, and
the address should be free to all without incurring the necessity
of attending a dinner.

I am much indebted to John G*. Mudge, Esq., of Petersham,
for his kind attention, and for enabling me to visit every depart-
ment of the show with as little inconvenience as an incessant
rain would permit.

Thomas J. Field.

WORCESTER NORTH.

Agreeably to appointment of the State Board of Agriculture,
the undersigned attended the annual exhibition of this society
at the town of Fitchburg, on the second day of October, being
its jfifth anniversary.

248 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

The interest taken in the cause of agriculture, in "Worcester
County, was fully displayed in this section ; a large number of
persons attended the show.

The Common and Main Street, as well as the hotel yard,
being used by the society to display the working oxen, horses
and farm stock.

The upper story of the town hall was occupied with fruits,
fancy articles, vegetables, &c., &c. The dinner table was spread
in the hall below. After which, an eloquent address was deliv-
ered at the table by Mr. Tower, of Lanesborough, member of
this Board.

Over five hundred and fifty animals were entered on exhibi-
tion, among which honorable mention may be made of two
strings of town teams of working oxen, comprising thirty-eight
pairs of remarkable cattle ; those from Leomhister were the best,
as a whole, I have ever seen.

Of steers and steer calves, eighty-four were offered, and many
promising specimens might be seen, which fact indicates a
departure from the shameful custom which too many of our
farmers have adopted of late years, in disposing of all their
calves to the butcher, and depending on Brighton to make up
their stocks of cattle.

If our farmers want good oxen they must raise and break to
work more of their best calves, which latter can be, readily, by
the boys, or worked in with their older cattle.

One pair of steer calves only six months old were shown,
already yoked up, kindly endeavoring to catch the word of
command from the proud lad who had them in training.

Sixty-six heifers and calves, also twenty-eight bulls and bull
calves, were among the entries.

Some thirty cows in milk, many of which were good, a few
rather ordinary in appearance, but said to possess good quali-
ties.

Some fat cattle were exhibited, about twenty head; but, on
the whole, wanting a little more meal to come up to first
quality.

In the pens and wagons were about eighty hogs and pigs,
some of which were handsome and thrifty, but the breeding
sows generally were quite too fat to be of much value as such.

Many of our prominent farmers have got to learn that/a^ is

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 249

a bad mark on a breeding sow, boar, milch cow, or fast horse,
and the several committees appointed at our county shows,
ought to condemn the practice of over-feeding with grain young
animals intended to be ui?ed as breeders.

The working oxen performed well, were not over-loaded, and
not too mucli whipped as usual at such trials.

Nearly fifty sheep were in the pens, the number being too
small ; without sheep much of our land is of little or no value,
still our flocks annually decrease. Will not our farmers try
sheep once more, (without getting up a Merino fever,) and
suitably fence their lands and look out for their dogs. No
animals pay better for the capital invested, than small flocks of
well-selected sheep.

Of horses, mares and colts, eighty-five appeared ; the mares
were of the right kind generally. There was no fast driving or
racing on the grounds, however some of the animals seemed
willing to move at a fast gait if so ordered.

Excellent specimens of apples, pears, peaches, grapes, &c.,
were shown in the hall, also a good assortment of squashes,
vegetables, <fec., &c., which indicates an interest in the orchard
and garden, lost sight of by too many. A good vegetable gar-
den well attended, helps the housewife to many a dinner, and
fills up the pork tubs more readily and cheaply than any other
way.

A pair of mules were shown^; exhibiting wonderful powers of
strength. These animals are readily raised, live a long time,
often thirty to forty years ; are easily kept, and would be a
valuable addition to many of our large farmers, as well as fill
the city and town teams where stock-raising is not desirable.

This society would find it much to its interest to purchase a
lot of land, adorn it with shade trees, and erect a substantial
building in which to hold its exhibitions, where the farmers,
mechanics and merchants, with their wives and daughters, may
meet and enjoy the annual holiday.

The annual increase of value of such a lot and building,
would, iji the end, give a fair return to the society, as well as
give this flourishing town a parade ground and hall suitable
for public gatherings.

The ploughing-match I did not witness, but learned that it
32»

250 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

was well contested, and the work satisfactorily performed —
about twenty teams being engaged.

On the whole the sliow passed off admirably. The officers
of the society were all attention to the contributors and invited
guests.

Tiie example of this young society would be worthy of imi-
tation by some older county societies, where the horticultural
and horse shows far exceed the display of farm stock.

W. G. Lewis.

WORCESTER SOUTH.

The third annual exhibition of the Worcester South Agri-
cultural Society, was held at Sturbridge, on the 30th day of
September. The undersigned, a delegate from the State Board
of Agriculture, in making this report, takes pleasure in stating
that this branch of the Worcester County Society is in a most
flourishing condition. The exhibition of this year fell upon one
of the finest autumnal days of the season. The attendance was
large and the exhibition exceeded the most sanguine expecta-
tions. It was gratifying to witness the farmers and mechanics,
with their wives and daugliters, standing foremost as exhibitors
and competitors at the fair, giving assurance that they recog-
nized it as peculiarly their oivn in its beginning and consequence.
The ploughing match was held at 9 o'clock A. M. on the day of
the fair, and although there were but six competitors for
ploughing, there was a fine display of skill in this important
department of farm labor and seemed to be witnessed by a large
assemblage of the hardy yeomanry of that section of the State.

Then came the drawing match, which was engaged in with
much spirit by competitors to the admiration of all observers.
It was interesting to see the skilful teamster and the well
trained oxen perform in this department of the show.

The exhibition of horses, although not large, was respectable
in numbers, and character, without absorbing the whole interest
of the occasion.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 251

The sliow of stock in the different classes was not large, but
in many respects of a superior quality ; twenty-six bulls, eighty-
one cows, and heifers, with forty yokes of oxen entered for
exhibition and premium. Of swine, sheep and poultry, there
was a fair exhibition, but not of a superior grade. Although
there were no thorough -bred animals upon exhibition, except
the herd of twelve animals entered l)y Simeon F. Marsh, of
Sturbridge, all of the Devon breed, and the full blood short-horn
bull, owned by S. R. Burroughs, of Warren, yet the grade stock
on exhibition would do honor to the show of any society. There
was a bull belonging to William Adams, of West Brookfield,
and one to E. T. Brooks, of Sturbridge, of the Durham grade.
And of this class of stock there would seem to be no necessity
of looking farther to satisfy any fancier of this kind of animals ;
but our attention was called to two animals belonging to Daniel
Dwight, Jr., of Dudley, one bull, two years old, weighing 1,533
pounds ; also, one bull calf, seven montlis old, weighing 742
pounds, of tlie Devon grade, without the usual objection to that
kind of stock. The cows and heifers on exhibition were many
of them such as would be called fancy stock. The number of
fat cattle was not large, yet the cattle were large ; indeed,
besides one pair of oxen four years old, belonging to William
Harwood, of Charlton, which weighed 3,964 pounds, there were
other fine specimens of fat cattle but not of a very superior
class. The show of dairy products, bread, fruits, vegetables,
domestic and mechanical productions, which was held at the
town hall, was very creditable and elicited much praise from the
crowd of visitors. There were some very fine paintings, as well
as other miscellaneous and fancy articles exhibited, which
showed there was skill, taste, and mechanic art within their
borders. The thirty specimens of bread and twenty-one spec-
imens of butter and cheese were sufficient to satisfy the greatest
epicure.

Messrs. Bond and Damon, of North Brookfield, exhibited 134
varieties of apples and pears. Amasa Walker, of North Brook-
field, 89 varieties of pears and apples, with contributions, from
L. Hammond, J. M. Belknap, E. Twichell, and others, giving
the hall the appearance of a fruitful season, notwithstanding the
common saying to the contrary. The amount of manufactured
articles was large and mostly of a permanent character.

252 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

The annual address was given by the Rev. Mr. Preston, of a
neighborhig village, upon tlie dignity of labor. No comments
need be made upon the address but to recommend its publica-
tion for the the benefit of the laboring man.

After the services in the church a procession vi^as formed and
escorted by the marshals of the day to the public house, where
at 3 o'clock P. M., the out.vard man seemed ready to feast, as
there was an abundance of the good things before him to enable
him to do so. After the dinner a few reports of committees
were made and an adjournment to the church for tlie remaining
reports ; and this closing part of the festival your delegate was
obliged to deny himself the pleasure of hearing for the want of
time. The exhibition as a whole was decidedly successful.
And in justice to the officers of this society the undersigned
would express his gratitude for the friendly and respectful
manner he was received and aided in his interesting duties.

JosiAH White.

WORCESTER.

In obedience to the duty allotted to me by the Board of
Agriculture, I attended the thirty-ninth annual exhibition of
the Worcester Agricultural Society, as delegate from the Board.
The exhibition was held on Wednesday and Thursday, the 23d
and 24tli of September, upon the grounds of the society, in the
westerly part of the city of Worcester. A heavy rain had
fallen during the night and morning previous to the show,
which accounted, in part, for the absence of the multitude
which I expected to meet upon the grounds. Notwithstanding
the acknowledged zeal of the president and officers of the
society, in the cause of agriculture, I confess that tlie first
thought upon approaching the exhibition was one of disappoint
ment. Owing to the number of agricultural societies among
which the county of Worcester is divided, but more on account
of the almost entire diversion of agricultural products and

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 253

implements, domestic articles, and fruits and vegetables, to the
Horticultural Exliibition, and the Mechanics' Fair, the exhibi-
tion of til e Worcester Agricultural Society is left almost entirely
to the claims of horses and stock. But in these departments,
but more especially the latter, 1 have reason to believe, the
show was unrivalled by any county society in this State. Tlie
removal of the exhibition from tlic more central portion of the
city, and the organization of the other societies, which hold
their exhibitions near the tlironged thoroughfares of the city,
arc certainly unfortunate for the agricultural society, and I
think, will be found of no ultimate benefit to the other organi-
zations. The charm of much of our county exhibitions is,
that they contain something which attracts all tastes ; and one
of their greatest means of usefulness is, that by their rarity, he
who is called to the exhibition by his interest in one depart-
ment, becomes attracted and instructed by the display of another.
More interest in matters pertaining to agriculture, has been
created by the agricultural societies than in any other way.
But that interest is excited in the minds of those who come
with no well-defined object, perhaps for the mere love of seeing
the multitude. Divide these societies into so many depart-
ments, each with a separate exhibition, and you at once devote
each of them to the pleasure and profit of those only who are
already interested in that department, and are connoiseurs or
experts in that divisioji of labor which it encourages. Unless
our exhibitions have this variety of display, they are lost to the
people, as an instrument of culture. Few men, in our State,
can devote themselves to a single department of agriculture.
We must become not only the farmer, the stock-raiser, the
ploughman and the teamster, but we must attract the farmer's
boy, the man-servant and the maid-servant, and stranger that
is within our gates. All have much to learn, and each has
something to impart.

The Worcester exhibition was remarkable for the quantity
as well as the quality of tlie stock. The whole number of
entries was four hundred and fifty, and exceeded those of the
year previous, when the exhibition was held in connection with
the show of the State society.

Of the stock, much attention seemed to have been paid by the
exhibitors as well as the public, to the display of bulls, in

254 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

wliicli tlic towns of Barre and Princeton, seem to take a high
rank. Mr. William Robinson, Jr.'s bull, of Barre, of the Durham
hreed, which was on exhibition at the State Fair, was well wor-
thy of the first prize for bulls over three years of age, which it
obtained ; and Mr. Samuel Ellsworth, of the same town, pre-
sented the best full-blooded yearling Durham bull, which was
regarded as one of the finest specimens of that blood owned in
the State, ]\Ir, John Brooks, Jr., of Princeton, exhibited a
great variety of stock which is now well known to all who are
interested in agriculture in the State. Ayrshire, Alderney, and
grade stock were found in abundance. Governor Lincoln exhi-
bited an Alderney, a Durham, and an Ayrshire cow, and
plainly expressed his preference for the Durham breed for milk-
ers, in our climate. Mr. Brooks is inclined to favor the Ayr-
shire ; whilst Mr. Salisbury and others who exhibit the Alder-
ney, candidly express their doubts concerning them as a source
of profit in Massachusetts. We were glad to notice that some
of the best stock was raised as well as owned in the city of
Worcester.

A spirited competition in the driving and drawing of work-
ing oxen closed the exhibitions in the field for the first day.
But I was shocked with the constant outcry, and use of the
whip by some of the teamsters, which we cannot too much dis-
courage. An excellent dinner in the hall of the society closed
the festivities of the day.

The second day was given up to an exhibition of horses, under
the patronage of a committee of gentlemen, who offered the
premiums, and not under the strict control of the society.

Li the evening, Mr. John Brooks, the president of the society,
entertained the farmers of Worcester County at the Lincoln
House.

I cannot close this report without rendering my acknowledg-
ments to the officers of the Horticultural Society, as well as to
Mr. Brooks, for their kindness in affording every facility for
seeing what was worthy at their several exhibitions. The dis-
play at the Horticultural Fair, especially in apples and pears,
was remarkable. Some fine specimens of the Rebecca grape,
sufficiently attested their superiority in flavor to any grape of
open culture, which has yet been raised in New England.

Charles G. Davis.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 255

HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN.

Theanniial exhibition of the Hampshire, Franklin and Hamp-
den Agricultural Society, was held at Northampton on the
sixth and seventh days of October. This was its thirty-ninth
anniversary, and, though three soci sties have been incorporated
within its bounds since its organijation, it is in a prosperous
condition.

Order and decorum prevailed throughout the entire exhi-
bition.

The farmers with their families were there in goodly num-
bers.

The exhibition of stock occupied the first day. About four
hundred head of cattle were entered, comprising some fifty fat
oxen and for the stall, which may well be the pride of Connec-
ticut River Valley farmers. We do not remember ever to
have seen in the aggregate a better show of oxen. There were
three town strmg, sixty-five pairs in all, mostly very choice
working oxen.

Of young and miscellaneous stock there was a good show.
Several good Durham bulls were on the ground.

The society offer no premiums for distinct races or breeds,
which may account for the fact that there was not much pure
blood stock to attract, attention, except the herd exhibited by
"Wells Lathrop, of South Badley, with the following statement :

" I offer for exhibition and premium my Yarico tribe of
thorough-bred short-horns. They consist of the original cow,
Yarico, now fourteen years old, six of her heifers which she
produced in succession without a bull intervening, and nine
animals, the produce of these heifers. They number in all six-
teen animals, viz. : fourteen cows, heifers and heifer calves, and
two bull calves. The two latter, with five of the heifers and
heifer calves, were sired by Kirkleavington, 1st, 610 (11640),
and I believe they do him full justice. The old cow descended
from the very superior milking family of short-horns, which
were imported and bred by the late Stephen Williams, of North-
borough, Mass., and both she and six of her family, which now
are or have been in milk, prove to be excellent milkers. I have
never disposed of a female of this tribe."

256 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

A cow, grade Durham, eight years old, weighing 1,500 lbs.,
owned by Erastus Cowles, of Hatfield, it Avas stated gave 52 lbs.
of milk per day, from which was made in one week in May,
21 lbs. 2 oz. of butter, and 12 lbs. in September.

The exhibition of sheep was not large, and it is said that if
the statistics of dogs were taken, they would show numerically
quite too large for the well-being of this docile and useful
animal.

Of swine there were few.

We regret to say that the ploughing match was omitted in
the programme.

The exhibition and trial of horses was on the second day.
About a hundred horses and colts were on the ground, many of
them good ; but as a whole, the show of horses would not com-
pare favorably with that of the cattle.

The hall was well filled with the product of the dairy, bread,
vegetables, fruits, flowers ; specimens of mechanical skill, and
fancy and useful articles by the ladies.

The address by the Hon. A. H. Bullock, was of a high order,
and full of instruction. But we must be allowed to say that
while there was a very respectable audience of farmers with
their families, we looked around the clmrch in vain, and at the
dinner table, for the men of other professions and pursuits, with
their wives and daughters.

To show the depreciation in the potato crop, the president,
who had recently examined the early records of the society,
stated that there were reports of between five and six hundred,
and between six and seven hundred bushels raiscJd upon an
acre.

L. SWEETSER.

HAMPSHIRE.

The Hampshire Agricultural Society held its eighth annual
fair at Amherst, on the 15th and 16th days of October, and it
was admitted by all present to have been its best.

The first day was devoted to the exhibition of stock. Nearly
four hundred cattle were on the ground. Of fat oxen the

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 257

number was quite too fmall, and we are sure the farmers did
not do themselves justice in this department. There were three
town teams, one from Amherst, of 56 yokes ; Hadley, 48 ;
South Hadley, 24 : every pair of the latter were good, many
superior, the whole averaging 3,300 pounds a pair.

It was gratifying to witness the interest the farmers mani-
fested in bringing out their young stock, steers, heifers, and
calves ; in this respect the show was far in advance of former
ones, and indicates increased inteiest and improvement since
the society was established.

Of slieep there were only four entries.

There were fifteen entries of swine, mostly improved breeds,
and of excellent quality.

In no former year has there been so extensive or attractive
an exhibition at the hall. There were some 800 plates of fruit ;
of apples we have seldom seen a finer display. Some very
choice grapes, raised under glass, by Mr. Sage, of Ware, and
several varieties of pease were worthy of notice.

The one hundred entries of vegetables were all that could be
desired in quantity and quality.

Bread, butter, cheese, and honey were there in great profu-
sion, and of the choicest quality.

There were over two hundred entries under the head of fine
arts and fancy articles, and quite too few of real utility.

There were nineteen competitors for premiums on ploughing,
single and double teams, with Michigan double, and various other
ploughs. In nearly every instance the ploughing was done by
men owning the teams, who showed great skill and experience.

The horse show occupied the forenoon of the second day.
The society own no grounds, but streets and common afford
ample room for such trials as the society desires. There has
been a marked improvement in this part of the exhibition within
a few years.

The address was delivered by Hon. A. H. Bullock, of Wor-
' cester, to a very large and deeply interested audience. Subject,
"• Division of labor ; the model State." While he allowed
that great improvement had been made in the agriculture of
the State, he did not think it had kept pace with manufactures
and the mechanic arts.

Dinner and speeches closed the occasion.

3o*

258 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

The weather was fine, and the village was crowded with peo-
ple during the two days of the exliibition. The professor left
his chair, the student his books, and men of all occupations,
with a pleasing proportion of ladies, joined with the farmers in
the celebration.

L. SWEETSER.

HAMPDEN EAST AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

In accordance with the appointment of the Board of Agricul-
ture, I attended the exhibition of the Hampden East Agricul-
tural Society, which was held in the town of Palmer, on
Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 6th and 7th.

After arriving iipon the ground, during the forenoon of
Tuesday, I made diligent search for some one of the officers of
the society, but no one knowing of their whereabouts, and
being unable to find any published programme of operations,
or learn from inquiry what was the order of arrangements, I
was necessarily left to proceed on a voyage of discovery.

Upon visiting the stock pens, I found a good looking collec-
tion of neat stock and swine, and a very good display of sheep.
I had no difficulty in making my way about, for although there
was a very fair collection of people in attendance, yet the
vicinity of the pens was generally deserted. The explanation
of this want of interest on the part of visitors, I afterwards
found to consist in the superior attractions presented by certain
collections of serpents, wild men, peddlers, &c., all vicing with
each other in enticing the crowd of spectators away from the
legitimate exhibition which had drawn them together.

The ploughing match I had no opportunity of witnessing.
By accident I learned of the trial of working oxen, and was
present. Although, as animals for purposes of draft, their
performance was creditable, yet when they came to back a load
weighing about 4,200 lbs., up a slight ascent, a sad want of
training was manifest. Instead of the driver quietly giving
them the word, which is sufficient with properly trained oxen,
the whip was generally applied without stint before the animals
were prepared to answer the demand upon them, and in some

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 259

cases even before the word was heard. What can a pair of
oxen be expected to do, if, at every second step, they are obliged
to dodge a stroke of the lash applied about the head and face ?
Such management is entirely inconsistent with a sti'ong, per-
sistent effort, such as is required in the operation of backing a
load, and the result of its indulgence upon the driver, is to
develop the more unpleasant phase of his temper, and assist
him in forgetting the third commandment. The ox is natu-
rally somewhat slow in bringing his strength fully to bear upon
any obstacle, but at the same time he is usually quite willing
to exert himself to the utmost in attaining any object required
of him. What is wanting, is a mutual understanding between
the teamster and the team. Let the teamster appreciate the
ability and capacity of his team, and the oxen on their part
comprehend the wants of the teamster, then, with the applica-
tion of a moiety of that kindness to the bovine race which
exerts so important an influence upon the human character,
the consequence cannot be otherwise than gratifying to all
concerned.

In the vestry of the neighboring church were displayed the
various productions of the farm, garden, orchard, dairy, &c.
The collection of vegetables, though not extensive, was yet of
a very superior character. Unusually large and a^cU grown
specimens of pumpkins, squashes, carrots, parsnips, cabbages,
beets, (fee, presented a very fine appearance, and are seldom
excelled. Various grains and other seed products were very
creditable. In the matter of fruits, appearances indicated that
there is much room for progress. Although there were a few
contributions that would have been excellent any where, yet, as
a genei'al thing, the fruits were not well grown, and in a num-
ber of instances, common varieties were misnamed. This will
no doubt be corrected as further knowledge and experience are
acquired. A nursery firm from North Brookfield, luade a dis-
play of upwards of fifty varieties of the pear, many of which,
however, would not tend to increase the enthusiasm of culti-
vators of that princely fruit.

The products of the dairy and kitchen were well represented,
and wore an inviting appearance. There was rather a meagre
display of fancy work, and of manufactured productions I saw
hardly any thing.

260 BOxiRD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

On Wednesday the outside attraction was the exiiibition of
carriage horses, in which class there were some fine animals
presented. At about one o'clock, a very good audience were
asseml)led in the church, for the purpose of listening to an
address from W. C. Goldthwaite, Esq., of Longmeadow. The
address, as .a whole, was a very well written production, con-
taining many practical suggestions, but marred by occasional
allusions entirely out of taste on sucli an occasion. At the
close of tlie address, tlie secretary read the awards of the sev
eral committees, during which I was obliged to leave and forego
the pleasure of being present at the dinner, which was to take
place immediately.

The weather during both days was delightful, though cool
enough to make an overcoat a convenient article of dress.

Jabez Fisher.

FRANKLIN.

In accordance with the appointment of the Board of Agr
culture, I attended the cattle show and fair of the Franklin
County Society, on the 23d and 24th days of September last.
The weather the day previous and tlie morning of the first day
of the gathering was such, that in the opinion of those compe-
tent to judge, about one-third of the animals and other articles
designed for the fair did not come upon the grounds. Late in
the morning the village of Greenfield was enlivened by the
entrance from the various avenues of men with their families,
their herds of animals, and various other articles designed to
grace the show grounds and the hall.

The several committees designated by appropriate badges, a
feature not general in all county shows, but one worthy of gen-
eral imitation, proceeded to the duties assigned them at a later
hour than usual, on account of the delay occasioned by the
inclemency of the weather, which crowded the whole examina-
tion of the stock, other than horses, into a very narrow space
of time.

1858.] SENATE- No. 4. 261

The examination of stock took place about one mile from the
village, upon the trotting park, on Petty's Plain. And the exhi-
bition of fruit, vegetables, bread, butter, cheese, maple sugar,
and other articles for use and ornament were tastefully arranged
under a committee composed partly of ladies, at Washington
Hall, in the village.

After an introduction to the president, Mr. Fogg, and other
gentlemen, by my friends Mr. Field and the secretary, Mr. Gren-
nell, we proceeded to the park, where the animals were on exhi-
bition. After passing around hastily among the swine, sheep,
poultry, young cattle of various grades, working oxen, and
steers three years old and younger ; two town teams from Shel-
burne and Deerfield, the only ones noticed by me, though it
was said, by some misunderstanding, the Greenfield town team
was not seasonably collected and brought upon the ground,
my attention was called to a pair of oxen of Mr. Parmenter, of
Greenfield ; if those were a fair sample of the oxen in Green-
field, as to size and quality, it would be hard for even Shelburne
to beat them.

At two o'clock, Ave proceeded to the grounds assigned for the
ploughing match. And here I must say, for the first time since
I commenced an examination, I was disappointed. After view-
ing such noble oxen and steers three and four years old, large
enough for a single pair, to break up any common sward land,
only two double teams of oxen and three pair of horses con-
tended for the premiums.

If the only object of a ploughing match is to show hurried
work, perhaps as many were there as could be profitably
employed ; but if the true object of a contest in ploughing is
carried out, — such as an exhibition of the most perfect skill in
workmanship, by running straight and even furrows of the
required depth, a proper training of the team employed, together
with the opportunity offered for a display of all the various
models of ploughs now in the market, which the farmers of the
county can avail themselves of at an exhibition like this more
readily than in any other way, by comparison not only of the
appearance and workmanship of the plough, but also ot its
actual working in the soil, a selection of an article adapted to
their particular farms can be judiciously made. The teams
upon the ground were first rate and the work well done.

262 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

After the ploughing was completed I went back to the park
with a view of making a more particular examination of the
stock, by comparing the merits of seven families which had
been reared from Durhams and other imported stock and
grades, but upon arriving upon the ground the cattle had all
been removed, as by a rule of the society the several owners of
stock are allowed to take them from the grounds the first day of
the show at two o'clock. I think this arrangement is a great
mistake.

In a county where so much fine stock is reared, undoubtedly
there must be a preference among the descendents of the
several grades. One benefit of bringing the different herds
together should be to afford an opportunity to institute those
comparisons which cannot be done in the space of one short
forenoon, as most of the time of the competitors is taken up in
showing the stock to the several committees.

I know of no way the farmers of any stock growing county
could spend a day more profitably than by examining with care
the particular properties of all tlie animals upon the ground ;
and besides it might be made a fair for exchange and sale as the
ordinary wants of the farming community demand at this season
of the year. To accomplish this most desirable end, the society
ought to own inclosed land, with pens and sheds. Hay and
straw might be furnished by the society at a very small cost ;
thus the cattle might be kept over night, and great opportu-
nities would be afforded to examine, compare, exchange, buy
and sell cattle.

I have made the foregoing suggestions for the consideration
of the Franklin County Society, and trust that if they are enti-
tled to any consideration they will receive due attention.

If it were desirable, of which I have some doubts, to go into
a particular description? of how the premiums were awarded,
and the merits of particular animals, the close examination
required to give any description which could be reliable, was
altogether beyond my reach, owing to the little time allotted to
this part of the show. Suffice it to say, that the stock as a
whole was of a superior quality. Three year old steers weigh-
ing from 3,000 to 3,800 lbs., and four years old and other oxen
equally beyond the ordinary weight, well matched and showing
great skill in breeding. I should judge from the appearance of

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 263

many of the steers, that they might be the progeny of a bull of
Mr. Anderson, of Shelburne, known as the Northumberland,
and if I have rightly traced his pedigree, is second from a bull
imported by Mr. Prentice, of Albany, and is considered a pure
Durham. There was also a young Durham bull from Mr.
Lothrop's stock, of South Hadley. Also an older one said to be
Durham, known as Champion ; there were also Jersey and grade
bulls partaking more or less of the five distinct varieties of
a comparatively late importation of cattle. There was a herd
of Jersey cattle imported by George Bird, Esq., of New York
city, consisting of cows, bulls, and heifers, from Mr. Stoughton,
of Gill ; also another herd from the farm of Gov. Cushman, of
Bernardston, representing seven generations, and showing no
deterioration as they have come along down ; they are grades
having incorporated in them the blood of the Durham and
Devon with what are sometimes called native, a term which one
Essex man has defined as meaning stock which you can't prove
to be any thing else.

I did not notice among the several flocks of sheep on exhibi-
tion, more than one animal that I considered a full blood, and
that was a ram of the South Down variety; there might have
been others. There were in the pens some fine grade sheep.

The articles in the hall did credit to the farmers, the farmers'
wives and daughters of Franklin County, and their success on
this occasion is sufficient to encourage them to persevere and
keep up the interest already awakened.

The second day of the show was more particularly directed
to the exhibition of that noble and useful animal the horse. A
large number of stallions, breeding mares and colts, of various
ages were shown, which shows that the county are turning their
attention to this portion of farm stock. From all the examina-
tion I was enabled to make, there did not seem to be that sys-
tem in breeding which was so marked in the rearing of cattle.
In the rearing of the cattle there seemed to be a standard, per-
fect form, large size, and disposition to fatten. The colts
seemed to come up rather accidental ; they had no stallions or
mares ; although they might be considered good, they were not
particularly prominent. There were colts among the collection
that will make valuable horses, that will command high prices.

The committee on horses examined those broken to the liar-

264 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

ness, at various rates of speed to test their qualities, but nothing
was witnessed that would disturb the sensibility of the most
fastidious on the question of fast drivhig.

Before twelve o'clock a procession was formed and proceeded
to the Brick Church, to hear the address of Mr. Quincy. And
the mention of the orator's name is guarantee enough that we
had an instructive and interesting production.

After the exercise in the church the procession repaired to
Franklin Hall, where a bountiful and sumptuous dinner was
provided and partaken of by the invited guests, the citizens of
Franklin County, their wives and daughters. At a suitable
time the president of the society called the assembly to order,
and in appropriate form congratulated the society upon the emi-
nent success of the show, notwithstanding the rain of the previ-
ous days, and called upon Mr. Grennell, as toast-master, to
read the sentiments which had been prepared for the occasion,
which were responded to by various gentlemen present.

The number of persons present was estimated at from six to
eight thousand. And considering the number of people assem-
bled, every thing passed off in a quiet and orderly manner, doing
great credit to the good taste and moral feeling of those engaged
in the enterprise.

I should do injustice to my own feelings if I did not express
my high obligation to the officers of the society and others, for
the marked kindness and hospitality which rendered my mission
to that county society exceedingly pleasant.

Moses Newell.

BERKSHIRE.

By appointment of the Board of Agriculture, the undersigned
attended the annual exhibition of the Berkshire Agricultural
Society, which was held on the spacious and beautiful grounds
of the society, in Pittsfield, on the 7th, 8th and 9th days of
October last ; the days were favorable, and every thing conspired
to render the occasion attractive and successful.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 265

The first clay was devoted to the exhibition of all animals
except horses, all articles of manufacture, agricultural and hor-
ticultural productions, agricultural implements, &c.

The show of neat stock, as a whole, was excellent, embracing
about 250 animals ; a large proportion of them were apparently
of mixed breed, showing, generally, in a greater or less degree,
the mark of Durham blood ; there were some fine blood ani-
mals of the Durham, Devon, and Ayrshire breeds ; there were
but six yoke of fat oxen, some of them very good, particularly
a pair owned by Mr. Enos Nourse, of Lanesborough, and also
a pair of four years old, weighing upwards of -1,700 lbs., owned
by George S. Willis, of Pittsfield.

Of milch cows there were about 20, mostly of fine appear-
ance ; one of them presented by fl. E. Chickering, Esq., of
Pittsfield, in the third week in June, gave 309 lbs. of milk,
from which was made 21 lbs. 3 oz. of butter, and in the third
week in September, 16 lbs. 2 oz. There were about 30 bulls
on exhibition, some few of them of good appearance, but gen-
erally they were by no means extra. Of working oxen there
were 22 yoke, all very good in appearance.

The show of sheep embraced many superior animals of the
Leicester, South Down, French and Spanish Merino, and native
breeds. Of swine there was a good display, and also of poultry.

The exhibition of agricultural and horticultural productions,
manufactures and fancy articles, was in the society's hall, and
continued through the first two days of the fair.

The show of vegetables, fruits and flowers, though not large,
was quite fair. The varieties of apples and pears were not
numerous, but there were several fine specimens. Many sam-
ples of grain were on exhibition, and notwithstanding the season
was so unfavorable for its growth, there were thirty-six entries
of corn for premium. To John M. Cook, of Lenox, was awarded
the society's first premium for best acre ; and in the committee's
report, they express a belief " that it cannot be beat in the
State. It weighed 80| lbs. to the square rod." If this rod wasa
fair average of the whole acre, and the corn in a fit state for
harvesting, after making a liberal allowance for shrinkage, it
must have produced not much, if any, less than 170 bushels to
the acre.

The butter and cheese on exhibition was of excellent quality

34*

266 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

and in great quantity. There were forty-five entries of butter,
and twenty of not less than 100 lbs. each, of cheese ; this part of
the exhibition fully sustained the high reputation which has so
justly been accorded to this county, for its superior dairy pro-
ductions. The samples of bread were numerous, and appar-
ently of excellent qualily.

The ladies' department was quite well filled with varioiis
specimens of their skill and ingenuity, not only in light handi-
work, but in many of the more substantial articles of domestic
manufacture.

There was not a great variety of agricultural implements,
nor of mechanic arts, displayed.

The second day was almost entirely devoted to the exhibition
of horses. The number of entries was large, and embraced
many fine animals, and, judging from the large concourse of
spectators who were in attendance, it seemed too evident that
it was the most attractive feature of the Fair. A particular
hour was fixed for the exhibition of each class, commencing at
9 o'clock, A. M., and as indicated by the programme, the pro-
ceedings were closed after a contest for trotting, which took
place at 4 o'clock, P. M.

The undersigned regretted that his engagements at Boston,
to fulfil duties assigned him by the Board, in assisting to make
the necessary preparations for the State Fair, prevented him
from remaining to witness the ploughing match on the third
day, and also to hear the address of the Hon. Benjamin F.
Mills, of Williamstown ; he is happy to learn, however, from a
reliable source, that they were in all respects satisfactory.

Samuel Chandler.

NORFOLK.

The undersigned, having been appointed a delegate from the
State Board of Agriculture, to attend the Ninth Annual Exhi-
bition of the Norfolk County Society, has the honor to report
that he had great satisfaction in performing that service.

The exhibition took place on the beautiful grounds of the
society, at Dedham, and occupied the two last days of Septem-

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 267

ber. The weather was most propitious, and every thing indi-
cated the deep interest which is taken by the people of the
county in these farmers' holidays. If rather more tiian a fair
share of the attention of the spectators is given, on such occa-
sions, of late years, to the display of fast horses, and to trials
of speed in harness or under the saddle, it is an evil which
will cure itself at no distant day. The farmers, who can con-
trol the 'action of their own societies, will interpose in their
own proper way, and reassert the claims of genuine agriculture
to its rightful proportion of regard.

There was a very creditable show of other varieties of ani-
mals, however, besides the horse, on this occasion, and the
ploughing match, drawing match and spading match, were well
contested and well attended.

Many valuable agricultural implements, and a beautiful show
of fruits, vegetables and flowers, were witnessed in the society's
hall. An admirable discourse by the Rev. Dr. Lamson, was
followed by a most agreeable social entertainment, and the
exhibition did not close without leaving a fresh impression on
all who had been privileged to enjoy it, of the pre-eminent
importance of that great department of human labor, by which
God has ordained that his children shall be supplied with their
daily bread.

Robert C. Winthrop.

BRISTOL.

In accordance with my appointment by the Massachusetts
Board of Agriculture, I attended the Cattle Show and Fair of
Bristol County Agricultural Society, held at Fall River on the
30th of September and 1st of October, and submit the follow-
ing report : —

The weather of the first day was delightful, and continued
good through both days. At an early hour of the first day, I
found myself in an inclosure fitted v/ith numerous stalls, on a
high hill, overlooking the river and surrounding country far
above and below. It was a beautiful and well selected spot for
the oc3asion. Very soon after my arrival there, the ground was
filled with numerous yokes of cattle, bulls, cows, horses, colts,

268 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

sheep, swine and poultry, all of which were highly creditable
to the farmers of the vicinity. There were several fine mares
and colts ; among the latter were two from the celebrated horse
" Ethan Allen," which attracted much notice. There was also
a fine span of working horses belonging to Benjamin Rodman,
Esq., of New Bedford, whicli were reported to have drawn a
load of four tons up a steep hill, with ease. This feat I did
not see, nor did I witness the ploughing and spading iJiatches,
both of which gave great enjoyment to those who witnessed
them.

In the afternoon, I went to the " City Hall " expecting to
find a great display of vegetables, fancy articles and manufac-
tures ; but in all these, was rather disappointed, more especially
in regard to the latter. In this department, instead of beautiful
specimens of linen, cotton and woollen goods, and articles of
iron, steel, brass, copper, &c., &c., from all parts of the county, —
save a fine display of barrels and bags of extra flour, made
from Massachusetts wheat, at the " Massasoit Mills," a few
agricultural implements, and a quantity of costly wrought
coffins and expensive habiliments for the dead, — there was little
to attract attention.

Here was the staff of life, and beside it the accoutrements of
death. The latter not at all calculated to raise the spirits of
visitors to a state of hilarity.

The vegetables were very good, especially the potatoes and
squashes. Two kingly ones of the latter, weighing about two
hundred pounds, from Taunton, were much noticed ; but this
town should have exhibited something more than great squashes.
The quantity of vegetables exhibited was not large.

From the " City Hall " I went to the " Music Hall," and here
my expectations were more fully realized. Four tables extend-
ing through the hall were loaded with fruit ; several hundred
plates of fine pears and a good show of apples, quinces, grapes,
&c., (fee, were displayed.

At the further end of the hall, far above our heads, stood
" Flora," in her temple, surrounded by evergreens and beautiful
living flowers ; on her right was " Ceres," with her arms full of
grain ; and on her left was " Pomona," in her temple, adorned
with oranges, lemons and grapes, which seemed fit food for the
temptation of gods as well as men ; and at her feet, scattered

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 269

around, were fruits in great profusion. The whole place was
beautifully and tastefully adorned with evergreens and flowers,
doing credit to the fair of Fall River. The grapes and peaches
from the garden of Dr. N. Durfee, the president of the society,
excelled in size and beauty all of their kind which I had seen be-
fore in any part of the world. These, with the flowers from his
greenhouse, were amongst the greatest attractions of the occasion.

On the second day, a " clam bake " was prepared in a fine
grove, and tables were set for about one thousand persons, and
these were nearly filled ; and after the company had feasted on
" chowder and clams," the president invited the officers of the
society and the guests upon an elevated platform, erected for
the occasion and informed the audience " that he was not there
as the representative of the Bristol County Agricultural Society,
as that was there itself; neither was he there as the representa-
tive of the State Board of Agriculture, as that had another
there." He then gave an amusing and instructive account of
his visit to Louisville, and introduced the Hon. C. A. Phelps, late
speaker of the House of Representatives, who made an eloquent
speech. He was followed by Judge Russell, of Boston, Hon.
Benjamin Greenleaf, of Bradford, Mr. Westhall, of Fall River,
and Mr. Wetherell, of Boston, all of whom spoke appropriate
words, and the multitude of listeners left for their homes,
apparently delighted with the proceedings.

To the president of the society and the members of his family,
lamgreatly indebted for kind hospitalities during the exhibiLion.

E. "W. Gardner.

PLYMOUTH.

As the appointed delegate of the Board of Agriculture, to
report upon the exhibition of the Plymouth Agricultural Society,
I attended at Bridgewater, September 30th and October 1st.

The grounds, the hall, the appohitments, and the management
of this society have been crowned with a success that may put to
the blush more pretentious societies in other parts of the State.

The grounds consist of about thirty acres, a short mile from
the village. Within this tract, bounded on three sides by a beau-

270 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

tiful creek, lies a broad, handsome meadow of some ten acres,
used for ploug'hing and spading matches, and cattle pens ; the
remainder is just rolling enough to be suitable for the required
purposes.

On the highest ground in the inclosure flanked by a beautiful
grove stands the hall, a lofty building of two stories, 135 feet
long by 65 feet wide, while around the whole is a track suitable
for all the purposes of the society.

I confess to entire astonishment at the immense number of
carriages, and the crowds of people present ; the large propor-
tion of women present was a gratifying proof of the interest
felt by tlie people of the county.

Tbe first thing was the ploughing match, which was spiritedly
contested by twenty-three teams ; the work was well done,
some of it in a very superior manner. For the spading there
were seven contestants who turned their small patches fast and
evenly. Spading when carried deep enough, say two and a
half feet as in trenching, is undoubtedly the most effective mode
of cultivating, but the high price of labor in this country for-
bids it becoming general.

The trial of working oxen, of which there were thirty entries,
proceeded on the hill in front of the hall. The cattle were not
large as a general thing, but quick, springy, and exceedingly
■well broken.

The examination and exhibition of horses, of which there were
forty entries, commenced about noon and continued through
the day, as usual attracting the crowd. Some very fine horses
were shown, and a few sharp travellers were driven round the
course, which is not a fast one, in 3.05 to 3.10.

There were sixteen entries of bulls. I missed the majestic
forms of the short-horns, but their places were filled with the
beautiful Devons, which I presume are better adapted for that
locality, and of which I saw some very good, and others, evi-
dently grades which I do not like to sec. Thirty-four entries of
bull or heifer calves ; twenty-two entries of yearling heifers and
eight yoke of steers gave token of intention to raise some stock
instead of letting it all go for veal as has been too much the
fault of farmers all over the State ; eighteen entries of fat cattle,
most of which would bear feeding for some time. Of the twenty-
five entries of swine there were some very good boars and pigs,

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 271

SufTolk and Mackay. There were one hundred entries of sheep,
and only three on the ground, recently imported by Capt. Bar-
stow, who sent them merely for exhibition ; they are full-
blooded Liecester, are very fine sheep, and I should think a few
such importations would awaken an interest in what is certainly
a most ])rofital)le branch of agriculture, raising sheep for mut-
ton and lambs ; it affords the quickest returns and the largest
profit on the investment, of any agricultural outlay. Capt.
Barstow deserves great credit for the introduction of these sheep
into the country.

One of the objects of much interest was a large wagon hung
around with various farm products, all of superior quality, and
drawn by four yoke of really fine oxen ; this was sent from the
Bridgewater State Almshouse, by Capt. L. G. Goodspeed, and
was a very expressive voucher of his capabilities as a manager
of stock and a cultivator of crops.

The exhibition hall presented a really splendid assortment of
fi'uits, flowers, and vegetables, and was most creditable to the
farmer and gardener of the Old Colony ; it would be hard to
beat. Bread, butter, cheese, and honey were well displayed
and of good quality. The works of women's hands, the domes-
tic manufactures, the fancy articles, the needle-work, were
numerous and varied. Some specimens were very beautiful,
and some indicated more of patient industry than artistic skill ;
but the show was large and fine. I was surprised in a county
so eminent for various manufactures, not to see more, than
half a dozen specimens of the mechanic arts, the most notice-
able of which was an organ harmonium, a sweet sounding and
powerful instrument.

The arrangement of the hall was creditable, and the great
crowd moved around without confusion, seeing every thing,
touching nothing. Several specimens of native wine were exhi-
bited, the proper manufacture of which should be encouraged.
There was none equal to that made by Mr. Bull from his Con-
cord grape, though great things are expected of a very fine
native, Perkins seedling.

The second day opened brightly, and at an early hour crowds
had assembled to see the exhibition of colts : following which
was the great attraction of the day, the female equestrianism.
Seven ladies, each attended by a gentleman, and escorted by the

272 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

North Bridgewater Band, who by-the-l»y played exceedingly
well both days, entered upon the track and passed several times
around at various gaits to the amusement and admiration of
thousands. When so many people can receive so much plea-
sure at so little personal sacrifice, pray allow them.

At one o'clock a procession formed and marched to the large
dining hall, in the second story of the building, where a dinner
ample and good enough for the occasion was provided. After
the important part of the meal was over, Charles G. Davis, Esq.,
president, made a few well-timed remarks, and very happily
introduced the various speakers, who responded ably, amusingly
and eloquently, while your delegate briefly acknowledged the
compliment paid to the Board through him.

At the close of these proceedings the reports of the commit-
tees were read and accepted, and thus ended the thirty- seventh
anniversary of the Plymouth County Agricultural Society, most
creditable to the officers and to the people. Of all that crowd
I did not see one case of drunkenness, or hear of any disorder or
breach of the peace. The visits of delegates from the State
Board seem to be well received and gratifying to the visited as
well as the visitor, and a decidedly favorable impression of the
operations of the Board seems to obtain generally.

It is right that I should specially acknowledge the kind civil-
ities and attention received from Mr. president Davis, Judge
Perkins, George W. Wood, of Middleborough, and Robert Per-
kins, of Bridgewater.

James S. Grennell.

BARNSTABLE.

Barnstable County has heretofore been represented as a barren
waste, made up of sand hills and marshy plains. As an agri-
cultural district, it has had but little reputation. Her sons
have stood foremost as the bold pioneers of the deep, while her
daughters have skilfully managed the affairs at home. They
have planted churches and school-houses, and have raised a
plentiful harvest of renowned sons and daughters. It was my
pleasure, for the first time in my life, to visit the ancient town of

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 273

Barnstable on the morning of the 7th of October. It was a
beautiful day ; all nature smiled, and as I wended my way along
I soon found myself — as yet a stranger — within an inclosure of
some fourteen acres of land, in the centre of which stood a
magnificent structure, as yet unfinished, ultimately to become,
for beauty and convenience, an agricultural hall not surpassed
by many county halls in our Commonwealth.

This hall is the product of the generous donations of the sons
of the Cape. They have already expended some three thousand
dollars, and for its final completion it will require some hundreds
more. It is every way capacious for the future wants of the
society in all coming time. It would have added much to its
appearance, had it been located on a more elevated spot of land.

On the first day of my arrival, where I met a hearty welcome,
I busied myself in noticing the arrangement of the various
articles for exhibition, more particularly the skill manifested by
the ladies in showing up to the best advantage all fancy articles,
together with fruits and flowers. Every specimen seemed to
occupy its proper place. In these departments this society may
well be gratified ; it would compare well with any other society
in our State.

It has been said that at one time the ravages of the canker
worm and other insects were such that the early settlers doubted
whether the time would ever come when fruit, such as apples
and pears, could ever be raised to any perfection on the soil of
Cape Cod. But from the fine specimens exhibited at their
recent fair they may be assured that by a generous culture they
can be confident of a plentiful harvest.

In this county, horticulture, which is the nursery of agricul-
ture, can but flourish while under the fostering care of the
mothers and daughters.

The ploughing match, which in many counties is the leading
cause of excitement, attracted but little attention ; but few
persons were interested enough to Avitness it.

The exhibition of stock was very creditable. We cannot
expect from the light grazing lands of the Cape to raise very
fine cattle ; for them we must look to the rich valleys of the
West. Vegetables were exhibited in great abundance, showing
a very successful cultivation. I did not find that attention paid
to the cultivation of the cranberry, which I expected ; I had
35*

274 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

received the impression that many of the peat swamps on the
Cape had ab-eady become profitable from the raising of this fruit.
But few specimens, however, were exhibited, and these, too,
without any detail as to their culture worthy of interest.

The second day of the exhibition opened very auspiciously ;
the multitudes, from every part of the Cape came flowing in for
hours, until every nook and corner was filled. This was the
crowning day of the exhibition. At 12 o'clock, we were per-
mitted to listen to a good practicable discourse from Hon. G. S.
Boutwell. I was much gratified to witness so large and
attentive an audience, unlike what I have often witnessed
in other counties. It has become a question whether these
agricultural addresses are profitable and instructive to the
masses, and whether, as a general thing, the subjects treated
are not beyond the comprehension of most of our farmers.
We want the practical knowledge of the agriculturist, the com-
mon every day's experience of the tiller of the soil ; and could
farmers' clubs, so highly recommended by our worthy secretary,
be established throughout the different counties in our Com-
monwealth, great good would eventually result therefrom.

We were soon summoned to a sumptuous dinner, graced by
the presence of the fair ladies of the Cape, and here, after
a few well chosen remarks by the worthy president of the
society, giving the origin and progress of this institution, we
were permitted to enjoy an intellectual feast from distinguished
gentlemen present. Tlius closed the thirteenth anniversary of
the Barnstable County Agricultural Society, alike creditable to
itself and to all those who have ever taken an interest in its
prosperity.

Nathan Durfee.

NANTUCKET.

By the appointment of the Board of Agriculture, I attended
the second annual festival of the Nantucket Agricultural Socie-
ty, on the 13th and 14th days of October, and respectfully
report.

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 275

The first day was devoted to the exhibition of stock and
ploughing. The weather was delightful. The ground selected
for the show was well chosen, and all nature seemed in harmony
with the occasion. On entering the grounds, I found more and
better stock than I had expected to see. No better cows are
ever seen at any of our county fairs. I would mention those o.
the president, E. W. Gardner, James Thompson, Shubael
Worth, C. H. Clark, Matthew Starbuck, and others whose
names I do not recollect. Herds of good cows were exhibited
by Joseph M. Folger, Andrew M. Myrick, and Zimri Cathcart.
There were several good bulls. I noticed an Ayrshire, belong-
ing to the society, of firm proportions and marks of excellence.
A large number of superior heifers, of three, two, and one years
old. Oxen, I saw but five yoke, and those ordinary. There
was a fine display of good, substantial work horses, and some
beautiful young horses, but I saw none of the " 2.40 " kind ;
neither did I see any " trials of speed; " from which I infer that
the people of Nantucket are not so "/as^" as are those of the
main. Sheep, but two lots were exhibited. Swine, but few,
and those not good. Poultry, a good display of the most
approved varieties.

The ploughing was the next in order. It was the first
ploughing match, and caused great excitement. Thousands
' were collected to witness the contest. Ladies, in great num-
bers, were there, to cheer and to gladden by their smiles and
their presence. The ploughs were not of the most approved
kinds. The teams had not been well trained to the work, and
I noticed that each ploughman had a driver, which I had never
seen before, and which is not necessary in a well broken team.
If the training is so, imperfect as to require this, it should be
an important consideration in the awarding of the premiums.
Notwithstanding these unfavorable circumstances, the work was
very well done.

The great centre of attraction was the " Athenaeum Plall."
The ladies had fitted up this large and beautiful " hall," so as
none but Nantucket ladies could, in the most tasteful and mag-
nificent manner. Language fails me in the description. Never
bad I seen any thing to compare with it ; flowers in the greatest
profusion, of the most rare and beautiful varieties, choice fruits
fancy articles, embracing needle, crochet, moss, shell and leather

276 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

work; embroidery, wax flowers, quilts, paintings and drawings;
goddesses, mottoes, and beautiful singing birds ; intermixed
and intermingled one with the other, and arranged with exqui-
site taste and skill, in perfect order and harmony. This hall
was open three days and evenings, and such was the interest
here, that it was filled to overflowing, up to the last moment.
And what would be wonderful any where else, not an article was
taken or injured in the least, although every thing was open and
exposed, showing the high standing of education and morals in
this community. The evenings were spent very pleasantly, by
music on the piano, speeches, and the singing of original agri-
cultural songs and hymns. The prize song by the young school
girl. Miss Getchell, descriptive of the articles in the hall, and
giving the names of the contributors, (for which she is entitled
to great praise,) was sung on Wednesday and Thursday even-
ings, with great effect.

Of fruits, a fine display. Quinces, in great quantities, the
best I ever saw; beautiful pears in abundance, delicious grapes,
apples and peaches, a few good specimens of each, and cranber-
ries by the bushel, of the very licst quality.

Vegetables by the load. Never had I seen better. The
delicious Nantucket pumpkin — which every body should raise
— large squashes, good potatoes, onions the very best, excellent
carrots, beets and cabbages, and turnips of every variety.

The address on the second day, by Mr. Whipple, principal of
the High School, was full of interest and instruction, showing
a thorough knowledge of agriculture, and containing many
useful hints of great value to the practical farmer.

The dinner at the Ocean House, on the second day, was a
very important feature of the exhibition. A large number of
the members of the society, ladies and gentlemen, with invited
guests, sat down to a table bountifully supplied with all that
could be desired. After the dinner, an hour was spent very
pleasantly, by sentiments from the gentlemanly and witty secre-
tary, speeches and toasts, and music by the band. I was happy
to see the ladies. Never had I seen so many at an agricultural
festive board. It is one of their " rights," which they should
ever claim. The mothers, the wives, the daughters and sisters
of the members, should always be present at the dinner table.
They should also be better encouraged to bring forward for

1858.] SENATE— No. 4. 277

exhibition, those choice and beautiful articles of their industry
and skill, by receiving more liberally of the premiums.* For
much of our advancement in agriculture we are indebted to
them.

Without their assistance and co-operation, no agricultural
society can be creditably sustained, and, just in proportion as
they are interested in any society, is the standing of that society.

The ball, on the evening of the second day, at the " Pantheon
Hall," in which large numbers participated, was a brilliant
affair. The music was excellent, the ladies charming, the
arrangements good, and every thing in order. Who can object
to this pleasant amusement when properly conducted, where
all are so joyous and where all are so happy.

To Capt. Gardner I am indebted for a pleasant ride over the
island. We saw some pieces of excellent corn, as good carrots,
turnips, beets and onions, in patches of from one-fourth to one-
half acre, as I ever saw growing any where.

Considerable attention is being paid to the cultivation of
cranberries. We examined several pieces, all of which are
very flourishing, and producing wonderfully. Mr. Edward
Chase, from vines planted three years since, has picked this
year, from one rod of ground, measured, three bushels and
three half pecks. His method of planting is, to clear the
ground of all the brush, roots and turf, to the muck or peat,
and tlien strew the vines over the surface, and cover with about
one inch of sand. May he thinks the best time for planting.
Mr. Chase has raised, this year, from one-half acre, sixteen
bushels of excell-ent spring wheat, which took the second pre-
mium at the State Fair. From one-fourth of an acre, he has
picked and sold at Boston this year, 700 boxes of strawberries
at thirty-three cents a box.

I mention these facts to show that this island is not all
barren sand; that it will, if properly cultivated, produce as
good crops as can be grown anywhere. The land on which
this wheat and these strawberries grew, is no better, naturally,
and produces no better, than will, if well cultivated, all that

* Too often is it the case, that articles that have cost much time and labor,
articles that are worthy of a high premium, do not so much as even receive
honorable mention. These things oujrht not to be.

278 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan.

extensive waste over which we passed in going from the town
to Siasconsit, where there is not a house, a fence, or even a
tree on whicli the weary eye can rest, covered with huckle-
berry bushes and fern. But little attention has formerly been
paid to agriculture, from the belief that this " beautiful island "
was " nought but barren sand," and would not pay the expense
of cultivation. More than four-fifths of the island is yet in a
state of nature, uncultivated and unimproved.

The planting of fruit trees is receiving considerable attention.
Within the last nine years, 600 acres have been planted to
pines, which are growing finely and looking well.

This agricultural society, the smallest in territory, the least
in population, and the youngest sister in a family of twenty-
one, is already in advance, in some respects, of many of her
sister societies, and from present appearances, it needs no
prophet to foretell, that she will soon compare favorably, in all
respects, with any society in the Commonwealth.

In conclusion, I would most truly express my heartfelt
acknowledgments to the officers and members of the society, to
the president and the vice-president, Mr. Barney, and their
families, for the hearty welcome, the cordial kindness, and the
generous hospitality everywhere extended to me, and I shall
ever remember with a grateful heart, the three days spent with
tliis warm-hearted people, as among the pleasantest days of my
life.

S. H. BUSHNELL.

APPENDIX.

CATALOGUE

AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY,

IX THE 8KCUETARY S OFFICE.

The books marked with an asterisk [*] constitute the library of the Massacliusetts Society for the
Promotion of Agriculture. Those marked [t] belong to the Secretary of the Board, and are on
deposit for public use under the same rcgulatious as the office library.

A.

A CoMi'ARATiVK Viow of the Form and Character of our Racing and Mixed

Breed of Saddle Horses durinjj the last and present Centuries.

London. 1855. 4°.
Agricultural Chemistry. See Davy, Johnston, Mitchell and

Squarry.
Agricultural Engineering. See Andrews.

Agricultural Intelligencer and Mechanic Register. Boston. 1820. 4*.
Agricultural Repository and Journal. See Massachusetts.
Agriculture, Code of. See Sinclair.
Agriculture and Chemistry. A Treatise showing the Connection between,

by the Earl of Dundonald. London. 1795. 4°. [*]
Agricwlture Fran^aise par les Inspecteurs do I'Agriculture. 6 vols.

Paris. 1813-44, '47. 8".
Agriculture of the County of Suffolk, General View of, by the Secretary

of the Board of Agriculture. London. 1797. 8°. [*]
Agriculture, Useful and Practical Observations on, by a Clergyman

London. 1783. 12°.
Agriculture, Concise History of. See Buel.
Agriculture, Essays relating to. See Anderson.
Agriculture, Lnproved. See Va^'derstraeten.
Agriculture, Practical. See Sproule; also Low, Dickson, Fox, and

* Baxter's Library.

Agriculture of the Counties of England and Scotland. See Almack,

BiLLINGSLEY, DoUGLAS, ErSKINE, LoWE, MiDDLETON, NaIS-

MiTii, Pearce and Smith.
Agriculture, Science of. See IIayward and Norton.

iv APPENDIX.

Agriculturist's Manual. See Laavson and Son.

AiNSLiE (Whitelaw). Materia Indiea; or some Account of those Articles
which are employed by the Hindoos, and other Eastern Nations,
in their Medicine, Arts and Agriculture. London. 1826.
2 vols. 8°.

Album de Pomologie. Bruxelles. 1850-1. 2 vols. 4°. See Bivort.

Allen (Lewis F.) The American Herd-Book : containing Pedigrees of
Short-horn Cattle, &c. 3 vols. Buffalo, 1853, '55, and '57. 8°.

Almack (Barugh). Report on the Agriculture of Norfolk. London.
18i5. 8°.

American Agriculturist. A. B. and R. Allen, and Orange Judd, Editors.
1842-58. New York. Royal 8".

American Almanac and Repository of Useful Knowledge for the Years
1854-57. Boston. 12°.

American Farmer. [John S. Skinner, Editor.] Containing Original
Essays and Selections on Rural Economy and Internal Improve-
ments, with Illustrative Engravings. 14 vols. Baltimore.
1819-33.

American Husbandry. Containing an Account of the Soil, Climate, Pro-
duction and Agriculture of the British Colonies in North America-
and the West Indies, by an American. London. 1775. 2 vols.
12'". [*]

American Orchardist. See Thatcher.

Anderson (James). Essays Relating to Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
4th Edition. London. 1797. 3 vols. 8". [*]
Recreations in Agriculture, Natural History, Arts and Miscellaneous
Literature. London. 1799 to 1801. 4 vols. 8°. [*]

Andrews (G. H.). Rudimentary Treatises on Agricultural Engineering :
Vol. I. On Building. Vol. H. On Motive Powers. Vol. HI.
On Field Machines and Implements. London. 1852-3. 12°.

Animals, Characteristics of. See Brown and Low.

Animals, Domesticated. See Low.

Animals, Invertebrate. See Gould.

Annals, The, of Agriculture ; and Year-Book of Information on Practical
Gardening. London. 1846. 8°.

Appendix to Report of the Commissioners of Crown Lands. Part II.
With Illustrative Maps of Canada. Toronto. \_Presented by
L. A. Huguet Latour.']

Archives of Useful Kuowlcd<je. See Mease.

B.

Babo (Freiherrn L. von). Der Ackerbau nach scinen monatlichen Ver-
richtungen als Leitfaden fiir die landwirtschaftliche I^raxis-
Frankfort a. M. 1852. 8°.

Bannister (John). A Synopsis of Husbandry, being Cursory Obser-
vations in the severjil Branches of Rural Economy. London.
1799. 8°. [*]

APPENDIX. V

Barral (J. F.). Journal D' Agriculture Pratique. 4th series.

Barry (P.). The Fruit Garden : a Treatise on Fruit Trees, Fruits, Propa-
gation, Planting, Pruning, &c. Also on laying out Orchards,
Gardens, &c. Illustrated. New York. 1851. 12".

Bartram and Marshall, Memoirs of. See Darlington.

Bath Society. Letters and Papers on Agriculture, Planting, &c. Bath.
1792 to 1807. 11 vols. 8". [*]

Baxter's Library of Practical Agriculture. A Work of reference to Farm-
ing, Breeding, Grazing, Dairy Management, Gardening, and
Rural AiFairs; comprising every Modern Improvement in Hus-
bandry, sanctioned by experience. London. 1851. 2 vols. 8".

Beckmann (John). History of Inventions, Discoveries, and Origins. 4th
Edition. London. 1846. 12°.

Bee Culture. See Langstroth ; also Eddy and Wildman.

Breck (Joseph). The Flower Garden : or Breck's Book of Flowers.
Boston. 1856. 8°.

Billingsley (John). General View of the Agriculture of the County of
Somerset. Bath. 1797. 8*'. [*]

Birds, Architecture and Habits. See Library of Entertaining Knowledge.

Birds of Long Island. See Giraud.

Birds of America. See Wilson.

Birds of Massachusetts. See Peabody.

BisciiOFF (James). A Comprehensive History of the Woollen and Worsted
Manufactures, and the Natural and Commercial History of Sheep,
from the earliest records to the present period. London. 1842.
2 vols. 8°.

BivoRT (A.). Album de Pomologie. Bruxelles. 3850-51. Vols. 3 and 4. 4".

Blake (John L.). The Farmer's Cyclopaedia of Modern Agriculture.
New York. 1852.
The Farm and the Fireside, or the Romance of Agriculture. Auburn,
N. Y. 1852.

Blacklock (Ambrose). A Treatise on Sheep, with the best means for
their Improvement. New York. 1841. 12".

Blight of Wheat. See Sidney.

Blodget (Lorin). CUmatology of the United States. Philadelphia.
1857. 8".

BoNAFOUS (Matthieu). Histoire Naturelle, Agricole et Economique du
Mais. Beautifully Elustrated. Paris. 1836. 4°.

Bordley (J. B.). Essays and Notes on Husbandry and Rural Affairs.
Philadelphia. 'l799. 8°.

Botany, Elements of. See Schceder.

Botany, Principles of See Coultas.

Botany, Papers on. See Reports on.

Botany of the Northern States. See Gray.

BoussiNGAULT (J. B.). Rural Economy in its Relations with Chemistry,
Physics, and Meteorology : or Chemistry applied to Agriculture.
Translated, with an Introduction and Notes, by George Law.
New York. 1845. 12".

vi APPENDIX.

Bradley (R). A General Treatise of Husbandry and Gardening, con-
taining a Niiw System of Vegetation. Illustrated with many
Observations and Experiments. London. 172G. 2 vols. 12°. [*]

Breeding, and the Economy of Live Stock. See Dickson.

Brewer (T. M.). Wilson's American Ornithology, with Notes by Jardine ;
to which is added a Synopsis of American Birds, including those
described by Bonaparte, Audubon, Nuttall and Richardson.
Boston. 1810. 12".

Brougham (Henry, Lord). Political Philosophy. Part L Principles of
Government. INIonarchical Governments. II. Aristocracy.
Aristocratic Governments. III. Democracy. Mixed Monarchy.
3 vols. London. 181G. 8°. [f]

Brown (James). Tiie Forester, A Practical Treatise on the Planting, and
General Management of Forest Trees, with an improved process
for Transplantation of Trees of large size. 2d Edition. Edin-
burgh. 1851.

Brown (Thos). Popular Natural History, or the Characteristics of Animals
portrayed in a series of Illustrated Anecdotes. 3 vols. London.
12°.

Buel (J.). A Treatise on Agriculture; Comprising a Concise History of its
Origin and Progress, the Present Condition of the Art Abroad
and at Home, and the Theory and Practice of Husbandry. Albany.
1820. 8°- (*)

Butler (T. B.). The Philosophy of the Weather, and Guide to its Changes.
New York. 1856. 12°. (f)

c.

Caird (James). English Agriculture in 1850-51. 2d Edition. London.

18.32. 8°.
Carey (II. C.). Principles of Political Economy. Parts I. and 11. 2 vols.

Philadelphia. 1837. 8°.
Catalogue of the Cablue£ of Natural History of the State of New York,

and of the Historical and Anti(|uarlan Collection annexed thereto.

Albany. 1853. 8°. [f]
Catalogue of the Cambridge High School Library. Cambridge. 1853.

8°. [f] .
Catalogue of the Fi-uits Cultivated In the Garden of the Horticultural

Society of London. 2d Edition. London. 1831.
Catalogue of the Mercantile Library of Boston. Boston. 1854. 8°. [t]
Catalogue of the New York State Library. 2 vols. Albany. 1855. 8°. [f]
Catalogue of the Public Library of the City of Boston. Boston. 1854.

8*^- [t]
Centralblatt des LandwIrthschaftlichen Vereins in Bayern. 1851, '55,-

'50. Miinchen. 3 vols. 8°.
Charrkl (J.). Traite des Magnanerles. Paris. 1318. 8°.
Chemistry, Agricultural. See Liebig.
Chemistry of Animal Bodies. See Thomson.

APPENDIX. vii

Chemistry of Common Life. See Joiinstox.

CnKMisTRY, Principles of. See Stockiiardt.

CiirMisTHY and Geology. See Johnston.

CniNKSK Sugar Cane. See IIydk; also Olcott.

CiiORLTON (William). The Cold Grapery. New York. 1851. 12°.

Clark (Bracy). Farriery laid open; or the true Structure, Laws and econ-
omy of the Horse's Foot ; also Podolphthora or a ruinous Defect
in the Principle of Shoeing. 2d Edition. London. 1829. 4°.

Clateu (Francis). Every Man his own Cattle Doctor; containing the
Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment of all the Diseases incident to
Cattle, Sheep, Swine, Poultry, and Rabbits. 11th Edition.
London. 1853. 12«.

CoATRS (George). The General Short-horned IIerd-BoC|i:. Vol. I. Otley.
1822. 8°.

CoBBETT (William). The American Gardener: or Treatise on the Situa-
tion, Soil, Fencing, laying out of Gardens, &c. London.
1821. 12°.
A Treatise on Indian Corn : containing Instructions for Propagating
and Cultivating the Plant, and for Harvesting, and Preserving the
Crop ; also an Account of its Uses, &c. London. 1828. 12°.

Collection des comptes rendus des Concours d'Aniniau.v. Paris. 1850^
7 vols. 8°.

Cole (S. W.). The American Fruit Book. Boston. 18.57. 12°.

CoLMAN (Henry). First, Second, Third, and Fourth Reports on the Agri-
culture of ^Massachusetts. 2 vols. Boston. 1838, '39, '40, '4L
8«.
European Agriculture and Rural Economy. Boston. 1851. 2 vols. 8".
European Life and Manners. 2 vols. Boston. 1849. 8°.

CoULTAS (Ilartland). The Principles of Botany as exemplified in the Cryp-
togamia. Philadelphia. 1853.

Country Gentleman, The. A Journal for the Farm, the Garden, and the
Fireside. Edited by Luther Tucker, and John J. Thomas^
1853-58. 10 vols. Albany. 4°.

Cranberry Cultur®. See First Annual Report of the Secretary of the
Board of Agriculture.

Credit Foncier et Agricole des Institutions dans les divers etats de
L' Europe. Paris. 1851. 2 vols. 8°.

Cultivator : A monthly publication devoted to Agriculture. Albany, from
1831 to 1855. 22 vols.

Cultivator, Boston. 3 vols. 1839, '40, '41. Folio.

Currant Culture. See II.a.ynes.

Curtis (William). Practical Observations on the British Grasses. 6th
Edition. London. 1824. 8°.

Cyclopaedia of Agriculture. See Moetox, "Wilson, Doyle and Blake.

viii APPENDIX.

D.

Dacre (B). Testimonies m favor of Salt as a Manure, &c. Manchester.

1825. 8°.
Dadd (Geo. H.) The Modern Horse Doctor. Boston. 1854. 12°. [f]
The Anatomy and Physiology of the Horse, with Illustrations. Boston.

1857. 8°.
The Americau Cattle Doctor. New York. 1853. 12°.
Darlington (William). Memorials of John Bartram, and Humphrey Mar-
shall. Philadelphia. 1849. 8°.
Davy (Humphrey). Elements of Agricultural Chemistry, in a Course of
Lectures for the Board of Agriculture ; delivered between 1802
and 1812. 6th Edition. London. 1839. 12".
Davy- (John T.). Devon Herd-Book : Containing the names of the Breed-
ers, the Ages, and Pedigrees of the Devon Cattle, with the Prizes
they have gained. New York. 1855. 2 vols. 8°.
Deane (Samuel). The New England Farmer: or Georgical Dictionary.

Worcester. 1797. 8°. [*]
Debates and Proceedings in the Convention of the Commonwealth of Mas-
sachusetts held in the year 1788, and which finally Ratified the
Constitution of the United States. [Printed by Authority of
Resolves of the Legislature. Boston.] 1856. 8°.
De Kay (James E.) Zoology, &c. See Natural History of New York.
Devon Herd-Book. See Davy.

De Lurieu (et H. Romand). Etudes sur les Colonies Agricole de Mendi-
ants Jeunes Detenus orphelines et enfants trouves. Holland,
Suisse, Belgique, France. Paris. 1851. 8°.
Dempsey (G. D.). Rudimentary Treatise on the Drainage of District Lands.

With Illustrations. London. 1849. 12".
Denys (Leon D'Hervey Saint). Recherches sur L'Agriculture et L'Horti-
culture des Chinois et sur les vegetaux, les animaux et le Pra-
cedee Agricole que I'on pourrait introduire avec avantage dans
I'Europe occidentale et le nord de L'Afrique. Paris. 1850. 8°.
Dewey (Chester). Herbaceous Plants of Massachusetts. Cambridge.

1840. 8°.
De Witt (Francis). Statistical Information Relating to Branches of Indus^
try in Massachusetts, for the year ending June 1, 1855. Boston.
1856. 8".
Dickson (James). The Breeding Economy of Live Stock. Edinburgh.

1851. 12°.
Dickson (R. W.). Practical Agriculture ; or A Complete System of Modern
Husbandry: with the Methods of Planting and I\Ianagement of
Live Stock. London. 1805. 2 vols. 4°. [*]
Dictionary of Husbandry in all its Branches : or the Comjilete Farmer.

4th Edition. London. 1793. 4". [*]
Dissertation on the Nature of Soils and the Properties of Manure, to
which is added a Method of making a Universal Compost. Lon-
!3/>n. 1833..

APPENDIX. ix

DoBSON (E ). Rudiments of the Art of Building. 2d Edition. Illus-
trated. London. 1854. 12°.
DoMBASi.E (Mathieu). Calendrier du Bon Cultlvatcur ou Manuel de rA^ri-

culteur practlolen. Paris. 1851. 12°. [f]
Donaldson (John). A Treatise on Manures, their nature, preparation and

application — with a description and use of the most approved

Grasses. London. 1846. 8°.
Donaldson (Prof.). Rudimentary Treatise on Clay Lands and Loamy

Soils. London. 1852. 12°.
Donovan (Michael). Domestic Economy. Vol. L Containing Brewing

Distilling, Wine-making, and Baking. Vol. IL Human Food,

Animal and Vegetable. London. 2 vols. 12°.
Douglas (Robert). General View of the Agriculture of the Counties of

Roxburgh and Selkirk. London. 1798. 8°. [*]
Downing (A. J.). Rural Essays — Horticulture, Landscape Gardening, etc.

Edited, with a Memoir of the Author, by Geo. Wm. Curtis. New

York. 185L 8°.
The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America. Illustrated with Engravings.

New York. 1851. 12°.
The Architecture of Country Houses, including Designs for Cottages,

Farm Houses and Villas. New York. 1852. 8°.
A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening

adapted to North America. New York. 1852. 8°.
Cottage Residences or a series of Designs for Rural Cottages and Cot-
tage Villas. New York. 1852. 8°.
Doyle (Martin). A Cyclopasdla of Practical Husbandry and Rural Affairs

In general. A new Edition. Revised and enlarged by the Rev.

W. Rham. London. 1851. 8°.
Drainage, Treatise on. See Elkington, Dempsey and Stephens.
Drury (D.). Illustrations of Natural History of Insects. 3 vols. London.

1770. 4°.

E.

Eddy (Henry). On Bee Culture and the Protective Hive. A Guide to a
Successful and Profitable Method of Bee Culture. With an Intro-
ductory Notice by J. V. C. Smith of Boston. Boston. 1855. 12°.

EcoNO.MY, Domestic. See Donovan.

Economy, Principles of. See Carey.

Ellerbrock (Ignatz Joseph). Die Hollandisclie RIndvIehzucht. Braun-
schweig. 1853. 8°.

Elliott (F. R.). American Fruit Grower's Guide In Orchard and Garden.
New York. 1854. 12°.

Ellis (William). Husbandry, Abridged and Methodized : comprehending
the most useful Articles of Practical Agriculture. 2 vols. London.
1772. 8°.

Elkington (Joseph). The Mode of Draining Land, Drawn up by John
Johnstone, Land-Surveyor. Illustrated with nineteen Plates.
New Edition. London. 1841. 12°.
2

K APPENDIX.

Emerson (G. B.). Trees and Shrubs of Massachusetts. Boston. 1846. 8*.
Emmoxs (Ebenczer). American Geology. Vol. I. Albany. 1855. 8".
Quadrupeds of Massachusetts. Cambridge. 1840. 8".
Agriculture of New York, and Second Geological District of New
York. See Natural History of New York.
Entomology. See Say, Harris, Kirby, Kollar, Hinds and Drury.
Eresby (Lord Willoughby de). Ploughing by Steam. London. 1850. 4".
Erskine (John Francis). General View of the Agriculture of the County
of Clackmannan, &c. Edinburgh. 1795. 4°. [*]

F.

Falkner (Frederick). The Muck Manual. London. 1840. 12".

FARM-Bookkeeping. An Improved system of, by the Author of British
Husbandry. London. 1851. 8°.

Farmer's Calender. A monthly Remembrancer for all kinds of Business,
by a Farmer and Breeder. London. 1801. 8°. [*]

Farmer's, (Tlie,) Cabinet, and American Herd-Book : devoted to Agriculture
and Rural Economy. Philadelphia. 1837-48. 12 vols^ 8".

Farmer's Guide. See Stephens and Martikdale.

Farmer's JMonthly Visitor. Edited by Isaac Hill. 1839-49. 11 vols.
Concord. 4°.

Featiierstonhaugii (G. W.). Report of a Geological Reconnoissauce
made in 1835 to the Coteau de Prairie. Washington. 1836.

Fessenden (Thos. G.). The New American Gardener. 7th Edition. Boston.
1833. 8°.

Fishes of Massachusetts. See Storer.

FiTCU (Asa). No.xious, Beneficial, and other Insects of New York. First
and Second Report. Albany. 1856. 8°.

Flagg (Wilson). Studies in tlie Field and Forest. Boston. 1857. 8". [f]

Flax, its Treatment, &c. See Wilson.

Flint (Charles L.). A practical Treatise on Grasses and Forage Plants.
New York. 1857. 8°.
First, Second and Third Annual Reports of the Secretary cf the Mas-
sachusetts State Board of Agriculture, with Reports of Com-
mittees, Finances of County Societies, &c. 1853-55. 1 vol. 8°.
Fourth Annual Report and accompanying Documents. 1856. 8°.

Flora Ilistorica. See Phillips.

Flora of North America. See Torrey and Gray.

Forests and Forest Trees. See Brown, and Selby.

Forsyth (William). A Treatise on the Culture and Management of Fruit
Trees. With an Introduction and Notes, by William Cobbett
Philadelphia. -1802. 8°. [*]

Fox (Charles). The American Te.xt-Book of Practical and Scientific Agri-
culture. Detroit. 1854. 12°.

Fraas (Dr.). Gcschichte der Laudwirthschaft in den letzen 100 Yahren.
Prajr. 1852. 8°.

(

APPENDIX. xi

FiJAAS (Dr.). Die Schulo, des Landbaues oder leichtfasslicher Unterricht in

der Landwirtscliaft, Miinclien. 1852. 8°.
Die Rindvieliracen Deutscblands dercn SchlUge u Stiimme. Miin-

chen. 1852.
Amtliclier Bericlit viber die XVI. Versammlung deutsclier Land u.

Forstwirthe zu Niirnberg. Miinclien. 185i.
Franklin (Benjamin). Memorial of the Inauguration of the Statue of,

Boston. 1857. 8".
Freeman (Strickland). Observations on the Mechanism of the Horse's Foot,

its natural Spring explained, and a Mode of Shoeing recommended.

London. 1795. 4°.
Fruits and Fruit Trees. See Downing, also Hitt, Phillips, Forsyth

and Neill.
Fuel, Treatise on. See Prideaux.

G.

Garden, Book of. See MTntosh.

Gardener's Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette. 11 vols. London. 1847-

57. 4«.
Gardner (D. P.). The Farmer's Dictionary. New York. 1846.
Garlick (Theodatus). A Treatise on the Artificial Pi-opagation of certain

kinds of Fish, with the Description and Habits of such kinds as

are most suitable for Pisciculture. Cleveland. 1857. 8°. [f]
Gasparin (De) Guide des Proprietaires Biens liuraux aflfermcs etant Tom.

IH. de Bibliotheque du cultivateur public avec le Concours de M.

le ministre de L' Agriculture. Paris.
Guide des Proprietaires de Biens Soumis au Metayage. Tom. IV.

Bib. du Cultivateur. Paris.
General Dictionary of Husbandry in all its Branches, or the Complete Far-
mer. London. 1793. Folio. [*]
Genesee Farmer, and Gardener's Journal, Monthly, published at Rochester,

N. Y. Complete from Vol. 7. 12 vols. 1846 to 1858.
Gilliss (Lieut. J. M.). Astronomical Observations made at the National

Observatory, Washington, under the orders of the Secretary of

the Navy. Washington. 1855. 2 vols. 4°.
GiRAUD (J. P.), Jr. The Birds of Long Island. New York. 1844. S^'.
Gould (Augustus A.). On the Invertebrate Animals of Massachusetts.

Cambridge. 1841. 8°.
Gore (Mrs.). The Rose Fancier's Manual. London. 1838. S".
Gray (Andrew). The Plough-wright's Assistant; or Practical Treatise on

various Implements employed in Agriculture. Illustrated by

sixteen Engravings. Edinburgh. 18G8. 8°.
Gray (Asa). Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States. 2d

Edition, with Plates. New York. 1356. 12°.
First Lessons in Botany and Vegetable Physiology, with over 360

Engravings, by Isaac Sprague. New York. 1857. 12°.
Genera of the Plants of the United States. With Plates. Vols. 1

and 2. New York. 1849. 8«.

xii APPENDIX.

Gray (Asa). Botanical Text-Book. 2d Edition. New York. 1845. 12<>. [f]
Gray and Torrey. Flora of Korth America : Comprising the Polypetalous

Division of Exogenous Plants. New York. 1838. 8".
Green (Robert). An Address to the Nobility, Gentry, Farmers, and all

persons interested In Agriculture, on the subject of Underdraining

Wet and Cold Lands. London. 1832. 8°.
Greg (Thomas). A System for managing Heavy and Wet Lands without

Summer Fallows. London. 1841.
GuENON Francois, Traite Vaches Latieres. Bordeaux. 1838.

H.

Hamm (Wilhelm). Die Grundziige der Landwirthschaft nach GIrandIn u.
du Breuil. Braunschweig. 1850. 2 vols. 8°.

Hammond (J. H.). The Farmer's and Mechanic's Practical Architect, and
Guide In Rural Economy. Boston. 1858. 8°.

Hannam (John). The Economy of Waste Manures. London. 1844. 12".

Harley (Wm). The Harleian Dairy System, and an account of Dairy
Husbandry as pursued by the Dutch. London. 1829. 8°.

Harris (T. W.). Treatise on Some of the Insects of New England, which
are Injurious to Vegetation. 2d Edition. Boston. 1852.

Hawes (Mr.). Observations on Agriculture. London. 1783. [*]

Haynes (Thomas). A Treatise on the Improved Culture of the Strawberry,
Raspberry, Gooseberry, and Currant ; in which are pointed out
the best methods of obtaining ample crops of these fruits ; to
which are prefixed descriptions of the most esteemed Varieties.
3d Edition. London. 1823. 8°.

Hayward (Joseph). On the Science of Agriculture ; comprising a Com-
mentary on, and Comparative Investigation of the Agricultural
Chemistry of Mr. Kirwan and Sir Humphrey Davy ; the Code of
Agriculture of Sir John Sinclair, Sir James Banks, and other
authors on the subject. London. 1825. 8°.

Herbert (Henry William). Frank Forrester's Horse and Horsemanship
of the United States and British Provinces of North America.
Illustrated with Portraits. New York. 1857. 2 vols. Royal 8°.

HiGGiNS (James). The Third Report of the State Agrlcultui-al Chemist to
the Delegates of Maryland. Baltimore. 1853. 8".

Hinds (H. Y.). Prize Essay on Insects and Diseases Injurious to the "VVTieat
Crop. Toronto. 1857. 8°. [f]

Hitchcock (Edward). Final Report on the Geology of INIassachusetts.
With Maps and Illustrations. 1841. 4°.

HiTT (Thos.). Treatise on Fruit Trees. London. 1768. 8". [*]

Hlubeck (F. I.). Die Landwirthschaftslehre. 2 vols. Wien. 1853. 8**.

Holmes (E.). The New England Farmers' and Mechanics' Journal. Gar-
diner. 1828.

Home (John). Rural Affairs; or Rectified Report of Berwickshire Agricul-
ture. Berwick. 1797. 8°.

APPENDIX. xiii

Homes for the People : or, The American Builder. By John Bullock. New
York. 1854.

Homestead (The). A Weekly Journal for the Farmer. 2 vols. Hartford.
1856, '57.

Horses, Pictorial Gallery of. See Tatters all.

Horses of America. See Herbert.

Horses. Past and Present Comparative View of. London. 1855. 4".

Horse's Foot. See Clark and Freeman.

Horsford, (E. N.). Analyses of Grains and Vegetables — Distinguishing
the Nitrogenous from the Non-Nitrogenous Ingredients, for the
purpose of estimating their separate values for Nutrition. Also
on Ammonia found in the Glaciers ; and on the Action and Ingre-
dients of Manure. Boston. 1856. 12".

Horticultural Register and Gardenei-'s Magazine. Edited by T. G.
Fessenden and J. E. Teschemacher. 3 vols. Boston. 1835,
'36, '38. 8".

Horticultural Society of London. 7 vols. 4°. See Transactions.

HoRTUS Gramineus "VVoburnensis. See Sinclair.

Houghton (John). A Collection for the Improvement of Husbandry and
Trade. Revised by Richai-d Bradley. London. 1727. 4 vols.
8°. [*]

Howard (Sanford). Devon Herd-Book : Containing the names of the
Breeders, and the Pedigrees of the Devon Cattle in the United
States. See Davy, J. T. New York. 1857. 8°.

Hunter (A.). Georgical Essays. York. 6 vols. 8°. [*]

Husbandry, in Twelve Books, and Book concerning Trees. By L. J. M.
Columella. London. 1745. 4°. [*]

Hyde (J. F. C). The Chinese Sugar Cane: Its History, Mode of Culture,
Manufacture of Sugar, etc. Boston. 1857. 12°.

I.

Insects that infest Hothouses. See Speechley.

Insects injurious to Vegetation. See Drury, Fitch, Jaeger, Harris,

Hinds, Kirby, Kollar, and Say.
Improver Improved. By Walter Blithe. London. 1652. [*]

J.

Jaeger (B.). Life of American Insects. Illustrated by numerous colored
Engravings and Narratives. New York. 1856. S°.

Jenks (AVm. J.). Rural Poetry of the English Language, Illustrating the
Seasons and Months of the Year. Boston. 1856. 8°.

Johnson (Cuthbert AV.). Modern Agricultural Improvements, being a Sup-
plement to the British Husbandry. London. 1847. 12°.
The Farmers' Encyclopasdia, and Dictionary of Rural Affairs. Em-
bracing all the most recent discoveries in Agricultural Chemistry.
Illustrated. Reprint. Adapted to the United States. 2 vols.
Philadelphia. 1844. 8°.
On Fertilizers. 3d Edition. London. 1851. 12°.

xiv APPENDIX.

Johnson (George William). A Dictionary of Modern Gardening. Phila-
delphia. 1817. 8°.

Johnston (J. F. W.). Lectures on the Application of Chemistry and Geol-
ogy to Agriculture. New Edition. New York. 18o(J. 12°.
Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry and Geology. 2d Edition. Edin-
burgh. 1847. 8°.
Catechism of Agricultural Chemistry and Geology, with an Introduc-
tion, by J. P. Norton. New York. 1850. 18°.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry ; with a Complete Index and

Preface, by Simon Brown. New York. 1856. 12°.
Notes on North America, Agricultural, Economical and Social. 2 vols.

Boston. 12°.
On the Use of Lime in Agriculture. Edinburgh and London. 1849.

12°.
The Chemistry of Common Life. New York. 1855. 2 vols. 12°,

JoiGNEAUX (P.). Traite des Amendments et des Engrais. Paris. 1848.

JossEAU (M-J-B.). Des Institutions de Credit Foncier ct Agricole dans les
divers etats de I'Europe. Paris. 1840.

JouKNAL of Agriculture, Monthly. Wm. S. King, Editor. Boston. 1851-
54. 4 vols. 8°.

Journal (The Monthly) of Agriculture. Containing the best current pro-
ductions in promotion of Agricultural Improvement, including the
choicest Prize Essays issued in Europe and America. With
original contributions from eminent Farmers and Statesmen.
From 1845-48. 3 vols. New York. 8°.

Journal of Agriculture, Quarterly. 13 vols. Edinburgh. 1829-43.

Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. 17 vols.
1840-57. London. 8°. [*]

Journal of the United States Agricultural Society. 2 vols. Washington.
1852-55. 8°.

JoYNE. Reboisement des Montagues, Difficulties causes des inondations
et moyens de les prevenir. Digne. 1850.

K.

KiRBY (William). An Introduction to Entomology ; or Elements of the
Natural History of Insects ; comprising an Account of Noxious
and Useful Insects, &c. 7tli Edition, Avith an Apj^endix. London.
1857. 12°.

Kentucky Geological Survey. See Owen.

KoLLAR (Vincent). A Treatise on Insects injurious to Gardeners, Foresters,
and Farmers. Translated from the German, and illustrated by
J. and M. Loudon ; Avith Notes by J. O. Westwood, Secretary to
the Entomological Society, London. 1840, 12°,

APPENDIX. XV

L.

Lance (E. J.). The Hop Farmer and Hop Culture. London. 1838. 8°.

Law (Heury). Rudimentary Art of Construeting and Kepalring Iloads ;
with Illustrations. London. 1850.

Lawsox (Peter), and Son. The Agriculturist's IManual ; being a Familiar'
Description of the Agricultural Plants cultivated in Europe,
including Practical Observations respecting those suited to the
Climate of Great Britain, and forming a Report of Lawson's
Agricultural Museum in Edinburgh. Edinburgh. 183G. 8°.

Langstroth (L. L.). a Practical Treatise on the Hive and Honey Bee.
With an Introduction, by Robert Baird. 2d Edition. New
York. 1857. 12°.

Le Clerc (Louis). Ecoliers et vers a Sole on La Petite Maguanerle du
Pere Toussaint. Paris. 1850.

Library of Entertaining Knowledge. London. 1831. 27 vols. 12°.

Contents :

1. Birds: Architecture: Habits, and Miscellanies. 3 vols.

2. British Costume.

3. China and the Chinese. 2 vols. By J. F. Davis.

4. Criminal Trials.

5. Elgin Marbles. 2 vols. By Henry Ellis.

6. Food for Man.

7. Hindoos. 2 vols.

8. Historical Parallels. 2 vols.

9. Insects ; Architecture ; Miscellanies ; and Transformations.

3 vols.

10. Materials of jNIanufactures ; Vegetable Substances.

11. Llodern Egyptians. 2 vols. By E. W. Lane.

12. New Zealanclers.

13. Paris and its Historkv.l Scenes. 2 vols.

14. Pompeii. 2 vols.

15. Timber Trees: Fruits, &c.

Library of Useful Knowledge. Published by the Society for the DiiFusion
of Useful Knowledge. London. 1831-37.
Titles :

1. British Husbandry. 2 vols. 8°.

2. The Horse. 8°. '

3. Cattle. 8°.

4. Sheep. 8°.

LiKBio (Justus von). Animal Chemistry, or Organic Chemistry in its Ap-
plication to Physiology and Pathology. With Notes and Correc-
tions by Dr. Gregory and Dr. Webster. 2d Edition. Cambridge.
1843. 12°.
Chemistry in Its Applications to Agriculture and Ph.ysiology. Edited
from the Manuscript of the Author, by Lyon Playfair and Wil-
liam Gregory. 4th Edition. Revised and enlarged. London.
1857. 8°.

xvi APPENDIX.

LlEBiG (Justus von). Principles of Agricultural Chemistry, with special
refereHce to the late Researches made in England. New York.
1855. 12«.

LiNDLEY (John). Pomologia Britannica ; or, Figures and Descriptions of
the most Important Varieties of Fruit cultivated in Great Britain.

3 vols. London. 1841. 8".

LiNSLEY (D. C). IMorgan Horses. New York. 1857. 8°.

Lisle (Edward). Observations in Plusbandry. 2d Edition. 2 vols. Lon-
don. 1757. 12°.

Low (David). Elements of Practical Agriculture; comprehending the
Cultivation of Plants, the Husbandry of the Domestic Animals,
and the Economy of the Farm. 5th Edition. London. 1857. 8°.
On the Domesticated Animals of the British Islands. Comprehending
the Natural and Economical History of Species and Varieties ;
the description of Properties of External Form ; and Observa-
tions on the Principles and Practice of Breeding. London.
1853. 8°.
The Breeds of the Domestic Animals of the British Islands, described
and illustrated with Plates. 2 vols. London. 1842. 4°. [*]

Lowe (Robert). General View of the Agrlcultui-e of the County of Not-
tingham, Avith observations on the Means of its Improvement-
London. 1798. 8°. [*]

Lowell (John). Address delivered before the Massachusetts Society for the
Promotion of Agriculture, at the Brighton Cattle Show, October
13th, 1818. Boston. 1818. 8°. [*]

Loudon (J. C). Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum ; or, the Trees and
Shrubs of Britain, Native and Foreign, Hardy and Half-Hardy,
PIctorially and Botanically Delineated, and Scientifically and
Popularly Described. Illustrated with over 2,500 Engravings, and

4 vols, of Octavo Plates. 2d Edition. London. 1844. 8 vols. 8°.
Encyclopaedia of Agriculture. Comprising the Theory and Practice,

audits General History, in all countries. Illustrated with upwards
of 800 Engravings. London. 1826. 2 vols. 8".
Encyclopajdia of Gardening. Compi-Ising the Theory and Practice of
Horticulture, Floriculture, Arboriculture, and Landscape Garden-
ing. Illustrated. 3d Edition. London. 1825. 2 vols. 8°.

Loudon (Mrs. J. W.). Gardening for Ladies, and Companion to the Flower
Garden. 2d Edition. Reprint. New York. 1849. 12°.

LuccocK (John). An Essay on Wool, containing a particular account of
the English Fleece, with Hints for Its Improvement. Addressed
to the Grower, Dealer and Manufacturer. London. 1809. 12°.

M.

Macgillivkay (William). WIthering's British Plants. London. 9th

Edition. 1S5G. 12°.
Maison Rustlquc du XIX Siecle ou Encyclo^iedle d'agrlculture Pratique.

4 vols. Paris. 1838-39.

APPENDIX. xvii

Manning (Robert). Book of Fruits. Salem. 1838. 12°.

Manures : or the American Muck Book. " By D. J. Browne. New York.

185G. 8''.
Mapes (J. J.). Working Farmer. 9 vols. From 1849-57. 4°.
M.4.PS, Reports and Estimates, relative to Improvements of the Navl'i-ation of

the River St. Lawrence and a proposed Canal, connectino- the

River St Lawrence and Lake Champlain. Toronto. 1856.
Marie (G. Lefebvre, St.). De La Race Bovine courte Corne ameliorde dite

Race de Durham en Eugleterre aux Etats-Uuis d'Araerique et en

France. Paris. 1848. 8°.
Marshall (Mr.). On Planting, and Rural Ornament. A Practical Trea-
tise. 3d Edition. London. 1803. 2 vols. 8°.
The Rural Economy of the Southern Counties : Comprising Kent,

Surrey, Sussex, the Isle of Wight, &c., including the Culture and

Management of Hops. London. 1798. 2 vols. 12°. [*]
Minutes, Experiments, Observations and Qreneral Remarks on Agri-
culture in the Southern Counties. A New Edition. London.

1799. 2 vols. 12°. [*]
Martin (W. C. L.). The Country House : The Piggery. London. 12".
Martindale (John). The Farmer's and Gardener's Guide to the Analysis

of Soils and Manures. London. 1849. 12°.
Massachusetts Agricultural Repository and Journal, from Vol. I. to X.

Boston. 1801-26. [*]
Massachusetts Records, from 1628, to 1686. Boston. 18.54. 6 vols. 4".
Ma we (Thos.), and Abercrombie (John). Every man his own Gardener.

12th Edition. London. 1788. 12°.
M'Intosh (Charles). The Book of the Garden. In two volumes. Vol. I.

Structural ; with 1,073 Illustrations. Vol. II. Cultural ; with

279 Illustrations. Edinburgh. 1853-55. 8°.
McCulloch (J. R.). A Dictionary, Practical and Historical, of Commerce

and Commercial Navigation. Illustrated, with Maps and Plans.

New Edition. Corrected and Improved, with a Supplement.

London. 1856. 8°.
Mease (James). Archives of Useful Knowledge. A work devoted to

Commerce, Manufactures, Rural and Domestic Economy, Aori-

culture, and the Useful Arts. Vols. U., III. Philadelphia.

1812-13.
Memoirs of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture, from 1808

to 1826. 5 vols. 8°. [*]
MiDDLETON (John). Vicw of the Agriculture of Middlesex. London.

1798. 8°. [*]
Miller (Phillip). The Gardener's and Botanist's Dictionary ■ containing

the best Methods of Cultivating and Improving the Kitchen,

Fruit, and Flower Garden and Nursery ; of performing the Prac-
tical Parts of Agriculture, of Managing Vineyards and of propa-
gating all sorts of timber trees. To which is added a complete
Description of Plants, Landscape Gardening, &c., by Thos.
Martyn. 4 vols. London. 1807. 4°.
3

xviii APPENDIX.

Minutes of the Philadelphia Society for the Promotion of Agriculture, from

its Institution in Feljn-uary, 1785 to March, 1810. Philadelphia.
1851. 8°.

Mitchell (John). Manual of Agricultural Analysis. London. 1845. 12°.

MoKTisiER (J.). The Art of Husbandry. London. 8°.

Moll (L.). Colonisation et Agriculture de I'Algerie. 2 vols. Paris.
1845. 8°.

Morton (John C). Cyclopasdia of Agriculture, Practical and Scientific.

2 vols. Edinburgh. 1855. 8°.
Morton (John). The Nature and Property of Soils, — Rents and Profits of

Agricultui'e. 4th Edition. London. 8".
Muck Manual. See Falkner and DanA.

MUNN (B.). The Practical Land Drainer. Illustrated. New York. 1855. 8°.
MuNRO (Innes). A Guide to Farm Book-keeping. Edinburgh. 1821. 8°.

N.

Natural History of the State of New York. Albany. 1842-54. 19 vols,
4°. With a Geological Map.

1. Zodlocjij of New York : By James E. DeKay. With an Intro-

duction by W. H. Seward. 5 vols.

2. Botany : By John Torrey. 2 vols.

3. Mineralogy : By Lewis C. Beck. 1 vol.

4. Geology: First Geological District. By W. W. Mather. 1 vol.

Second Geological District : By E. Emmons. 1 vol. Third
Geological District : By Lardner Vanuxem. 1 vol. Fourth
Geological District: By James Hall. 1 vol.

5. Paloiontology " By James Hall. 2 vols.

6. Agriculture of New York ; comprising an Account of the Clas-

sification, Composition, and Distribution of the Soils and
Rocks ; Meteorology, Agricultural Productions, and Injurious
Insects. By E. Emmons. 5 vols., with 1 vol. of Plates.
Nature, Animated. Pictorial Museum of . . . Mammalia, Birds, Reptiles,

MoUusca, and Insects. 2 vols. London. 4°.
Nature of Soils and Manures. London. 1833. 8°.
Naismixii (John). General View of the Agriculture of the County of

Clydesdale. Glasgow. 1798. 8°. [*]
Neil (Patrick). The Practical Fruit, Flower, and Vegetable Gardener's

Companion, with a Calendar. New Yoi-k. 1855.
Nefflen (John). A Method of Increasing the Yield of the Milch-Cow, by

selecting the Proper Animals. Philadel2:)hia. 1853.
New American Cyclopasdia. Vol. I. New York. 1858. 8°.
New England Cultivator, monthly. Vol. I. 1852.
New England Farmer : A Journal published in Boston. 35 vols. From

1823 to 1858.
New England (The) Farmers' and Mechanics' Journal. Edited by E.

Holmes. Vol. I. Gardiner. 1828. 8".
Newman (Charles). Practical Hints on Land-draining, illustrating its

Importance. London. 1845.

APPENDIX. xix

NoRTOX (John). Elements of Scientific Agriculture. Albany. 1853. 8°. [f]
NicoL (Walter). The Pi-actical Planter, or a Treatise on Forest Planting:
Comprehending the Culture and Management of Planted and
Natural Timber in every stage of growth. Also on the Culture
and Management of Hedge Fences, and the construction of Stone
Walls, &c. Edinburgh. 1799. 8°.

0.

Olcott (11. S.). Sorgho and Imphee; the Chinese and African Sugar
Cane. A Treatise upon their Origin, Varieties and Culture.
New York. 1857. 12°.

Outlines of Flemish Husbandr}', as applicable to the Improvement of Agri-
culture in Canada. Montreal. 1815. 8". [f]

Owen (D. D.). Report of the Geological Survey in Kentucky. Frankfort.
1856. 8°.

Pabst (H. L. von). Anieitung zur Rindviehzucht, Stuttgart u Tiiblngen.
1851. 8°.

Palfrey (John G.). Statistics of the Condition and Products of Certain
Branches of Industry in Massachusetts for the year ending April 1,
1845. Boston. 1816. 8°.

Pardee (R. G.). Complete Manual for the Cultivation of the Strawberry,
v,'ith a Description of the best varieties. New York. 1851. 12".

Parks and Pleasure Grounds. See Smith (Charles H.), Jr.

Parnell (Richard). The Grasses of Great Britain. Illustrated. London.
1815. 8°.

Pareto (Raphael). Irrigation et assainissement des terres Traite de
I/emploi des caux en Agriculture. 4 vols. Paris. 1851.

Passy (INI. IL). Des Syste'mes de Culture. Paris. 1846.

Peabody (AVm. B. O.). Birds of Massachusetts. Boston. 1839. 8°.

Pearce (Wm.). General View of the Agriculture in Berkshire, with
Observations on the Means of its Improvement. London.
1794. 4°. [*]

Peat Bogs and Water Meadows, Management of See Sjiitii (William).

Perry (Com. M. C). United States Japan Expedition; compiled by F. L.
Hawks, with Illustrations. Washington. 1856. 3 vols. 4°. [f]

Percivall (William). Hippopathology ; a Systematic Treatise on the
Disorders and Lamenesses of the Horse, with their most approved
Methods of Cure. 2d Edition. Corrected, Improved, and Illus-
trated. London. 1855. 8°.
Vol. II., Part I. The Diseases of the Chest and Air-passages of the
Horse. New Edition. Revised, with extensive Additions-
London. 1853. 8°.
Vol. II., Part II. The Diseases of the Digestive Organs of the Horse.
including those of his Urinary and Generative Systems. New
Edition. Revised, with Additions. London. 1856. 8°.

XX APPENDIX.

Percivall (William). Vol. III. A Systematic Treatise on the Disorders
and Lamenesses of the Horse, &c. London. 18i3. 8°.
Vol. IV., Part I. Lameness in the Horse ; with Colored Lithographic
Plates, Illustrative of the Different Species of Lameness. London,
1849. 8°.
Vol. IV., Part II. Lameness in the Horse ; with Colored Plates.
London. 1852. 8°.

Phillips (Henry). Flora Historiea : or the Three Seasons of British
Parterre, Historically and Botanically treated ; with Observations
on Planting, to secure a regular succession of Flowers from the
commencement of Spring to the end of Autumn. London. 1824.
2 vols. 8°.
Pomarium Britannicum : An Historical and Botanical Account of
Fruits known in Great Britain. 2d Edition. London. 1821. 8°.
History of Cultivated Vegetables ; comprising their Botanical, Medi-
cinal, Edible, and Chemical Qualities ; Natural History, and
relation to Art, Science, and Commerce. 2d Edition. London.
1822. 2 vols. 8°.
Sylva Florifera : The Shrubbery Historically and Botanically Treated,
with Observations on the Formation of Ornamental Plantations,
and Picturesque Scenery. London. 1823. 2 vols. 8°.

Pictorial Museum of Animated Nature. See Nature.

PiCTET (Charles). Traits et Observations concernant la Race des Merinos
d'Espagne. Geneve. 1802. 8°. [*]

Planting and Rural Ornament. See Marshall.

Plants, British. See Macgillivray (W.).

Plough (The), Loom, and the Anvil. Vols. I.-III. Philadelphia. J. S.
Skinner. Vols. IV.-IX. New York. M. Finch, M. T. Parish,
and J. C. Nash. 1848-57. 9 vols. 8».

Pool (A.). Statistics of the Executive and Legislative Departments of the
Government of Massachusetts, from 1848 to 185G. 1 vol. Bos-
ton. 8°. [f]

PoiTEAU et Vilmorin, Decarsne, Lcumann et Pessln. Le Bon Jardinler, from
1853. Paris.

Pomologie, Album de- See Albuji de Pomologie.

Potatoes. Report of the Committee of the Board of Agriculture concern-
ing their Culture and Uses. London. 1795. 4°. [*]

Practical Treatise on Soils and Manures as founded on E.xperlence, and
as combined with the leading Principles of Agriculture. By a
Practical Agriculturist. London. 1818.

Prideaux (T. S.). Rudimentary Treatise on Fuel, particularly with
Revei-bcratory Furnaces. London. 1853.

Prize Essays and Transactions of the Highland Society of Scotland. New
Series. 8 vols. EdinTaurgh. 1839-43.

Public Accounts for the Province of Canada, for the year 1855. Toronto.
185G.

APPENDIX. xxi

R.

Raspbehry, Culture of. See Haynes (Thomas).

IlArx'ouT Annuel des Inspecteurs Dn Peuitencier Provincial pour L'Annee
1854. Toronto. 1856. 8".
Du Commissaire Terres de la Couronne du Canada pour L'Annee
1856. Toronto. 1857.
Rawstokne (L.). The New Husbandry: or a Complete Code of Modern

Agriculture. 2d Edition. London. 1849. 8°.
Rendu (Victor). Principes D' Agriculture a I'usage des etablisscment

d'lnstruction Agricole et des Cultivateurs. Paris. 1853. 12".
Reponse a deux Adresses de I'iionerable Assemblee Legislative a son Excel-
lence le Gouverneur-General. Datees le 28 Fevrier. 1S56.
Reports and Papers on Botany. London. 1846. 8°.
Report. On the Progress of Zoology and Botany 1811-42. Edinburgh.
1845.
On the Agriculture of Massachusetts. See Colman.
Of the Superintendent of Coast Survey of 1844-45.
On Commerce and Navigation of the United States for the year ending

June 30, 1856. Washington. 1855.
Of the Public Works for the year ending December 31, 1855.

Toronto. 1856.
Of the Commission of Public Works for 1856. Toronto. 1857.
Of the Superintendent of Education from Lower Canada for 1853.

Quebec. 1853.
Of the Normal, Model, Grammar and Common Schools in U2:)per

Canada for the year 1854. Quebec. 1855.
Of the Normal, Model, Grammar and Common Schools in Upper

Canada for the year 1855. Toronto. 1856.
Of the Inspectors of the Provincial Penitentiary for 1855. Toronto.

1856.
(70th) of the Regents of the University of the State of New York.

Albany. 1857.
Of the Postmaster-General for the year ending March 31, 1855.

Toronto. 1856.
(28th) of the Natural History Society of Montreal, delivered by the
late Council, and read at the Annual Meeting of the Society,
Montreal. 1856.
Reports of the Secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture. See

Flint.
Return for Statement relative to Applications of Grand Trunk Railway
Company for Leases of Provincial Debentures, and Cojiy of any
Memorials since January 1, 1856.
Rhind (William). History of the Vegetable Kingdom, with Illustrations.

Edinburgh. 1855.
Richardson (H. D.). The Hog; its Origin and Varieties, and Treatment

imder Disease. Illustrations on Wood. New York. 1852.
Ritchie (Robert). The Farm Engineer. Illustrated. Edinburgh. 1849.

xxii APPENDIX.

Roads, Art of Constructing and Repairing. See Law (H.).

Rogers (John). The Vegetable Cultivator ; containing a Plain and Accu-
rate Description of all the Different Species and Varieties of
Culinary Vegetables, with the most Approved IMethod of cidti-
vating them by Natural and Artificial Means, and the best ]\Iode
of cooking them ; Alphabetically arranged. Together Avith a
Description of the Physical Herbs in general use, &c. A new
Edition. London. 185L 12°.

Rom AND (R. et G. De Lurleu). See De Lurieu.

RoTTERMUXD (Couipte dc). Rapport sur roxploration dcs lacs superieur et
Huron. Toronto. 1856.
Second Report on the same. Toronto. 1847.

RoEET Irrigation et assainissement des Terres. Paris. 4 vols, with Quarto
Maps. 12°.

Rousseau (L.), and Lemonnier (C). Promenades an jai'din des Plantes
comprenant la Description. 1° de la menagerie, avec des notices
sur les mceurs des animaux cju'ellc renforme . 2° du Cabinet d'
anatomie comparee ; 3° des Galleries de Zoology, de Botanique,
de Mineralogie et de Geologie ; 4° de I'Ecole de Botanique ; 5° des
Serres et du Jardin de naturalisation et des Semis ; 6° de la Biblio-
tlieque, etc. Paris.

RoYER (M.) des Listitutions de Credit Foncier en Allemagne et en Belgique.
Paris. 1845. 2 vols.

Rural Economy, and Essays on Husbandry. See Young (Arthur) ; also
Marshall (W.).

Rural Poetry. See Jenks (William J.).

RuRicoLA. Dairy Farming, the Rearing and Feeding of Dairy Stock, and
the Management of their Produce. London. 1856.

s.

Salisbury (William). Hints Addressed to Proprietors of Orchards, and to
Growers of Fruit in General ; comprising Obsei'vations on the
Present State of the Apple Trees in the Cider Countries. Also
including the Natural History of the Aphis Lana, or American
Blight, and other Lisects destructive to Fruit Trees. London.
1816. 10°.

Salt as a i\Ianure. See Dacre (B.).

Say (Thomas). American Entomology: or Descriptions of the Lisects of
North America. Illustrated by Colored Figures, from Original
Drawings. Philadelphia. 1828. Vol. 3. 8°. [*]

SciiOEDLER (F.). Elements of Botany. Edited from the fifth German
Edition, by Henry Medlock. Illustrated. London. 1851.

ScnMiT (J. P.). Des Moyens de Recueillir et d'utiliser les Engrais qui
se perdent dans les grands Centres de pojiulation au detriment de
la salubrite publiquc et de I'Agriculture. Liege. 8°.

SciiWERZ (J. N.). Culture des Plantes Eeonomiques oleaglneuses textiles
et tinctorlals. Paris. 1847.

APPENDIX. xxiii

Selby (J. P.). A History of British Forest Trees, Indigenous and Intro-
duced. Illustrated by nearly 200 Engravings. London. 1842. 8°.

Sidney (Edwin). Blight of the Wheat, and their Remedies. London.
184G. 18°.

Sinclair (Geo.). Hortus Gramineus Woburncnsis. London. 182-1. 8°.

Sinclair (John). Correspondence of the Right Honorable Sir John
Sinclair, Bart., with Reminiscences of the most distinguished
Characters who have appeared in Great Britain and in Foreign
Countries, during the last fifty years. Illustrated by fac-similes of
200 Autographs. London. 1831. 2 vols. 8°.
The Code of Agriculture ; including Observations on Gardens, Orch-
ards, Woods and Plantations, Avith an Account of all the recent
Im])rovemehts in the Management of Arable and Grass Lands.
5th Edition. London. 1832. 8°.

Skellett (Edward). A Practical Treatise on the Breeding Cow, and
Extraction of the Calf before and at the time of Calving, in which
the Question of Difficidt Parturition is considered in all its bear-
ings, with reference to Facts and Experience. Including Obser-
vations on the Diseases of Neat Cattle generally ; containing
Profitable Instructions to the Breeding Farmer, Cow-keeper, and
Grazier, &c., See. Illustrated with thirteen highly finished
Engravings. London. 1844. 8°.

Skinner (John S.). See American Farmer; Farmer's Library; Ste-
phen's Book of the Farm ; Monthly Journal of Agriculture.

Smith (Chas. H. J.). Parks and Pleasure Grounds: or. Practical Notes on
Country Residences, Villas, Public Parks and Gardens. London.
1852.

Smith (John). General View of the Agriculture of the County of Argyle.
Edinburgh. 1798. 8°. [»]"

Smith (William). Observations on the Utility, from the Management of
Water Meadows, and the Draining and Irrigating of Peat Bogs,
■with an Account of Prisley Bog, and other Extraordinary Im-
provements, conducted for His Grace the Duke of Bedford, and
others. Norwich. 180G. 8°.

Somerville (John L.). Facts and Observations relative to Shee}!, Wool,
Ploughs and Oxen. 3d Edition. London. 1809. [*]

Somerville (Robert). Outlines of the Fifteenth Chapter of the Proposed
(Jencral Report from the Board of Agriculture. On the subject
of Manures. London. 1795. 4". [«]

Speechly' (William). A Treatise on the Culture of the Pineapple, and the
Management of the Hot-house : together with a Description of
every Species of Insects that infest Hot-houses, with effectual
Methods of destroying them. Illustrated Avith Plates. York.
1796. 8°.

Spp:nce (Wm.). Introduction to Entomology. See Kirby" (Wm.).

Sheep, History of See Spooner (W. C). See also Bjschokf (James),
" and Somerville.

xxiv APPENDIX.

Soils, Dissertations on. Sec Dissertations ; also, Practical Treatise on.

SoAs, Nature and Property of. See LIortox (Jolin) ; also Doxaldsox.

Solly (Edward). Rural Chemistry. Philadelphia. 1852. 8".

Spooner (W. C). The History, Structure, Economy, and Diseases of the
Sheeji. In three Parts. Illustrated with fine Engravings, from
Drawings by W. Harvey. London. 1844. 12".

Sprexgel (Carl). Meine Erfahrungen in Gebicte dcr Allgemcinen u.
speciellen Pflanzen Cultur. Leipzig. 1847.

Spuoule (John). Elements of Practical Agriculture ; comprehending the
Nature, Properties, and Improvements of Soils ; the Structure,
Functions, and Cultivation of Plants, and the Husbandry of the
Domestic Animals of the Farm. 3d Edition, with Corrections
and Additions. Illustrated with numerous Engravings on Wood.
London. 1844. 8°.

Squarey (Charles). A Popular Treatise on Agricultural Chemistry.
London. 1842.

St. John (J. A.). Manners and Customs of Ancient Greece. London.
1842. 3 vols. 8°. [t]

Stable Economy. See Stewart.

Staxsbury (Ploward). An Expedition to the Valley of the Great Salt
Lake of Utah : including a Description of its Geography, Natural
History, &c., with a Map. Philadelphia. 1852. 8°.

Statements, Reports, and Accounts of the Grand Trunk Railway Company
of Canada. Toronto. 1857.

STEAM-Ploughing. See Eresby.

Stephens (George). The Practical Irrigator and Drainer. Edinburgh.
1834. 8°.

Stephens (Henry). The Fanner's Guide to Scientific and Practical
Agriculture, assisted by John P. Norton. New York. 1852.
2 vols. 8°.
The Book of the Farm : detailing the Labors of the Farmer, Steward,
Ploughman, Iledger, Cattle-man, Shepherd, Field-worker, and
Dairy-maid. Edited by John S. Skinner, who has added Explan-
atory Notes, &c., with 450 Illustrations. 2 vols. New York.
1855. 8°.

Stewart (John). Stable Economy ; A Treatise on the Management of
Horses in relation to Stabling, Grooming, Feeding, Watering and
Working. Cth Edition. London. 1854. 12°.

Stockuardt (Ernst). Zeitschrift fur deutschc Landwirthe. Leipzig.
185G. 8°.

Stockuardt (Julius A.). Chemical Field Lectures for Agriculturists.
Edited, with Notes, by James F. Teschemacher. Cambridge.
1853. 12". [tj
Principles of Chemistiy. Illustrated by simple Experiments. Cam-
bridge. 1850. 12°. [t]

Stone (Thos.). A Review of the Corrected Agi-icultural Survey of Lin-
colnshire, by Arthur Young. London. 1800. 8°. [*]

APPENDIX. XXV

Storer (D. H.). Fislies and Reptiles of Massachusetts. (Official Docu-
ment.) Boston. 1839. S''.

Strawberry, Culture of. See Haynes (Thomas) ; also Pardee (R. G.).

Swindell (J. Geo.). Rudimentary Treatise on Well-digging, Boring, &c.
2 Editions. Revised by Geo. R. Burnell. London. 1851.

Sylvan Sketches : or, a Companion to the Park and the Shrubbery. With
Illustrations from the Works of the Poets. By the Author of the
Flora Domestica. London. 1825. 8°.

T.

Tables of the Trade and Navigation of the Province of Canada for 1856.
Toronto. 1^57.

Taplin (William). The Sporting Dictionary and Rural Repository of
General Information, upon every subject appertaining to the
Sports of the Field. 2 vols. London. 1803. 8°.

Tattersall (George). Pictorial Gallery of English Race Horses; contain-
ing Portraits of all the Winners of the Derby, Oaks, and St. Leger
Stakes during the last twenty years ; and a History of the Prin-
cipal Operations of the Turf. London. 1850. 8°.

Tatum (Josiah). Farmers' Cabinet and American Herd-Book. Devoted
to Agriculture and Rural Economy. Philadelphia. 184:4:. 8".

Taylor (J. OrviUe). The Farmers' School Book. Albany. 1837. 18°

Teschemacher (J. E.). Horticultural Register and Gardener's Magazine.
Boston. 1835.

Thaer (Albert D.). Principles of Agriculture. Translated by William
Shaw, and Cuthbert W. Johnson. London. 1844. 2 vols. ' 8".

Thatcher (James). The American Orchardist, or a Practical Treatise on
the Culture and Management of Fruit Trees, with Observations
on the Diseases to which they are liable, and their remedies. To
which is added the most approved method of Manufacturing and
Preserving Cider. Boston. 1822. 8°.

Thomson (Thomas). Chemistry of Organic Bodies. Vegetables. London.
1838. 80.
Chemistry of Animal Bodies. Edinburgh. 1843. 8°.

Thompson (Zadock). Natural History of Vermont, with Engravings.
Burlington. 1853. 8°.

ToPHAM (John). Chemistry made Easy. For the Use of Agriculturists.
3d Edition. London. 1846.

ToRREY and Gray (John and Asa). Flora of North America. Vol. 1.
Polypetalous Exogenous Plants. New York. 1838-40. 8".

Torre y (John). Botany of New York State. See Natural History of
New York.

Tour, Farmer's. See Young (Arthur).

Tour, Six Months', through the North of England. See Young (Arthur).

Traite sur les Betes-a Laine D'Espagne. Par C. P. Lastey»e. Paris. 1796.
8°. [*J
4c

xxvi APPENDIX.

Tkansactions. Of the Society for the Promotion of Agriculture, Arts and

Manufacture, in the State of New York. Albany. 1801.

3 vols. 8". [*]
Of the Agricultural Societies 'in Massachusetts, from 18-15 to 1819.

Boston. 8°. [*]
Of the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture. Philadelphia.

1808-2G. 5 vols. 8". [*]
Of the Connecticut State Agricultural Society. Hartford. 1856.

8°. [*]
Of the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society. Harrisburg. 1855-56.

Vols. 2 and 3.
Of the New York State Agricultural Society, from 1812 to 1855.

Albany. 8°.
Of the American Institute, New York City, from 184G to 1854.

New York. 8°.
Of the Michigan State Agricultural Society, from 1819 to 1855. 8".
Of the Ohio State Agricultural Society. 7 vols. 1850 to 1856.

Columbus. 8°.
Of the Connecticut State Agricultural Society, from 1851 to 1856.

Hartford. 8°.
Of the New Hampshire State Agricultural Society, from 1850 to 1855.

Con. ord. 8°.
Of the Maine State Agricultural Society, from 1850 to 1854. Au_

gusta. 8°.
Of the Rhode Island State Agricultural Society, from 1850 to 1855.

Providence. 8°.
Of the Illinois State Agricultural Society. 2 vols. From 1853 to

1855. Springfield. 8°.
Of the Indiana State Agricultural Society, from 1851 to 1853.

Indianapolis. 8°.
Of the Wisconsin State Agricultural Society, for 1851 to 1853.

Madison. 8°.
Of the Tennessee State Agricultural Bureau, for 1854. Nashville.

1855. 8".
Of the Agricultural Society of India and Calcutta. 1840. 8".
Of the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society. Vol. II., No. 1. Hono-
lulu. 1851. 80.
Of the 2d, 3d, and 6th Sessions of the American Pomological Society,

of 1852, '54, and '56.
Of the London Horticultural Society, from 1820 to 1826. 3d Edition.

London. 7 vols. 4°.
Trees and Shrubs of Massachusetts. See Emekson (G. B.).
Trees, Timber and Fruit, &c. See Library of Entertaining Knowledge.
Trusler (John). Practical Husbandry, or the Art of Farming ; with a

certainty of Gain, as practised by judicious Farmers. London.

1780.- 8°.

APPENDIX. xxvii

TuLL (Jethro). Ilorsc-hoeing Husbandry : or an Essay on the Principles of
Vegetation and Tillage. 4th Edition. London. 1792. 8°. [*]

TussAR (Thomas). Some of the Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry.
Oxford. 1848. 12°.

u.

Underdraining, Address on. See Green^ (Robert).

Useful and Practical Observations in Agriculture, by a Clergyman. Lon-
don. 1783. [*]

V.

Valley Farmer. Monthly. N. J. Colman, H. P. Byram, Editors.

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Vanderstraeten (F.). Improved Agriculture, and the Suppression of

Smuggling, Property Tax and Poor Rates, including a Sketch of

the Flemish Sj'stem. London. 1816.
Vaux (Thomas). Outlines of a New Plan for Tilling and Fertilizing.

London. 1840. S".
Vegetable Cultivator. See Phillips (Henry), and Rogers (John).
Vegetable Kingdom, History of See Rhind.
Vegetable Substances of Manufactures. See Library of Entertaining

Knowledge.
Veterinary Art. See White (James).
Villeroy (Felix). Manuel de L'Agriculteur Coramen^ant, etant Bibli-

otheque du Cultivateur public avec le concours de M. le Ministre

de I'Agriculture. Tom. L Paris.
Manuel de L'Eleveur des Betes a Cornes etant Bib. du Cultivateur,

Tom. H. Paris.

w.

Walker (Amasa). The Nature and Uses of Money and Mixed Currency.
Boston. 1857. 8°.

Walton (Isaac). The Complete Angler, or the Contemplative Man's
Recreation. To which is added Instructions how to Angle for
Trout, by Charles Cotton. With Notes by the American editor.
New York. 1847. 8°.

Warren (John C.). The JNIastodon Giganteus. 2d Edition, with additions.
Boston. 1855. 4°.

Watson (Elkanah). History of the Rise, Progress, and Existing Condition
of the Western Canals in the State of New York, from Sep-
tember, 1788, to 1819 ; together with the History of Modern
Agricultural Societies. Albany. 1820. 8°. [*]

Weather, Philosophy of See Butler (T. B.).

Webster (Noah). American DIctionarj' of the English Language. New
York. 1849. 8°.

Well-digging, Treatise on. See Swindell (J. George).

xxviii APPENDIX.

Wells (David A.). The Year Book of Agriculture. Philadelphia.
1856. 8°.
Annual of Scientific Discovery : or Year Book of Facts in Science
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Westwood (J. G.). An Introduction to the Modern Classification of
Insects ; founded on the Natural Habits and Corresponding
Organization of the Different Families. London. 1839. 2
vols. 8".

Wheat, Bhghts of, and their Remedies. See Sidney (Edwin).

White (James). A Compendium of the Veterinary Art; containing Plain
and Concise Observations on the Construction and Management
of the Stable ; a brief and popular Outline of the Structure and
Economy of the Horse ; the Nature, Symptoms, and Treatment
of the Diseases and Accidents to which the Horse is liable ; the
best Methods of performing various important Operations, with
Advice to the purchasers of Horses, &c. 18th Edition. Edited
by W. C. Spooner, U. S. London. 1851. 8°.

WiLDA (Adolf). Landwirthschaftliches Centralblatt, fiir Deutschland.
Kepertorium der wissenschaftlichen Forschungen u praktischen
Erfahrungen in Gebiete der Landwirthschaft. Berlin. 1856. 8°.

WiLDMAN (Tlios.). A Treatise on the Management of Bees, with their
Natural History. London. 1778. S°.

WiLLiCH (A. F. M.). The Domestic Encycloptedia : or Dictionary of Facts
and Useful Knowledge. Chiefly applicable to Rural and Domestic
Economy. Illustrated. 3 vols. Second American Edition.
With Additions by Thomas Cooper. Philadelphia. 1821. 8°.

Wilson (John M.). Rural Cyclopaedia, or General Dictionary of Agricul-
ture. Edinburgh. 1852. 4 vols. 8°.

Wilson (John). Lecture on Flax: its Treatment, Agricultural and Tech-
nical. New York. 1853. 8°.

Wisconsin Farmer : a Monthly Journal, published at Madison. Vol. VHI.
1856. 8°.

Withering's British Plants. The Flowering Plants and Ferns of Great
Britain and Ireland, arranged according to the Linnsean System.
9th Edition. London. 1856. 12°.

Wool, Essay on. See Luccock (John).

Working Farmer : by Professor Mapes. From 1819 to 1857. New York.
9 vols. 4°.

Wolff (Emil). Der Ackerbau. Zwei Bande. Leipzig. 1854. 8°.

WoRCESTEii Agricultural Society. Transactions from 1847 to 1853.
1 vol. 8°.

Y.

Yankee (The) Farmer and New England Cultivator. Edited by S. W.

Cole. Vols. VI., VI I. Boston. 1840-41. 4°.
Youatt and Martin. Cattle: A Treatise on their Breeds, Management,

Diseases, History, &c., with Illustrations. Edited by A. Stevens.

New York. 1852. 12°.

APPENDIX. xxix

YoUATT (William). Cattle : Their Breeds, Management and Diseases.

London. 183i. 8".
Sheep : Their Breeds, Management and Diseases. Including the

Mountain Shepherd's Manual. London. 1837. 8°.
Young (Augustus). Preliminary Report on the Natural History of Ver-
mont. Burlington. 1857. 8°.
Young (Arthur). vSix Months' Tour through the North of England.

London. 1771. 4 vols. 8°. [*]
The Farmer's Tour through the East of England. London. 1771.

4 vols. 8". [*]
The Farmer's Letters to the People of England. London. 1771.

2 vols. 8°. [*]
Rural Economy-: or Essays on the Practical Parts of Husbandry.

London. 1773. 8''. [*]
The Farmers' Guide in Hiring and Stocking Farms. London. 1770.

2 vols. 8«. [*]
Travels during the years 1787-89, for ascertaining the Cultivation,

Wealth, Resources and National Prosperity of the Kingdom of

France. Dublin. 1793. 2 vols. 8°. [*]
Young (John). The Letters of Agricola on the Principles of Vegetation

and Tillage, written for Nova Scotia. Halifax, N. S. 1822.

80. [*J

XXX

APPENDIX.

[B]

Inventory of Slock, Crops,

3 yoke Oxen, S180,
21 Cows, MO,
1 Hereford Cow, .
1 Hereford Heifer, .
1 Hereford Bull Calf,
1 Horse, Charlie, .
1 Horse, Braley,
1 Mare, Kate,
1 Horse, Billy,
1 Jersey Cow, Alice,
1 Jersey Bull,
1 Jersey Heifer Calf,
1 Devon Cow,
1 Devon Calf,
1 Bull, .
6 Fat Hogs, .

8 Breeding Sows, .
52 Shotes,
18 Sucking Pigs,

1 Boar, Suffolk,
68 tons English Hay,

9 tons Rowen,
1 ton of Meidow Rowen

22 tons Meadow Hay,
1| tons Bromus,
1 ton Millet, .
40 tons Corn Fodder, principally

Husks and Stalks,
4 tons Rye Straw,
1470 bushels Indian Corn
659 bushels Ruta-Bagas,

47 tons Carrots,
176 bushels Seed Potatoes,
60 " • Small Potatoes
40 " Oats, .
50 " Rye,
lOO " Beets, .
4 Hay Cutters,

1 Feed Trough,
10 Hay Forks,
12 Hay Rakes,
22 Manure Forks, .
40 Shovels,
18 Spades,
SO Picks, .

2 Manure Rakes, .
10 Iron Bars, . ' .

3 Stone Hammers,
1 Ox Wagon,
1 Two-Horse Wagon,
1 One-Horse Wagon,

3 Ox Carts, .

4 Horse Carts,

3 Stone Drags,
10 Ploughs,

4 Harrows,
1 Cultivator, .

Tools, S,^c

., at ilia State Farm at Westborough,

Decemhe

r 1, 185G.

. af540 GO

1 Horse Hoe,

$5 00

840 00

2 Horse Harrows,

4 00

200 00

2 Hand Cultivators,

2 00

175 00

1 Job Wagon,

15 00

300 00

5 Ox Yokes, ....

8 00

. 150 00

10 Draft Chains,

12 00

160 00

1 Derrick Chain, .

7 00

130 00

4 Stake Chains, .

3 00

150 00

4 Trace Chains,

3 00

150 00

2 Ox Sleds, ....

10 00

. 150 00

2 Horse Sleds,

16 00

25 00

1 Sleigh, .♦ .

20 00

100 00

Old Harnesses, .

40 00

25 00

Stable Furniture, Buffiilo, &c.,

10 00

35 00

Articles in Scale Room,

5 00

IGO 00

Iron Roller,

20 00

144 00

Fanning Mill and Corn Sbeller,

12 00

359 00

Stone Elevator, .

175 00

54 00

15 Bushels Seed Corn, .

22 00

25 00

2 Bushels Seed Beans, .

4 00

1,020 00

1 Seed Sower,

3 00

90 00

1 pair Steelyards, .

2 00

7 00

1 Platform Scale, .

7 00

176 00

1500 pounds Guano, .

45 00

10 00

800 pounds Super-phosphate of Liii

e, 24 00

10 00

25 Strawberry Boxes,

1 00

30 Hoes,

8 00

320 00

10 Hand Drills,

6 00

40 00

2 Hand Hammers,

3 00

1,470 00

20 AVheelbarrows, .

30 00

131 80

1 Beetle, with Wedges,

2 00

470 00

2 Grindstones,

10 00

132 00

4 Water Cans,

2 00

12 00

6 Bog Hoes, ....

2 00

20 00

4 Axes,

3 00

50 00

4 Wood Saws,

4 00

25 00

4 Ice Hooks, . ' .

1 00

50 00

1 pair Ice Tongs, .

2 00

4 00

2 Cross-cut Saws, .

6 00

3 00

2 Hand Saws,

2 00

3 00

3 Scythes and Snaths, .

3 00

17 00

12 Grain Bags, ....

2 00

20 00

12 One-Bushel Baskets, .

6 00

14 00

10 Milk Cans,

6 00

22 00

lot first q^uality Lumber, .

50 00

1 00

3 Buckets,

75

10 00

Surveyor's Chain,

2 00

5 00

1 Ox Shovel,

6 25

40 00

1 Spirit Level, ....

2 00

20 00

1 Swill Cart,

42 00

30 00

1 Ilefrigerator, ....

11 00

70 00

1 Derrick, .....

50 00

IGO 00

Household Furniture,

206 41

4 00

1 Garden Rule, ....

1 00

100 00

24 Corn Cutters, ....

4 00

24 00
3 00

Total,

$9,402 41

APPENDIX.

XXXI

[C]

Inventory of Personal Property on the State Farm, Westborough, Dec. 1, 1857.

8 Oxen, .

. $745 00

10 Draft Chains,

$12 00

17 Cows, $40, .

. 680 00

1 Derrick Chain, .

7 00

1 Hereford Cow, .

200 00

6 Stake Chains, .

4 00

1 Jersey Cow,

150 00

2 Ox Sleds, ....

8 00

1 Devon Cow,

. 100 00

1 Horse Sled,

5 00

1 Hereford Heifer,

175 00

1 Two-Horse Double-runner Sled,

12 00

1 Hereford Bull, .

300 00

1 Pleasure Sleigh,

15 00

1 Hereford Calf, .

50 00

1 lot of Old Harness, .

35 00

1 Jersey Bull Calf,

50 00

1 New Harness,

18 00

1 Jersey Heifer,

50 00

1 Horse-cart Harness, .

9 00

1 Devon Heifer,

50 00

6 Trace Chains, .

4 00

1 Devon Calf,

30 00

Stable Furniture,

10 00

1 Grade Jersey Calf,

25 00

Furniture in Scale Room, .

5 00

1 Grade Devon Calf,

25 00

1 Iron Roller,

20 00

5 Horses,

6S0 00

1 Fanning Mill and Corn Sheller,

12 00

12 Fat Hogs, .

. 240 00

1 Stone Elevator, .

165 00

45 Shotes,

360 00

8 bushels Seed Corn,

10 00

16 Sucking Pigs,

32 00

5 bushels Seed Beans, .

12 50

5 Breeding Sows, .

75 00

1 bushel Seed Pease,

2 50

1 Suffolk Boar,

25 00

2 bushels Millet Seed, .

4 00

80 tons English Hay,

1,200 00

1 Seed Soii^r,

3 00

8 tons Rowen,

120 00

1 set Steel-yards, .

2 00

25 tons of Meadow Hay,

175 00

1 Platform Scale, .

7 00

2 tons Millet,

30 00

20 Strawberry Boxes,

1 00

5 tons Straw,

35 00

48 Hand Hoes,

16 00

30 tons Corn Stover,

210 00

10 Hand Drills,

600

1000 bushels Shelled Indiai

iCor

n,

1,000 00

2 Hand Hammers,

3 00

1561 bushels Ruta-Bagas,

260 00

12 Wheelbarrows, .

20 00

1800 bushels Carrots,

450 00

1 Beetle, with Wedges, .

2 00

50 bushels Seed Potatoes,

38 00

2 Grindstones,

10 00

100 bushels Small Potatoes,

40 00

4 Water Cans,

2 00

25 bushels Oats,

12 00

6 Bog Hoes, ....

2 00

25 bushels Buckwheat,

19 00

4 Axes,

3 00

185 bushels Beets, .

46 00

6 Wood Saws,

6 00

124 bushels Parsnips,

41 00

4 Ice Hooks, ....

1 00

4 Hay Cutters,

40 00

1 pair Ice Tongs, .

2 00

1 Feed Trough,

4 00

2 Cross-cut Saws, . . . .

6 00

12 Hay Forks,

4 00

Carpenters' Tools,

20 00

48 Hay Rakes,

8 00

4 Scythes and Snaths, .

2 00

24 Manure Forks,

30 00

20 Baskets,

7 00

80 Shovels,

48 00

12 Milk Cans, ....

6 00

26 Spades,

20 00

1 lot first quality Lumber, .

25 00

40 Picks,

40 00

1000 feet Pine Lumber,

16 00

2 Manure Hooks,

1 00

4 AVater Buckets, . . . .

1 OO

15 Iron Bars, .

15 00

1 Surveyor's Chain,

2 00

3 Stone Hammers,

5 00

1 Ox Shovel,

6 00

1 Ox Wagon,

35 00

1 Spirit Level, . . . .

2 00

1 Two-Horse Wagon,

20 00

1 Swill Cart,

40 00

1 One-Horse Wagon,

30 00

1 Refrigerator, . . . .

10 00

3 Ox Carts, .

60 00

2 Derricks,

75 00

4 Horse Carts,

160 00

Household Furniture,

156 00

4 Stone Drags,

7 00

1 Garden Rule,

1 00

10 Ploughs,

100 00

24 Corn Cutters, . . " .

4 00

4 Harrows,

24 00

1 Root Cutter, . . . .

10 OO

1 Cultivator,

3 00

1 Saddle, . . .

5 00

2 Horse Hoes,

12 00

8 Iron- toothed Rakes, .

8 00

2 Hand Cultivators,

2 00

3 Wheel Hoes, . . . .

3 00

2 Horse Harrows,

4 00

2 Job Wagons,

90 00

$9,344 00

5 Ox Yokes, .

8 GO

XXXll

APPENDIX.

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lymouth,
ristol,
arnstable,
antucket,

Totals,

1 s

<H

s

?!=?:(=

K S S M PH W S

S5

ei, F3 p iz;

1

xl

APPENDIX.

MISCELLANEOUS.

SOCIETIES.

Amount awarded for
aiTieultural imple-
ments.

•g £

In S

c M
3 .S
o S

S 2

2

"a
t

M

For mechanical Inven- 1
t.cns and domestic
munufactures, <fec.

Nuxber of persons
who received pre-
miums and gratuities.

Essex, ....

$100 00

$30 00

$1,162 17

$197 25

370

Middlesex, .

-

-

-

38 44

199

Middlesex South, .

-

50 00

-

69 50

225

Middlesex North, .

-

-

525 00

27 30

170

Worcester, .

-

30 00

-

-

101

Worcester West, .

9 09

30 00

-

43 12

150

Worcester North, .

2 62

-

-

58 23

196

Worcester South, .

-

50 00

-

16 00

98

Hampshire, Franklin )
and Hampden, . )

4 00

20 00

-

113 00

213

Hampshire, .

13 00

6 00

27 75

43 52

288

Hampden,

41 00

25 00

-

300 00

175

Hampden East,

5 00

-

-

49 12

98

Franklin,

7 00

10 00

-

46 00

170

Berkshire,

16 00

-

-

89 25

320

Housatonic,* .

10 00

-

9 00

97 00

222

Norfolk,

23 00

30 00

-

40 50

205

Plymouth,! •

6 00

160 00

-

230 00

460

Bristol, ....

2 00

105 00

-

124 85

341

Barnstable, .

-

10 00

-

75 00

125

Nantucket, .

-

8 00

11 00

38 00

174

Totals, .

$238 71

$564 00

$1,734 92

$1,696 08

4,300

* Awarded $20 for Female Equestrianism.

t Awarded S69 for Female Equestrianism.

APPENDIX.

xli

Names of the Towns and Cities in ivliich resided the persons
ivhen receivings the Premiums and Gratuities awarded by
the County Societies, and the several amounts as disbursed.

ESSEX.

Amesbury, .

. 133 75

Lynnfield, .

$2 00

Andover,

15 00

Marblehead,. . . . 58 00

Beverly,

15 30

Newbury,

224 06

Boxford,

37 88

Newburyport,

312 75

Bradford,

54 56

North Andover,

. 70 28

Danvers,

17 88

Rockport,

2 00

Essex,

21 36

Rowley,

19 64

Georgetown,

11 00

Salem,

142 00

Gloucester, .

2 00

Salisbury,

9 00

Groveland, .

29 00

South Danvers, •

16 34

Hamilton,

14 00

Topsfield,

45 40

Haverhill, .

41

29 96

Wenham,

2 00

Ipswich,

25 78
8 00

West Newbury,
Total,

162 48

Lawrence, .

$1,381 42

MIDDLESEX,

Acton, .

. $49 75

Cambridge, .

. $20 00

Ashby,

. 7 00

Carlisle,

. 1 25

Bedford,

. 0 12

Chelmsford, .

. 11 25

Blllerica,

. 2 25

Concord,

. 280 59

Brighton,

. 11 00

Dracut,

. 6 00

6c

xlii

APPENDIX.
MIDDLESEX — Continued.

Framingham,

Lexington, .

Lincoln,

Littleton,

Lowell,

Marlborough,

Pepperell,

Sherborn,

Shirley,

Somerville, .

South Reading,

m 62 I Stow, .
33 00 j Sudbury,
40 75 i Waltham,

41 50

18 25

10 00

8 00

1 00

3 00

0 25

1 00

Watertown, .
Wayland,
West Cambridge,
Westford,
Weston,
Wilmington,
Woburn,
Total, .

. $14

25

. 12

37

. 21

50

. 5

00

. 55

50

. 5

00

. 7

62

1

37

. 15

00

. 4 75

1733 94

MIDDLESEX SOUTH,

Ashland,

. $19 25

Newton,

. $5 50

Framingham,

. 190 12

Sherborn,

. 14 75

Holliston,

. 20 75

Southborough,

. 21 00

Hopkinton, .

. 11 00

Sudbury,

. 2 00

Marlborough,

. 32 75

Wayland,

. 30 00

Natick,

. 3 50

Total, .

$350 62

MIDDLESEX NORTH

Billerica,

. $9 00

Tewksbury, .

. $39 00

Chelmsford, .

. 81 50

Tyngsborough,

. 39 62

Dunstable, .

. 47 00

Westford,

. 3 50

Dracut,

. 32 50

Wilmington,

. 19 00

Lowell,

. 190 18

Total, .

1482 30

North Reading, .

. 21 00

APPENDIX.

WOIICESTER,

xliii

Auburn,

,112 00

New Braintree,

. ■ . f$28 00

Barre, .

. 46 00

Northborough,

. 9 00

Berlin,

.11 00

Oakham,

. 5 00

Bolton,

8 00

Princeton, .

. 97 00

Boylston,

24 00

Shrewsbury,

. 14 00

Charlton,

32 00

Sutton,

. 61 00

Grafton,

19 00

Upton,

. 29 00

Hardwick,

8 00

Westborough,

. 40 00

Holden,

21 00
15 00

Worcester, .
Total, .

. 245 00

Leicester,

1764 00

Millbury,

40 00

WORCESTER WEST,

Barre, ....

$240

37

Pax ton,

. W 75

Bernardston,

. 6

00

Petersham, .

. 23 25

Dana, ....

. 4

00

Phillipston,

. 10 50

Gardner,

. 0

75

Princeton, .

. 70 00

Hardwick, .

. 105

25

Rutland,

75

Hubbardston,

. 9

75

Templeton, .

. 4 00

New Braintree,

. 32

75

West Brookfield, .

. 7 00

North Brookfield,

. 4

00

Worcester, .

. 3 00

Oakham,

. 14

75

Total, .

$536 87

WORCESTER NORTH

Ashburnham,

. 11 50

Hubbardston,

. 11 00

Ashby,

. 11 50

Leominster,

. 22 25

Fitchburg, .

. 267 48

Lunenburg,

. 26 00

xliv APPENDIX.

WORCESTER NORTH— Continued.

Leominster,

Princeton,

Royalston,

$22

25

163

25

1

00

Sterling,
Townsend,
Total,

. 139 75
3 00
1558 93

WORCESTER SOUTH.

Brimfield,

$12 00

Southbridge,

. 125 75

Brookfield, .

10 16

Spencer,

. 1 00

Charlton,

73 75

Sturbridge,

.- 25 75

Dudley,

7 00

Warren,

. 15 37

Holland, .

8 00
11 50

Webster,
Total, .

50

North Brookfield,

$190 78

HAMPSHIRE,

FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEI^

.

Amherst,

$22 00

Middlefield,

$10 00

Belchertown,

10 00

Northampton,

234 00

Chesterfield,

1 00

Palmer,

5 00

Chicopee,

4 00

Shelburne,

1 00

Conway,

23 75

South Hadley,

.

100 50

Cummington,

13 00

Southampton,

34 00

Deerfiekl,

3 40

Springfield,

30 00

Easthampton,

32 15

Sunderland,

16 00

Feeding Hills,

2 00

Westfield, .

73 44

Goshen,

7 00

Westhampton,

11 00

Granby,

13 00

Whately,

14 00

Hadley,

65 25^

Williamsburg,

25 50

Hatfield,

112 00
9 00

Worthington,
Total, .

1 00

Holyoke,

$883 99

Huntington,

11 00

APPENDIX.
HAMPSHIRE.

xlv

Amherst,

$137 23

Lowell,

. U 00

Barrc, .

. 8 00

Montague, .

. 1 25

Belchertown,

. 7 75

Northampton,

. 7 50

Boston,

. 3 GO

Pelham,

. 2 87

Chicopee,

. 2 50

Prescott,

. 3 00

Conway,

. 5 50

Shutesbury, .

50

Granby,

. 20 25

South Hadley,

. 41 00

Hadley,

. 67 00

Sunderland,

. 109 29

Hatfield,

. 5 00

Ware, .

. 3 00

Leverett,

. 23 99

Total, . . .

$449 63

HAMPDEN.

Agawam,

. 13 00

Ludlow,

. $14 00

Brimfield,

. 8 00

Monson,

. 50 00

Chester,

. 8 00

Springfield, .

. 436 00

Chicopee,

. 81 50

"West Springfield,

. 100 00

Granville,

50

Westfield, .

. 90 00

Holyoke,

. 7 50
.103 00

Wilbraham, .
Total, .

. 101 50

Longmeadow,

$903 00

Note. — Paid individuals out of the County, including the premiums of
the Horse Show, $2,017.50.

HAMPDEN EAST

Belchertown,

. $25 25

Palmer,

$167 37

Brimfield,

. 32 50

Wales,

. 6 00

Holland,

. 8 00

Wilbraham,

. 74 62

Monson,

. 99 75

Total, .

$413 49

xlvi

APPENDIX.
FRANKLIN.

Ashfield,

,f3 50

Leyden,

. $1 50

Bernardston,

40 75

Montague, .

. 6 50

Charlemont,

6 00

Northfield, .

. 10 50

Coleraine,

10 00

Orange,

. 7 50

Conway,

45 50

Shelbnrne, .

. 198 00

Deerfield,

101 00

Sunderla;nd,

. 82 00

Erving,

10 50

Whately,

. 10 00

Gill, .

12 00

64 50

5 00

Windsor,
Total, .

. 3 00

Greenfield, .
Heath, .

1617 75

BERKSHIRE

Adams,

$46 00

Monterey,

$5 00

Alford,

5 00

New Marlborough,

3 00

Becket,

4 00

Peru, ....

4 00

Cheshire,

23 00

Pittsfield, .

318 75

Dalton,

32 00

Richmond, .

43 00

Egremont, .

47 00

Sheffield, . .

16 00

Great Barrington,

40 00

Stockbridge,

131 00

Hancock,

1 00

West Stockbridge,

16 00

Hinsdale,

24 00

Williamstown,

34 00

Lanesborough,

134 50

46 00

126 50

Windsor,

Total, . . . !$

18 50

Lee, ....

Lenox,

1,118 25

Alford,
Egremont, .

HOUSATONIC,

$27 50-1 Great Barrington,

147 50

Lee,

1234 50
. 18 50

APPENDIX.

HOUSATONIC — Continued.

xlvii

Lenox,

. WO 00

Richmond, .

. fl3 00

Monterey, .

. 22 50

Sandisfield, .

. 10 00

New Boston,

. 5 00

Sheffield, .

. 199 00

Norfolk,

. 2 00

Stockbridge,

. 101 00

North Marlborough,

. 20 50
. 5 00

West Stockbridge,
Total, .

. 35 00

Pittsfield, .

$901 00

NORFOLK.

Bellingham, .

. f 1 00

Medway,

. Ul 00

Braintree,

. 2 00

Milton,

. 18 00

Brookline, .

23 00

Randolph, .

. 12 50

Canton,

9 00

Roxbury,

. 16 60

Dedham,

187 00

Sharon,

. 5 00

Dorchester, .

123 00

Stoughton, .

. 12 00

Dover,

53 50

Walpole,

. 18 00

Foxborough,

7 00

West Roxbury, .

. 22 00

Franklin,

47 50
63 50

Wrentham, .

Total, .

. 48 00

Medfield, .

$709 50

PLYMOUTH

Abington,

. $54 61

Hingham,

. $3 00

Bridgewater,

. 319 77

Kingston,

. 5 25

Carver,

. 30 00

Lakeville, .

. 6 00

Duxbury,

. 4 00

Mansfield, .

. 8 00

East Bridgewater,

. 167 r5

Middleborough, .

. 116 65

Halifax,

. 62 85

North Bridgewater,

. 185 55

Hanson,

. 15 49

Pembroke, .

. 36 75

xlviii

APPENDIX.
PLYMOUTH— Continued.

Plymouth, .

. $37 55

West Bridgewater,

$159 80

Plympton, .

. 54 55

Unknown, .

. 9 m

Rochester, .
Wareham, .

. 7 25
. 12 00

Total, .

. $1,296 57

BRISTOL.

Attleborough,

. . $2

00

Raynham, .

. $95 00

Berkley,

. 17

00

Rehoboth, .

. 20 00

Dartmouth, .

. 30

00

Seekonk,

. 14 00

Eastoa,

. 21

00

Somerset,

. 75 00

Fairhaven, .

. 15

00

Swanzey,

. 7 00

Fall River, '.

. 325

30

Taunton,

. 144 00

Mansfield, .

. 23

00

Westport,

. 90 00

New Bedford,

.18
. 65
. 4

00
00
00

Unknown, .
Total, .

. 3 00

Norton,
Pawtucket, .

$968 00

BARNSTABLE

Barnstable, .

$287 50

Provineetown,

. $4 50

Chatham,

. 12 00

Sandwich,

. 19 25

Dennis,

. 4 00

75

. 4 50

Yarmouth, .
Total,

. 28 75

Falmouth,
Harwich,

$361 25

NANTUCKET

Nantucket,

$236 00

INDEX.

Agricultural Exhibitions, usefulness of,

" Implements, .

" Library,

" Museum,

" Products,

" Societies,
Agriculture, development of,
Associated effort, advantages of,
Ayrshires, characteristics of,
" milking qualities of,

Barnstable Society's exhibition,
Berkshire Society's exhibition.
Black Hawk horses.
Black Spanish fowls.
Breed, what constitutes a, ,
Breeding, principles of,
Bristol Society's exhibition,
Butter maldng,

Calves, report on, .
Carrots, statement on,
Cattle, raising of, .
Chinese sugar cane,
Chinese yam, quality of the,
Creampot cattle, qualities of.
Crossing of breeds, .
Cotswold sheep.
Cotton seed cake, analysis of
Cows for milk,

Dairy, products of the,
Devon?, characteristics of, .

" breeders of,
Dorking fowls.

Entomology, statement on,
Essex Society's exhibition,
7c

ess of, .

. 6-8, 67

. 169, 172, 175, 178, 184

. 229, 230

. 230, 231

. 141, 144, 146

231, 232, 236, 278

6, 7

7

26, 27, 52

. 25, 26

272

264

. 87, 8&

. 134, 135

. 43, 49

28, 35,

S7,

39, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 52, 57
267

38

157, 158, 161, 163, 166, 168

77

. 150, 213

24, 27, 32, 45, 46, 49, 51, 53

145, 147, 149, 215

. 146, 148, 149

37

27, 28

37,

39, 44, 45, 48, 50, 52, 57, 71
. 115, 116

• ■ •

.

. 202, 204

22,

26, 27, 29, 31, 38, 45, 62, 67

155, 157, 169, 1()0, 162, 168

21, 22, 52

. 22, 23

135

197
236

1

INDEX.

Fat cattle, exhibition of,
Feeding of stock, .
Franklin Society's exhibition,
Fruits, exhibition of,

Game fowls.
Grade cattle.
Geese, varieties of, .

76
. 51, 53, 66, 202, 201, 217, 223
260
. 152, 154

43, 47,

Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden [Society's exhibition,

" Society's exhibition, .

Hampden East Society's^ exhibition,
Herefords, characteristics of,

" origin of the,

Horses of New England, origin of,

" thorough-bred,

" Morgan,

" Black Hawk,

" for general utility, .
Horse-powers, exhibition of,
Hubback, pedigree of,

Insects injurious and beneficial to vegetation,
Jerseys, characteristics of, .
Leicester sheep, characteristics of, .

Magnetism and electricity, .

Merino sheep,

.Middlesex Society's exhibition,

" South Society's exhibition,

" North Society's exhibition,

Milch cows, .... 22, 27, 45, 62,

JVIiscellaneous articles, exhibition of,
Morgan horses, origin of, .

Nantucket Society's exhibition,
Native or grade stock,
Norfolk Society's exhibition,

Oxfordshire Down sheeji, .

Plymouth Society's exhibition.
Potato rot, report on the, ,
Poultry, varieties of,

135

51, 53, 59, 60, 62
. 137, 138

255
256

258
30, 35, 71
29, 33, 34
8, 79, 84, 86, 101
78, 79, 80
. 81,87
87
84, 101, 104
177, 178, 184
17

. 197, 201
38, 41, 52
. 114, 115

. 205, 206

. 122-124

238

242

245

63, 64, 66, 67, 69

. 188, 193

. 81, 87

274

43, 44, 48, 53

266

. 117-121

269

227, 228

133, 136, 137, 139

Roadsters, description of, .

84, 85,

INDEX.

Sheep, origin of, .

112,

" statistics of, .

113, il4, 122

^' breeds of, .

114, 115, 117

Short-horns, origin of, .

. 16, 17

" characteristics of.

. 18, 19

30, 32, 52, 69

•< premiums on,

19, 20, 21

South Down sheep,

. 116, 117

State Fair, origin of the.

7, 8, 13, 14

" " location of, .

7, 15

" Farm, operations on the,

207

209, 210, 226

" " crops raised on the,

211, 213, 215

" " stock at the

32, 217, 223

" " improvements on the, .

. 224, 225

" Society, ....

7, 8, 9, 10, 15

Stock, selection and breeding of, . .1 7,

22, 24, 27, 31, 34,

46, 47, 50, 51

" importations of,

. 18, 28,

34, 42, 44, 57

Stone elevator, description of.

194

Swans, management of,

.

. 139, 140

Swine, breeds and statistics of,

•

. 127, 129

Thorough-bred horses.

78, 79, 80, 83

Turnips, statement on,

. 151, 214

Vegetables, exliibition of, .

142,

146, 150, 151

" at the State farm.

213, 214

Wine, manufacture of, .

.

196

Working Oxen, exhibition of, .

22,

70, 71, 74, 75

" " training of, . . .

.

70, 71, 75

Worcester Society's exhibition.

.

252

" West Society's exhibition,

.

246

" North Society's exhibition,

.

. 247, 250

\

Fat cattle 1

h

•^'>\ *\,4

\''

ABSTRACT OF RETURNS

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES

MASSACHUSETTS,

1857.

EDITED BY

CHARLES L. FLINT,

SEOKETAllY OF STATE BOAED OF AURICULTUHE.

BOSTON:

WILLIAM WHITE, PRINTER TO THE STATE.

1858.

PREFACE.

Many of the Reports of the past year contain an unu-
sual amount of interestmg and valuable reading, the
result of intelligent practice and thoughtful preparation.

" To make up a volume of such reading," says the
prompt and efficient secretary of the Essex Agricultural
Society, " the reports of the various committees must be
prepared with some special care and attention. It will
afford but little satisfaction to others, to have a bald
statement of the award of premiums ; but if the report
contain the reason of the awards, a comparison of the
relative merits of the competitors — suggestions as to the
failure of the unsuccessful, and such remarks as the ex-
perience or reflections of the writer may prompt him to
offer, it will then form a paper worthy of perusal and
preservation. It is in the power of every one who con-
tributes to our pages, to earn for himself the enviable
distinction that he has done what he could. This
certainly is all that can be required — wdth less than
this we ought not to be satisfied. Any one who reads
the early reports of the society, will see at once that a
sense of personal responsibility governed the writers of
them. They felt that they wrote for posterity — why
should not we thus write our reports, and make our
statements of agricultural experiments ?

IV PREFACE.

" It may be said — and indeed, it often is said — that but
little if any thing new can be brought forward in our
reports.- This may well be doubted, if taken in a broad
sense — but if it be true, what then '? Will not old truths
bear repeating "? Do they not need repeating, not merely
in agriculture, but in morals and religion? The mere
way of stating an old truth or fact, Avill sometimes give
to it the freshness of a new truth or new fact. Different
minds see things in different lights, and it may be that
the view taken of a given subject in a report of this year,
will carry conviction to some man, who has heretofore
failed of being convinced of the same fact ; it may not
only enlighten his intellect, but rouse his ambition and
determine his will to enter upon and steadily to pursue a
better course of husbandry than he has before practiced.
It may form the turning-point of his life ; and to that
report — however poorly the writer may have thought of
it at the time — belongs the high honor of accomplishing
this good result. No one, therefore, should be deterred
from putting forth his best efforts in preparing a report,
by the apprehension that he can impart nothing new.
Let him tell what he knows — tell it, too, in the best way
he know^s how, and the report itself will tell with effect
on some who read it. "

The above sensible and judicious remarks should com-
mend themselves to the chairmen of committees through-
out the State. The object of distributing large sums of
money by the Commonwealth, is not merely to encourage
the farmer by the hope of premiums, but to elicit and
spread abroad useful information. This is a point too
often overlooked both by the officers of societies and
the chairmen of committees. A glance at the operations
of some of the societies will show that they are alive and

PREFACE. V

active, adding something each year to the stock of knowl-
edge in the community and to the rapidly accumulating
treasures of agricultural literature, while others, drawing
an equal amount from the Commonwealth and under
equal obligations are doing literally nothing in this direc-
tion. Their names will be sought for in vain on the fol-
lowing pages, either because their reports are made up of
bare awards, which in .their nature can be of only local
interest, or because they were returned to me too late to
use, or because they were returned in such an unpardon-
able condition that it was not possible to use them. I
need not particularize, but if these glaring faults on the
part of a few of the societies are not speedily remedied, a
sense of duty will compel me to name them hereafter,
and to point out, in detail, w^herein they fail to comply
with the spirit of the law. The prompt publication of
all the transactions, of the society and the distribution of
them over the county, is one of the most direct and sure
ways of doing good and awakening an interest in
improvement.

This, I know, requires great and persevering labor o;i
the part of the secretary of the society, but if he is not
willing or able to perform it, he should at once give
place to some one who is, and not stand in the way of a
society's usefulness.

The law requires that the returns should be made
complete on or before December tenth, of each year. The
object of the law was to make it possible to prepare and
print an abstract of the returns, and to have it ready for
distribution at an early date, and not merely to have the
bare details of the finances and other statistical matter,
which would not very materially facilitate the printing
and preparation of the Abstract. A full compliance with

VI PREFACE.

the spirit of this law is of the utmost importance for the
credit of the society and of the State. The apology most
frequently made for a non-compliance is, that it is not
possible to finish the printing by that date. That de-
pends entirely on the efficiency of the secretary. A few
of the societies publish full and complete reports of two
hundred pages or more, and place them promptly in my
hands on or before the date required. There can there-
fore be no good reason why other societies, printing a
less amount, cannot equally well comply Avith the law.
Let the chairmen of the committees be impressed by the
president and secretary of the society with the impor-
tance of promptness and faithfulness in making their
reports, and of preparing them, in the main, before the
exhibition^ subject to modifications suggested by the exhi-
bition, and to the addition of the awards, and the reports
and transactions of the society would soon attain a higher
value and a more general interest. We should, above
all, avoid falling into a regular routine, — a way of doing
things in the same manner year after year. Change and
novelty, though not always improvements, are important
means of awakening interest and fixing the attention.

The arrangement of the present volume is, in the main,
the same as that of last year, which has been found, on
the whole, to be most convenient for reference. A com-
plete index will be found at the end.

The financial returns of the societies will be found in
the Appendix to the Fifth Annual Report of the Secre-
tary of the Board of Agriculture.

C. L. F.

Boston, March 15, 1858.

OFFICERS OF THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES,

1858.

MASSACHUSETTS.

Preside7it— GEORGE W. LYMAN, of Boston.
Secretary— RICUARD S. FAY, of Boston.

ESSEX.

President— RICHARD S. FAY, of Lynn.
Secretary— ALLE^ W. DODGE, of Hamilton.

MIDDLESEX.

President- J OR'^ S. KEYES, of Concord.
Secretary— JO SEFR REYNOLDS, of Conuord.

MIDDLESEX SOUTH.

President— J AMES W. CLARK, of Framingham.
Secretanj— HENRY ORNE STONE, of Framlnghani.

MIDDLESEX NORTH.

President— TAFR AN WENTWORTH, of Lowell.
Secretary— S. J. VARNEY, of Lowell.

WORCESTER.

President— JOHN BROOKS, of Princeton.
Secretanj—RXJEVS WOODWARD, of Worcester.

WORCESTER WEST.

Presjt/en;— EDWARD DENNY, of Barre.
5ecre^ar^— CHARLES BRIMBLECOM, of Barre.

WORCESTER NORTH.

President— J ABEZ FISHER, of Fitchburg.
Secretary— ^YM. G. WYMAN, of Fitchburg.

WORCESTER SOUTH.

President— O. C. FELTON, of Brookfield.
Secretary— AARON LYON, of Sturbridge.

VUl OFFICERS OF SOCIETIES.

HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN.

Preside7it—ELISRA EDWARDS, of Southampton.
Secretary— R. I. HODGES, of Northampton.

HAMPSHIRE.

President— ^VJLLlkM P. DICKINSON, of Hadley.
Secretary— JAMES W. BOYDEN, of Amherst.

HAMPDEN.

Preskkni— GEORGE BLISS, of Springfield.
Secretary — A. A. ALLEN, of Springfield.

HAMPDEN EAST.

President— SAMUEL SHAW, of Monson.
Secretary— 3 ORN K. ICSTOX, of Palmer.

FRANKLIN.

President— J OSl AH FOGG, of Deerfield.
Secretary— JAMES S. GRENNELL, of Greenfield.

BERKSHIRE.

President— BE'S J. F. MILLS, of Williamstown.
Secretartj-E. H. KELLOGG, of Pittsfield.

HOUSATONIC.

President— T>ANIEE B. FENN, of Stofkbridge.
Secretary— SAMV EL B. SUMNER, of Great Barrington.

NORFOLK.

President— MARSHALL P. WILDER, of Dorchester.
Secretary— R. O. HILDRETII, of Dedham.

BRISTOL.

President— 'NATRA'N DURFEE, of Fall River.
Secretary— LEMUEL T. TALBOT, of Taunton.

PLYMOUTH.

PreszcZen^— CHARLES G. DAVIS, of Plymouth.
Secretary— WILLIAMS LATHAM, of Bridgewater.

BARNSTABLE.

Presidents. B. PHINNEY, of Barnstable.
Secretar?/— GEORGE MARSTON, of Barnstable.

NANTUCKET.

Pre.siWen^— EDWARD W. GARDNER, of Nantucket.
Secretary— J ORl^ B. KING, of Nantucket.

AGRICULTURE OF MASSACHUSETTS.

THE FARMER'S HOME AND ITS EMBEL-
LISHMENTS.

From an Address before the Essex Agricultural Society, Oct. 1, 1857

BY. E. G. KELLEY.

Not the least formidable opposition to the beautifying of New
England homes, arises from the still lingering influence of
the Puritans. Our fathers came hither with prejudices equally
strong against the highly ornamented hereditary estates — the
beautiful architecture of palaces and churches — as against the
policy of church government and discipline of the old religions
of other countries. Hence the plainest constructed houses —
churches without spires or other ornaments, common to this
day, with some religious sects. Time has modified these
prejudices, but a spirit of asceticism still prevails, which argues
upon the principle, that it is wrong to place one's affections on
any thing in this world.

If what some call extravagance is justified at all, it is in
improving and beautifying your home, where others can enjoy
it around you. It savors not of vanity or personal aggrandize-
ment, nor does it lead to forbidden pleasures or vicious lives.
On the contrary, as we will soon show you, such expenditure is
a profitable investment ; it is the withholding, that tends to
poverty. It in fact, fosters that which, in all its tendencies,
employments and enjoyments, is the very safeguard and hand-
maid of religion itself — the embellished and beautiful, the
1

2 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

peaceful and hallowed home. A German writer says, " He who
cannot comprehend the beautiful has no heart for the good."
" Tlic apprehension of elegance and of excellence usually enters
the mind together." Cowpcr truly says : —

" Religion does not censure or exclude
Unnumbered pleasures harmlessly pursued ; "

and after detailing those of rural life, he adds : —

" These, these are arts pursued without a crime,
That leave no stain upon the wing of time."

It would be a comparative waste of time to contrast the
morals connected with home, and the best of lionie influences,
with those of the homeless and less cared for. Daily are
instances before you ; no events of life are more painfully
familiar ; you all know and deprecate them, and anticipate the
tirade we should give you in their detail. We would rather
persuade to the possession of such homes as will induce the
domestic and social virtues to take up their permanent abode,
and to be cherished, loved and practised by every inmate —
hourly inculcated by the presiding genius of the place, the
homo motlicr, who here makes tlie first impressions on the
future man, whose deep affection for her will be his talisman
through life ; her memory a monitor to prompt him to every
good, and to warn him of erring danger.

We come now to the independent farmer, who, as Dodsley
says : —

" Fears no man's frown, nor cringing waits to catch
The gracious nothing of a great man's nod."

We know our man ; he is an antagonist against whom the club
of Hercules is impotent, — whom the lever of Archimedes cannot
move, — who will have the mountain removed to the sea before
there's faith for him. The old fashioned farmer has strong
prejudices — is wedded to his long established habits, and forti-
fied against any and all innovations.

If an artful schemer succeeds, as has been done in some
instances, in sinking for him half his property in a railroad,
which has, perhaps, cut his farm in twain, and ever after as the
steamo-motive, as he calls it, whistles by, frightenhig his horses,

THE FARMER'S HOME. 3

endangering the lives of children and cattle, bringing his
hired men to an idle stand still, till out of sight, and giving
but small or no returns for the money invested, he ends his
days with imprecations on this and all other new enterprises.

Another may have been induced to cultivate his soil deeper
— to use the Michigan and subsoil ploughs, and to drain some
of his land ; but of the meaning of such words as mulching
and irrigation he has very indefinite ideas, nor does he care to
know more. But alas, for our unfortunate word, eml^ellish-
ment. This he has not even read of in the books ; it is some-
thing more intolerable than book-farming ; he can only think of
the last decoration in his daughter's bonnet, it must be some
species of finery — farm embellishment ! why, no man in his
senses would recommend such a thing !

Now we undertake to say, that many such farmers arc indulg-
ing unwittingly, or slothfully, it may be, in certain kinds of
embellishments more extravagant and expensive than any we
shall advise. It is not uncommon to see one or both sides of
his fences lined with what may be called variegated hedges.
Yet no man in all England, that land of hedges, ever presumed,
with all his wealth, taste and extravagance, to support two
hedges and a fence between them. He is satisfied with one
hedge, or a fence simply, or at most with a cheap fence, for a
few years, till the young hedge is grown. It was doubtless
these luxuriant, picturesque, variety hedges of our farmer,
that his favorite poet saw, when he exclaimed : —

" I passed by his home, I saw the wild bi-ier,
The thorn and thistle grew bi'oader and higher."

It is well known that the land thus wasted by the side of these
fences is his very best, where leaves, &c., accumulate, and the
place of all others for a thrifty, secluded row of regular trees —
either fruit or ornamental, as he may fancy — the chief object of
which should be to protect his crops from bleak winds and
destructive storms ; for be assured we have no decoration to
recommend that has not utility connected with it.

Again, this class of farmers are utterly opposed to the culti-
vation of flowers, as of no profit — corn and potatoes only would
they have. If the wife or daughter raises a few beautiful, harm-
less flowers in the front yard, the gruff man seldom passes them

4 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

without a fling ; and if now present, he is expecting to hear us
justify them ; but we never advise too much of a good thing ;
the unhicky- farmer is ah-eady in for it, too much for our
liking.

If you will observe his fields about the 25tli of June, you
will see them overspread with flowers — perhaps one entire mass,
according to the most recent floral instructions for display.
Not satisfied with our indigenous flowers, he prefers an exotic,
but why this to any other, must be for its association with some
of his stock, its common name being bull's eye. He has the
fever for embellishment so high, and cultivates this so exten-
sively, that he can raise nothing else with it ; his hay is there-
fore flowers, and he feeds his cattle on flowers ; he is in fact, in
a perfect elysium of flowers — such a degree of sublimated
embellishment and felicitous enjoyment that we should not
think of, lest we might overdo the subject and lose sight of
profit.

For another variety of natural embellishment peculiar to the
anti-improvement farmer, he is indebted to tlie caterpillar.
The traveller often observes some half dozen of their clustered
festoons upon each wayside apple or cherry tree, and as if to
make their domestic arrangements more conspicuous, the trees,
in many instances, are suffered to be entirely denuded of their
foliage. The adjoining neighbors, satisfied perchance with the
natural beauty of the trees and their fruits, and not able to
afford the extravagant waste attending this species of decora-
tion, are nevertheless annually infested with an army of volun-
teers from our hero's premises, adding greatly to their labor of
extermination, with no legal remedy.*

Still another cause for various ornamental devices is the dep-
redation of the crow. The future historian of American art
and taste may expatiate largely upon the cornfield statuary,
from the man of straw supplicating Ceres, to the threatening
aspect of the Roman gladiator, down to images more hideous
than those of Nicholas Nickleby and all the designs of Cruik-
shanks. The antiquarian will also find this a fruitful field in

* " In Flanders," lladcllffe says, " when the caterpillar commences its
attack upon the trees, every farmer is obliged to destroy those upon his own
premises, to the satisfaction of the mayor of his particular commune, or pay
the cost of having it done for him."

THE FARMER'S HOME. 5

his search for unique costume, from the days of William Penn
to Lord Raglan.

These references to long estal)lislied customs have been made
to forestall the mental criticisms of any who may be jealous of
the subject. If they savor of ridicule, it is not in tlie sense of
trifling, for no one has more respect for the farmer and his call-
ing, than he who was a farmer's boy and is now returning to
his first love. Men will stand convincing reason, persuasive
argument and conviction itself, but not ridicule. Tkis is a
most potent weapon to be wielded in any reform, and will often
prove effectual when other means fail. A dozen set speeches in
Parliament would not have produced the reform in- the school
system of England equal to the ludicrous description of Doth-
boy's Hall on " brimstone morning."

With all deference to these peculiar embellishments and
others of the same character that might be named, we would
suggest none but such as will make the farmers and their fami-
lies happier and more contented, richer and more respected in
these homes of their fathers and of their childhood, free from
many of the harrassing cares of the busy world. The poet
truly says : —

" Happy is he, Avho in a country life,
Slums more perplexing toil and jarring strife ;
Who lives upon the natal soil he loves,
And sits beneath his old ancestral groves."

Progress is emphatically the , order of the day. In all
mechanical avocations, every successful invention is seized
upon and appropriated at once. The horticulturist is on his
march with rapid strides, and many an agriculturist is not far
behind in the successful pursuit of his arts. His government
is doing much for his especial benefit, by reports and statistics,
and in importing from other countries seeds and scions of the
most improved products of the field and'garden, and forwards
these even to his own post office.

While some are awake and availing themselves of every
facility offered for their own and the agricultural interests of
the country, the great object is to arouse a general interest and
activity. It is this slothful indifference of a dormant portion
that allows evils to pervade and curse the laud, like the thistle

6 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

and white weed ju.st alluded to, which are permitted to mature
and the seeds to be scattered on a neighbor's premises, who
would have eradicated them, but found unco-operative efforts
in vain.

The large majority, however, in agriculture, are on the high
road to prosperity ; its general interests are safe, the danger is
in prospect of over doing. Progress is not always improve-
ment ; one may progress too far, and in the wrong direction.
It is quite time that in this, as well as in other emj)loyments,
the pioneer forces were brought up to reflect, to mature, to
embellish, to enjoy. The tendency is to add acre to acre, ship
to ship, to enrich, to excel, to monopolize. The wealthy farmer
is ready to wear himself out with toil and anxiety, to die pre-
maturely and alone, his family dispersed, the old homestead
unattractive, forsaken, forgotten.

This, then, is the propitious time for such views as we pre-
sent to you to-day, to enter and take hold on the public mind.
Every product of the soil, the herd and the dairy, commands a
price never before permanently realized in this country ; and
the means of producing are more simplified and certain, more
than an offset for the increased price of labor. Man}' farmers
are also very wisely attending to other business than their own,
during winter and other leisure time, affording them profit and
ready cash. There is, therefore, annually increased means for
necessary outlays and improvements.

The first and great motive to be urged upon the owner of
the farm home, is to secure thereto the attachment of his chil-
dren. It is the darling object with most agricultural parents,
to keep their sons at home and to induce them to follow con-
tentedly the same calling in life. How well they succeed is
familiar to all — their failure is acknowledged and deprecated
on all hands.

The agricultural press teems with advice to the sons, but not
a word of instruction to the fathers, with whom is the remedy.
Neither parents or writers strike at the root of the evil, but
seem ratlicr to defeat their own object. They portray to the
youthful imagination the temptations and vices of city life —
the uncertainty and vexations of all pursuits but their own ;
all of which but serves to excite curiosity rather than convic-

THE FARMER'S HOME. 7

tion, and ends in the familiar decision of the l)oy, that he also
" will 2;o through the mill."

Wc do not think it advisable that every farmer's son should
bo persuaded to spend his whole life in agricultural employ-
ments exclusively, in the face of adaptation to other business.
Nor should they be longer suffered, in their childhood and
youth, to imbibe disgust or even distaste for country life, by too
severe toil and drudgery ; or by comparing the slovenly, dilapi-
dated condition of their homestead, with the trim and orderly
appearance of a more tidy neighbor's. If advantage is taken
of the susceptibility of tender years to permanent impressions,
by presenting every thing that is pleasing in rural life and
home, a love will be created, which, though latent for years,
while other duties engaged the attention, from pecuniary or
other considerations, will be revived in after years into as active
life and enjoyment as if in constant exercise. With such
impressions, arguments will be the most effective and often
detain the young man at home.

The difficulties in the way of inducing an adequate number
of young men to attend to all the duties appertaining to the
cultivation of the soil, are much less than formerly. Up to the
era of manufacturing by machinery, and transportation by rail-
road, most country families wore home-made clothes and carried
their produce to market with their own teams. Among the
first trips of the young lad to the country village or city with
his father, he compared tlie loose frock of the latter with the
broadcloth coat of the merchant or professional man — con-
trasted their manners and deportment, and felt the difference in
his own dress and that of the boys around him. As he
approached the town he noticed flowers and foliage on trees he
had not seen before — houses neatly painted, front yards decked
with beautiful colors of nature and art ; and as he entered the
parlor of the parish parson, its ornamented and mirrored aspect
almost bewildered his young eyes and fancy. On his return all
these wore in his thoughts, and he frequently alluded to them,
often to the disturbance of the father, who began to think his
boy had already seen too much of the world.

Now here is the critical point in the management of the son,
from which the father too often takes a repulsive, instead of an
attractive course, to secure his love and attachment to home.

8 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

We will not dwell to name the score of reasons olfered in vain
by the father to check the tendency and influence the conduct
of the young son. The parent has virtually given his child a
taste of delicious fruit, and while still before him, harmless and
intended for him, forbids his eating more. The pictured hand-
bill of the menagerie excites his strong and innocent desire to
see the reality ; better let him go, and go with him, than press
disappointment too far.

Here, then, we have some of the most important principles of
action, viz. : to gratify, to please, to make happy. The ques-
tion then arises, shall parents, shall the farmer, meet these
demands of childhood, of youth, of human nature itself, on his
own premises, within his own control and discretion, or shall he
surrender these privileges, these absolute duties, yea, his chil-
dren also, to others, to chance, to the reckless, the depraved, the
homeless ?

We are confident there is not a parent who will not agree
with us in the answer. Let him then beautify and adorn his
front grounds and farm, as time and means will allow, which
Cowper calls —

" Deliglitful industry enjoyed at homo,
And nature iu lier cultivated trim,
Dressed to his taste ."

Different tastes and localities will of course so modify all
decorative arrangements, that no rules would be generally or
specially applicable, even were we capable of giving them. AVe
shall only attempt, therefore, to throw out a few hints, aware
that details are tedious to the listener. Pahit upon wood is
acknowledged to be economical on planed surfaces, and tliis
should be extended even to barns and out-buildings, particu-
larly when newly built. Planing and preparation of cheap
paints by machinery, render these desirable merely for dura-
bility. Fences, particularly near the buildings, whether plain
or ornamental, add so materially to the neatness and thrifty
appearance of a place, when colored with some of the cheap
pigments, or even whitewashed, that we wonder they are so
often neglected.

This feature of paint, when thus applied, adds much more to
the market value of a place than the cost of ap})lying. We

THE FARMER'S HOME. 9

once knew a small farm, thus bruslied up at a cost of less than
fifty dollars, to sell for many hundreds more than its estimated
value ; and the neighbors, rather than do likewise, made them-
selves merry at the whitewashing, as they termed it, of the
retired tradesman, the purchaser.

There is much latitude for the display of taste in the selec-
tion of colors and their adaptation to surrounding objects and
scenery. The change from the general use of white, particu-
larly in the suburbs of some cities, so severely criticised by
Dickens when in this country, to separate and mixed colors, is
generally an improvement to the landscape, if not in all
instances. Any color however, even sombre red, would be pre-
ferable on farm houses to no color at all, which we once saw
recommended, for if such advice was followed we should expect
to see all painted black. This would indeed be appropriate on
the tops of chimneys, where the remaining part and the house
itself are white ; the contrast and finish then being perfect, so
far as paint is concerned.

We will take occasion to say, in this connection, that no
small matter, in the construction of a house, adds more to its
embellishment than an ornamental chimney. Why should such
elaborate finish and enormous expense be lavished on the spire
of a cliurch, whose apparent use is only to support a vane,
while the spire of a dwelling-house, wiiich serves many impor-
tant purposes, is simply a pile of bricks. As soon should one
think of walking the streets without a hat, as to build a house
with a plain chimney ; the economy would then be consistent,
though not in accordance with the present custom.

The architecture of dwelling-houses will be left to the means
and disposition of the proprietor. The money expended on
these will seldom be realized again l)y sale. But it would be
cheaper to build a well-proportioned house according to ap-
proved and established styles, than the plain, awkward things
so common ; and it is certainly more appropriate and agreeable,
to see a beautiful and tasteful house in the country, surrounded
as it is, or ought to be, with much that is pleasing and orna-
mental in nature, than amid the streets and wharves of a city,
where each one builds higher and more elaborate, from feeUngs
of rivalry according to his rapidly accumulated wealth, and for
present gratification, with fitful fashion. But not so with him

2

10 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

ol rural habits ; liigher, nobler and more enduring motives
actuate him. A comfortable, inexpensive, permanent abode is
his, where reasonable and rational enjoyments abound to him-
self, his family and friends.

We anticipate a marked and early attention to rural archi-
tecture, when wealth, taste and appreciation of home embel-
lishments shall lie more general. The lodge, summer-house,
aviary, arbors, arches and trellises in their a])propriate places
add materially to the fmish of a beautiful residence, and should
be erected according to its character. No one, however, should
be without some of the last named in his garden and grounds,
which may be simply and cheaply constructed and covered with
climbers, affording rest, shade and pleasure to visitors.

The remodeling and modernizing of old and plain houses, if
large, are likely to be attended with difficulties and prove
unsatisfactory ; but many smaller ones may be essentially
improved by additions — their value eidianced, and be rendered
more commodious and pleasing to both young and old.

In building barns, ample room is of the first importance.
Every vehicle and implement belonging to the farm, should be
always under cover, when not in use. It is the very poorest
economy to have these exposed to the weather at all times and
seasons ; yet how often does one see carts and sleds lying about
the habitations of the more slothful farmers in any and all
places — a species of embellishment peculiar to himself. A
place for every thing and every thing in its place, is a maxim
that should be both practiced and inculcated.

A few convenient windows, a cupola or latticed dome for
necessary ventilation, give a suitable hnish to its exterior.
Provision, however, should always be made under the eaves
and by openings at the ends for the accommodation of swallows
— birds which never feed on fruits but arc of great service to
the farmer in behalf of his crops, independent of the cheerful
animation they give to any place. The usual internal arrange-
ments and euconomy, admit of change for greater convenience
and saving of manure, improved plans for which arc occasion-
ally figured in agricultural periodicals.

We come now to the farm itself, the owner of which, will
douljtless justly contend, that his beautiful fields of waving
grains and grasses, and his pendent boughs laden with golden

THE FARMER'S HOME. 11

and crimson fruits, are his first and most aj)i)ropriate embellish-
ments. While your premiums have long stimulated to excel-
lence in these luxuriant staple products, we trust the time is
not distant when the same will be offered for improvements not
less deserving of competition and reward in themselves, but
which will tend still more to elevate the profession of agricul-
ture in the community. A very liberal beginning has already
been made in the right direction in the " Fay premium,"
through the munificence of our enterprising President, but
experiments of individuals have been thus far, we believe,
unsuccessful. It remains, possibly, for the society itself to set
the example on its own opportunely presented farm, and make
that a model farm-home, worthy of inspection and imitation by
individuals of the entire county, for their own private benefit.

Numerous fences crossing a farm at right angles, so common
in all directions, are unsightly and expensive and should be
dispensed with as much as possible. For division lines and
where the owner decides on a permanent fence, for durability,
the stone wall, when well made on dry land, is not to be given
up. It is high time, however, that many of these were rebuilt
during the leisure periods. They are as zig-zag as a Virginia
fence, trundle down at every touch, and it is a kind of slavery
to be constantly repairing them. To surmount these with
stakes and rails is a form of embellishment not to be recom-
mended.

Large inclosures are necessary to the more extensive and
profitable introduction of horse implements and machinery,
indispensable for the saving of labor in conducting farm opera-
tions. It is a question, whether cheap, movable wire fences
may not be suljstituted for some of our clumsy and more expen-
sive stationary ones. For confining stock for a given time to
any portion of a pasture desired, or for cultivating a part only
of a permanent inclosure, this portable fence may serve a good
purpose. Tlie president of the society has already had consid-
erable experience in keeping his flocks of sheep in this manner.

Front fences on roads or streets, should be more ornamental
than elsewhere, and kept in good condition ; but in this, as
well as some other points alluded to in this address, we intend
the proviso of the delinquent preacher, who said, " Do as we
say, and not as we do." Hedges of various kinds may be here

12 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

used if exposed to cattle only on the road side, 'where they may
be lined with a wire fence.

Hedges have been long and extensively used in older coun-
tries, where they add much to the beauty of the landscape.
While many of these live fences are more for ornament than
protection, they may be made to serve for both. The difficulty
attending their introduction into this country, where they would
be more exposed to animals, has been, to find a tree or shrub
adapted to our climate, and sufficiently formidable for defence.

The Osage Orange is being tried on the western prairies with
success, but for New England, we have no doubt the three-
thorned acacia ( Gleditsckia triacanlhos') is the most suitable, if
not the only one to be depended upon for field purposes. These,
as age increases, have thorns that no animal will encounter.
They are quite hardy, grow rapidly ; their foliage is beautiful,
and being of the locust family, if like that, they do not impov-
erish the soil, they will be invaluable.

The agriculturist, being an ample owner of land, has the
power of excelling all others in the cultivation of trees of all
kinds, fruit, forest and ornamental, the most rapid means of
changing the aspect of grounds destitute of all scenic beauty,
to the most effective in the line of embellishment. He may
smile at the use of the word cultivation, in connection with
forest trees, but the period has arrived in their history when
art must come to their aid. He has swept the primeval forests
from the face of the country witli a wasteful hand, not sparing
even enough to propagate the species by the curious construc-
tion of their episperms, to be disseminated and grow spontane-
ously. Would he again have the nakedness of the land clothed
with verdure, profitable in itself, and serviceable in protecting
other things, he must go about it deliberately, as he would the
raising of any other crop. This has long been attended to in
other countries with satisfactory remuneration for a series of
years, besides being highly ornamental.

Acres on acres may be seen with us in all directions, not
however on every farm, almost barren wastes, producing neither
grass nor valnable trees, but crowded so thickly with obnoxious
shrubbery, that the former cannot obtain a footing. These
lands are not only excessively embellished through the neglect
of the owner, but in the products, he does not graduate the

THE FARMER'S HOME. 13

supply to demand ; tlie locality is particularly unfortunate.
Even his whortleberries are in such abundance as not to be
very lucrative. If the oleaginous bayberries were in the
vicinity of Paris, their cultivation would pay ; were the juniper
berries in Amsterdam, Holland gin would fall ; the low juniper
hugs the ground with a tenacity worthy of a better husband-
man ; the lambkill finds not even a stray sheep to deprive of
her young, and the azaleas and rhodoras flourish and flower,
their beauties unseen and unsung.

Now while there is scarcely a shrub from these dc?olate
regions that we have not transplanted to our own humble
grounds, and nurse as if rarities, (and we might add that when
we have asked this privilege of the owners, they have looked
upon us as just from Somcrville, or a fit subject to go there,)
a more impoverishing growth does not exist on any soil, or
which the farmer would more gladly exterminate, however
much the abstract admirer of accidental and neglected nature
may value them for their peculiar beauties.

Contrast this state of things with the same territory covered
with a growth of timber trees, highly valuable as such, — clothed
with one mass of dense foliage, — absorbing nutriment from the
atmosphere, which they purify, — giving out moisture when most
needed, — beautiful at all times, — brilliant beyond comparison
with any other scenic feature of the landscape, when they
mature and fall to the ground, themselves the pabulum for suc-
cessive growths, constantly enriching the soil, unattended with
the expense of other fertilizers.

Were the wood cut off every thirty years for fuel or other
purposes and its quantum of ashes returned to the surface, we
doubt not the average net income, considering the labor be-
stowed and the increased fertility of the soil, would be greater
than by any other mode of husbandry, on the same quality of
land. But in addition to all these considerations of beauty
and utility, and the increased market value of acre for acre, the
protection of these woods to surrounding fields, and their actual
modification of local climate, which is a well established fact
well worthy the attention of the landholder ; it is their asso-
ciation with home, their connection with tlie family, which
gives them their chief value.

The boy, who in his childhood and youth roamed at will in

14 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

these wild farests, — sounded his shrill clarion voice to its utmost
pitch, and while he listened to its echo, felt the very pulsations
of health at this distension of his chest and lungs, — charmed at
every variety around him, — inspired hy the sweet music of the
songsters, think you not, will have such indcllible impressions
made on his young heart by these enchantments of home, as
will never be effaced by time or absence, but cherished to an
extent equalled only by the hallowed influences of his mother.

Of this retreat he is ever fond. Now he finds a full supply of
wild berries amid its undergrowth, — he is cooled and refreshed
in its shade, and his companions are merry around him, enjoy-
mg his sports of hunting the partridge and other wild game
that may chance to be there, or trouting in the gurgling stream ;
and if business or duty calls him hence, he returns in after
years, with increased enjoyment, and sweetest memories of this
scene of his happy youth.

But of that sultry, interminable waste of surfeiting bushes,
just referred to, belonging to the neighboring farmer, his son
is soon tired and ashamed whenever he frequents it, A solitary
remnant of the old forest, which serves as a resting place for
the weary birds, has been so often struck by lightning that he
dares not venture thither for shelter. He wends his way to the
public road where he encounters a city gentleman, with his fast
horse and elegant equipage ; they bandy words, which are
unfavorable to the character of his father and his home, for
good management and thrift. This touches his sensibilities,
lessens his slight attachment to the latter, and he resolves to
seek his fortune and happiness elsewhere. Of his future, we
will not speculate ; but if unpropitious, will not the parent be
more or less responsible, who has virtually driven his son from
him by not providing a home to be loved, to be proud of, to be
happy in ?

The varieties of trees indigenous to this country, from which
to make selections for ornamental purposes, are numerous com-
pared with those of other countries. One hundred and thirty-
seven are classed by Michaux, thirty-seven peculiar to France
— one hundred more being natives of North America. Many
foreign species are however equally hardy and desirable.

Agriculturists should by no means dot their fields indiscrim-
inately with ornamental trees to sap and shade their crops.

THE FARMER'S HOME. 15

Pastures, however, should always have clumps of trees inter-
spersed at various points, for shade to all kinds of stock.
These thrive better thus cared for than if exposed to the glare
of the summer's sun. This arrangement relieves the monotony
of the scene and obviates the necessity of rows of trees around
the premises. Loudon says, in this connection : " It is astonish-
ing how much better cattle thrive in fields even but moderately
sheltered than they do in an open and exposed country."

Where not impracticable, locally, every owner of land enough
to warrant it, should devote an acre, more or less, near his
dwelling, to ornamental pui-poscs. If he Avill kce}) this in grass
and cut it several times during the summer, he will realize more
from it in the aggregate than an average crop, preserve its
lawn character and adapt it to the wants of his children, as
a play-ground, at all seasons. This reserved plat should be
decorated with the most pleasing varieties of trees for their
foliage, flowers, fragrance and ornamental fruits, when such
can be conveniently obtained ; otherwise, the best the neighbor-
ing country and nurseries afford.

Particularly, neglect not trees of an evergreen character,
which give to a place a living, cheerful appearance, even during
the most dreary periods of winter. They are far more service-
able for screens to protect from bleak exposures, at the time
when deciduous trees have lost their foliage ; and to many |)er-
sons they are more agreealjle at any time. Who does not admire
their towering forests — their fragrant groves — their secluded
dells and sequestered shade? Transplant them then to your
own grounds, to enjoy their ambrosial bowers, at your leisure
and pleasure. Bryant thus muses : —

" Beneath tlie forest's skirt I rest,

Whose branching pines rise dark and higli,
, And hear the breezes of the west

Among the threaded foliage sigh."

Especially set out shade trees in the road sides or streets
bordering your premises, if your towns will not do it, their en-
tire lengths. Protect and nourish these while young, and they
in turn will screen you from beating storms and scorching sun,
and will ever be a credit to your private enterprise and piiblic
spirit ; and as you pass them to the parish church or village

16 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

store, you and your children will enjoy their shelter — the work
of your own hands. Future generations as they drive along
these magnificent avenues will call you blessed. They will
bless the land and the husbandman of this day.

These graceful elms and gorgeous maples will ever mark the
limits of your own grounds. The traveller is grateful for tlieir
shade — checks- the pace of his weary horse — admires their
luxuriance — gets his first impressions of the thrifty and taste-
ful owner from them, and as he approaches the farm-house asks
the little boy with a cheerful countenance at the gate, "Dose
your father live here ? " " Yes, sir." " When were these trees
planted?" "The year I was born." "How old are you?"
" 'J'en years, sir." This interesting dialogvie continued, reveals
to the stranger a home and happiness which he already more than
suspected, but to which he was indeed a stranger. Think you
this man would not give more for such a place, extra, than the
original paltry cost of the trees ! Would he not give more for
that acre of pleasure ground, the delighted boy had doubtless
described to him, than for any other acre on the farm ? Then
away with your objections to such embellishments on the score
of dollars and cents, or that they are superfluous and inappro-
priate to your calling, or without an equivalent ; and look for
a moment to their still higher value, too much lost sight of by
most parents.

Did any thing occur in conversation with this stranger to
mortify the boy's pride or diminish his love for home ? Did he
notice even the color of the horse, the style of the carriage, or
the cut of the coat ? Not he. Engrossed entirely was he in
words iliat reflected credit on the management of his father — the
beanty of his home; that encouraged his respect for the one, and
cherished his attachment to the other; and in the language of
the subject, " as the twig is bent," etc., he is safe for the future
— he will be a man, a husband, a citizen, a Christian, a patriot,
yea, he will be qualified and may be called from the plough, like
Cincinnatus, to rule the nation. And he will be the man for it
— for any duty or emergency at home or abroad.

Planted at his birth, grown with his growth, equally liave
these trees with himself remained by, defended and adorned the
same home, till they have become giants in their respective
spheres. At the age of fifty the son returns, it may be, from

THE FARMER'S HOME. 17

civil duties to the homestead. Offer him fifty dollars for one of
his favorite trees, now massive and splendid, or offer it to the
aged father who planted it at the birth of his first born, and
they will equally spurn the bribe. Trees that originally cost
fifty cents, have therefore increased in value one dollar a year
— some of them in the highways where nothing else would have
been raised. "We say then plant trees, plant at once, plant if
you will at every birth, which was a righteous law of some
nation we have somewhere read of.

A substantial farmer in an adjoining town has four thousand
apple trees and two hundred cherry trees, in full bearing and of
the best varieties. He estimates that one-half of his crop of
the latter, the past season, was taken by the birds. Now
instead of this being an argument with others not to join him,
it is the very reason why they should. The birds of the entire
neighborhood flock to his orchard and fairly rob him ; but if all
the neighboring farmers would take hold as he has done, the
quantity taken from each would be trifling, and profit would be
realized. So with apples ; if all entered as largely into the
same business the market would not be overstocked, but new
facilities would be opened for shipping to a more profitable
wholesale market than is offered to a limited supply.

But for the next half century, at least, pears will doubtless be
the most lucrative orchard fruit, for home market. Enormous
and increasing prices are constantly paid for this fruit, single
and in quantities. The winter varieties, such as require but
little more care than apples, are the kinds for extensive culture,
and there is no reason why agriculturists should not raise this
fruit as well as horticulturists. Indeed, the large landholder is
the one, not only to excel in its standard orchard culture, by
selecting his best adapted soil for its growth, but to bring it
down to an eating- as well as living profit. So dear is this fruit,
and so few cultivate it, that the majority do not have it at all.
The boys act on the principle of the birds, and the remedy may
be the same, in part.

But alas ! what homes have these boys with pilfering propen-
sities ? How have their parents neglected to4)rovide them with
ripe fruits essential to their health ? and what bitter fruits are
they likely to reap in the future ? On the contrary the boys
who have ample orchards to help trim, graft and care for, — riglit-

3

18 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

ful liberty to watch for the first developing buds and flowers,
for there are no fruits without flowers, — to listen to the hum
of the industrious bee gathering honey for their use, — to observe
the maturing of the early fruit and feast thereon to satiety —
will not only have no temptation to steal, but they will not know
what it is to be covetous, and they will gladly give to those of
their fellows who have none, and so cultivate a character for
lios])itality, that should be encouraged.

The chief difficulty in the matter of trees, whether fruit or
ornamental, is their scarcity. In this city of twelve thousand
inhabitants there is not a semblance of a nursery, nor is there
any of consequence in this part of the county. No better open-
ing for this business could probably be found in the country.
Individuals, therefore, who will have them, are often obliged to
send to Boston and vicinity, not only for fruits, but for the trees
themselves. And more than this, it is well known that the
Cross pear, an excellent winter variety, originated in this city —
the parent tree being almost within a stone's throw of where we
now stand. In vain we searched the country round for this
variety and were finally obliged to send to France to obtain it,
and actually imported some half dozen, now growing in our
grounds. Enterprising nurserymen abroad keep an eye on all
new kinds of valuable fruits and flowers, procure and propagate
them, hybridize and raise from seed, and where labor is cheap,
can afford them at less cost, in quantities, than if grown here.

In this connection we take the liberty to say — not to parade
any thing we have done, but for the benefit of poor beginners
like us, who would have a home however homely, and are will-
ing to begin at the beginning with the young saplings — that in
the spring of 1853 we imported, among other things, one thou,
sand seedling Norway spruces, without exception the most
valuable evergreen tree in the world, for New England climate,
at an expense of less than ten dollars, or less than one cent
apiece. After three years' growth these were transplanted,
making six hundred feet of garden hedge, and surrounding a
field of six acres, at suitable distances for an ornamental screen.
Hundreds of dollars would not purchase the lot of trees, only
about two per cent, of the whole number having been lost.

It is, however, no part of this address to attempt to point out
which of the vast variety of trees and fruits should be selected.

THE FARMER'S HOME. 19

or how to be obtained and planted; all this would be tedious
and lengthy. Books and periodicals abound with advice, some
of which is good, and professed gardeners are abroad, wlio may-
be of service ; but every improver must think and act for himself.
His own good sense, observation, skill -and general experience
must be his guide. Labor and expense will, of course, attend
the operations of improving and planting, and here are met the
great objections of the farmer.

It is a very common idea that agriculturists are a hard-work-
ing, constantly employed class of people. This has not been
our observation. There are often periods, at the gathering of
important crops, when he is obliged to be wide awake ; but he
generally takes things leisurely. He is called the most inde-
pendent man among us. The logy gate of his horse as he
comes to town, or the slow manner in which he converses, is an
index of the moderate pace at which every thing progresses at
home, on the farm. Not only so, but he is not a close calculator,
or economizer of time. Were the hours condensed in which he
actually labors to advantage, even at a slow rate, they would
seldom average more than the ten hour system. There are
many exceptions to this among those who are bound to be rich
and to excel in improvements, or who have other employments
to occupy a portion of their time.

Individuals engaged in manufacturing or mechanical pursuits,
are generally at work earlier, take less time at meals, and move
more rapidly to and fro. Let the farmer only decide to take
hold of the few modifications we have suggested and he will
assuredly find time to attend to them by degrees, and they will
serve to stimulate him to greater activity — increased enjoyment
and more self-respect. He will cease complaining at his lot —
himself and family will be more industrious, contented and
happy. Employment of some kind, being essential to happiness,
the home-loving and home-improving may here find enough for
their health and amusement.

We admit, however, there is with the farmer one insurmount-
able obstacle to any great improvement of his premises or con-
dition, without a fundamental change. We are not alone in the
opinion that the majority of farmers own too much land for the
most successful and profitable cultivation, and yet there is much
truth and pith in the remark, that they would add thereto, all

20 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

the land that adjoins them. The wisdom of the Grecian law
whicli " forbade that men should purchase as much land as they
desired," may not be doubted ; but the right to legislate thus,
not being admitted in this country of sovereigns, we must resort
to agricultural suasion. Our advice then is for farmers with
large farms to sell oft' portions and apply the proceeds to a higher
culture of the remainder. They will then have less toil, more
income and satisfaction.

Or if a family are grown up, and the father would have his
sons remain near himself, let liim set off to each a portion of
his unwieldy territory, as distinct farms. Do all that his means
will justify to establish them permanently ; relinquish his pecu-
niary right and his paternal right of control in the management
of the new farms, to the young men, according to their charac-
ter and the confidence that may be placed in them.

The head of the family should not impoverish himself, even
for his children, but in thus giving to them — of his abundance
it may be — while he yet lives to see the use made of it, he feels
amply rewarded by the gratitude expressed, and the homes early
established and made happy by his munificent duty. This
course is far more commendable, tlian the selfishness of retain-
ing one's property till he can keep it no longer, exemplified in
that most obnoxious feature of home management known as
" taking care of the old folks." Those of the latter who are of
this class, while yet in the prime of life, have frequent conver-
sations Avith their boys on this subject, and when one is found
willing to accede to their wishes and demands, he is thenceforth
the favorite, and the brothers are allowed to leave the parental
roof, often with little or nothing witli which to commence life, but
a priceless independence ; a condition infinitely to be preferred to
that of the apparently favored one, who is frequently reminded
— as a matter of great merit — that the house and lands are
finally to be his.

AGRICULTCJEAL HEART-WORK. 21

AGRICULTURAL HEART-WORK.

From an Address before the Middlesex Agricultural Society, Sept. 29, 1857

BV CHARLES BABBIDGE.

It is not sufficient that we have an intellectual perception of
a truth. We must feel a personal and earnest interest in that
truth ; otherwise, it affects us as little as the mirror is affected
by the object it reflects. We know many things — that they are
true, important, and of pressing necessity, and yet they exert
little or no practical influence over us. We know that there
are many duties which we owe to ourselves, the community in
which we live, the country of which we are citizens, the race
in whose welfare we have a common interest. But it is not
mere knowledge, which makes either the faithful parent, the
unflinching patriot, or the devoted philanthropist. Neither
will knowledge make a good farmer. He cannot be a good
farmer without it. And this brings me to my first position. I
should have said point, only I might have forgotten myself, and
supposed I was preparing a sermon. I assume that the pro-
gress which has been made in agricultural science, has a
tendency to discourage, rather than encourage agricultural
labor. The farmer's son, hoping not merely to make his toil a
little more dignified, but also a little more profitable, proceeds
to post himself up in the philosophy of the thing. He reads
Liebig and Johnston, and many others, not forgetting our own
Dana. He becomes learned in the nature of soils, their con-
stitutional elements in the processes of vegetation, their
exhaustive tendencies and results, and he finds as the sum total
of the whole matter, that in order to keep up the productive-
ness of the old farm, he has got to work like a galley slave ;
otherwise, the whole concern goes by the board. It is work,
work, work, morning, noon and night, year in, and year out^ —

22 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

to-day ill a mud hole, and to-morrow in a manure heap. His
waking hours are crowded with toil and perplexities, and even
in his sleep an everlasting pile of compost lies like a mountain
upon his breast. No wonder that farmers' sons flee from the
old homestead as if it .were the city of the plague, and that
farmers' daughters tliink, tliat to marry a farmer, is almost as
bad as not to marry at all. It is said that no one would go to
sea, if he knew beforehand the hardships of sea-life. When
less was known about farming, the boys staid at home. Now,
they know too much to do any such thing.

In yet another w^ay, has the increase of knowledge in connec-
tion with husbandry, operated to its disadvantage. No busi-
ness, mechanical, mercantile — and I had almost said, profes-
sional— furnishes such facilities for varied kiLowledge when
knowledge becomes a collateral pursuit, as the business of the
farmer. There is nothing in or of the earth, or the atmosphere,
nothing relating to lire or water, nothing in the whole circuit
of chemical science that does not in some way concern him.
He likewise is deeply interested in the politics of the whole
world. For a war here, or a numerous emigration there, affects
the prices of his products, and he must be prepared to avail
himself of a rising market. This extensive information upon
subjects so diverse, is essential to the farmer's success and
prosperity. But will he who has made even respectable pro-
gress in the acquisition of this knowledge, be likely to remain
with the toilsome life and slow and scanty returns of the farm,
and this, when as a trader, a teacher, a lawyer, a doctor, or a
minister, he can enjoy — as he regards it — a more dignified, as
well as lucrative position ? No one will hesitate about the fact,
in this matter, or if he does, let him visit half the farm-houses
in Middlesex County and he will hesitate no longer. But I
need not labor the position, that knowledge of itself, will not
make a good farmer. If it were possil)le to make that knowl-
edge " perfect, wanting nothing," then it would. Perfect
knowledge implies perfection of every kind, because we have
^reason to believe that the Almighty has established such rela-
tions and dependencies, such laws and agencies, that a perfect
knowledge of them on the part of man, would insure man's
moral perfection, for the reason that disobedience would be a
moral impossibility. But agricultural knowledge, — increase it

AGRICULTURAL HEART-WORK. 23

tliougli you shoiiUl, to the utmost extent of your ability, — will
still be very imperfect ; and the young farmor, blinded by his
little knowledge, to the real advantages of his situation, will
not be satisfied till he goes to seek his fortune, whether he liud
it or not.

It is not knowledge, then, that constitutes the first great
want of the farmer. It is the spirit of content. It is the love
of his occupation. It is an intelligent respect for his position
and calling among men. And in order to these, there is needed
heart-work ; that kind of culture which a man carries on in
his own bosom ; that transformation of his nature whereby
he "grows in grace;" that development of thought, feeling,
energy and zeal which continually approximates the perfect
man. I do not say that the farmer has any special need of
these things ; that a stronger necessity lies upon him than upon
other men. These things are the prerequisites of success to any
and every man, whatever may be his calling. It is because all
men need them, that the farmer needs them, and for that rea-
son alone. In one of the novels of Walter Scott — I think it
is Red Gauntlet — David Latimer, a young gentleman, one of
the heroes of the tale, encounters Wandering Willie, a blind
fiddler, with whom he has a playful trial of skill in fiddling.
The yoiuig man executes his scientific flourishes with all the
skill of a Paganini, slipping, with flying fingers, from one end
of the finger-board to the other, and bringing out the tones in a
manner that he supposed would astonish his rival. Wandering
Willie, in his turn, takes the instrument, and goes through with
a very exact, but very laughable imitation of the other's perform-
ance. At length the old man stopped of his own accord, and
as he had sufficiently rebuked the other, by his mimicry, said
in his broad Scottish accent, " But for a' that, ye'll play very
weel, wi' a little practice, and some gude teaching. But ye
maun learn to throw the heart into it, man, to put the heart
into it." In this one particular, at least, farming and fiddling
Btand upon common ground. In order to success in either, the
heart must be thrown into the work. What men do reluctantly,
they never do well. Slave labor, especially in husbandry, never
reaches any but slovenly results ; and a man, who while lie
cultivates his farm, hates his occupation, is just as much a slave

24 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

in Middlesex County, as he would be in tlie cotton fields of the
South.

Tlie question then becomes one of great practical importance.
Is the occupation of the farmer worthy of respect, and has it
intrinsic merits tliat can secure to it the love and attachment
of a sensible and industrious man ? Pardon me if I become
prosy in the discussion of this point. The question I sup:gest,
has got to be deliberately settled. It has two sides to it. Hus-
bandry has long been the theme of the poet. From the days
of Theocritus, to the present hour, it has been very pleasant
" to babble of green fields," and pastorals are very pretty, as
they come to us from Virgil and Gay. But some things which
are quite delightful in the abstract, are quite otherwise, when
reduced to actual experience. The dignity of labor is a grand
theme for a sermon, or a cattle show address ; but upon actual
experiment, the dignity becomes very small, and the labor very
great. Most of us have seen Mr. Shanghai's experiments in
farming, in a recent number of Harper's Magazine, and verily,
the joke of the thing is a very near approach to the truth. It
is a not uncommon remark, that when a man is proved to be fit
for nothing else he can become a farmer. Of course, the first
thing to be done, to dispossess the community of this idea, is
to show the inherent advantages, the pleasures, and the profit
of intelligent husbandry. But this is what I shall not attempt
at this time ; on the contrary, I shall take it as a fact conceded,
by an audience like this before me. On a certain occasion, an
inexperienced lawyer, in addressing the court, became exceed-
ingly tiresome, by going into unnecessary details, and was at
last stopped with the quiet remark from the bench, that he must
be willing to take it for granted that the judge of the supreme
court, knew something of law. It is a matter of more imme-
diate interest, to determine how this dread and distaste of agri-
cultural life and labor is to be done away. In this matter, as
in most other reforms, a beginning must be made at home.
There is altogether too much complaint in the household, about
hard work and hard times. The parents start the mournful
music, and the children stand ready to join in the chorus.
Now there is no denying, that there is hard work, and enough
of it, in every farmer's family. It is of no use to wink this
fact out of sight, or to think it can be otherwise. It is of no

AGRICULTURAL HEART-WORK. 25

use to try to persuade people that tliey arc mistaken in the
matter. You must not undertake to deal with the members of
a farmer's househokl, as avc sometimes deal with whimsical
children, telling them that they are not sick, and will be better
by and by. Farmers, male and female, must work, and must
make up their minds to it. And to do it cheerfully, they must
have their attention directed to the advantages and blessings of
their particular calling in life. The labor that wearies them,
prepares them to enjoy the rest that refreshes them. They earn
their bread with the sweat of their brow ; but they gain also
the healthy appetite that luxury always wants. They are free
from those cares and anxieties which are inseparable from the
life of the mechanic, the trader and the professional man. You
can distress those who are engaged in these pursuits, but you
cannot pinch or starve the farmer. Work may fail the mechanic
— trade may take new channels, and the merchant may be left
high and dry — a distressingly healthy time may come, and the
physician's drugs be left to grow mouldy — the lawyer may find
that there is no fight in his neighbors, nor fees in his pocket,
and the clergyman, most to be pitied of all, finds that " a- vica-
rious sacrifice " must be made, whether it forms a part of his
theology or not. But the farmer may quote St. Paul's Avords,
with all St. Paul's self-reliance : " I say none of these things
move me." Nor is it a dogged animal resistance that the
farmer makes to these common afflictions that flesh is heir to.
It need not be in insensibility to suffering, that he finds his ease
and comfort. His position and calling open to him the most
direct avenues to the intellectual and spiritual development of
himself, and the education of his family. The mechanic must
spend the entire day in the midst of his tools and his journey-
men. Trade and commerce require the undivided application
of a man's energies, for as great a length of time as nature can
endure ; and the professional man can only incidentally do an 3^
thing for the cultivation of his own higher tastes and the
instruction of his children. And so of the farmer; there are
times and seasons when he too must labor from " early morn to
dewy eve." But this excessive application is only periodical,
and is followed by intervals of comparative leisure, Avhen social
pleasures may be enjoyed and domestic duties be leisurely per-
formed. And in this connection, let it be remembered, that

26 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

tliG appliances or apparatus that are conveniejit in teaching the
higher branches of education, the principles of artistic taste, of
aesthetic science and art, are in an eminent degree, at the com-
mand of the farmer. Who of us has not envied the lot of the
lazzaroni at Rome, who in spite of their poverty, can, some of
them at least, look daily upon the glories of the eternal city ;
can enter the courts of St. Peter's and admire its almost divine
majesty ; can gaze upon the paintings and statuary of the
Vatican, till they forget, in the ecstacy of their souls, the
hunger that gnaws their bodies. But why envy them ; at least,
why should the farmer envy tliem ? What is the dome of St.
Peter's, compared with that which every night overhangs his
own farm ? AVhat temple compares with that which the
Almighty has reared, seemingly to enwrap his own beautiful
nest ; where his loved ones lie ? What is it to tread the marble
pavement, and feel himself a pigmy beneath the ceiling which
human hands have reared, and a mere atom in the moving
crowd around him, when he may stand beneath the outspread
firmament with all its glittering stars, and feel that the ground
he stands on is his, his own, precious in his own eyes, as associ-
ated with all his labors and joys, and not disregarded of God,
whose rain and sunshine descend continually upon it.

Painting is a glorious art. An ability to appreciate its beau-
ties, is a great acquisition. But who enjoys such advantages
for the development of a taste for this art, as the farmer ? In
a certain sense, his whole life is spent in a picture gallery.
The most beautiful subjects are continually before his eyes.
What sunsets, suggestive of the decline of his own peaceful
life. What sunrises, telling him of a newly invigorated exist-
ence after the night of death is passed. Every hour presents a
new landscape, a new study of color, of light, of shade, of
grouping, of tone. Every tree, every rock, is found to possess
its own peculiar beauty, and the fund of enjoyment is found to
be inexhaustible. So of statuary. I am serious, when I say,
that we may discover the elements of a divine beauty in the
stately form and tread of the ox, as plainly as in the propor-
tions of the Apollo Belvidere. The Yenus de Medici is beauti-
ful ; so is a cow. The Laocoon affords a startling display of
muscular effort and power ; so does a well-trained pair of cattle.
Niobe in tears awakens our sympathy ; so does a hen, fluttering

AGRICULTURAL HEART-WORK. 27

about in a frenzy, because a hawk has swept away her little
ones. As studies in moral science, these subjects may be all
'reckoned in the same category. As to music — that finest of
the fine arts — a rural home will always offer great facilities for
its cultivation. The boy begins his essays on his trumpet made
from the tube of a pumpkin leaf; and the daughter need not
despair, till she has mastered the sonatas of Haydn. " We
speak that wo do know, and testify that we have seen." Two
or three years since, Mr. President, I had the honor of being a
member of the Committee on Farms, of this society, and therefore
with my associates, enjoyed some special opportunities of seeing
the families as well as farms of this county. I could point you
to towns, in which the progress of the inhabitants in all that
constitutes refined life, would furnish ample illustrations and
proofs of all that I have asserted.

These are only a few of the facts that need to be universally
known and appreciated. As they become more extensively
known and applied, agricultural life will assume a new attrac-
tiveness, and agricultural labor become more and more pleas-
ant and profitable. And there is much to encourage in us the
belief, that this is the tendency of things, among farmers at
the present time. The education of the children of Massachu-
setts is becoming more and more tliorough and practical ; it is
covering a broader space ; it embraces a continually widening
range of subjects ; and more than all, it is under the superin-
tendence of practical men, who know what life is, and what it
requires. Our State Board of Education may be made the
instrument of incalculable good in this respect.

Again, I find a ground of hope in what is sometimes regarded
as an omen unfavorable to the agricultural prosperity of ]\Iassa-
chusetts. It is said despondingly, that the young men leave
the farming towns and flock to the great centres of business,
and that ere long our farms will all be in the possession of
foreigners, because they alone will be wilHng to undertake the
labor of carrying them on. This will not happen in your day
or mine, Mr. President. I say, let tlie boys go. I am glad
they have the enterprise to go. What is there to l^eep them
at home ? Their fathers have hitherto had their " day of
small things." They have been obliged to live from hand to
mouth ; consequently the farm has been, and in most cases

28 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

now looks, like a hard-worked horse. Its soil is impoverished,
its walls are fallen down, the honse wants paint, and the barn
wants every thing. And still, go where you will, you see signs
of improvement in all these particulars. There is somebody
at home yet. As you go about our county you will find new
and beautifully constructed walls, formed out of the old mate-
rials, new barns, or old ones split in halves, always standing
apart just twelve feet, and covered in with new materials.
You will find new dwellings of every size, from the pretty cot-
tage, to the magnificent villa, all of them proclaiming the effi-
cacy and worth of our agricultural press. And how happens
this ? Partly because some of the boys staid at home, and
partly because some of them didn't. The wealth acquired by
farmers' sons in the cities, has been piously, as well as wisely,
devoted to improvements upon the old and loved homestead.
And this process will go on ; and I look with hope to the day,
when the migration which now sets in the direction of cities,
shall send a refluent wave back upon the country.

A city experience, in cases innumerable, prepares a man for a
happy and useful life in the country. Mammon is not omnipo-
tent ; and many a man learns experimentally, that after all,
the joys of a country life are the most solid and enduring.
Especially may this fact be learned and appreciated, amid the
perplexity that now reigns throughout the world of finance.
The profits of agriculture, too, are beginning to be better
understood. There are popular fallacies on this subject, which
I should like to expose, but cannot now. But let two men
start together in life, one with a view to agricultural and the
other to mechanical or professional pursuits ; let them practice
the ordinary discretion of sensible men, and the ultimate suc-
cess of tlie farmer is more siu'c than that of the other. Look
at the condition of those men when they shall have reached
the age of fifty years, and my life for it, there will be no cause
for complaint on the part of the farmer. I bethink me of many
who started with me in life ; some of them beguiled with the
hope of commercial prosperity, some dazzled with professional
renown to be acquired, and others content to work that mine
of wealth that lies within twelve inches of the surface of a
farm. Of my early acquaintances, many lie buried in the
ocean ; others, worn out with fruitless toils, and discouraged

AGRICULTURAL HEART-WORK. 29

by repeated fjiilurcs, live, and tliat is all ; worse than this, I
have seen those upon whom God had bestowed every desirable
gift, yield to the temptations that early success brought with it,
and then go down, covered with disgrace, to untimely graves.
In my own profession, I have seen noble hearts tried beyond
their power of endurance, by the coldness and wickedness of
an unfeeling world, and left at last, to find their only solace in
the hope of a better life beyond the grave. I have seen others,
with a wisdom beyond their years, meet with a determined
front, the toils and trials of agricultural life, and the event has
shown the wisdom of their choice. Surrounded with the peace
and plenty of their own honestly-acquired domains, seeing
every where the results of their own well-directed labors, rest-
ing from their toils beneath the trees of their own planting,
they are waiting patiently and hopefully for the sunset of life.

" How blest is he, who crowns, in shades like these,
A youth of labor, Avith an age of ease ;
Who quits a world where strong temptations try,
And since 'tis hard to combat, learns to fly.
He onward moves, to meet his hitter end.
Angels around, befriending virtue's friend ;
Sinks to the grave, witli unperceived decay,
While resignation gently slopes the way ;
And all his prosj^ects brightning to the last,
His heaven commences ere the world be past."

30 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

ARTICLES OF FOOD,

From an Address before the Middlesex North Agricultural Society, Sept. IG, 1857.

BY E. F. SHERMAN.

The comparative value of animal and vegetable food has been
a frequent source of discussion and contention. Men who have
contended for an exclusively vegetable diet, have been, in gen-
eral, men of weak stomachs, if not of weak heads ; dyspeptics
and grumblers, who, having suffered long from sour stomachs,
have become soured- throughout. But they have in vain
attempted to support their theories against the deductions of
the anatomist, the natural instincts and appetites of man,
every where, and the divine permission to " slay and eat."
Either an exclusively vegetable or animal diet is capable of
sustaining life, but the most perfect development, physical and
intellectual, has always existed wdiere sustenance has been
derived from both sources.

It is hardly possible to name any thing belonging to the
animal or the vegetable kingdom, not absolutely poisonous,
which has not at some time been eaten ; nor can any animal be
named, the use of which, as food, has not at some time, and
by some national religion or habit, been proliiI)ited. We are
sickened when we consider what gross and loathsome articles
are considered delicacies ])y tliosc who, could they to-day have
come to these tables, would not have found one thing here, in
their judgment, fit to be eaten. Truly, one-half of the world
knows not how the other half lives. Wliat is oue man's meat
is another's poison. In nothing are the inconsistencies of our
race so strikingly exhibited as in national and individual habits
and ])rcjudices respecting food.

A slight consideration of our own peculiarities, individual
and national, with regard to diet, will lead us to be charitable

ARTICLES OF FOOD. 31

towards others. Every one regards certain dishes with particu-
lar favor. His peculiar tastes will coutrol his habits. He may
find it impossible to overcome an aversion for some particular
kind of food, in general use, and set before him daily at table.
One prefers the hot, another the cold ; one requires every dish
to be high seasoned, and makes use abundantly of pickles,
mustard, pepper and spices, while another can hardly endure a
pinch of salt in his porridge. One chooses the very rare,
another the well done. " Jack Sprat could eat no fat, his wife
could eat no lean." It sometimes happens that a new variety
of food is introduced, at first disliked, — like the tomato, for
instance, — but which, in time*, grows into universal favor. Oui*
educated tastes approve that which was at first repulsive.

Shell fish were strictly forbidden to the Jews. We are some-
what particular in our choice. The lobster is a decided favorite
— so extensively eaten that its fishery has become an important
branch of industry in the State. But the lobster is the scaven-
ger of the seas, and in itself is as unsightly and repulsive as
muscles, cockles, periwinkles, limpets, wilks and snails, con-
sumed by other nations. Nor are we agreed as to all the parts
of the lobster. To many, the soft, green fat is the choicest por-
tion, while others will lose their appetite in disgust at the sight
of it. The oyster was esteemed as a delicacy by the Romans, as
it has been, in general, since, by all people who could obtain it,
possessing more than any thing else the character of a holiday
food. But surely it requires considerable courage to swallow
for the first time the slimy lump of inert matter ; as much, if
we could lay aside all habit and associations, as to eat grass-
hoppers, lizards and locusts, esteemed by other nations. The
crawling, leggy, spider-like red crab that inhabits the oyster, is
a choice morsel with many of us, but the decided aversion of
others.

Formerly, there was no mode of expressing utter contempt
for the French, like that of calling them frog eaters. But they
have continued to eat their favorite delicacy, regardless of the
disgust of others, till frogs have grown into decided favor ; they
are now served up in the fashionable eating houses of some of
our cities, and our gourmands are beginning to prize the
luxury.

The turtle is declared by aldermanic epicures to be the

32 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

"sovereign of savoriness" — a starved one, it has been said,
" being infinitely better than a fatted animal of any other
species." Some among us, who fancy themselves good livers,
have lately discovered that the snapping species of our swamps
and mud holes, though not quite equal to the green turtle and
the terrapin, is yet a rich delicacy.

The wealthy Chinese indulge immoderately in refinements of
cookery and the pleasures of the table — their most esteemed
delicacies arc shark's fins, bird's nest soups, little running crabs
that they have to chase over the table, cold relishes of salted
earth-worms, moths and grubs, and a variety of soups, seasoned
with filthy compounds of a strojig and villanous smell. Dogs,
cats and rats, are also with them in high esteem as food. But
we must bear in mind that Kane and his men found rats a
most agreeable and dearly prized luxury, and we have other
high American authority for eating dog.

Blood was forbidden to the Jews, and special pains required
to abstract it from the meat. " Roast beef, very rare, and blood
gravy," is a frequent order for dinner at our hotels. Hog's
blood is a principal ingredient in certain foreign sausages,
called, sometimes, black puddings, and imported as a luxury
into this country. Garton, a highly prized Roman delicacy,
was a pickle of fishes' l)lood and gills. The remotest parts of
the then known world were visited, and air, earth and ocean
ransacked to furnish the complicated delicacies of a Roman
supper. A large part of those delicacies would be repulsive to
us — yet an old law forbade them to eat poultry. Some people
have refused the duck and goose, to feed on birds of prey.
Sugar, generally tempting to children, is refused by the young
Esquimaux with disgust, but he will gorge himself on whale,
blubber and train oil. The Zetlanders and some other fish-
eating tribes, will not eat their fish when fresh, but keep them
till, what others would consider a most intolerable stench, they,
a most agreeable odor, proclaims them to be sufficiently tender
and jmtrid. Assafoetida is a highly esteemed condiment among
some nations of the East, food highly impregnated with it being
regarded as fit for the gods. Our government has just intro-
duced this plant into this country, not however, it is to be
hoped, with any view of bringing it into general use as a season-
ing. Roast elephant, — probably not often a barbecue, — and

ARTICLES OF FOOD. 33

lion and tiger steaks, afford the favorite repast to the success-
ful African hunter ; while the South American Indian regards
a boiled monkey as the most tempting of all dishes.

The flesh of domesticated animals must always be a dearer
aliment than vegetables; the same land required to supply food
to the animal, yielding much more than its alimentary equiva-
lent in vegetable products. In England, in the seventeenth
century, not more than one-half of the families had ever tasted
meat, and a large part of the remaining half only had it as an.
occasional luxury. Of the vast population of China, few ever
obtain it.

The amount of meat eaten -by the laboring classes, in any
nation, affords one of the best modes of judging of their com-
parative comfort and well-being. As wages advance, and wealth
becomes distributed, the ameliorated condition is seen in an.
improved diet. Much as we revere the customs of our fathers,
we would hardly be willing to exchange our food for theirs.
Bean and pease porridge, corn and rye bread, baked beans
and hasty pudding and milk are as readily supplied to our
tables as to theirs. But the addition of more meat, of wheat
bread, and the other delicate preparations of wheat, of choicer
fruits, and vegetables in greater variety, render our tables more
inviting, and probably, not less healthful than theirs.

A late number of a British agricultural journal asserts that,
" in no country is the proportionate consumption of bread, but-
ter, tea, sugar and meat so large as in Great Britain ; and that
in the domestic homes of the laborer, there is to be found a
degree of comfort and competency, of wholesome food, and
that of a quality best suited to maintain bodily health and vigor,
which is looked for in vain elsewhere." This is a broad rather
than a bold assertion, for it requires no courage to boast. Of
the inhabitants of Great Britain, the Irish subsist almost entirely,
upon potatoes. Oatmeal is a principal food of the Scotch.
Our Patent Office Reports assert that in no country is so much
meat eaten by the laboring people as in the United States.
And, gathering results from a variety of sources, I have no
doubt of the truth of this assertion, although a comparison is
instituted, not with the whole of Great Britain, but witli Eng-
land only. The economical system of starving has never been
introduced into our prison and pauper establishments. Our

34 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

agricultural laborers, the residents of our cities, and our factory
operatives, live better than tlic same classes in England. They
eat more meat ; their variety of vegetables is greater. With
almost our entire population, meat or fish constitutes a chief
part of at least one meal a day, and is eaten twice in perhaps
half of the whole number of families. And it is eaten in sub-
stantial pieces ; not in thin soups, where only occasional bits
may be fished up from capacious iloods of diluted liquor.

If a comparison is instituted between our country and the
continent of Europe, it is even more to our advantage.

It is alleged against us that we are far behind the rest of the
civilized world in our cookery ; that bad cookery is universal
with us ; that we misuse the bounties of Providence ; are waste-
ful and extravagant, losing a great part of the nutritive quali-
ties of our edibles by a wretched system of preparing them for
the table ; and that from our gross tastes, perverted by an
habitual system of bad cookery, we never experience the true
zest and keen enjoyment that good food, skilfully cooked,
should give. At one of our county agricultural fairs, it was
said by one of the speakers that though the farmers in our
State lived well, they almost universally had poor bread.

The charges which have of late become common against us
for bad cookery are, for the most part, made by persons to
whom a sedentary life has given tender stomachs and poor
digestion, or who have indulged themselves in the refined deli-
cacies and artful sophistications of a foreign style of cooking,
until all true relish for food, in an undisguised state, is lost. I
venture to assert that the farmers of our State, in general, eat
good bread. True, the hot biscuit, baked in the cook-stove,
and indebted for its sponginess to the hasty action of chemical
ingredients, is far inferior to the loaf of raised bread of the
weekly baking in the brick oven. But the good old-fashioned
farmers' bread continues in general use — the wholesome, pala-
table, rye and Indian home-made brown bread — the truly
national bread of our country, and not found elsewhere.

It is luidcniable that the Europeans understand the art of
cheap living better than we. We practice far less economy in
the use of food. Not only do they eat less meat than we, but
their common mode of cooking saves much that, witli us, is
refuse. During the French Revolution, the subject of cheap

ARTICLES OF FOOD. 35

sustenance for the army, attracted the attention of scientific
men of France, and a most exaggerated opinion prevailed
regarding soups made from bones. The reports, of scientific
men went so far as to assert that iveight for iveig-ki, a soup from
bones, possessed a greater nutritive quality than if made from
meat. A French cook book will, give receipts for a hundred or
more kinds of soups; a large part of the mock kind, where a
skilful use of condiments, and an artful combination of cheap
vegetables so disguises the compound that, although you may
guess what it tastes like, you cannot possibly tell what it is
composed of. It is, however, safe to assume that a large part
of these artfully disguised, savory messes, are as free from
meat as the cheap broth with which the miser was wont to feed
his servant, being the water, slightly salted, in which his own
egg had been boiled. It is true, we are somewhat wasteful, and
might use greater economy ; but we claim for our old-fashioned
dishes this advantage, that we know what we are eating ; and
that if we are unskilled in condiments, sauces, and artificial
relishes, a wholesome diet leaves to us hunger — a sauce for
which no art can find a substitute or equal.

Of all animal food, beef holds the first rank. Yet its use is
forbidden by the Budhist religion ; and by the Chinese, even
the wealthy classes, it is seldom eaten. And they have no
milk, butter, or cheese. This, like almost every thing which
concerns that people, is remarkable, as agriculture is, in China,
in an advanced state — and the beef cattle of any locality are
generally regarded as one of the surest tests of the condition of
agriculture.

Mutton holds a place next to beef, in the opinion of those
who have made dietetics a study. But mutton is by no means
in universal favor as food. There is, perhaps, no kind of food
regarding which, individual tastes are so much at variance. In
this country, sheep culture has been pursued principally for
clothing. A strong ijrejudice prevails among many against its
use as food, the carcasses having been thrown away, heretofore,
in large numbers. Its culture for food is, however, on the
increase in many parts of our country.

But swine have been the occasion of the most violent national
prejudice. Wherever pork has been eaten at all, its use has
been extensive. In the early ages of civilization, it has gen-

86 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

erally afforded the principal animal food to tlie race ; its great
ease of production giving it irresistible advantages.

Pork is an abomination to the Mahometans, and to the Jews.
The inventory of the live stock of the great farmer, Job, sliows
him to have been possessed of seven thousand sheej), three
thousand camels, live hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred
she asses, but uo swine. Yet, iii a later day, wc find that a
herd of two thousand swine were feeding upoji a Jewish moun-
tain, the Jews having no objection to fatten them for tiie Roman
soldiery and other Gentiles — willing to buy and sell the unclean
animal, but unwilling to smell pork at the table.

Probably pork is now nowhere more extensively eaten than
in the United States. To tlie slaves of the South, it forms,
with corn meal, the chief article of food. It is the great staple
of western consumption. It is extensively used in most fami-
lies in the middle and north-eastern States. Its fat serves for
cooking purposes in almost eveiy kitchen.

But a most decided opposition has been growing up against
its use. The hog is ever doomed to have enemies. As men
grow more luxurious and particular, he degeneiates in his
habits, living more upon offal and refuse. Incipient dyspeptics
will find their stomachs show the fii'st symptoms of rebellion
after a hearty dinner of roast spare-rib. But, notwithstanding
all objections, pork, honestly raised, and coming to an honest
death, and free from the poison of distilleries, will be regarded
as a nutritious and healthy food by men whose stomachs are
not their masters. Pork will ever hold its place as an esteemed
aliment by men to whom out-of-door life, healthy employments
and easy consciences give good digestion.

Horse flesh has been at different periods used as food ; most
frequently from necessity, but by some nations from choice.
In general, the feelings of the civilized world have revolted at
its use. In France, labored efforts have been lately made to
overcome what are affirmed to be the foolish prejudices of the
people, regarding its use as food. It is claimed that the horse
is herbivorous, of cleanly habits, that the flesh is rich in nitro-
gen and highly agreeable to the taste ; that even old horse is
free from taint and makes an excellent soup, and that roast
horse flesh cannot be told from roast beef. This latter asser-
tion, taken from a French report by a leading paper in this

ARTICLES OP FOOD. 37

country, lias been extensively circulated. We mny admit that
horse soups, and horse stews, and all the made dishes for which
French cookery is famous, may be agreeable, and disguised, as
they are, may be pronounced good as beef. But that, when
the natural juice and flavor is preserved, as in a roast, it cannot
be distinguished from beef, is an assertion that no re|)orts of
French savans can render credible ; they must tell it to the
horse marines — we should be asses to believe it. However, it
may be, that from France, whence come so many edicts of
fashion and science, Avill come the law to eat horse meat, and
that it will yet be seen on our butcher stalls, side by side,
with beef and mutton. Then at least the horse show in an
agricultural society's exhibition will be legitimate and unob-
jectionable.

Wild animals have ever afforded an important aliment and
an esteemed luxury. Every variety have been, eaten, the car-
nivorous as well as the herbiverous ; yet with that strange per-
versity of prejudice that lias always existed with respect to
food, every race of hunters has arbitrarily excluded some kinds
as unlit for food.

Our indignation is aroused when we consider the misery and
degradation imposed upon agricultural laborers in past ages by
the passion for the chase. A simple desire to procure the ani-
mals for food has by no means been the principal incitements
to the wrongs and o])pressions heaped upon the tillers of the
soil. The cruelties and exactions of the game laws have
equalled any other slavery that has ever existed. In France,
at the commencement of the Revolution, the game laws fettered
the most important operations of agriculture. The most
destructive animals, wild boars, and herds of deer, were allowed
to range unobstructed, to fatten upon the growing crops. Mow-
ing, hoeing and weeding were prohibited, lest some species of
birds or the eggs, should be destroyed ; and using certain kinds
of manure was forbidden, lest the flavor of some delicate species
of game should be injured.

Fi^li, have in every age afforded an abundant supply of food.
To the Jews they were in part prohibited, and other nations
have at times rejected them. It is a singular fact, that in Eng-
land, not long after the Reformation, and while all usages of
the Romanists were held in abhorrence, it was found necessary

38 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

to enact laws to induce a return to this economical food, and
meat was strictly forl)idden upon two days of the week, and
upon all other fish days of the Popish calendar.

Fish have generally been the cheapest of animal food. Most
species multiply in a ratio far exceeding any thing known in
agriculture. Our attention has been of late directed to the
artificial propagation of fish. Abundant success in France,
and considerable success in this vState, and other parts of our
country, allow us to anticipate a considerable supply. The
farmers of Middlesex North have been deprived of the shad
and alewives of the Merrimack, and in spite of legislation and
artificial propagation, it is altogether probable that we shall
never again have river fish for our tables, and manufacturing
towns for our markets. But corporation dominion extends not
to the sea. There are as many and as good fish there as ever
were caught, and increased quickness of transportation gives
us an easy supply.

The vegetable kingdom affords, by far, the greatest variety of
alimentary products. The actual number would be stated in
thousands ; a small part only, is known to us.

The attention of farmers is, at the present time, more than
ever before, directed to new products of the soil, and new varie-
ties of those with which we are familiar. We are indebted to
government for the adoption of a liberal and extensive system,
for the introduction and dissemination of new plants and seeds ;
but we are even more indebted to individual exertion, and a
universal spirit of progress and enterprise among agriculturists
to carry out this object.

The present extent of the culture of the Chinese sugar cane
in this country, is a wonderful and instructive fact ; it is but
about eight years since a few seeds were first introduced, yet
during the present year one hundred thousand acres have, it is
estimated, been devoted to its culture. It does not belong to
my subject to speak of it, as it is not used for food by human
beings. I refer to it only as exhibiting the wonderful rapidity
with which information regarding agricultural subjects is dis-
seminated, and the general intelligence and earnest enterprise,
among farmers throughout our country.

The attention of agriculturists in the United States, and in
Europe, has been of late, directed particularly to the produc-

ARTICLES OF FOOD. 39

tions of Asia. In China, agriculture is in an advanced state,
and it is for more sensible to look there for information, than
to tropical countries.

Time suffices for but a brief mention of some of the more
important vegetable aliments.

Our government has just introduced the sweet, edible variety
of the acorn into this country. Any poetic dreamers who are
captivated by the glowing descriptions of the primitive sim-
plicity and virtue of the acorn eaters of ancient times, may
indulge their imaginations in visions of a millenium return to
this food, when the vanities and evils of the luxuries of civiliza-
tion shall be no longer known. But those oaks, to be planted
by the prudence of our fostering government, won't bear acorns
in our day, and we will submit to the hardship, and try and be
content with other fare.

Of all spontaneous, or nearly spontaneous productions, the
banana, or plantain, feeds by far the greatest numbers of the
race. This delicious fruit offers itself to the inhabitants of
equinoctial Asia, America, and tropical Africa, and of the
Islands of the Atlantic and Pacific, wlierever the mean tempera-
ture exceeds seventy-five degrees. To an immense number of
human beings, it is all that wheat, maize, rye and potatoes are
to us, — what rice is to the countries of the East. It multiplies,
with but slight cultivation, beyond that of any known vegetable.
Humboldt says its increase is, as to that of wheat, as one hun-
dred and thirty-three to one. Herndon and Gibbon, in the
report of their exploring expedition through the valley of the
Amazon, say that the natives eat the fruit raw, roasted, boiled,
baked and fried ; that they are perfectly satisfied with it, and
having no want beyond it, nothing to stimulate to labor or
activity, seem doomed to hopeless indigence and barbarism.

The bread-fruit tree is one of the most interesting plants.
Soon after the voyages of Captain Cook, the most extravagant
ideas of its importance prevailed in England. The unfortu-
nate expedition of the Bounty — undertaken by the English
government to transplant the tree from the Society Islands to
the West Indies, the mutiny, and the subsequent fortunes of
Captain Bligh, and eighteen who were sent adrift, and of the
mutineers who remained — affords one of the most interesting
and entertaining narratives in our language. As an agricul-

40 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

tural production, the bread-fruit has been overestimated.
Byron says of it : —

" TIic bread-tree, which, -without tlie ploun;hshare yields
The unreaped harvests of unfurrowed fields;
And bakes its unadulterated loaves
Without a furnace, in unpurcliascd proves,
And flings oil famine from its fertile breast,
A priceless market for the gathering guest."

The date, or palm tree, has been the object of veneration
with the Jew, the Christian and the Maliometan. AVith the
fig and tlie olive, it has lately been introduced into the United
States. But it seems too much to expect that these ancient
fruits will flourish here. Their associations are connected with
the past, and with countries famous in history, long before the
era of the Roman dominion.

There are many species of vegetables extensively used as
food by inhabitants of northern countries, of a far different
nature from the noble fruits of the East. The Moors, Negroes
and Hottentots, eat gum; some tribes make a sort of bread
from the iinier bark of trees ; seaweed furnishes to many a
common article of cheap food ; many derive a considerable part
of their daily subsistance from different species of ferns, and
lichens, and fungi, or mushrooms, are used extensively as food
in Rust-ia and some other places ; and these slightly nourishing
species of vegetables are in use, not as an occasional resort in
famine, but as the daily refuge of poverty and stay of hunger
of large numbers of the human race.

Of all cultivated plants, rice aflbrds alimentary support to
the greatest number of men. Unlike the other grains, wher-
ever it grows, it becomes the food of the working classes, to the
almost utter exclusion of other vegetal)le products.

It is interesting to trace the changes in the cultivation of
barley, oats, rye, millet, and other ancient grains. Ko one of
them has ever been a general aliment of the race, yet at differ-
ent {(criods, and in limited localities, each of these cereals has
served as food to an important extent. Barley cakes are a
connnon food in some parts of Europe. Oatmeal is a common
and healtliy food with the Scotch, Welsh, and in a part of Eng-
and and France. A spiced rye cake was much in fashion some
centuries ago, and in some parts of Europe, rye is now a com-

ARTICLES OF FOOD. 41

mon food ; with us, rye is in general use, while barley and oats
are seldom eaten,

America has given to the world two most important products,
maize and potatoes, of a value as a cheap, wholesome and
palatable food, beyond the power of calculation. Maize is but
little consumed in most parts of Europe, even by those com-
pelled to economy in their selection of food — it is not a popular
food there. The reader of British agricultural works, remarks
witli surprise, the small space devoted to this grain.

Without question, of all vegetable productions, indeed of all
substances used as food by human beings, the first in dignity
and importance is wheat. It has been the corn of civilization
from remote antiquity. Other breadstufifs have multiplied more
abundantly, and have, at different times and places, been much
in favor. But wheat yet retains the high esteem it had when
the granaries of Egypt supplied the brethren of Joseph. The
track of civilization may be traced from that era by its culture.

The forms of wheat, other than flour, are numerous — macca-
roni, vermicelli, caligari and other pastes, semolini and soujee
or manacroup, and various delicate farinacious preparations are
known to commerce. Tliere is a beauty in wheat that com-
mends it to popular esteem.

Fashion and fancy govern where they should not. Wheat
growers complain that they are restricted by the demands of
the market, to kinds of wheat by no means the best. Flour is
judged by its whiteness and by the beauty of its bread, rather
than its intrinsic nutritive qualities.

In another respect, wheat is entitled to the highest considera-
tion. In most enlightened nations of the world, and from a
remote period, it has had, beyond all other crops, a political
importance. Webster said that a short crop of wheat in Eng-
land, effects the exchanges of the world. The loss to this
country, of absolute wealth, by the impoverishment of its
wheat lands, is to be counted in hundreds of millions. The
strong arm of governments has been raised to arrest this evil.
War and diplomacy are no longer their sole business, but they
give their energies to the raising of wheat — the governments of
the world are turning farmers. No crop requires more art in
its culture than wheat, and to none have been so much directed
6

42 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

the labored researches of science and accumulated wisdom of
agricultural experience and skill.

It has been said that the agriculture of the world has never
yet been grasped by a master mind. It is true ; and because,
heretofore, the highest rewards of honor and distinction have
never been obtained from agricultural pursuits. A new era is
dawning. It is beginning to be felt and acknowledged that
agriculture is the first and most important of all the arts, and
that the highest honors and profoundest gratitude are due not
to him who has trod successfully the accustomed paths of hero-
ism, or the tortuous Avindings of politics, but to him who has
proved himself a benefactor to his race, by an honest and well
directed zeal in the ennobling study and pursuit of agriculture.

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 43

AGRICULTURE IN ITS RELATIONS TO THE
SCIENCES.

From an Address before the Worcester South Agricultural Society, Sept 30, 1857.

BT GEO. M. PRESTON.

Science is the mother of art. Upon the principles of the
former, are based the rules of the latter. The one exhibits
wisdom, the other skill. In nature we see them both combined.
The tree exhibits in its growth and decay, some of the most
interesting elements of science. But it has also form and
symmetry, and its leaves possess beauty of shape and color,
which display an art which must be divine. The tiniest flower
combines in its construction, wisdom and skill, harmonizing
with each other, as pleasingly as does its beautiful shape, with
its varied hues and rich fragrance. He who takes upon him-
self the work of aiding the earth in nurturing her growing
fruits, must know the science which she exhibits, and must
practice the art necessary to increase her productiveness and
beauty, as well as to derive from such knowledge and labor, the
greatest material advantage. He who can skilfully turn the
soil, give to it its required fertilizing aliment, properly sow the
seed and nurture well its tender growth, may be proud of the
knowledge and ingenuity which he thus exhibits, and should be
abundantly rewarded with the enjoyment of the fruits of his toil.

We find in some communities, a prejudice operating against
' the application of science to the cultivation of the soil. This
will be removed, I think, when this application is more perfectly
understood by the common mass. A similar prejudice is felt
by the laboring class, against the thinking portion of the com-
munity. Both of these prejudices will be overcome, when men
of thought and scientific research, and laboring men, more
nearly sympathize with each other.

44 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

Without presuming to express any opinion which will spread
light upon the science of agriculture, we will briefly exhibit
its relation to general science, in which may be seen something
of its real dignity. I use the term general science, in this con-
nection, because it may be shown how this particular depart-
ment of natural science, with its attendant art, may be con-
nected with those departments of science in general, which
embrace the laws of mind and the rules of condnct. Its
connection with these, however, is so remote, that it would be
proper to treat of it under other heads.

What then is the relation which agriculture sustains to natu-
ral or material science ? To what particular department does
it belong? How far is its success as an art, dependent on a
knowledge of this and other departments of science ? We can-
not, of course, answer these questions now, in so full a manner
as absolute clearness and accuracy would demand. We can
only briefly state our own views, and by them exhibit, what we
design to illustrate.

In human government we find no power so absolute and
independent, that it owes nothing to other powers. Every sys-
tem is more or less related to every other system. Every
national organization must of necessity frame laws relating to
other kindred establishments. When civilization has reached
its highest perfection, and has literally conquered the world,
there will be a perfect system uf international law, which will
preserve the rights of every people. What we may hopefully
anticipate, in the government of nations, is now fully illustrated
in Nature. The mineral, vegetable and animal kingdoms,
though distinct from each other, are inseparably connected, and
are also joined to other departments of material action. They
are united by the immutable laws of chemical affinity, and are
also indebted to the action of those forces, revealed in the
science of meteorology.

But where in this range of sciences, shall we place the
embodiment of those principles which constitute the science of
agriculture ?

First principles evidently must be drawn from all of these
sciences. We may, however, assign its visible location, in the
vegetable kingdom. Here is its centre of attraction. Here its
wealth is apparent. Here its perfection is manifest. Look at

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 45

its splendid triumphs, as it thus appears. How readily is the
whole face of nature changed, so far as human skill operates
upon it. Even Eden must have improved under the fostering
care of its temporary lord. " The wildnerness " is made " to
blossom as the rose." Wild forests, with their trees and
shrubbery, mingled with the decay of former growths, give
place to fruitful fields and gardens, or are changed into well
cleared groves. Every plant, shrub and tree assume new
beauty, when carefully nurtured, according to the laws of their
existence. Should the men of two hundred years ago survey tlie
localities where they, hardy settlers of our country, first broke
the soil, they might indulge in feelings of patriotic pride, and
they Avould not be long in discovering the charms of cultivated
nature. Although the most fertile portions have only within a
recent period, attracted our attention, still the elements of fer-
tility have been so combined, as not only to open vast resources
of wealth, but also to exhibit the victory of science over the
soil.

Agriculture has built her gorgeous palace in the vegetable
kingdom ; but still she receives abundant tribute from other
realms. He who like the queen of Sheba — who marvelled at
the wisdom of Israel's monarch — would see the wisdom and
glory of this noble science, must read the history of geological
changes, learn what are the mineral properties of the earth's
crust, study the nature of that unseen substance, the air, and
even look to the heavens above him, to see those signs " which
are set for times and for seasons, and for days and for years."
All these treasures are invested in the great enterprise of
beautifying and enriching the earth, that she may enrich those
who give to her. Animals may subsist on the natural products
of the soil, but we have the privilege of so operating in the
great laboratory of nature, as to make food suitable for a
noble race ; yea, to spread a daintier board for angelic taste,
than was prepared when angels talked with men.

In treating the subject in this connection, we may be allowed
to look forward and survey the future. This science, as well
as every other, is in a mere transition state. It has by no
means arrived at perfection. All its principles, to be sure?
exist, but many of them are like hidden ore, reserved for the
appropriation of generations yet unborn. When all the laws

46 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

of vegetation are known, when every part of the earth capable
of cultivation is snbdued, when every soil has its appropriate
cultivated productions, then this science will have erected its
monuments of triumph, as enduring as tlie earth itself.

Its trophies will be " the everlasting hills " and ever fruitful
vales. The signs of national glory will only be made more
attractive, while the relics of unjust tyranny will moulder in
the dust. We cannot, of course, expect to see this day, nor
will those after us, for many generations, behold its dawn. But
shall we not have its brightness before us, as an ultimate aim of
action ; an aim nearly as worthy and noble as the perfection of
human government, or the intellectual and moral renovation of
the race.

I might allude — as an incidental illustration of the dignity
of this science, coming more properly under this head — to the
multitude of its devotees. That religion — in human view, at
least — is the most flourishing, which has the largest number
of adherents. So in science. The sculptor and the painter
practice an art, the principles of which, few master. Few
arrive at eminence in the knowledge of the sciences ; many
learn the mechanical arts, and become acquainted with the
principles of mechanism. But the most by far enter literally
upon the field of labor, and while they till the soil by manual
exertions, also feed the mind with those facts and theories
which the earth reveals. Scientific men, as such, have done, as
yet, but little, to advance the interests of the husbandman.
The most has been done by practical experimenters upon the
properties of the soil and its vegetable productions. Farmers
are led to the necessity — not however to so great an extent as
formerly — to learn their own science. The pursuit of agricul-
ture is older than any other pursuit. Every generation of men
have known something concerning it. We find also another
fact, and that is, that the noblest and truest of every rank
and profession, not only honor this work, but actually engage
in it. Philosophers, statesmen, and the wisest and best men
have handled the spade, a)id have wielded the scythe. Our
lamented Webster, I need not remind you, took a noble interest
in the great cause which we are laboring to promote. Only the
weakest men regard it as a disgrace to till the soil. On the
contrary, the dignity of labor is here most manifest.

ACxRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 47

Gentlemen, in order that the dignity of your work may
be preserved and increased, mind and muscle must work to-
gether. Science and labor must unite. Tlie philosopher and
the farmer must grasp each other's hands in token of unceasing
fidelity.

Another stand point, from which we may view the dignity of
agriculture, is that of social life. This topic alone, is sufficient
to occupy our whole attention, at this time. Even within such
limits, I feel myself wholly unable to do it full justice.

Agriculture is in truth an art of peace. Whenever there is
a quiet enjoyment of the administration of government, then
we behold progress in every art and every science. More beau-
tiful to the sight, is the field of toil, than the blood stained
battle field. More ennobling to the view, is a happy band of
reapers, than all the savage array of military glory. Many a
prouder hero has handled the implements of husbandry, than
he who has wielded the sword. It is a fact, which no one will
dispute, that the open fields of any country are an index of its
political and social state. It may, indeed, sometimes happen,
that the sciences and the arts of common life flourish in seasons
of political unrest, but such signs must be interpreted as indi-
cating the real state of society, which will sooner or later fully
develop itself. As a general thing, whenever the cultivated
fields of a country, or those designed for cultivation, are neg-
lected, we suspect some political or social calamity to be the
real cause. But when, on the contrary, we see fruitful fields,
thrifty herds and orderly dwellings, we suspect no such evils.
We may in this way discover, not only the political condition of
a people, but also its progress in civilization. A government
will generally be, what the intelligence and character of the
masses make it. To learn what is this character, we must not
Seek out a few who possess learning and the greatest scientific
attainments, but we must go out into the open country, and
see what are the habits of the people in common life ; what
intelligence they exhibit, and what arts they possess, and
especially behold to how great an extent they cultivate the soil.
Go to those countries inhabited by a savage and barbarous
people, and you will observe that they have little knowledge of
the nature of the soil, and of a large variety of its products,
while they show but little skill in tilling the ground. They

48 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

subsist chiefly by hunting and fishing, and mutual plunder.
Equally as rude are they in other arts, while their social con-
dition is, in the worst sense of the term, miserable. Those
who have advanced farther in civilization, begin to entertain
the noble idea of subduing the earth, and rendering it, as far
as possible, productive ; and those who are the farthest advanced
in knowledge and the enjoyment of social privileges, aim to the
ornamental, as well as the useful and profitable, in the cultiva-
tion of their estates. We see the products of their skilfully
and finely arranged gardens, as well as of their fruitful fields.
The flowers and fruits of every clime, are brought into com-
panionship, and are carefully nurtured, that they may make
the soil of their adoption their home. We can see the influ-
ence of such progress upon the tastes of the people in regard
to other things. Their dwellings are ornamented, not only
by flowers and shrubbery, but by the beautiful in architecture.
The same remark extends to dress and habits of intercourse,
yea, to morals and religion.

It may be said, that progress in moral and intellectual refine-
ment, is the cause rather than the effect of such a state of
things, as it respects agriculture. But I ask, if this be so,
would not the reflux influence of such an effect — of nature
thus cultivated by our own efforts — be as great as what is
described as its direct influence ? When the best securities of
property and happiness are granted to a people, their success in
the common arts of life, thus better secured, operates as an
incentive to the preservation of sucli securities.

The remarks which we have made on this topic, may be
illustrated in a manner most interesting to us all, by a refer-
ence to our history as a people, and the present condition of
our country as to its natural resources of life and happiness,
when compared with its condition when occupied by its aborigi-
nal population. The forest was the home of the American
Indian. He belonged to a savage people, who subsisted by
hunting and fishing, and paid but little attention to clearing
and improving the soil. His government was as simple as his
life. His countrymen were not a people, in the political sense
of the term ; they were only a collection of independent tribes,
often hostile to each other. They rejoiced not in the civil arts
of life, but desired the most fckill iu warlike achievements, or

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 49

in arclicry. Under their administration, America was truly a
wilderness. It had wild forests, wild beasts and wild men.

But how has the face of the country, as well as the character
of its inhabitants, changed. Much of the reputation which
our Puritan forefathers sustain, at this day, as well as our real
worth as a people, is owing to the circumstances connected with
their settlement in New England. A band of noble hearted
men, bound together by the sympathies of a religion which was
independent of the ecclesiastic dominion of their native land,
found an unbroken wildnerness, of which they gained an easy
possession. The subduing of this wilderness united them in
such action as increased their mutual sympathy and respect.
The land cleared and cultivated by themselves, was in a visible
sense their own. They looked upon its improvement as having
been secured by their own efforts. The spot cultivated by each
family, received from it the endearing appellation of home.
Mutual sympathy, and we might also add, the policy of defend-
ing themselves against the attacks of a savage foe, brought
them together into communities. The disposition thus to unite
has continued to our own time. We behold this structure of
society throughout New England. While we have our com-
mercial centres, the bone and muscle of our Northern States
are in the agricultural districts. Manufactories have lately, it
is true, drawn largely upon the intelligence and strength of the
people ; but what we may call strictly New England society —
regarding the appearance which it has always presented — com-
prises those who cultivate the soil.

It is true, confining our attention still to the fact, that many
influences besides that exerted by the union of men in the
interest of one pursuit, have contributed to our present social
condition. But when we consider the fact that the political rela-
tions of our ancestors were almost entirely broken up by leav-
ing the mother country, and also the fact, that society thus left
forms itself anew from the elements of individual character,
and more than this, when we know that our opinions are greatly
modified by circumstances, we are led to conclude that the
necessity of seeking the first resources of independence in the
soil, had a large influence in moulding our social fabric. We
have oidy to examine our laws relating to the security of estates
in land, which give an individual a title to a measured portion
7

50 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

of the soil, the improvements of wliich, made by him, are
aj)])i'opriated to himself, to behold one of the foundations of
justice, liberty and equality, which are the dearest privileges
secured by our ancestors with their blood. We have only to
look over our New England towns to see those social influences,
which arc so powerfully exerted by the daily employment of
the majority of the people.

It is interesting to the traveller to pass through this and
neighboring Commonwealths, and see the whole cultivated sur-
face dotted with the dwellings of intelligent and industrious
farmers. The forest is left by itself, while the fields, like their
owners, seem to seek congenial companionship. Here and
there the spire of some church marks its location among the
hills, and in its vicinity, may be found the village store and
post office, to which sacred and secular retreats, the inhabitants
repair for spiritual and temporal food, and to receive communi-
cations from the outer world. I should not fail to allude here,
to the school-houses scattered over the land, which occupy so
prominent a place among the localities of our earlier days.

In determining what are the social influences wdiich pervade
a community situated in this manner, we must see what are the
different sympathies which are called into exercise. One of
these influences is exerted by the union of the whole community
in the same occupation. This union affects the parties entering
into it, in different ways. Inasmuch as the work performed on
a farm engages the interest of an entire family, Avho seek not
only to make productive their estates, but to render attractive
their home, there is added to the usual sympathy of those
engaged in a similar occupation, that of families. There is no
aristocracy in our agricultural community. Or if it be allowed
that there is such, in some localities, it is too small to attract
much attention. If it exists, it is based on nothing but the
possession of hoarded or inherited wealth. But it is not often
the case, where men secure a regular support from farm labors,
that there is a great difference in their pecuniary prosperity.
This dilTerencc is occasioned often by another cause, which
operates favorably upon society, and that is the spirit of emula-
tion. The annual products of a farm may be increased by
skilful cultivation, and a judicious arrangement. There is
often a dis[)osition, in a good farming community, to excel in

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 51

this. This spirit is encouraged by these animal gatherings and
exhibitions. We meet here familiar faces, and our interest in
each otlier is reawakened, when we behold the first fruits of
harvest, wliich each has brought up hither as an offering to the
noble cause of agricultural progress. This spirit of emulation
in communities, is excited through the year. The progress of
the crops in different fields, possessed l)y different owners, is
watched, and the interests of the whole community are fre-
quently discussed, when its members meet together.

How interesting it is for us to watch the progress of the
season. Wc are not only interested in seeing the snows of
winter retire, and the buds of spring opening their hidden
treasures of beauty, but we rejoice to see young and old going
forth into the fields, to open the long buried soil, and sow the
prejcious seed. We watch with interest the growing blades,
when they at length appear. All readily unite in this pleasure
and aid the great work of nature, by loosening the soil, and
destroying the hostile weeds. Soon other scenes awaken our
interest. In the morning we hear the sound of swinging
scythes, and at night behold the nicely raked hay and the
returning teams laden with the valuable material. At a later
period, the orchards are laden with fruit, the cornfields show
tlieir yellow ears, the vine reveals its purple clusters, and the
wheat invites the reaper's toil. How sweet to hear the song of
harvest. Well might our forefathers, rejoicing at their success
in tilling the soil of the New World, set apart a day, which in
the country is more truly than elsewhere, both alioly day and a
holiday, in which kindred and friends partake of a joyful feast,
and sing their songs of " thanksgiving" to " the Lord of the
harvest." Give me a New England home, — the home of liberty,
the birtliplace of the free, where our fathers bled on the field of
battle and sweat on the field of toil. Let me rejoice in time
honored customs, and be permitted to hear the Sabbath bells,
and visit the district school. Oar streams may -carry with their
force the noisy machinery, and mark their course with the
signs of enterprise ; but our New England homes are among
the hills, and in the fruitful vales. Long may they be honored
by those who inherit their father's patriotism and virtue, as well
as their farms and dwellings.

In addition to the influence of the theory and practice of

52 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

agriculture upon social life, we may notice the favorable
opportunity which it offers for the growth of morality and
religion in the community.

The consideration of this topic, I deem to be of no small
interest, especially when we bear in mind the fact, that men's
characters correspond in some measure with the nature of their
occupation. Those engaged in mental labor, are affected by
the nature of the subjects which demand their attention.
There are influences which operate upon the minds of those
thus engaged, exceedingly unfavorable to the growth of moral
power in their characters. The philosopher is not the active
philanthropist. He looks upon men afar off, and upon himself
as a mere abstraction. To theorize is his work, and what of
practice he is obliged to perform, only shows that there is more
work for theory. Still, such employment has also its influences
which are favorable to the promotion of a character which has
its moral excellencies. Mercantile life is full of perplexity and
temptation. There is but little in it, when compared with
other callings, to give vitality to the moral principles. Yet the
insight which the merchant gets into human nature, in its
worst forms of selfishness, may, if rightly improved, lead him
to seek the opposite, benevolence. The manufacturing estab-
lishment, or the shop of the mechanic, filled with the noise of
the hammer and the clatter of wheels, with its corrupt atmos-
phere clouded with dust, does not minister to the free and
undisturbed flow of feeling and thought. Long confinement at
precisely the same kind of work, does not contribute to enlarge-
ment of views, or nobleness of impulse. Men thus employed,
if they do not enjoy some counteracting influence, become
mere machines. Their feelings, if they have any, incline to
the sensual. They are not accustomed to think deeply, but on
the surface. The associations of manufacturing employment,
are often such, as not very readily to produce moral restraints.
All classes and dispositions, young and old of both sexes, are
often indiscriminately congregated together. In such a case,
unless moral influences, and strong moral influences too, are
brought to bear upon each individual, immorality will be the
sore pestilence which will rage among them.

In an agricultural community, I think may be found the
most favorable opportunity for the formation of proper habits

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 53

of virtue and uprightness. Tlic mind acts freely and leisurely.
It has employment enouo-h to discipline its powers. AVe have
not the evils here to contend with, to such an extent, at least,
as are connected with manufacturing life. The pure atmos-
phere of heaven is freely breathed. The healthy fragrance of
the ploughed field, and the sweet smell of flowers, in appear-
ance wrought in a beautiful ground work of green of every
pleasing shade, the cheering prospect of growing and ripening
grain, the music of the harvest song, and the joyful plenty of
dreary winter days, all combine to produce a happy impression
upon the mind. In the shop, men are confined within dirty
walls, but in the field, they have a view of the universe itself.
The floor beneath them is the beautiful earth, and the ceiling
above and around them is the blue dome of heaven, frescoed
with sunlight and cloudy shades of every variety of form and
beauty. The sounds which they hear are not those of the anvil
and the loom, but the lowing of the herds, the sweet carols of
the birds, and the murmuring of winds and waters. Not only
is such a situation of the laborer more conducive to his bodily
health, but also to the healthy moral tone of his character.
There is not that inclination to lustful and convivial })leasures,
which we find in those who are confined within walls, and in
persons of sedentary habits. Besides this, it is a fact, that the
health of the body affects the mind and the character, in the
most favorable manner. We not only notice the fact, that
young men who are educated upon a farm, have stronger
physical powers, but that they also have stronger moral princi-
ples, and a more active intelligence.

I need not step aside much from the matter now before us,
to state, that the intelligence of an agricultural district, is more
genuine and active than we find elsewhere. In cities and vil-
lages, where professional, mercantile and manufacturing pur-
suits are followed exclusiv'ely, there may be a nnjre refined and
artistic taste, but not more general intelligence and enlarged
conceptions. President Edwards once said to a class of theo-
logical students who were in the habit sometimes during their
course of study, of occupying vacant pulpits : '^ If you go into
the city, take your best coat ; if you go into the country, take
your best sermon." The best, pliysical and moral education
which one can have before entering upon a course of liberal

54 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

study and a professional career, may be found in spending one's
earlier years upon a farm. Nathan Dane, who was a lawyer of
some eminence in my native town, whose life was not in vain,
and whose death was justly lamented, always rejoiced that the
first twenty-one years of his life were spent in the occupation of
farming. There are others, yea, many others in professional
life, who rejoice with him. Their strength of body and of
moral principles, gahied in early life, aid greatly their success
and usefulness.

I need not make any marked transition, in passing to a view
of the connection of agriculture as a pursuit, with religion.
Religion is the soul of morality, its fountain head. All our
conduct proceeds from our natural inclination, modified by our
judgment and determination, though not always affected by
such modification. Our inclination is powerfully acted upon
by external causes. There are no purer sources of influence
to lead us in the right direction, than those which bring us in
connection with God and his truth. By this truth, I mean all
truth, all science, of which He is the author.

It is sometimes objected to the study of natural science, that
it leads to atheism. I cannot see who would be likely to raise
this objection, but those who have superficial views of the con-
nection of the Deity with his works. The student of science
discovers a chain of causes and effects, which is longer than he
can comprehend. His whole mental vision is measured by it ;
but still he sees not on what it hangs. In no class of investi-
gations are we so impressed with incomprehensible wisdom and
benevolence, as in those which relate to the structure of the
earth's crust, and to the properties of its vegetable products.
The geologist, the chemist and the botanist may search for ages,
and find that there is still an exhaustless mine of intellectual
wealth. The agriculturist, who is such in theory, will find that
his field of labor embraces a wider space than what is measured
by his few acres. The tendency of his study and work is not
to atheism and a gross materiality, but his conceptions of a real
living and active cause, wise and benevolent, are elevated, and
his highest admiration is called into happy exercise.

Taking this in connection with those influences, the force of
which we have considered, we are led to see, that the student
and the Christian may unite with the husbandman. The char-

ACxRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 55

actcr of each may be blended in that of a single individnal. Snch
an one can not only strengthen his muscles and invigorate his
vital functions, but he is in the most favorable situation for
moral improvement and religious contemplation. The work
which he engages in, may be truly the appropriate study and
employment of every man. It is not beneath the highest, nor
above the lowest. Its dignity may give honor to all who devote
themselves to it. Its simplicity may furnish many lessons to
those wliose capacities are the most limited.

Gentlemen : The cause which you seek to promote, is the
perfection of this science, and its best application to labor. It
is not your object — or should not be — to amass wealth by your
toil, nor merely to earn your daily bread, but to improve in the
knowledge and execution of your work.

I am addressing those who I believe have this object in view.
It of course requires a greater knowledge and skill to aid the
earth in the formation of a soil, adapted to the growth of par-
ticular products, than to perform the labor of the sower and
the reaper upon that soil already enriched and fitted for any
and every growth.

The work of the philanthropist is to improve uncivilized
human nature ; to elevate the degraded, to refine the uncouth,
to enrich the poor, and not merely to labor among- those who
are in the most favorable situation for improvement. iVs did
the Great Teacher, he must " seek and save that Avhich is lost."
So it should be the object of the agriculturist, to make fertile
the wliole earth, if he would carry to perfection his science,
and enrich all mankind. In the great work in which you are
engaged, let excellence be your object, and excelsior the
motto which inspires you to gain it.

56 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

HOW TO BE BETTER FARMERS

From an Address before the Worcester West Agricultural Societj', Sept. 17, 1857.

BY JOHN A. NASH.

There was a time in the progress of the earth to the condi-
tion in which wc find it, when its whole surface was nothing
but rock. From the disintegration of this rock comes all the
loose material which covers the earth from a few inches to
several hundred feet in thickness.

In the rocky sliell of the earth arc contained all the inorganic
elements of plants, as the- organic elements are contained
in the air. When the rocks become disintegrated, the plant
food they contained is commingled with the soil formed from
them. Of fifteen elements, which go to make up the plant,
eleven esist in the soil and four in the air. That some of the
former exist also in the air, in very small quantities, is possible ;
and it is quite certain that the latter exist in the soil, as far as
it is penetrated by the air. The inorganic elements of plants
— those that are indestructible by fire, and constitute the ash
after the fire has consumed what it can — are drawn mainly
from the ground ; while the organic elements — all of a plant
that can be burned away — come from the air. Both these
classes of elements are essential to the growth of plants.
Standing with its roots in the ground and its leaves in the air,
the plant has a lien on both, and from both draws these ele-
ments, which, as elaborated in its vegetable organism, are to
perfect itself, and which as further elaborated in the animal
organisili arc to constitute the entire animal body.

Although the material, consolidated first into vegetable and
then into animal forms, comes largely from the air, yet consid-
ering the air to be but a part and parcel of the planet wc
inhabit, it is strictly true to say that all plants primarily, and

HOW TO BE BETTER FARMERS. 57

all animals secondarily, are formed out of the cartli, and that
to the earth, talcing the term as implying the aggregate of our
plants, they return.

The conditions of plant growth having been supplied by the
Creator, plants of some kind, such as the soil and climate of
cacli locality are adapted to produce, and such as have the
power to keep down other species — for there is war in the plant
world as well as in the animal — will grow. Animal life follows
by an order of Divine Providence. Wherever there are plants,
there will be animals. The fiat of Omnipotence, that both
increase and multiply, has gone forth, and will be obeyed. The
laws by which inert matter, as locked up in the soil or floating
in the air, arranges itself in forms of beauty, and life, and hap-
piness, are God's laws, not man's. Whether it is in the power
of the human race to increase the aggregate productions of the
earth, is perhaps doubtful. But within certain limits, it is
ours to decide what the productions shall be ; whether woody
plants or farinaceous — whether domestic animals, or wild.

Here then comes in the vocation of the farmer. You may
not be able to make your grounds produce more than they
would have produced, if you had left them altogether alone,
nor even as much ; but you can make them produce what you
need and what a grateful market will pay you well for, when
you have it in excess of your home wants. Instead of tall trees
and rampant underbrush, and beasts that make night and day
hideous, of which, if left to themselves, the land would pro-
duce more than enough, you can make them produce corn and
the grasses, and then butter and cheese, beef, pork, veal, mut-
ton, skins, wool, whatever will feed and clothe a growing popu-
lation. This acre you can bid to grow the cereals ; that you
can teach to grow esculent roots ; many you can engage to
grow grasses perpetually ; and some which will grow nothing
else, you can compel to grow fuel. By a wise forethought you
can make every acre contribute to your own and the general
good. Such dominion is given to the farmer over the field, and
even the beasts of the field — over all the productive powers of
the earth — a dominion, one would think, adequate to satisfy
any ordinary ambition.

Why the farmer should not be contented with his position —
more than contented — proud of it — I cannot tell, and I do not

58 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

believe he can. If tliere is the shadow of a reason, it must be,
that the same blessing is given to all other farmers, and so is
veiy common, and like other common blessings, is despised.

Other callings are essential to the well-being of society.
They are essential to the farming interest even. You could
not turn over the soil, unless somebody made your plough.
You could not sell your produce, unless many were so busy
in other employments as not to be able to grow their own.
You are about as dependent on the manufacturer, the mechanic
and the educator, as they arc upon you. It is only when each
fulfils his part, that all prosper. You feed all the other profes-
sions, and clothe them, so far as the raw" material is considered,
but you do not do tbis for naught. They are your customers.
They pay you ; and if they could not get along without you,
neither could you prosper without them.

But you, who delve in the soil, who decree what this acre
shall produce and what those, who lay your plans for future
years and the elements obey you, have a nobler dominion over
nature than any other, and at least as benign a mission towards
your fellow men as the best. You have no occasion to be seek-
ing a higher employment. There is none higher. None but
rogues and fools pretend or tliiuk there is. Your calling is in
high esteem with God and with all honest and sensible men ;
and having deliberately chosen it, let me say to you, strive not
to be better than farmers^ but to be better farmers.

How to be better farmers, is the subject of what I have to say ;
and if any think my discourse directed too much to one useful
and honored class, and not enough to another class of workers,
the mechanics, to whom Massachusetts and New England owe
their prosperity, in no small degree, it is not because I love
Caesar loss, but Rome more. There is another reason ; a wise
farmer puts each of his acres to the production of what it is
best adapted to produce. You should do the same with your
speakers. I might not -be able to instruct the manufacturers
of Worcester West. If I should undertake, I might show
myself behind the times. They probably know foo nuich for
me. I certainly could not tickle the ears of any outsiders
from cither calling, wlio would prefer poetry to blunt prose,
and who might think hogs and horses, and fertilizers, and crops,

HOW TO BE BETTER FARMERS. 59

vulgar tilings, not to be talked about. This, moreover is tlie
farmers' day, and I believe my mission is to them.

I have spoken to you of becoming better farmers. Think me
not ignorant of the fact that you are good farmers already. I
should have learned that to-day, if I had not known it long
ago. But are you too good to become better ? I think you
will say not, for I have observed all over the country, that the
good farmers are the very ones. who desire to improve, while
the poor ones seem to think themselves good enough, and have
very little inclination to be better.

My first suggestion is, .that you should cherish a good opinion
of your emjdoyment. If a few others, not worth heeding, speak
slightly of it, it is no matter. But when farmers themselves
have their misgivings about its respectability, the effect is all
bad, for no man living can do a thing that he is half ashamed
of as well as one that he is justly proud of. Plant yourself
therefore firmly on a good opinion of your calling. Such an
opinion is no fiction ; it is a verity ; it will stand as long as God
gives us land, and there are heads to direct and hands to work
it. Farming well followed gives a position good enough.
From that position, your good sense will, of course, teacli you
not to look down with scorn on the man who possesses less
acres ; and by all means let your conscious worth teach you
not to look up with feelings of inferiority to the man who con-
trives to get through life with softer hands, but with no better
head or heart. Perhaps you say there is no dignity in labor.
If so, you are half right and half wrong. In unintelligent
labor there is no dignity. Tlie opinions of mankind have so
decided long ago. But intelligent labor, wisely directed, and
leading to valuable results, is honorable, is attended with true
dignity, commands and receives the respect of mankind. None
but a shallow pate can despise such labor, if he tries. We are
so constituted that it is impossible. Suppose some of you are
managing your farms wisely, and others who hear me are man-
aging the shop as wisely, working the head and working the
hand, real working men, getting a good, honest living by work,
can I think less of you than of another, who is wasting life on
what his father earned ? No, it is impossible. None but a fool
can do that, and that is the only thing which a fool can do and
a wise man cannot. And now, farmers, the sooner you cau

60 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

learn how weak, how utterly contemptible, is that clique, who
affect to despise honest toil, the better. God has placed you as
coworkers next to himself. It is yours to beautify his own
creation, to utilize his works, to convert deformity into loveli-
ness, and barrenness into fertility, to " make the desert blossom
and the hungry to be satisfied." From that exalted position,
so long as you fulfil its obligations manfully, you may look
down on Beacon Street and the Fifth Avenue, on uppertendom
generally, and the codfish aristocracy particularly, only be dis-
criminate, for there are likely people even there ; but do not
look up to any one, with other feelings than those due to
intrinsic worth. With ten acres, or a hundred, or a thousand
— a little farm or a great one — well tilled, you can well afford
to be generous in your estimation of all, but you need envy
none. I charge you, in all earnestness, maintain a high
opinion of your calling, and be satisfied with the position it
gives.

My second suggestion is, that you strive to assume the high
position which your calling is adapted to give. You choose
your religious teachers, you give them your ears every Sabbath,
and then you despise them, if they do not make themselves
worthy to be in the pulpit. You commit your legal business
to men in the legal profession, but you have no patience or
respect for them, if through ignorance or inattention your
interests suffer in their hands. You intrust life and health to
your physician, but it is solely on the ground that he knows his
duty and will do it faithfully. So you employ teachers for your
children, but you will not have a particle of respect for them,
furtlier than you see them earnestly devoted to their business,
every day making themselves worthy of the confidence you
repose in them.

Now it is true that the farmer is not charged with the spir-
itual or legal, the sanitary or educational interests of the com-
munity ; his business is more exclusively his own business; a
sort of quiet, independent business, one with which others have
less occasion to be meddling. Nevertheless, his doings do not
all terminate in himself. I pass along your roads. I see ten
farms in succession, where the houses arc neat, and all around
tliem is productive and in good taste, the acres well fenced and
teeming with crops, the stock select and in high condition, the

HOW TO BE BETTER FARMERS. 61

barns almost liable to be mistaken for clnirclies, I say these farm-
ers must be doing well for themselves. Should you not justify
me in that conclusion ? But this is uot all. They are doing
well for the country. It is such farmers as these, in conjunction
with manufacturers and mechanics of like spirit, that are to
make our country glorious, if the politicians do not spoil it.
Think of the children trained there. They can hardly help
growing in the same way.

But I come to an eleventh farm, and it is quite different.
"What a house ! What a barn ! You would not blunder in
there to worship, if you were ever so devout. What lands !
Cattle ! Fences ! Every thing ! You know just how it loaks.
Now that man is doing badly — badly for himself, badly for his
children, badly. for his neighbors, badly for the adjoining lands,
which are worth less for being so near his, badly all around.
Enough such farmers would ruin the best country that God
ever made. Wonderful, far beyond what most of us can com-
pute, is the difference between the influence on the public u^el-
fare, of a worthy and an unworthy farmer. The stranger
passing the first would say, This is a fine country, this must be
a well-governed people ; surely industry is rewarded here.
Passing by the second, he might say, A wretched country this.
What tyrant has clutched the reward of industry and left the
people to stagnate in poverty? The short sighted, aimless,
inefficient farmer, whose territory bears false witness against
the religion and government and laws of the country, is to be
pitied, is to be blamed ; but too much praise can hardly be
accredited to the farmer whose house, barn, fields, stock, every
thing, is a living testimony to the benignity of the institutions
under which we live.

These considerations should oi)erate a mighty influence upon
the cultivators of Worcester West. Your fathers were good
farmers, and you are better. There is progress. Your sons
are to be better still ; and you too, are yet to be still better ;
that, I understand, to be the meaning of your assemblage here
to-day. You come not so nnich to carry off a few dollars in
premiums, as to learn something from each other, and to form
and strengthen, that you may hereafter carry out, high resolves.
Supposing it should he admitted — as for aught I know it might
be with truth — that the farmers of this cluster of towns, con-

62 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

sidcring tlic age of the country and the original hardness of
the soil, are the best in the world ; that would not satisfy you.
You want to be going ahead, from good to better, from better
to best, and then to something beyond any thing yet existing.
Long, long will it be, before there will be no room for improve-
ment in the great and superlatively important art of beautify-
ing the earth and making it yield up its treasures to supply
farmers' wants. And I cannot but think, that if you will fully
appreciate your position as farmers, if you will realize its
responsibilities, if you will strive, by gathering information
from every possible source, to excel, and above all, if you will
educate your sons to be a little better farmers than yourselves,
provided they choose that line, for I want no compulsion in
this matter, a most important step will be gained towards con-
tinuous improvement.

A third suggestion, or rather series of brief suggestions, for
I must not trespass upon your patience, shall relate to practical
farming. On the laying out of farms and the appropriation of
each part to objects best suited to it, three things are to be con-
sidered ; appearance, convenience, productiveness. If a man
have but one idea, and that be of beauty, he may sacrifice too
much of convenience and too much of solid stability to the
gratification of the eye — place a clump of trees on arable
soil instead of using it to cover up a deformity, or condense so
many shades in close proximity with his buildings, as seriously
to injure them and the health of their inmates, or devote time
to the merely ornamental, when he should be driving at sub-
stantial productiveness.

If his one idea be of convenience, he will be likely to have a
cow' pen, a sheep pen, all sorts of pens just where they should
not be ; a building to make cider in, and another to husk corn
in ; another for fall fruit, and so on ; more buildings than you
could count, or would be willing to afflict your eyes with a
second time ; a pasture for the cows, one to wean calves in, one
for the pigs, and so of all the rest, implying more siding, roof-
ing and fencing, than the richest man in town could even dream
of being able to keep in repair. It would be a mighty con-
venient farm, but ugly enougii to give one the lock-jaw, and
absolutely incapable of cultivation, in that form, with a profit.
There are some such farms.

HOW TO KG BETTER FARMERS. 63

If his one idea was of productiveness and profit, all tliat is
ornamental and all that is comfortable might be sacrificed, and
yet tlie main object not be gained.

I am aware that the present occupant is not always responsi-
ble for all that we see in passing him. His predecessor may
have left him too many poor buildings and quite too many fall-
ing fences ; and it may be wise for him, in view of a deficient
capital and an expensive family, to be patient, and bear with
things out of joint, till better able to have them as he would.
But a man of sense and energy will not spend the whole of
life on a farm where every fence is in the wrong place, and
every building both in the wrong place and of the wrong kind.
In passing through your region, one sees veiy mucli to praise,
and cannot but lament the exceptions. You all know, I sup-
pose, that it requires but half as much lumber exposed to the
weather, to shelter your stock and crops in one large barn, as
in two or three small ones. I do not apprehend that lumber is
ever to be very scarce among you, because I am sure you will
see the importance of encouraging its growth on lands better
fitted for that than for other purposes ; and it must be admitted
that, like most of New England, you have fencing materials
that are lasting and abundant ; yet I cannot but think you will
agree with me, that fewer lots and larger, fewer fences and
better, and fewer buildings in a higli state of preservation,
woukl be an improvement upon what has been the general
practice.

A well laid out farm, with all its arrangements convenient,
every acre producing what it is best adapted to produce, is one
of the most beautiful objects in nature. To make it such, I am
well aware, is not the work of a day, nor of a year, nor per-
haps of five years, unless in the case of a retired millionaire,
who has betaken himself to spending money in farming ; yet
the farmer who has not a dollar to spend for mere fancy, may
bring it about in ten years. Let him lay his plan, if he is ou
one of these unseemly, inconvenient, unprofitably arranged
farms, of which there are yet too many. Let it be a compre-
hensive plan, reaching some way into the future, and embrac-
ing by all means the expenses of living the while. When he
alters any of the old arrangements, let it be in harmony with
the plan — a part and parcel of its execution, so that when a

64 MASSACHUSETTS AGfRICULTURE.

thing is done, it may be done well, and will not have to be
undone. He may find it best to use for a while a very
unsigiitly conglomeration of old barns, till he gets the means
for building one that will not be ashamed of itself in compari-
son with your neighbors. It may be wise to botch up the old
sheds for a few winters. He may find it necessary to endure
the ugly fences by the wayside some years before he can replace
them with walls to stand half a century. But if he does each
thing well and in conformity with a plan, to be in due time
executed in all its parts, like the builder, who lays a stone here
and another there, till the structure which had existed only in
his mind, stands forth in solid granite, the result will be the
same with him. That farm, beautiful, convenient, productive,
which had before existed only in his mind, will, by slow but
sure degrees, become a substantial reality — a fitting home for
his advancing years, a rich inheritance for his children, a mark
which he shall have made upon the world, without being the
poorer for having made it.

With regard to the appropriation of lands to this or that pro-
duct, as indicated by the nature of the soil, the climate, locality,
and markets, it woidd be presumptuous for me to undertake to
advise you. If you are as wise men as I take you to be, and
as a passing view of your premises would seem to indicate, you
have been studying that question long years ; you have not only
studied it, but you have experimented upon it ; and I suppose
you have for the best of reasons concluded that the grasses, as
produced in large pastures and small but highly fertilized mowing
lots, and then converted into dairy products and meat for the
shambles, are your main chance. For our country as a whole,
I have no doubt that Indian corn is the most important crop.
It was a beautiful conception of our own Longfellow, that
brought it from the spirit-land, in answer to the prayers, long-
ings, yearnings of his Hiawatha, for a yet unknown good to
mortals. Your soil is well adapted to this crop, so far as raising
a large quantity on a small space, is considered. The cost is
another thing, for unfortunately your soil is not as friable as it
is strong ; and although it is quite settled that you can give
great crops, yet it is not perhaps as clear that you can do it
with a profit. My own impression is, that a small breadth,
highly manured and well cultivated, giving sixty bushels of

HOW TO BE BETTER FARMERS. 65

shelled corn to the acre, as the mhiimiim return, (I mean of
course in good seasons,) is your true policy, as regards this
crop.

I would grow it thus: leaving the guanos and the super-phos-
phates, &c., alone, till it is somewhat better settled than now,
whether you can afford to pay the prices asked for them, I would
look about to see if my own farm does not afford fertilizers that
are already paid for — paid when the farm was bought. I would
see what accumulations there are in the form of half-decayed
Tegetable matter. If I could do no better, I would pounce
upon the swamp mud. For an acre of corn, I would bring out,
as early as August, if convenient, twenty loads, and dump it in a
shape to be fully penetrated by sun and rain, and easily turned
over with the plough. Occasionally, I would run the plough a
few times through it. As late as the frost would permit, I
would throw it, by means of scraper and shovel, into a high
pile, and mix intimately with it a bushel of stone lime or two
bushels of shell lime to each load. This would keep it warm
through the winter. The snows would melt upon it and keep
it moist. In the spring, I would mix with it as many loads of
strong ammoniacal manure from the barn, and a bushel of ashes,
a peck of salt, and a peck of plaster, to each load of the com-
post. About the 20th of May, or earlier if the season were for-
ward, I would harrow in twenty -five loads of this, in a warmly
fermenting state, and would put the remainder, ten loads, if the
whole should have shrunk five, into the hills, and plant imme-
diately, while it is yet warm. This I know implies considerable
labor, and labor is money with us, and I am glad it is so ; but
it will give sixty bushels of corn to the acre in a poor season,
eighty bushels in a good season, and one hundred in a very
good ; and, what is more, it will give great after crops without
further manuring.

It is now manifest that the potato disease has not yet found a
specific remedy. Should you, however, despair of the profitable
cultivation of this plant ? I think not. If you will select for it
good, sound upland, not over rich, and not filled with ammonia-
cal manures, either from the stalls or from the Chincha islands,
and if you will apply to the hill, in small quantities, a compost
of potash, lime, salt and plaster, wood ashes to supply the potash
being the principal ingredient, I believe you will succeed in

9

66 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

getting moderate crops without much disease, and that if you
plant from seed so grown for a succession of years, the ten-
dency to disease will diminish, and ore long disappear. But in
the present aspect of things, it could hardly be recommended to
plant potatoes to such an extent as to ruin one, in case of a
failure. I should fear to go largely into the business, on the
ground, that if mine turned out well, otlier people's would also,
and so the price would be down ; or if theirs failed, mine would
also, and so I should have none to sell, whatever the price
might be.

For the cultivation of root crops, I am not indiscriminately
an advocate. Our climate can never be as favorable to the tur-
nip, as that of England, and the north of Europe generally.
They are indebted to the Gulf Stream for their ability to raise
thirty, sixty and a hundred tons of turnips to the acre. The
turnip delights in a damp, cool climate. Our climate is the
reverse of theirs — has a dry atmosphere, and is subject to very
long periods of drought. Besides, we can grow a splendid crop
of corn, whenever we wish to subdue and fertilize our land for
after crops. This they cannot do. They are confined to the
turnip, as the leading, preparatory crop in their successions.
The turnip is essential to the success of English agriculture, but
is not essential to ours. Nevertheless, we can grow large crops
of roots, and with a pretty good degree of certainty, if we will
prepare our ground carefully ; and I think there are positive
reasons for going more largely, than has been usual with us,
into this kind of cultivation. Tlie roots afford a juicy, succu-
lent food for cattle, admirably adapted to keep the animal in a
healthy, growing condition ; and they are a great help to a
profitable consumption of the inferior qualities of hay, as also of
straw, corn stover, and the like ; and I believe all agree that
nothing is like them for increasing the home fertilizers. All
farmers, who have tried it faithfully, tell me tliat more stock
can be kept on a farm, if a part of it is made to grow roots.
Twenty acres of mowing land, with two acres of turnips, will carry
more stock through the winter than twenty-two acres of mowing
land. The same may be said of ruta-bagas, carrots, and other
roots of a like nature. They enable you to winter more stock,
not solely by virtue of the nutriment they contain, but because
they promote a healthy digestion, tJuis enabling the animal to

HOW TO BE BETTER FARMERS. 67

appropriate more perfectly the nutriment contained in other
food. It is on this principle, that a bushel of carrots and a
bushel of oats, are as good for a horse standing in your barn, or
at moderate work, as two bushels of oats, and not because the
carrots contain as much nutriment as -the oats, for they do not,
but they cause a more perfect appropriation of the nutritive
principles in both. It is very much so with all your cattle. If
you give them a few roots daily, they will not only devour
coarse food, which they would otherwise trample under foot,
but they will masticate it more courageously and digest it more
perfectly. The natural order is this, — more roots this fall, more
stock next winter, more manure next spring, and more crops
next summer.

Do not understand me as advocating the keeping of more
stock than you can keep well. There is no worse mistake. In
all ordinary cases, — and it would be a shame if an extraordinary-
case happened more than once to the same man, — cattle should
be fed to the full, made to mature early, and to give a quick
return. The farmer's problem is how to keep much stock, and
to keep it well.

The French have a proverb which runs something like this :
"No cattle, no agriculture; few cattle, little agriculture; many
cattle, growing agriculture." Some of their best writers lay it
down as a rule, that tlie annual production of cattle on a farm
should at least equal in value the annual production of the
fields. In this, I suppose, they would include the butter,
cheese, eggs, and other animal products. This rule, like most
others, has its exceptions, as in the case of the market gardener,
whose animal products would of course fall short of his vegeta-
ble products. We might except, also, the farmer on land
peculiarly adapted to growing the cereals, and perhaps some
others. But as a general rule, it is correct to say, that the ani-
mal should at least equal the vegetable products. Where it is
not so, the farm, in nine cases out of ten, is deteriorating, and
the farmer, in nearly every case, is becoming poorer. But you
will be the last to err on this point, and therefore I need not
dwell upon it.

But is there not a kindred point on which you may err ?
How is it with the character of your stock ? We see on these
grounds fine animals. Is it so in your barns ? I presume that

68 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

improvements are going on. But is your county, and is the old
Bay State, able to show as many animals of the most approved
breeds, as would be for the interest of her farmers ? Perhaps
so, but I must say that I doubt it. There must come a time
when there will be fine animals, and when the prices will be so
within bounds, that other than fancy farmers can afford to own
them, and I desire it to be hastened.

I would gladly have spoken on other topics, connected with
your employment, but I have detained you too long.

It remains, that I congratulate the officers and members of
your society, the farmers and the mechanics of Worcester West,
the ladies, and all who have contributed to this festival, on the
success of your exhibition.

If the ladies will tolerate a little egotism, I will tell them a
short story about myself. I once gave an address before an
agricultural society in the Green Mountain State ; and there
were so many things I wanted to say to the farmers, that I
found no time to talk to their wives and daughters. I did not
forget them — I never do such a thing as that. But seeing them
appear deeply interested in what I had said about farm matters
in general, I ventured to wind up without addressing them in
particular, and I do not know when I shall hear the last of it.

Another story for the ladies. One story, you know, is apt to
lead to another. It is very short. When I was a boy, and my
mother gave me pieces of pic, I always ate the crust first. That
was to have the best last. And now, ladies of Worcester West,
bless your hearts, for we all know that your hands have done
well. While your fathers and brothers and husbands have
achieved those wonderful improvements which we witness, on a
once hard soil, you have discharged in-door duties, not less
important, hardly less laborious, and requiring even greater
skill and patience. And here let me close, by asking of your
other halves, and of some, perhaps, anxious to become such,
whether, after all their brag, you are not the best farmers
among them ? And as farming is a sort of a company business,
not apt to succeed well under one owner, but more generally
Hmited to two, I see not but its future prospects will depend
quite as much upon the ladies' as upon the gentlemen's side of
the house.

THE FARMER'S POSITION. G9

THE FARMER'S POSITION.

From an Address before the TTorcester North Agricultural Society, Oct. 2, 1857.

BY JUSTUS TOWER.

You have come here to-day with your wives, your sons and
daughters, to celebrate this most important, interesting and
profitable anniversary.

It is but a few years since agricultural fairs became promi-
nent in most of the counties of our State, and it is safe to say,
that they have contributed more to our vigorous growth as a
community, than all the golden treasures of California. They
have awakened a spirit of inquiry in the minds of thousands of
our farmers, and great good has been the result.

But it is not enough to see superior crops of grain and veg-
etables, the noble cow, the mammoth ox, or the well-propor-
tioned steers. It is not enough to see the rich specimens of
butter and cheese, the vase of flowers, the home-made carpet,
or the bed spread, of variegated colors in squares and angles,
the handiwork of mothers and daughters. We wish to see the
face of the producer, and hear the story of his skill, that the
less fortunate among us, who are just arousing from the old
beaten paths of their fathers, may be encouraged, while they
imbibe a spirit of improvement. These are some of the fea-
tures of these gatherings, and there is great reason to hope
that they will be the means of perpetuating the progressive
spirit of agricultural improvement.

This leads me to speak of the position which the farmer
should occupy, and how he should appreciate his own calling,
as compared with the other avocations of life.

Who stands in so enviable a position as you, owners of the
soil, and producers of bread ? You feed the teeming thousands
of our poulation, you supply their most pressing wants. Agri-

70 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

culture is indeed the basis of all our material relations. Three-
fifths of the people of our country, or two million four hundred
thousand of our free male population, are engaged in tilling
the soil, and over three-fifths of the permanent wealth is in their
hands. The prosperity of the country is based upon the pros-
perity of the owners and tillers of the soil. The annual agri-
cultural products of the United States are estimated at over
one thousand millions of dollars.

It is the progress of agriculture that calls for internal im-
provements. The sons of New England farmers emigrate
West, clear up woodlands, break up extensive prairies, make
them yield golden harvests, build up villages and cities, school-
houses and churches ; and then behold in their pathway west-
ward, canals and railroads, lakes and navigable rivers, all made
subservient to the farmer's wants. Thus the products of the
West give an impulse to every eastern enterprise, and the suc-
cess or failure of the crop, is the thermometer that marks the
prosperity or adversity of individuals, communities and the
whole country.

How truly then, is agriculture the mother of all arts, the
foundation and basis of every other profession. And how
important is the position which you as farmers occupy.

The mechanic and the manufacturer are intimately connected
with the farmer. While the mechanic invents and builds
machinery and implements, the manufacturer works the fabric
which the farmer produces into a form in wiiich it will best
supply the comforts and the luxuries of civilized life.

Through the genius and skill of the mechanic, a grand revo-
lution has been wrought in the implements of agriculture,
during the last thirty years, and comparing our present facili-
ties for cultivating the soil and for manufacturing, with what
they were formerly, it is estimated that five-sixths of the manual
labor is saved in producing the same results.

If we compare the old iron share and wooden mould-board
plough in use in the days of our fathers, with the almost perfect
forms of this most important implement now in use, we can
hardly suppress our surprise at the progress made in this respect.
And so with the harrow, the cultivator, the horse-rake, and the
mowing and reaping machines. A man standing on an emi-
nence in Rock county, Wisconsin, counted on the surrounding

THE FARMER'S POSITION. 71

prairie, covered with wheat, no less tliaii one hundred and sixty-
four horse-power reaping machines, and one thousand men,
women and children following after, gathering and hinding in
sheaves, at the rate of two hundred acres per hour.

On one farm in Illinois grew one thousand acres of wheat,
and hy the aid of twelve reaping machines it was all stacked up
in five days.

With the old method of cutting hy hand, it would have
required an army of one hundred men for cradling it in the same
time, and with the sickle it would have taken five hundred men.
Thus we see the incalculahle value of labor-saving implements
and machinery to the agricultural interest.

Nor is this all the mechanic has done. Our manufacturing
establishments are among the wonders of the age, and exemplify
the power of mind in adding wealth to our country.

See, too, the railroad, the steamboat and the telegraph, as it
heralds with lightning speed tlie news from city to city and
continent to continent, all round the known world. Surely
the ingenious mechanic is a benefactor of mankind. In every
department of art, our prosperity is the result of labor and skill
which are alike honorable and sure of their reward.

The idea prevails among our farmers that this rural life is
one of drudgery, attended with toil and weariness. This may
be the case with a certain class of farmers, who are never ready
to do their work in season, and who, in consequence, can never
do it well. But it is not necessarily so. The thriving farmer
is more independent than a thriving man in any other profes-
sion. I would not admit a single exception. He who is already
rich is independent so far as money can make him, but the
owner of a good farm, well stocked, is rich in the true sense of
the word. Nature's true nobleman, independent almost beyond
a contingency. His stock is a living reality.

There is often a great mistake in the choice of a profession
for our sons. The fault not unfrequently lies at the very door
of the farmer himself, who is too apt to look upon farming as
the least desirable of any occupation. In consequence of this
distaste on the part of farmers, their sons very naturally come
to dislike, or to cherish even a disgust for it.

The other professions are honorable, and indeed indispensa-
ble to the good of society. The preacher, " the messenger of

72 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

peace and good will to men," the physician, the lawyer, act
their part and fulfd the most important duties ; and in the pro-
fessions men rise to great eminence and usefulness, and we
admire them for their learning and skill. But comparatively
few rise to eminence in these professions, and they are all more
or less crowded, especially those of law and medicine, where the
inducements are so small, and the chances of success so uncer-
tain, that it would be well for young men to stop and consider
before they decide.

The greater rush of our young men is to a commercial life,
and in this there is the greatest danger, the most shipwrecks of
character and of fortune. With a superficial education, young
men enter our cities with high hopes of success. But what are
the facts ? Our cities are already overrun with the young
from the country, mostly farmer's sons. They enter the retail-
ing or jobbing stores on small salaries, expecting some day to
become princely merchants.

It will cost as much to educate a young man in a good jobbing
store in the city, as to carry him prudently through college.
Scenes of vice are constantly before the one and not before the
other. Many are easily led astray, and the good habits learned
at home are lost, while but few comparatively ever rise above
the position of clerks, and what happens to those who do ?

It has been ascertained to a certainty that of those who enter
upon a commercial life, from ninety to ninety-five out of every
hundred fail in business, while of those who become farmers,
only about four in every hundred fail to succeed.

And why is this ? In the first place, extravagant notions are
entertained in the city. Men commence business with too small
a capital, to sustain them, with high rents, a large retinue of
clerks who sell, perhaps, without proper discrimination, and
are very soon obliged to stop, bringing distress and disappoint-
ment upon themselves and others.

How different is the life of the farmer. What he produces
will always bring money. He has no inducements to wild
speculation, and he is free from the harrowing perjAcxities of
commercial life.

The agricultural interest is paramount to all others, and the
time has come when the State, and the whole country should
manifest an interest in the promotion of agricultural science.

THE FARMER'S POSITION. 73

But in point of fact there is no part of all our national interests
to which congress has shown less favor than to the advancement
of agriculture and the arts of peace. A large proportion of
the lands in the older States are worn out and comparatively
unproductive. Our pastures, our meadows and tillage lands
do not produce, on an average, more than one-half of what
they are capable. What are the causes of this reduction in
the fertility of our soils, and what is the remedy ?

There has been a general indifference to the true interests of
agriculture by those even who are making money at the expense
of their farms, and investing it in banks and railroads, instead of
in improvements on their lands. And then the western lands are
so cheap and so accessible, that our young men emigrate instead
of improving the old homestead, while most who do remain,
own too much land to till well, and instead of dividing with a
son, are inclined to buy out a neighbor who is willing to sell ;
and the result is, that the whole is sure to be miserably tilled.
Again, men sometimes get tired of farming because poor farm-
ing won't pay. They rent their farms, and ask so high a rent
that the tenant is under the necessity of skiiniing the farm to
pay his rent, and even then comes off with the skin of his teeth.
The want of capital properly expended on the farm in buildings
and fences, and in the purchase of fertilizers, is another cause
of the neglect of many of our farms. But perhaps the most
prominent of all, is the want of proper encouragement on the
part of farmers themselves to induce their sons to settle around
them and become thorough and systematic farmers.

We have, however, many noble exceptions, and during the
last twenty years great advancement has been made towards a
better state of things ; and this leads me to remark that the
first and surest mode to remedy the condition of things alluded
to above, is to diffuse a more thorough knowledge of the science
and improved practices of agriculture.

In all other professions, when men are poorly qualified or
unskilful, we condemn them and call them quacks, unfit to be
patronized. There are more quacks in farming than in all the
other professions put together, since too many are unwilling to
change the old methods of farming. They are groping, as it
were, in the dark, without an effort to advance to a higher stand-

10

74 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

ard of culture. My idea of a great, good and happy man, is
that of a thoroughly educated and accomplished farmer.

The hope of progress in agriculture must rest upon the devel-
opment of its science. Here is a wide and noble field of inves-
tigation for the young, and how few have devoted themselves to
it. Take, for instance, the blights and diseases of vegetation,
and if you have a taste for researches of this kind, the farmer
has much for you to do ; for if you could discover a remedy
against the weavil or the fly which infests the wheat crop, you
could save millions of bushels of wheat every year, and thus be
a benefactor of mankind ; or could you discover a remedy for
the disease of the potato, your name would be immortalized.
Come, then, to the rescue, and be assured that he who makes
two blades of grass grow where one grew before, without
impoverishing the soil, will have lived to some purpose.

THE FARMER MUST KNOW. 75

FARMING IN SOME OF ITS INTELLECTUAL
ASPECTS.

From an Address before the Norfolk Agricultural Society, Sept. 30, 1857.

BY ALVAN LAMSON.

I wish to say something of agricultural life in some of its
intellectual aspects, — in other words, of reading and intellectual
culture in the farmer. Do not misapprehend me. I am not
going to insist that the farmer should be a man of many books,
or engage in any abstruse studies, — that he should lose himself
in the fog of metaphysics, — that he should become an adept in
chemical or botanical science or geology, or be what is called
literary. He has something else and something better to do
than that, for he is eminently a doer. But a certain kind and
amount of intellectual culture, you will agree with me in say-
ing, he should possess, both for the pleasures and profit of
knowledge.

Intellectual culture and reading — what, we may imagine
some yet Ihigering specimen of the dark ages to ask, has the
farmer to do with these — admitting that he has opportunity and
time for them, which to a certain extent he has, in these days
of books and libraries ? How will the^ benefit him ? In many
ways. First, they will turn to account in his own occupation
or art — in the greater productiveness of his labors, in better
fruitage and more abundant harvests. Is there any doubt of
this ? As a general fact, may I not assert without fear of con-
tradiction, that intelligent labor is more effective, accomplishes
more, and is in every way attended with better results than
unintelligent ? I might take as an illustration, factory labor.
If I am wrong, there are those here who can set me right ; but
I believe that I am authorized to assert that mind is not wholly

76 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

without its use among the spindles even — that the best edu-
cated hands, other things being equal, are always preferred, and
command the highest wages. And so it is in all the mechanical
occupations. The reasons are obvious. A person accustomed
to observe and think, to note facts and draw inferences, to con-
duct processes of reflection, accustomed not only to work, but
to work understandingly, being acquainted not simply with the
practical manipulations of his art, but with the prijiciples and
reasons of them, is of necessity more fertile in resources, is
more to be relied on in critical emergencies, and more likely to
hit upon improvements, and produce a work of finished excel-
lence, than one who has never been taught to exercise his
reasoning powers, and has barely knowledge enough to unite a
broken thread, or load a gravel cart.

Intellect and intelligence are inventive. They devise new
modes and suggest new applications of known principles.
They turn to use the knowledge that exists in the world ; the
accumulation of past centuries of labor and thought. They
profit by recorded failure and success, for both arc alike
instructive. They do not repeat blunders. They do not
attempt what carefully conducted experiment has demonstrated
to be impracticable. They welcome each new discovery, and
avail themselves of its aid. Ignorance always labors at disad-
vantage from not knowing what others have attempted, with or
without a happy result, and from not exercising the reasoning
and reflective powers. It is thus subjected to profitless lal)ors,
from which intelligence and thought are saved. What wonders
has labor-saving machinery alone accomplished for the benefit
and elevation of man, the alleviation of his sufferings, and
augmentation of his comforts in modern days. Intelligence
avails itself of its use, when practicable, and finds its reward.
Ignorance plods in the old paths, and is left behind iii tlie race.
It cannot compete successfully with intelligence. That this is
so in manufacturing, commercial and mechanical occupations,
every one knows. There are exceptions, but this is the law.
Is not the same true in agriculture ? As with success in war
in modern times, knowledge and skill have more to do than
mere muscular power, so it is, is it not, with the art exercised
by the peaceful farmer, as well as with those exercised by the
" lords of the spindle and the loom," the artisan and the

THE FARMER MUST KNOW. 7T

mechanic ? Will intelligence here not help a man ? Will it
save him from no vain labors, no harrassing disappointments ?
Has not the intelligent farmer the same advantage over the
unintelligent as the intelligent manufacturer, merchant or
mechanic over an ignorant competitor? Has he no need of
shrewdness, no need of knowledge so useful to others ? The
nature and succession of crops, modes of culture, methods of
increasing the productiveness of the earth ; what is adapted to
this situation and soil, and what to that ; climate, the markets,
has intelligence, calculation, knowledge, nothing to do with
these? It has much, I should think. He who avails himself
of the latest lights, discoveries and improvements, is in a bet-
ter condition to succeed than one who is ignorant of them.
What a difference in travel between the old lumbering method
of stage-coaching and the present railway speed, comfort and
ease. Is there not a similar difference in other things, between
the old and the new ? To maintain his relative position and
succeed, a man, in these days, must know. The farmer must
know. It has been said, that now, " bayonets think." So we
may say, the hoe and the spade must think. Labor must
know.

In some particulars, the old Roman agriculture has not been
surpassed, if it has been equalled, by any efforts of modern
times ; and the reason assigned is, " because the greatest and
wisest men among the Romans applied themselves to the study
and practice of it." Pliny, alluding to the abundance of corn
in Rome in ancient times, asks : " What was the cause of this
fruitfulness ? Was it because, in those times, the lands were
cultivated by the hands even of generals ; the earth, as it is
natural to suppose, delighting to be ploughed with a share
adorned with laurels, and by a ploughman who had been
honored with a triumph ? Or, was it because these men
ploughed their fields with the same diligence that they pitched
their camps, and secured their corn with the same care that
they formed their armies for battle?" This was intelligent,
careful and loving labor, and the ever grateful earth responded
by pouring forth her rich treasures into its lap.

But I am not content with the general proposition that intel-
ligent is superior to unintelligent labor, true as it is. There is
at the present day, — most of it of recent origin, — what may be

78 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

called an agricultural literature, embracing not simply the
results of scientific research and analysis, by such men as Sir
Humphrey Davy, Liebig, Johnston and others, great benefac-
tors to the cause of agriculture, but the teachings of experi-
ence also, for the benefit of those who have no reverence for the
demonstrations of science, believing them to be all moonshine, —
of no more worth than a fog-bank for anchorage. We have in
the Transactions and reports of societies and boards of agricul-
ture, and the various agricultural journals, some of them very
carefully edited, a sort of history of what is doing, and wliat
has been done, to subdue wild nature and turn the earth into a
garden. These alone furnish to the farmer much useful read-
ing, which, besides its direct effect on practice, will serve to
stimulate the mind, and help those who labor to labor in a hope-
ful, trusting spirit, which, next to intelligence, is what is most
needed — labor in a trusting, hopeful spirit.

The friends of agriculture have been sometimes ready to
despond, in view of the slow progress of the art of cultivating
the soil, and the difficulty of introducing new ideas and new
modes of culture ; practical agriculturists, as a body, being, it
is asserted, "more opposed to change than any other large
class of the community." And yet the history of agriculture,
for the last half or three-quarters of a century, will show great
and substantial progress. If it be true, that men have been
slow to adopt changes in modes of tillage and articles of food,
it is equally true that perseverance has in the end conquered.
I will take an illustration from the history of that common
vegetable, the potato, for the time blighted, but not lost, Tliis,
as all know, is indigenous to the western continent, and I will
allude to the difficulty of its introduction into Europe as an
article of food for man, simply for the purpose of showing how
much may be accomplished by earnest and patient effort. It
has been supposed, erroneously, I believe, that Sir Walter
Raleigh first carried this vegetable from Virginia to Europe,
about the end of the sixteenth century. It is a native, how-
ever, of Soutli America, and was earlier known to the Spaniards,
who were probably its first importers into the old world. It
met vwith a various reception in different parts of Europe. As
early as 1587 potatoes were common in Italy, where they were
used as food for cattle. The natives of the " Green Isle,"

THE FARMER MUST KNOW. 79

however, were among the first, it would seem, to give them a
hearty welcome, and hence at an early period we find them
called " Irish potatoes." France began by proscribing them.
In Burgundy, they were denounced for their supposed tendency
to produce " leprosy." It required two centuries to overcome
"puerile prejudices" against them. The "old physicians,"
from time to time, reiterated their charges against tliem.
Dismissing the accusation that leprosy came from the use of
them — facts proving its absurdity — they still persisted in assert-
ing that they were prejudicial to health. They produced
" fevers," it was said. The epidemics caused by famhie were
attributed to the use of potatoes. But there came a man of
science, and a philanthropist, M. Parmentier, by name, who
had learned their value in the prisons of Germany, where he
frequently had no other food, who, encouraged by government,
made a chemical examination of the tuber, and showed that
none of its component parts were injurious. Not succeeding in
overcoming the prejudice in this way, he resorted to a sort of
finesse to accomplish his object. " To induce the common peo-
ple to take a liking to potatoes," says Cuvier, in his eulogy^
pronounced before the French Institute, in 1815, "he cultivated
them in spots which were much frequented, causing them to be
guarded with great care during the day only ; and was well
pleased, if he thus induced people to steal them by night. He
could have wished that the king miglit, as is related of the
emperors of China, have turned the first furrow of his field.
His majesty deigned, at least, to wear, in full court, in the day
of a solemn fete, a bouquet of potato blossoms in his button
hole." This, of course, succeeded. The nobility from that
time began to plant potatoes. The philosopher, M. Parmentier,
declares that he himself once " gave a dinner consisting only of
potatoes, with twenty different sauces, and at which the appe-
tite did not repine." He labored forty years, in every possible
way, to overcome the prejudice against their use. So bitter
was the feeling awakened against him on this account, that
when, during a certain period of the Revolution, he was pro-
posed for some municipal office, one of the voters opposed the
choice with violence, assigning as a reason : " He will make us
eat nothing but potatoes ; it is he who invented them." Before
his death, however, he was able to exclaim : " The potato has

80 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

now none but friends." Singular enougli, it has been made a
question, in recent days, whether the introduction of the potato
into Europe has been, on the whole, a blessing or a curse. The
late famine in Ireland has been attributed, by certain writers,
to the abandonment of the cereal grains for the culture of the
potato. Take, on the other side, the language of the author I
have just quoted, M. Cuvier: "Is it not evident to all the
world that the perseverance with which the propagation of the
potato was urged [in France], has fertilized and rendered hab-
itable entire districts formerly barren, and has saved us from
the horrors of famine twice within twenty years ? "

It is a note-worthy fact that a similar, though not equally
violent opposition, has been made to the use of our " great
indigenous cereal^'' Indian corn, in Europe, this being pro-
nounced not unhealthy, but only not eatable. The other of the
three great gifts of the new to the old world was, so far as I
know, accepted without opposition, the flavor of the turkey
being regarded as something more than an American notion.
But Indian corn the Irish could not, without great difficulty, be
induced to use during the famine. Some of the central
governments of the continent, convinced of its value as an
article of food, have labored to persuade the people that it may
be made palatable. A portion of their experiments are not a
little amusing, and the Prussian report pronounces that " bread
similar to the American would not be to the taste of our public."
They prefer rye and potatoes, the food of the common people of
Germany. Efforts to render Indian corn acceptable, however,
are not abandoned. No doubt they will succeed in the end, and
the more northerly countries of Europe, where this cereal will
not ripen, will, at a future period, open a rich market for the
superfluous produce of the great corn-growing regions of the
United States. History teaches lessons of encouragement.
Difficulties, as we see, are one after another overcome. Ideas,
seemingly at first totally irreconcilable with the prevailing and
household usages of a people, come at length to be hospitably
entertained, and progress is made. There is progress ever.

Before an audience like that which at present surrounds me,
I need not speak of the improvements in agriculture among
ourselves, including labor-saving implements, modes of tillage,
stock and crops, which the last half century has witnessed.

THE FARMER MUST KNOW. 81

They arc patent to every eye which can look back fifty years, or
which has access to the agricultural literature of the period.
Despair of progress is a phrase which should not be found in
the dictionary of the farmer. Every tree, leaf, shrub and flower,
and all experience of the past, read him a homily on hope, if he
will listen to it.

The old Agricultural Society of Massachusetts, the oldest
State society of this kind among us, and second in time only to
the Philadelphia Society, was incorporated in 1792, under the
name of the " Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture."
When I look into the publications of that society, among the
members of which I read the names of the greatest and wisest
men of the day in our Commonwealth, — when I learn the diffi-
culties contended against, the ignorance and prejudices which
were to be combatted, — when I consider how much they really
performed, — when I compare the agriculture of their day with
that of our own, various emotions fill my breast. I am impressed
with the sterling merit of the men and the worth of their
contributions to the cause of American agriculture. I am
impressed, too, with the changes which fifty years have brought
with them, and with the value of our agricultural literature,
scanty as it is. Above all, I am impressed with tli^ grand
motives to labor and perseverance in this great cause. I read
on every page of those publications lessons of encouragement
and hope. When I reflect on the lights which science has since
set up to conduct the practical agriculturist on his way, I feel
that it would be dishonorable in us to sit doAvn in sluggish
content, breathing no prayer and putting forth no hand for the
furtherance of a work so intimately connected with the earthly
well-being and happiness of man. The cause of agriculture is
eminently the cause of humanity. Seven-eighths of the popu-
lation of most civilized nations, it is computed, are engaged in
it, and it mainly feeds the inhabitants of the globe, estimated at
more than a thousand and fifty millions.*

I have spoken of an acquaintance with books, and especially
with the history and science of agriculture, as affording aid and
encouragement to the farmer in his own chosen field of labor.
I must now allude briefly to some other benefits of intellectual

* 1,050,139,403.
11

82 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

culture and reading in the farmer. Whether or not they increase
his harvests, they add dignity and worth to his cliaracter.
Connected with moral elevation, — right principle, honor, integ-
rity, they crown a country life, and render the cultivator of the
soil one of the real lords of the earth, — not the slave of toil, but
a ruler, fulfilling the original command to " subdue " and " have
dominion."

These qualities it is, — qualities strictly personal, not any
outside show — a kid glove or French boot, — which make a
man, a free, independent, thinking man, a man who is some-
thing in and of himself, — something he can himself respect, and
which commands respect from others. A man of simple tastes
and habits, your good and well-educated farmer will be — this
is to his praise. No enemy to the exercise of a little plain,
round-about common sense in any and every thing, — one who
has some steadiness and balance of mind, — who is not dazzled
by the glare of false rhetoric, — not to be led astray by " sounding
brass," he is too much a man of realities, too much accustomed
to deal with sturdy facts for that, — not a man to be conducted
blindfold by empty theorists, — not a slave to the frivolities of
fashion, — not a changeling, — he must see a reason for what he
does, — -^ee firm footing on the solid earth. He is a working
man, but not a mere instrument — a piece of mechanism ; he is
intelligent, he observes, he reasons, his head is not idle or
unfurnished ; all his faculties are brought into sound and
healthful exercise. He is no puny sentimentalist ; he is a man
of robust principles, and throughout practical ; he has faith in
well-doing as well as in well-being, — is a believer in God, in
truth, in honor and right, a lover of order, a friend to his
country, and a friend to humanity. In one marked by such
qualities, we recognize the true type of a man, — dignity and
elevation of soul. It matters not what is his external position,
or what his occupation is; he may be a tiller of the soil or
any thing else, — he is still one of God's noblemen. Pic is not a
mere conventional man, — he is a man in his own and nature's
right, not an imitation of humanity, but the embodiment of
humanity itself.

" He walks in fjlory and in joy,
Following bis plough along the mountain side."

THE FARMER MUST KNOW. 88

Do I exaggerate ? Am I uttering words of mere rhetoric ?
The final purpose of all tlic arrangements of Providence in this
lower world, as I conceive, is to perfect man himself. It is not
merely to multiply the comforts of his physical condition, — to
call fortli material beauty and fragrance, — to adorn tlie earth.
but to elevate man as man, — to develop his nobler faculties, his
intellect, his affections, his tastes, his capacity for the enjoyments
of a nature formed but a " little lower than the angels." This
is the purpose of all. In the shop of the artisan, the great
marts of trade, and on the farm, man is to educate himself, —
his reason, his human sensibilities, his reverence for truth and
right — and this is the noblest husbandry — this work, the crown-
ing work, — not incompatible, I contend, with labor of the hands,
but of which well-organized and well-directed, intelligent and
free labor is one of the heavenly ordained instrumentalities.

The elevating influence of knowledge and intellectual culture
is not all. They enhance the enjoyments of life, especially
among an agricultural population, because they teach one to
read and interpret nature, — prepare him to observe and think ;
and so many-sided is nature, — so marvellous, if one will look
beneath the surface, — so full of mystery, so wonderful are the
phenomena which, in the country, daily fall under the eye,
connected with the processes of animal and vegetable life, growth
and decay, the expansion of the flower and ripening of the fruit,
with the vicissitudes of the seasons, — budding spring and myriad-
tinted autumn, with the rising and setting sun, with air, and
clouds, and dew, with light and shade, varying with the varying
hours, that materials for a jdcasing occupation of the thoughts
can never be wanting, if only the powers of observation and
reflection have been once awakened. Nowhere and in no situ-
ation will a cultivated intellect contribute more, in Lord Bacon's
phrase, to the "relief of man's estate," or more enlarge the
sphere of sober, calm delights. The country is barren of pleas-
ures to those who bring to it barrenness of thought, and to such
only. Take the single faculty of observation, attention, — how
much depends on that ! People engaged in rural occupations
have been charged with insensibility to the charms of nature.
They move on, it is said with a dull eye. The loveliest spot is,
to them but common earth, valued for its productiveness only.
Amid the most beautiful creations of the Almighty's hand they

84 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

are conscious, it is asserted, of no kindling emotion, — no admir-
ing thoughts.

The charge is probably exaggerated. I hope it is. But
whatever insensibility of this sort exists, it is to be attributed,
due allowance being made for the effect of familiarity, to want
of intellectual culture, especially culture of the two faculties of
observation and reflection. The habit of observation lies at the
foundation of the pleasures of a country life, as in fact, of
im])rovemcnt of every kind. Yet in nothing do persons more
differ than in the degree of activity of this faculty. There are
those who never observe accurately, — never see, unless a penny
is to be turned, — and whose minds are never, therefore, open to
the sweet influences of nature. The sun rises and sets, lights
and shadows vary and blend to infmitude almost, the green
earth smiles, the clouds assume their gorgeous forms and hues,
the seasons fill their circle, and processes full of marvels are
incessantly going on, but it is all the same with the unobservant
mind. There is no enjoyment of nature, because the faculty of
attention has never been awakened ; the habit of observation
has never been formed. This must be cultivated, and reflection
will follow, and where these exist the farmer's life can never be
barren of pleasures. He can never want occupation for his
thoughts ; phenomena, which are perpetually taking place within
range of his vision, will stimulate his curiosity ; the pleasures
of taste will be his, and the delights of knowledge will kindle
in his eye. Intellectual will blend with moral and religious
pleasures, for nature, to the seeing eye and thinking mind, is
full of God.

There is nothing, — not the simplest and most familiar of
nature's processes, which, to the full mind, is incapable of afford-
ing pleasure, if a little attention and thought are bestowed
upon it. Take as an illustration the fall of the dew. What
sweet images are connected with it in the poetry of all nations, —
in sacred and common literature ! And how beautiful is the
provision made for its descent, and its deposit Avhere most
needed ! Do you say that it lights on the barren as readily as
on the fertile spot, — on particles of sterile sand as abundantly
as on the green earth and tlie drooping leaf? No, it does not.
A more beneficent law is concerned in its formation. As the
air cools off in the absence of the sun, a portion of the watery

THE FARMER MUST KNOW. 85

vapor it has liitlierto held suspended, " descends in particles
almost infinitely minute," collecting on " every leaflet," and
susj)onding themselves from every blade of grass in " drops of
pearly dew." But " mark," says a scientific writer, " the adap-
tation. . Different substances are endowed with the property of
radiating their heat, and of becoming cool with different degrees
of rapitlity, and those sul)stances which in the air become cool
first, also attract first and most abundantly the particles of
falling dew. Thus in the cool of a summer's evening, the grass
plot is wet, while the gravel walk is dry ; and the thirsty pas-
tures and every green leaf are drinking in the descending
moisture, while the naked land and the barren highway are still
unconscious of its fall." Tliis is only one of the thousand
illustrations which might be offered of the pleasures with which
knowledge and an awakened curiosity reward those who live in
daily communion with nature and her phenomena, — ever old,
yet ever fresh and new.

So homely a process as digging a ditch for drainage or fuel,
may furnish matter of very profound thought. Tlie other day
there were thrown up in Charles River meadows perfect cones of
the fir or spruce, many feet below the surface, which may have
lain there thousands of years, and probably had, — from the
time of Abraham perhaps, or before. Above, inviting the eye,
was the delicate flower of the arrow head. Here they were the
modest white flower blooming above, and the buried relics of
the old forests lying beneath, witnesses of the silent revolutions
which time effects, while human generations and tribes appear
and vanish, and of their labors not a vestige remains. How
little is man in the presence of God, with whom " one day is as
a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day ! "

To confine ourselves to the surface of the earth, the history
of the grasses, and especially our native grasses, presents some
curious phenomena. Jared Eliot, in his " Essays on Field Hus-
bandry," published in 1747, republished in the Massachusetts
Agricultural Journal in 1811, speaks of a grass with an " odd
name," as he expresses it, — " Fowl Meadow Grass," — in con-
nection with Dedham. The name undoubtedly originated here.
Such has been the constant tradition of the place. I will add
two historical references, which I do not find in any of the recent
notices of this grass which have fallen under my eye. Hutch-

86 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

insoii, ill his History of Massachusetts, piihlishcd in 17G0, says:
"There is a tradition tliat the grass called fowl meadow grass,
which is superior to any other grass of the fresh water meadows?
was first brought to the meadows in Dcdliam by a large flight of
wild fowls, and that from thence the grass, and the meadows
where it was first discovered, and from whence it has been
communicated to many parts of the country, took their names."
Vol. 1, p. 425. Dr. Nathaniel Ames, Sen., the celebrated
almanac maker, father of Fisher Ames, in his Almanac for 1764,
adds the date, — not very precise, however, — of the supposed
introduction of the grass here. He says : " The famous fowl
meadow grass was brought into a spacious meadow on Neponset
River, by the wild fowl which frequent that place, where it first
made its appearance about fifty years ago," that is, about the
beginning of the last century. " The seed is now collected,"
he adds, " and carried into various parts of the country."

In a multitude of ways intelligence adds greatly to the satis-
faction of country labor ; it ligiitens its burdens, relieves its
tediousness, and renders it not more, but less distasteful."
William Howitt, in his book on " The Rural Life of England,"
reports the following reply of a " farming man," of some
intellectual culture, to the question, " whether reading did not
render him less satisfied with his daily work." " Before he read,"
he says, " his work was weary to him ; for in solitary fields, an
empty head measured the time out tediously to double its
length ; but now, no place was so sweet as the solitary fields ; he
had always something pleasant floating across his mind ; and
the labor was delightful and the day only too short." He
subsequently adds : " The study of nature is not only the most
delightful, but the most elevating. This will be true in every
station of life. But how much more ought the poor man to
prize this study ! which, if prized and pursued as it ought, will
enable him to bear with patient resignation and cheefulness, the
lot by Providence assigned to him. 0, sir, I pity the working
man who possesses not a taste for reading, which will enable him,
while he participates in intellectual enjoyment, to prize, as he
ought, his character as a man in every relative duty of life."

I have thus spoken, not as I would, but as I could, within
the limits I have prescribed to myself in this address, of the
advantages of reading and intellectual culture in a farming

THE FARMER MUST KNOW. 87

population. I have said that the Labor attended with the
best results is intelligent labor, — that what may be called an
agricultural literature embodying scientific principles and their
application, facts and experiments, success and failure, — what
has been attempted and what accomplished, will in different
ways be turned to account, guiding, aiding, stimulating, inspir-
ing courage and hope. I have spoken of education and
knowledge not only as dignifying labor, but as promoting true
manliness and elevation of character, — and lastly, of their
influence in enhancing the pleasures of a country life, teaching
habits of observation and thought, which will render communion
with nature, in her daily processes and phenomena, a source of
ever varying and fresh delight. Much more might be said, but
I forbear.

::i_-All honor to labor ! Honor to him who, in patience and a
trusting spirit, performs his allotted work, and improves in it,
doing better to-day than he did yesterday, finishing and perfect-
ing what is given him to do, and above all, perfecting himself.
To the fowls of the air and the lilies of the field only is it
appointed to sow not, nor to gather into barns, to toil not, nor
to spin ; to man is assigned great labors, but through them
dominion and a crown.

MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

SYSTEM OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

An Address before the Barnstable Agricultural Society, Oct. 8, 1857.

BY GEO. S. BOUTWELL.

Ill the month of February, 1855, a distinguished American,
who has read much, and acquired, by conversation, observation
and travels in this country and Europe, tlie liighest culture
of American society, wrote these noticeable sentences : " The
farmers have not kept pace, in intelligence, with the rest of the
community. They do not put brain manure enough into their
acres. Our style of farming is slovenly, dawdling and stupid,
and the waste, especially in manure, is immense. I suppose we
are about, in farming, where the lowlands of Scotland were
fifty years ago ; and what immense strides agriculture has made
in Great Britain since the battle of Waterloo, and how impos-
sible it would have been for the farmers to have held their own
without." *

It would not be civil for me to indorse these statements as
introductory to a brief address upon Agricultural Education ;
but I should not accept them at all did they not contain truth
enough to furnish a text for a layman's discourse before an
assembly of farmers.

Competent American travellers concur in the opinion, that
the Europeans generally, and especially our brethren of England,
Ireland and Scotland, are far in advance of us in scientific and
practical agriculture. This has been stated or admitted l)y Mr.
Column, President Hitchcock, and last by Mr. French, wlio has
recently visited Europe under the auspices of the National
Agricultural Society.

There are good reasons for the past and for the existing
superiority of the old world ; and there are good reasons, also,

*IIon. Georce S. Ilillard.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION". 89

why this superiority should not mvicli longer continue. Europe
is old, — America is young. Land has been cultivated for centu-
ries in Europe, and often by the same family ; its capacity tested,
its fitness or unfitness for particular crops proved, the local and
special effects of different fertilizers well known, and the expe-
rience of many generations has been preserved so as to be
equivalent to a like experience, in time and extent, by the
present occupants of the soil.

In America there are no family estates nor long occupation
by the same family of the same spot. Cultivated lands have
changed hands as often as every twenty-five years from the
settlement of tlie country. The capacity of our soils to pro-
duce, when laboriously and systematically cultivated, has not
been ascertained ; there has been no accumulation of experience
by families, and but little by the public, and the effort, in many
sections, has been to draw as much as possible from the land
while little or nothing was returned to it. Farming, as a
whole, has not been a system of cultivation, which implies
improvement, but a process of exhaustion. It has been easier
for the farmer, though perhaps not as economical if all the
elements necessary to a correct opinion could be combined, to
exchange his worn-out lauds for fresh soils, than to adopt an
improving system of agriculture. The present has been con-
sulted, the future has been disregarded. As the half-civilized
hunters of the pampas of Buenos Ayres make indiscriminate
slaughter of the myriads of wild cattle that roam over the
unfenced prairies of the south, and preserve the hides only for
the commerce and comfort of the world, so we have clutched
from nature whatever was in sight or next at hand, regardless
of the actual and ultimate wrong to physical and vegetal)le
life ; and as the pioneers of a better civilization now gather up
the bones long neglected and bleaching under tropical suns and
tropical rains, and by the agency of trade, art and induf-try,
extort more wealth from them than was originally derived from
the living animals, so we shall find that worn-out lands, wlien
subjected to sTiilful, careful, scientific husbandry, are quite as
profitable as the virgin soils, that, from the day of the migra-
tion into the Connecticut Valley to the occupancy of the Mis-
souri and the Kansas, have proved so tempting to our ancestors
and to us. But there has been some philosophy, some justice

12

90 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

and considerable necessity in the conrse tliat has been pursued.
Subsistence is the first desire ; and in new countries where
forests are to be felled, dwellings erected, public institutions
established, roads and bridges built, settlers cannot be ex-
pected, in the cultivation of the land, to look much beyond the
present moment. And they are entitled to the original
fertility of the soil. Europe passed through the process of
settlement and exhaustion many centuries ago. Her recovery
has been the work of centuries, — ours may be accomplished iu
a few years, even within the limits of a single life. The fact
from which an improving system of agriculture must proceed,
is apparent in the Northern and central Atlantic States, and is,
in a measure, appreciated in the West. We have all heard
that certain soils were inexhaustible. The statement was first
made of the valley of the Connecticut, then of the Genessee
country, then of Ohio, then of Illinois, and occasionally we
now hear similar statements of Kansas, or California, or the
valley of the Willamette. In the nature of things these state-
ments were erroneous. The idea of soil, in reason and in the
use of the word, contains the idea of exhaustion. Soil is not
merely the upper stratum of the earth ; it is a substance which
possesses the power, under certain circumstances, of giving up
essential properties of its own for the support of vegetable and
ultimately of animal life. What it gives uji it loses, and to the
extent of its loss it is exhausted. It is no more untrue to say
that the great cities of the world have not, in their building,
exhausted the forests and the mines to any extent, than to say
that the annual, abundant harvests of corn and wheat have not,
in any degree, exhausted the prairies and bottom lands of the
West. Some lands may be exhausted for particular crops in a
single year; others in five years, others in ten, while others
may yield undiminished returns for twenty, fifty, or even a
hundred years. But it is plain that annual cropping without
rotation, and without compensation by nature or art, must
finally deprive the soil of the required elements. Nor should
we deceive ourselves by considering only those exceptions whose
existence is due to the fact that nature makes compensation for
the loss. Annual or occasional irrigation with rich deposits, —
as upon the Nile and the Connecticut, — allowing the land to lie
fallow, rotation of crops and the growth of wood, are so many

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 91

expedients and provisions by which nature increases the pro-
ductiveness of the earth. Nor is a great depth of soil, as two,
five, ten or twenty feet, any s'ecurity against its ultimate impov-
erishment. Only a certain portion is available. It has been
found in the case of coal mines which lie at great depths, that
they are, for the present, valueless, and we cannot attach much
importance to soil that is twenty feet below the surface. Neither
cultivation nor vegetation can go beyond a certain depth, and
wherever vegetable life exists its elements are required and
appropriated. Great depth of soil is desirable, but with our
present knowledge and means of culture it furnishes no security
against ultimate exhaustion.

The fact that all soils are exhaustible establishes the necessity
for agricultural education, by whose aid the processes of impov-
erishment may be limited in number and diminished in force ;
and the realization of this fact by the public generally, is the
only justification necessary for those who advocate the immedi-
ate application of means to the proposed end.

And, gentlemen, if you will allow a festive day to be marred
by a single word of criticism, I feel constrained to say, that a
great obstacle to the increased usefulness, further elevation
and higher respectability of agriculture, is in the body of far-
mers themselves. And I assume this to be so upon the suppo-
sition that agriculture is not a cherished pursuit in many
farmers' homes ; that the head of tlie family often regards his
life of labor upon the land as a necessity from which he would
willingly escape ; that he esteems other pursuits as at once less
laborious, more profitable and more honorable than his own ;
that children, both sons and daughters, under the influence of
parents, both father and mother, receive an education at home,
whicli neither school, college, nor newspaper can counteract,
that leads them to abandon the land for the store, the shop, the
warehouse, the professions or the sea.

The reasonable hope of establishing a successful system of
agricultural education is not great where such notions prevail.

Agriculture is not to attain to true practical dignity by the
borrowed lustre that eminent names, ancient and modern, may
have lent to it, any more than the earth itself is warmed and
made fruitful by the aurora borealis of an autumn night. Our
system of public instruction, from the primary school to the

92 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

college, rests mainly upon the public belief in its importance,
its possibility and its necessity. It is easy on a professional
holiday to believe in the respectability of agriculture ; but is it
a living sentiment, controlling your conduct and inspiring you
with courage and faith in your daily labor ? Does it lead you
to contemplate with satisfaction the prospect that your son is to
be a farmer also, and that your daughter is to be a farmer's
wife ? These, I imagine, are test questions which not all
farmers nor farmers' wives can answer in the affirmative. Else,
why the custom among farmers' sons, of making their escape,
at the earliest moment possible, from the labors and restraints
of the farm ? Else why the disposition of the farmer's daugh-
ter to accept other situations, not more honorable, and in the
end not usually more profitable, than the place of household
aid to the business of the home ? How then can a system of
education be prosperous and efficient, when those for whom it
is designed neither respect their calling nor desire to pursue it ?
You will not, of course, imagine that I refer, in these state-
ments, to all farmers ; there are many exceptions ; but my own
experience and observation lead me to place confidence in the
fitness of these remarks, speaking generally of the farmers of
New England. It is, however, true, and the statement of the
truth ought not to be omitted, that the prevalent ideas among
us are much in advance of what they were ten years ago. Iii
what has been accomplished we have ground for hope, and even
security for further advancement.

I look, then, first and chiefly to an improved home culture,
as the necessary basis of a system of agricultural education.
Christian education, culture and life depend essentially upon
the influences of home, and we feel continually the importance
of kindred influences upon our common school system.

It will not, of course, be wise to wait in the establishment
of a system of agricultural education until we are satisfied
that every farmer is prepared for it ; in the beginning suffi-
cient support may be derived from a small number of persons ;
but in the end it must be sustained by the mass of those
interested. Other pursuits and professions must meet the
special claims made upon them, and in the matter of agricultu-
ral education, they cannot be expected to do more than assent
to what the farmers themselves may require.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 93

An important part of a system of agricultural education, has
been, as it seems to me, already established. I speak of our na-
tional, state, county and town associations for the promotion of
agriculture. The first tliree may educate the people tlirougli their
annual fairs, by tlieir publications, and by the collection and dis-
tribution of rare seeds, plants and animals that are not usually
within reach of individual farmers. By such means, and otliers
less noticeable, these agencies can exert a powerful influence
upon the farmers of the country ; but their tliorough, systematic
education must be carried on at home. And for local and
domestic education, I think we must rely upon our public
schools, upon town clubs or associations of farmers, and upon
scientific men who may be appointed by the government to visit
the towns, confer with the people, and receive and communicate ,'
information upon the agricultural resources and defects of the ;'
various localities. It will be observed that in this outline of a/
plan of education I omit the agricultural college. This omis-
sion is intentional and I will state my reasons for it. I speak,
however, of tlie present ; the time may come when sucli an
institution will be needed. In Massachusetts, Mr. Benjamin
Buzzey has made provision for a college at Roxbury, and Mr.
Oliver Smitli has made similar provision for a college at North-
ampton ; but these bequests will not be available for many
years. In England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Belgium, Prus-
sia, Russia, Austria and the, smaller states of Europe, agricul-
tural schools and colleges have been established, and tliey appear
to be the most numerous where the ignorance of the people is
the greatest. England has five colleges and schools, Ireland
sixty-three, while Scotland has only a professorship in each of
her colleges at Aberdeen and Edinburgh. In France, there are
seventy-five agricultural schools ; but in seventy of them, —
called inferior schools, — the instruction is a compound of that
given in our public schools and the discipline of a good farmer
upon his land, with some special attention to agricultural reading
and farm accounts. Such schools are not desired, and w^ould
not be patronized among iis. When an agricultural school
is established, it must be of a higher grade, — it must take rank
with the colleges of the country. President Hitchcock, in his
report, published in 1851, states that six professors would be
required, that the first outlay would be sixty-seven thousand

94 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

dollars, and that the annual expense would be six thousand and
two hundred dollars. By these arrangements and expenditures
he contemplates the education of one hundred students who
are to pay annually each for tuition the sum of forty dollars.
It was also proposed to connect an agricultural department with
several of the existing academies at an annual expense of three
thousand dollars more. These estimates of cost seem low, nor
do I find in this particular any special • objection to the recom-
mendation made by the commissioners of the government ; any
other scheme is likely to be quite as expensive in the end.

My cliief objection is, that his plan is not comprehensive
enough, and cannot, in a reasonable time, sensibly affect the
average standard of agricultural learning among us. The
graduation of fifty students a year would be equal to one in a
thousand or fifteen hundred of the farmers of the State ; and
in ten years there would not be one professionally educated
farmer in a hundred. We are not, of course, to overlook the
indirect influence of such a school, through its students annually
sent forth. The better modes of culture adopted by them would,
to some extent, be copied by others ; nor are we to overlook the
probability of a prejudice against the institution and its gradu-
ates, growing out of the republican ideas of equality prevailing
among us. But the struggle against mere prejudice would be
an honorable struggle, if, in the hour of victory, the college
could claim to have reformed and elevated materially the prac-
tices and ideas of the farmers of the country. I fear that even
victory under such circumstances would not be complete suc-
cess. An institution established in New England must look to
the existing peculiarities of our country, rather than venture at
once upon the adoption of scliemes that may have Ijeen success-
ful elsewhere. Here every farmer is a laborer himself, employ-
ing usually from one to three hands, and they are often persons
who look to the purchase and cultivation of a farm on their own
account ; while in England the master farmer is an overseer
rather than a laborer. The number of men in Europe who own
land or work it on their own account is small ; the number of
laborers, whose labors are directed by the proprietors and farm-
ers, is quite large. Under these circumstances, if the few are
educated, the work will go successfully on ; while here, our
agricultural education ought to reach the great body of those

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 95

who labor upon the land. Will a college in each State answer
the demand for agricultural education now existing ? Is it
safe in any country or in any profession or pursiiit, to educate
a few and leave the majority to the indirect influence of the
culture thus bestowed? And is it philosophical, in this country,
where there is a degree of personal and professional freedom
such as is nowhere else enjoyed, to found a college or higher
institution of learning upon the general and admitted ignorance
of the people in the given department ? or is it wiser by ele-
mentary training and the universal diffusion of better ideas, to
make the establishment of the college the necessity of the cul-
ture previously given ? Every new school, not a college, makes
the demand for the college course greater than it was before ;
and the advance made in our public schools increases the stu-
dents in the colleges and the university. We build from the
primary school to the college, and without the primary school
and its dependents, — the grammar, high school and academy, —
the colleges would cease to exist. This view of education sup-
ports the statement that an agricultural college is not the foun-
dation of a system of agricultural training, but a result that is
to be reached through a preliminary and elementary course of
instruction. What shall that course be ? I say, first, the
establishment of town or neighborhood societies of farmers and-
others interested in agriculture. These societies ought to be
auxiliary to the county societies, and they never can become
their rivals or enemies unless they are grossly perverted in their
management and purposes. As such societies must be mutual
and voluntary in tlieir character, they can be established in any
town where there are twenty, ten, or even five persons who are
disposed to unite together. Its object would, of course, be the
advancement of practical agriculture, and it would look to
theories and even to science as means only for the attainment
of a specified end. The exercises of such societies would vary
according to the tastes and plans of the members and directors ;
but they would naturally provide for discussions and conversa-
tions among themselves, lectures from competent persons, the
establishment of a library, and for the collection of models and
drawings of domestic animals, models of varieties of fruit, speci-
mens of seeds, grasses and grains, and rocks, minerals and soils.
The discussions and conversations would be based upon the

96 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

actual oV)scrvatioii and experience of the members ; and agricul-
ture would at once become better understood and more carefully
practised by each person who intended to contribute to the
exercises of the meetings.

Until the establishment of agricultural journals, there were
no means by which the results of individual experience could
be made known to the mass of farmers ; and even now, men of
the largest experience are not the chief contributors.

W herever a local club exists, it is always possible to compare
the knowledge of the different members, and the results of such
comparison may, when deemed desirable, be laid before the
public at large. It is also in the power of such an organization
thorouglily and at once to test any given experiment. The
attention of this section of the country has been directed to the
culture of the Chinese sugar cane ; and merchants, economists
and statesmen, as well as the farmers themselves, are interested
in the speedy and satisfactory solution of so important an indus-
trial problem. Had the attention of a few local societies in
different parts of New England been directed to the cul-
ture, with special reference to its feasibility and profitableness,
a definite result might have been reached the present year.
The growth of flax, both in the means of cultivation and econo-
my, is a subject of great importance. Many other crops might
also be named, concerning which opposite, not to say vague,
opinions prevail. The local societies may make these trials,
through the agency of individual members, better than they can
he made by county and state societies, and better than they can
usually be made upon model or experimental farms. It will
often happen upon experimental farms that the circumstances
do not correspond to the condition of things among the farmers.
The combined practical wisdom of such associations must be
very great ; and I have but to refer to the published minutes of
the proceedings of the Concord Club to justify this statement
in its broadest sense. The meetings of such a club have all the
characteristics of a school of the highest order. Each member
is at the same time a teacher and a pupil. The meeting is to
the farmer what the court room is to the lawyer, the hospital to
the physician, and the legislative assembly to the statesman.

Moot courts alone will not make skilful lawyers, the manikin
is but an indifferent teacher of anatomy, and we may safely say

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 97

that no statesman was ever made so by books, schools and street
discussions without actual experience in some department of
government.

It is, of course, to be expected that an agricultural college
would have the means of making experiments; but each experi-
ment could be made only under a single set of circumstances,
while the agency of local societies, in connection with other
parts of tlie plan that I have the honor diffidently to present,
would convert at once a county or a state into an experimental
farm for a given time and a given purpose. The local club
being always practical and never theoretical, dealing with things
always and never witli signs, presenting only facts and never
conjectures, would, as a school for the young farmer, be quite
equal, and in some respects siqDcrior, to any that the govern-
ment can establish. But, it may be asked, will you call that a
school which is merely an assembly of adults without a teacher?
I answer that, technically, it is not a school ; but that in reality
such an association is a school in the best use of the word.
A school is, first, for the development of powers and qualities
whose germs already exist ; then for the acquisition of knowl-
edge previously possessed by others ; then for the prosecution of
original inquiries and investigations. The associations of which
I speak would possess all these powers and contemplate all
these results ; but that their powers might be more efficient and
for the advancement of agriculture generally, it seems to me fit
and proper for the State to appoint scientific and practical men
as agents of the Board of Agriculture and lecturers upon agri-
cultural science and labor. If an agricultural college were
founded, a farm would be required, and at least six professors
Avould be necessary. Instead of a single farm, with a hundred
young men upon it, accept gratuitously, as 3^ou would no
doubt liave opportunity, the use of many farms for experiments
and repeated trials of crops, and at the same time educate, not
a hundred only, but many thousand young men, nearly as well
in theor}'- and science, and much better in practical labor, than
they could be educated in a college. Six professors, as agents,
could accomplish a large amount of necessary work ; possibly, for
the present, all that would be desired. Assume, for this inquiry,
that Massachusetts contains three hundred agricultural towns ;
divide these towns into sections of fifty each ; then assign one

13

98 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

section to each agent, with the understanding that his work for
the year is to be performed in that section, and then that he is
to be transferred to another. By a rotation of appointments
and a succession of labors, the varied attainments of tlie lec-
turers would be enjoyed by the whole Commonwealth. But, it
may be asked, what, specifically stated, shall the work of the
agents be ? Only suggestions can be offered in answer to this
inquiry. An agent might, in the summer season, visit his fifty
towns and spend two days in each. While there, he could
ascertain the kinds of crops, modes of culture, nature of soils,
practical excellences and practical defects of the farmers; and
he might also provide for such experiments as he desired to
have made. It would, likewise, be in his power to give valuable
advice, where it might be needed, in regard to farming proper,
and also to the erection and repair of farm buildings. 1 am
satisfied that a competent agent would, in this last particular
alone, save to the people a sum equal to the entire cost of his
services. After this labor was accomplished, eight months
would remain for the preparation and delivery of lectures in
the fifty towns previously visited. These lectures might be
delivered in each town, or the agent might hold meetings of the
nature of institutes in a number of towns centrally situated. In
either case, the lectures would be at once scientific and practical ;
and their practical character would be appreciated in the fact
that a judicious agent would adapt his lectures to the existing
state of things in the given locality. This could not be done by
a college, however favorably situated, and however well accom-
plished in the material of education. It is probable that the
lectures would be less scientific than those that would be given
in a college ; but when their superior practical character is con-
sidered, and when we consider also that they would be listened
to by the great body of farmers, old and yoiuig, while those of
the college could be enjoyed by a small number of youth only,
we cannot doubt which would be the most beneficial to the State
and to the cause of agriculture in the country.

An objection to the plan I have indicated, may be found in
the belief that the average education of the farmers is not equal
to a full appreciation of the topics and lectures to be presented.
My answer is, tliat the lecturers must meet the popular intelli-
gence, whatever it is. Nothing is to be assumed by the teacher ;

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 99

it is Lis first duty to ascertain the qualifications of his pupils.
I am, however, led to the opinion that the schools of the coun-
try have already laid a very good basis for practical instruction
in agriculture ; and if this be not so, then an additional argu-
ment will be offered for the most rapid advance possible in our
systems of education. In any event, it is true that the public
schools furnish a large part of the intellectual culture given in
the inferior and intermediate agricultural schools of Europe.

The great defect in the plan 1 have presented is this : That
no means are provided for the thorough education needed by
those persons who are to be appointed agents, and no provision
is made for testing the qualities of soils and the elements of
grains, grasses and fruits. My answer to this suggestion is,
that it is in part, at least, well-founded ; but that the scientific
schools furnish a course of study in the natural sciences which
must be satisfactory to the best educated farmer or professor of
agricultural learning, and that analyses may be made in the
laboratories of existing institutions.

It is my fortune to be able to read a letter from Prof. Hors-
ford, which furnishes a satisfactory view of the ability of the
Scientific School at Cambridge.

Cambridge, Sept, 19, 1857.

My Dear Sir : — The occupation incident to' the opening of the
term has prevented an earlier answer to your letter of inquiry in
regard to the Scientific School,

The Scientific School furiiishes, I believe, the necessary scientific
knowledge for students of agriculture, (such as you mention,) " who
have been well educated at our high schools, academies or colleges,
and have also been trained practically in the business of farming."
It provides : —

1st. Practical instruction in the modes of experimental investiga-
tion. This is, I know, an unrecognized department, but it is perhaps
the better suited name to the course of instruction of our chemical
department. It qualifies the student for the most direct methods of
solving the practical problems which are constantly arising in practi-
cal agriculture. It includes the analysis of soils, the manufacture and
testing of manures, the philosophy of improved methods of culture,
of rotation of crops, of dairy production, of preserving fruits, meats,
(Sic. It applies more or less directly to the whole subject of mechani-
cal expedients.

100 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

2cl. Practical instruction in survcj'ing, mensuration and drawing.

3d. And by lectures— in botany, geology, zoology, comparative
anatomy and natural philosophy.

Some of them, — indeed all of them, if desired, — might be pursued
practically, and with the use of apparatus and specimens.

This course contemplates a period of study of from one year to two
and a half years, according to the qualification of the piipil at the out-
set. He appears an hour each day at the blackboard, where he shares
the drill of a class, and where he acquires a facility of illustration,
command of language, an address and thorough consciousness of real
knowledge, which are of more value, in many cases, as you know,
than almost any amount of simple acquisition. He also attends on
an average about one lecture a day throughout the year. During the
remaining time he is occupied with experimental work in the labora-
tory or field.

The great difficulty with students of agriculture, who might care to
come to the Scientific School, is the expense of living in Cambridge.
If some farmer at a distance of three or four miles from college,
where rents for rooms are low, would open a boarding house for
students of agriculture in the Scientific School, where the care of a
kitchen garden and some stock might be intrusted to them, and where
a farmer's plain table might be spread at the price at which laborers
would be received, we might hope that our facilities would be taken
advantage of on a larger scale. As it is, but few, comparatively,
among our students, come to qualify themselves for farming.

I am, very truly yours,

E. N. HOBSFOKD.

Hon. Geo. S. Bouiwell.

I should, however, consider the arrangements proposed as
temporary, and finally to be abandoned or made permanent, as
experience should dictate.

It may be said, I think, without disparagement to the many
distinguished and disinterested men who have labored for the
advancement of agriculture, that the operations of the govern-
ment and of the state and county societies have no. plan or
system by vvhich as a Avhole thoy are guided. The county
societies have been and are the chief means of influence and
progress ; biit they have no power which can bo systematically
applied ; their movements are variable, and their annual exhi-
bitions do not always indicate the condition of agriculture in
the districts represented. They have become, to a certain

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 101

extent, localized in the vicinity of the towns where the fairs are
held ; and yet they do not possess the vigor which institutions
positively local would enjoy.

The town clubs hold annual fairs ; and these fairs should be
made tributary, in their products and in the interest they excite,
to the county fairs. Let the town fairs be held as early in the
season as practicable, and then let each town send to the county
fairs its first class premium articles as the contributions of the
local society as well as of tlie individual producers. Thus a
healthful and generous rivalry would be stirred up between the
towns of a county as well as among the citizens of cacli town ;
and a county exhibition, upon the plan suggested, would repre-
sent at one view the general condition of agriculture in the
vicinity. No one can pretend that this is accomplislied by the
present arrangements. Moreover the coiuity society, in its
management and in its annual exliibitions, would possess an
importance which it had not before enjoyed. As each town
would be represented by the products of the dairy, tlie herd and
the field, so it would be represented by its men ; and the annual
fair of the county would be a truthful and complete exposition
of its industrial standing and power.

Out of a system thus broad, popular and strong, an agricul-
tural college will certainly spring, if such an institution shall
be needed. But is it likely that in a country where the land is
divided and the number of farmers is great, the majority will
ever be educated in colleges and upon strictly scientific princi-
ples ? I am ready to answer, that such an expectation seems to
me a mere delusion. The great body of young farmers must
be educated by the example and practices of their elders, by
their own efforts at individual and mutual improvement, and by
the influence of agricultural journals, books, lecturers, and the
example of thoroughly educated men. And as thoroughly edu-
cated men, lecturers, journals and books of a proper character
cannot be furnished without the aid of scientific schools and
thorough culture, the farmers, as a body, are interested in the
establishment of all institutions of learning that promise to
advance any number of men, however small, in the mysteries
of the profession ; but when we design a system of education for
a class, common wisdom requires us to contemplate its influence
upon each individual. The influence of a single college in any

102 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTUBB.

State, or in each State of this Union, woukl be exceedingly lim-
ited ; but local societies and travelling lecturers could make an
appreciable impression in a year upon the agricultural popula-
tion of any State, and in New England the interest in the subject
is such that there is no difficulty in founding town clubs, and
making them at once the agents of the government and the
schools for the people.

In the plan indicated, I have throughout assumed the dispo-
sition of the farmers to educate themselves. This assumption
implies a certain degree of education already attained ; for a
consciousness of the necessity of education is only developed by
culture, learning and reflection. Such being the admitted fact,
it remains that the farmers themselves ought at once to insti-
tute such means of self-improvement as are at their command.
They are, in nearly every State of this Union, a majority of the
voters and the controlling force of society and the government ;
but I do not from these facts infer the propriety of a reliance on
their part upon the powers which they may thus direct. How-
ever wisely said, when first said, it is not wise to " look to the
government for too much ; " and there can be no reasonable
doubt of the ability of the farmers to institute and perfect such
measures of self-education as are at present needed. But the
spirit in which they enter upon this work must be broad, com-
prehensive, catholic. They will find something, I hope, of
example, something of motive, something of power, in their
experience as friends and supporters of our system of common
school education; and something of all these, I trust, in the facts
that this system is kept in motion by the self-imposed taxation
of the whole people ; that all individuals and classes of men,
forgetting their differences of opinion in politics and religion,
rally to its support as being in itself a safe basis on wliich may
be built whatever structures men of wisdom and virtue and
piety may desire to erect, whether they labor first and chiefly
for the world that is, or for that which is to come.

FORETHOUGHT IN FARMING. 103

FORETHOUGHT IN FARMING.

From an Address before the Nantucket Agricvdtural Society, Oct. 14, 1857.

BY A. B. WIIIPrLE.

The first pliase we present is tliat of anticipation. In this
term, anticipation, is included forethouglit, prudence, or in
plainer Yankee, calculation and planning. Perhaps prospection
will be the better word, since this includes the idea of looking
forward to make provision for future events. To illustrate this
foreshadowing thought, let me direct your attention to a man,
about to purchase a farm in some western forest. He goes and
looks at the land, examines the soil, notices the way the land
slopes, selects some spot where he may build — thinking forward
all the while how he will build his house facing in this direc-
tion, what a splendid view will be his when the forests are
cleared away, when yonder lowland will be the green car-
peted meadow — when yonder invisible, because wood-hid,
stream shall become a visible line of silver light, meandering
through the vale, when yonder hill-side, adorned with the
cottage houses of kind neighbors, shall gladden the eyes of his
family and friends, as from his own home they look across the
garden and the grain field, and the meadow and the river, and
up the hill-side, to those terraced gardens, commanding those
happy rural homes.

All this the eye of taste sees prospectively, and then comes
the work which shall render this anticipated home a beautiful
reality. You know Campbell somewhere says : —

" 'Tis the sunset of life gives me mystical lore,
And coming events cast their shadows before ; "

Init it seems to me that the sunrise of life would be a far
better term for the young, who are looking forward in advance

104 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

of the sunsliine, into those dark forests of the future yet to
be shone into.

And this prospective power throws the sunshine in advance
of the sun, and enables us to see the beautiful in advance of
others. He wiio climbs the lofty mountain peak, may see the
sun, while the vale below is in darkness ; and let him who thus
sees the sun hold up a mirror, and he may by reflection throw
down the sunshine upon some chosen s])ot, wliile all around is
yet in darkness. Such is the power of anticipation.

To no class of men does nature and nature's God more thor-
oughly teach prospective lessons than to the tillers of the soil.
God himself, earth's first and greatest farmer, has left the
strongest proofs of agricultural skill in this department of
antecedent provision of prospcction. And what He has done
on the grandest scale, man must in proportion do, to be suc-
cessful.

Let us look, then, for a moment at the manner in which God
prepared his garden, the earth, for the reception of the fruits
and flowers which have since flourished in it, even making these
count towards man's creation and subsequent growth. We
to-day are the fruits of great culture, reaching back and back
by a chain of events, to eartli's earliest infancy. A few links
in that chain we must notice. The creation of our rock-ribbed
earth, the transmutation of those rocks into soil, the fertiliza-
tion of that soil, the elaborate adaptation to man, and the con-
tinual expansion of his faculties.

Of the creation I need not say much, since geologists have
often told you its liistory. They have told you of the granite
foundation, but pulverized granite is not a soil. From whence,
then, did vegetation spring ? From the water and the air.
This vegetation fed the fishes ; both increased in quantity and
numl)cr, grew and died for countless ages; their remains,
mingled with decomposed rocks, gradually settled down and
became laminated beds of rock; these rocks are our sUite beds,
and the slate is found, by analysis, to be crowded with vegeta-
bles in type like tlie kelp along our shores. Here, then, imbed-
ded in the rock and kept for ages, is a fertilizing agent, and
now^ wherever slate rock abounds, is found a good grain grow-
ing soil. After this, we have another paleozoic or early animal
age, and this in its turn deposited some twenty thousand feet of

FORETHOUGHT IN FARMING. 105

the crowded remains of fishes, mollusca, seaweeds and lime-
stone, formed from shells and corals. All this formed a vast
amount of compost which, when it had emerged from the
waters, became the garden of a vegetation, so rank and abundant
as to deserve more than a passing notice.

With a tropic sun to urge the growth, a gigantic race of veg-
etation overspread the land. Could the flag and ferns of our
day speak out, I think they would say of their ancestors, as we
see it elsewhere stated, there were giants in those days. Think
of ferns sixty or seventy feet high, and ten or twelve feet in
diameter, compared with ours of one-eighth or one-half of an
inch ! But all these gigantic ferns did not blossom and waste
their fragrance on a desert air. There were no eyes to appre-
ciate their beauty, even if it had been in proportion to their
size. This, however, was not the end of their creation. All
these were to be stored away in the storehouse of the carbon-
iferous age.

Here were piled up for future use, those exhaustless beds of
coal, now necessary for our comfort, and of incalculable value,
as serving to enlarge the field of power and of knowledge. This
was the great vegetable age. No birds nestled amid its stalwart
branches. No herds fed on its luxuriant foliage.

This age seemed to have used up the then available remains of
the paleozoic ages, and animal remains were again needed to pre-
pare a richer compost for the race of men yet to be. Soon with
a new creation, there came fearlessly creeping from the swarm-
ing waters, gigantic reptiles, as voracious as gigantic, basking
in the warm sunshine, when satiated with what their craving
appetites demanded. We must look on these huge saurians as
so many laboratories into which were being transmuted for
future use the elements of fertility.

These cold-blooded amphibious did their work, and were laid
away in a tomb of rock, till after ages should disinter and
decompose them, and spread them far and wide over the land.
These are found in the rocks tliat form our mountains and our
hills, and every rain that pours upon them is decomposing,
and every freshet is spreading them in rich alluvia over our
meadows. These old ichthyosaurians, as they crawl disinte-
grated from their graves, and settle down on our own wheat or
cornfields, drive into beingand into market more weight of grain

14

106 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

than all the gold which dusts the valley of the Sacramento
could purchase. But their age passed away, and then fol-
lowed the age of warm-blooded animals, through whose agency
were amalgamated and stored away all the organic elements
suited to our agricultural propensity ; and finally, the decom-
posed materials of amphibious races and sea birds has been for
ages accumulating on the solitary islands of the Pacific and
Indian Oceans, now forming those vast storehouses of guano,
which whole navies of vessels are transporthig wherever ex-
hausted soils require fresh fertility. Such has been the fore-
thought, the provision made for God's great garden, the
World.

Throughout these several ages do we see this plan of saving
for future use every thing that would fertilize, practically car-
ried out. The fragments were gathered up, so that nothing
was lost.

This must be one rule in a provident farmer's pursuits. Not
merely a few days' forethought, when the warm spring days
begin to call out the spring work, but throughout the year and
during life.

And yet provident forethought, without corresponding action
or labor, will never make the productive farm or the blushing
garden. The hands that do work may belong to the head that
plans every movement, or they may belong to other bodies and
forces, such as horses, cattle, or wind, water, steam, and the
like natural elements. These latter will do man's work, if he
will only think and plan for them. And using them, one man
will be a host. And what has not the continued work of man
accomplished ? We have already contemplated the works of
Him who made the world, and fitted it for our labor, and you
all know how vast the plan He formed.

Now let us for a few moments look at the works of man, and
thence draw our inferences as to his power ; and in so doing,
we will direct our attention more especially to vegetable pro-
ducts. What we are to eat and what we are to wear, are and
always must be, the staple products of the world, and whoever
will discover any new materials for wearing, eating, warming
and lighting, as cheap, or cheaper than what we now have, will
prove a blessing to his race, and make a fortune for himself.

With the exception of furnishing light, the privilege of sup-

FORETHOUGHT IN FARMING. 107

plying these wants is given by necessity to the farmers. But, in
speaking of action, all the action needed to accomplish any thing
would become insufferably tedious. For example : a precise
old gentleman says to his servant, — "Here, John, lift up the
flap of the saddle that is on the gray horse, unbuckle the girth,
then let down the flap, take off the saddle and place it on the
ground. Then lift up the flap of the saddle that is on the bay
horse, unbuckle the girth, take off" the saddle and place it on
the back of the gray horse, and untie the ends of the girth and
make them fast with the buckle ; then take the saddle from the
ground, and place it upon the back of the bay horse, and see
that it is properly fastened by means of the buckle you will find
under the flap of the saddle on the right side of the bay horse."
John listens to all this preachment with eyes and mouth grow-
ing more and more distended, and at its conclusion, exclaims:
*' Could yer honor not have said at once — ' Change the saddles,

sir

9 5 >5

Now, with all this minutice, he failed to mention a fourth part
of the motions necessary to change the saddles.

So when I come before you to speak of the farmer's actions,
I find that I can only say, change the saddles. For to particu-
larize, would be to make a volume, in speaking of the different
motions or actions connected with the raising of one hill of
potatoes. While, then, I give the conclusion of the matter, let
your imagination siipply the primary and intermediate steps.
For convenience, we will class all produce as follows : products
of the sea, products of the forest, products of manufactures, and
products of agriculture. Limiting our remarks merely to the
exports of the United States, let us see their relative impor-
tance. All the products of the sea, — oil, bone, and fish, —
amounted, in 1853, to a little more than $8,000,000. All
the products of the forest, including lumber, bark, tar, pitch,
turpentine, potash, pearlash, skins and furs, amounted to about
$8,000,000. The manufactures amounted to nearly $47,000,-
000. The products of agriculture, to more than -1154,000,000.
Here, then, we see that nearly two-thirds of all our exports
are the direct result of agriculture ; while of the manufac-
tured articles, leaving out gold and silver coins, nine-tenths
are derived from the farms, and dependent on agriculture
for their existence and supply. This business of farming,

108 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

then, performs no small part in laying the foundation of all
commercial as well as national prosperity. The cotton crop, as
the result of soil-tilling, will, no doubt, furnish some items of
interest. Let us for a moment spin a story.

All the farms in the world raise about 1,500,000,000 pounds
of cotton. From the reports of the London Exhibition, we
learn that one man had on exhibition 2,400 hanks of cotton,
each contahiing 810 yards of thread, and yet the whole weigh-
ing only one pound. This one pound of thread will be in length
about 2,000 miles, and the 1,500,000,000 pounds would thus
make 3,000,000,000,000 miles. Witli the yarn already spun,
let us weave a web of interest. Putting in our loom of fancy
100 threads to the inch, using one-half for the warp, and the
rest for the woof, let us see how long a piece of cloth we can
make, one yard in width; by mathematical rules, — we calculate
420,000,000 yards, — more than four times enough to reach to
the sun — more than enough to wind around the earth 16,000
times — or about enough to make a sheet ten miles wide, and
long enough to reach once around the world. If, in the form of
thread, it could be used as a telegraphic line, and all the planets
were in a row, there could be a station in the Sun, Mercury,
Venus and Earth, and Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune,
and the forty-four other asteroids. Talk about inconceivable
distances ! Why, the thread that might be made from cotton
vegetation alone would far more than reach the farthest planet
in space. And were all this to grow in one stalk, no larger
than the thread, it would shoot upward faster than flies the ball
belched from the flaming mouth of the cannon. Add to this
the linen, tow, and hemp of various kinds, raised in the world,
and we have annually enough to make ample sacks for the
asteroids.

During the present year there have been raised in the United
States, to say nothing of other countries —

600,000,000 bushels of corn.

200,000,000

wheat,

150,000,000

i-ye,

100,000,000

buckwheat,

50,000,000

barley.

500,000,000

potatoes,

FORETHOUGHT IN FARMING. 109

100,000,000 bushels of pease and beans,
40,000,000 " rice,

100,000,000 " apples, peaches, pears, plums and

cherries.

Tliese would require a bin twenty feet wide, ten feet deep,
and 2,400 miles long to contain them. And yet what the
United k^tates raises is not more than one-tenth part of what the
world produces ; so all together would require a bin of the
above depth and width, and long enough to encircle the earth,
and right alongside would be required a tank, of the same or
much larger dimensions, to hold all the molasses, wines, liquors,
ale, cider, and other drinks, including smaller and lager beer.
Why, of sugar alone, there were made last year, 2,000,000,000
pounds, which could scarcely be contained in a box ten feet
deep, twenty feet wide, forty miles long ; while all of the gold
m the world would easily find a resting place in one of the same
width and depth, and less than forty feet long.

Were I not fearful of wearying your patience, I should like
to make some calculations as to the world's meat market and
the world's groceries, and thus make out the bill of fare which
is annually placed before tlie hungry denizens of the earth.
But I dare not run the risk. I might perliaps of this audience
hold the attention a little longer, if I should address the ladies
upon the subject of dry goods, instead of groceries ; if I should
speak of costly silks, — the shroud of a dying caterpillar, which
the farmer fed till it died, — of cotton, muslin, linen, cambrics
which the poor slave or rustic farmer must plant and gather
annually; of woollens, worsteds and delaines, sheared or pulled
from the back of the silly sheep, which the farmer must rear
and care for ; or of shawls, the hair of goats and hump-backed
camels, which the farmer must watch and attend to. But
ladies, there are some things which the farmer does not, pur-
posely, at least, raise, such as cats, of which to make kid gloves
— wild animals, for furs. This, however, would also be sul)ject
to your examination if there was to be a great party this fall,
to which all the world were invited, and where the bill of fare
above alluded to, would be finally served to all. Some of you,
perhaps, have already, like true housekeepers, commenced
considering how all the amount of eatable matter is to be cooked

110 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

in a sufficient variety of ways to please and satisfy all the invited
guests ; a thought wliich truly suggests tlie close connection
existing between good cooking and good farming. Truly, there
is a world of thought clustering around tliis agricultural
department, spreading, as it does, its supporting branches
through almost, yea, every department of manufacturing.
Then there is our Yankee peculiarity of getting all we can,
and keeping all we get, together with that of asking questions,
especially that most oft repeated question. Why? Tiie farmer
gets and his wife should help keep. He fills the dairy-house,
cellar and barn, and expects her to look well to the things with
which she has to do. Her part is to save, not meanly, but from
absolute loss, that all that is in the house, may be of benefit
to those within and around it. This she can best do whenever
nature's suggestive Why, can be correctly answered.

Allow mo then, ladies, to make a visit with you in your
cellars and cellar-kitchens, instead of the upper room or even
the parlor. As we look around, let me ask questions, and you
answer them. Your husband has provided for you some fine
potatoes — a couple of boxes, you say, just alike. But why are
the potatoes in the tighter box so much more free from decay
than the others ? I see you have some apples, also. But why
do they keep well, when the potatoes do not? Ah, here is the
milk-room, a little too cool. Canyon tell me why the tempera-
ture should be between 60° and 60° Fahrenheit to produce the
most cream ?

You have your cook books filled with rules, but unless you
can give some reason for those rules, you will sometimes fail.
I have somewhere read or heard of a certain book captain,
who in all things respecting navigation, followed the teachings
of his boolc. One day in mid Atlantic, he was giving orders
from his book when, while looking aloft, the wind turned over
the leaf. Presently he looked on what he supposed was the
next order to the one last given, read and gave out, " Let go
the anchor." And the anchor was dropped. Now had the
man thought of the wherefore, he would not have done so fool-
ish a thing. But, ladies, I will not take too close an inspection
of the part you have to act in preserving the products of the
soil. I will not wait for an answer to the questions proposed.
If at some future day I should happen in, and you feel disposed

FORETHOUGHT IN FARMING. Ill

to give mc an introduction as to the best way of making much
of a meal out of small means, and the reason therefor, I will
be an attentive listener to those instructions. This will be the
head-work. The kneading of dough may be tlie hand-work, as
much of all agricultural labor is and must be hand-work, but
head-work is chief; tliought and drudgery, contrivance and
execution, mind and body, these must go together to make a
good farmer. This thought I will not press, but will proceed
to notice the retrospective view of an agricultural life. Being
now, as it always has been, the very ground- work of national
prosperity, and the cultivators of multiplied means of happiness,
as well as the constant reproducer of life's necessities, we shall
surely find some pleasure in looking back on its progressive
history. We all know how pleasant it is to tell over and over
again, our deeds of former days. To no person can this be
more pleasant, than to the farmer.

Sitting in his beautiful home, surrounded by all that is
improved and elegant, the work of his own hands, memory
carries him back to the forest which covered the land when he
first on foot, and axe in hand, entered the deep, dark woods.
He points to the spot, where yielding to his sturdy blows, the
first giant of the forest fell with a crash which was pleasant
music to his ears ; telling him as it did, that an openiiig had
been made, that the first sunshine had been let in, that the first
blue sky had been made visible. He will relate, step by step,
the building of the first log-house, speak with enthusiasm of the
first fenced field, the first planting season, the first framed barn,
the first crop, the first sale of produce, the first neighbor, the
first saw mill, the first grist mill, the first school-house, the first
church, and so on, noting all the successive improvements in his
farm — farming, garden and flower culture, houses and out-houses
— till he closes his oft told tale by asking you to walk about the
premises and see for yourself. You do this, and the result is,
you come to the same conclusion that we have ; that the culti-
vation of the soil tends to the cultivation of the taste, of the
social relations, of the arts ; in short, of all those improvements
every where being made, to which the word culture is applied.
Indeed, this very word " culture" or cultivation, however gen-
erally used now, is the sole, original property of the farmer,
and has been lent by him to all other trades and callings. You

112 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

will allow mo to expand this thought a little in this place, an
island peculiar in its position as respects ftxrming, and an audi-
ence, a large part of which are not directly interested in agri-
culture, and therefore easily impatient of an agricultural
address.

Had I time I could show the connection between tilling the
soil, and the flowers, buds, leaves and grasses which now adorn
your bonnets, yea, more even — the material of which they
are made. So also the dresses which you wear and the houses
you live in, with their architectural beauty, all have their
fitness and appropriateness accredited to soil tilling, as the pri-
mal starting point. The fluted columns which support and
ornament some of your dwellings are but amplified imitations
of the rushes we see growing. The symmetry and gracefulness
of the carved vine, which with its spiral leaves and rich clus-
ters adorns these fluted columns, are but transcripts of nature.
The patterns of your carpets, of the wall papers, of your skil-
fully wrought centre pieces, the beautiful paintings of land-
scape scenery which adorn your homes, all, all are gifts of
nature through him who has studied her works. But this is
not all. Engrafted on this very agricultural system which to-
day we would encourage, we find many choice fruits of litera-
ture ; fruits whose beauty and sweetness would never suggest
their origin did not occasions like this call for a glance at their
origin and results.

When then did such gatherings commence, and what have
they been doing for the world ? We mark them first among
those old Greeks, whose harmonious language is the pride of
the learned, and whose very harmony would have died, and all
their beautiful mythology, from which our poets glean their
brightest thoughts, had they not established their Olympic fairs
nearly three thousand years ago. And what was done at these
fairs ? First, they were merely trials of physical skill, where
women were not allowed to be present. At length an excep-
tion was made to this law of exclusion, in favor of the priestess
of Ceres, the goddess of fruits and harvests, and certain other
virgins. Soon we find that the attendants of Ceres had effected
a great improvement in the style of the entertainments. Con-
tests in poetry and music were introduced, and women became
successful competitors for prizes. We learn, too, that they

FORETHOUGHT IN FARMING. 113

were considered of so much importance that at their commence-
ment a sacred truce was proclaimed, and any armed invasion
during their continuance was considered an act of sacrilege ;
and finally, the territory where they were held, was claimed as
sacred from war. Men of skill and men of wealth contended
for prizes, which at iirst were magnificent and valuable, serving
to call forth and cultivate the artistic skill of the nation. Statu-
ary also was greatly encouraged, as the statues of the victors
were erected at their own expense, or that of their fellow citi-
zens, in the sacred grove of Olympia. Crowds flocked together
to witness the contests and admire the works of art, and praise
in words as well as gifts, was bestowed on the victor. Orators
and poets were thus called in requisition, and literary produc-
tions became works of finished taste. Men began to work for
fame, or rather compose and rehearse for fame. Speaking, or
declamations came to be practiced, and thus Homer's poems
were saved to the world. Here Herodotus, that famous old
father of history, first recited his great work, and from Greece
sprang Thucydides, to whom we are indebted for much of our
knowledge of the ancient world.

But we find that the records of heroic deeds, kept only in
memory, met with gradual changes, till at length the heroes
were accounted as gods, thus forming that wonderful mythology
which, when closely studied, shows how the works of man and
the works of nature, or the genius of nature, stood out boldest
in their thoughts. Had I time, I should like to show how the
early husbandmen were obliged to watch the seasons, the sun-
shine and the storm ; to show how the active mind of the
poetic Greek personified the soil, sunshine and the atmosphere ;
thus adding to those myths of the olden time. Great Jupiter,
father of the gods, is but the power of the sun personified, and
Juno, his goddess wife, the personified influence of the air,
and the famous quarrels of these, the personified struggles of
the elements. From these contentions the early agriculturists
suffered, and to guard against them were ever watchful. This
constant watchfulness is typified by the four-eyed (sometimes
hundred eyed) Argus, representing the four seasons, who was
slain by Mercury, the inventor of letters. Early agriculture is
typified by lo, and the legend runs, when Mercury slew Argus, lo

15

114 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

was left free to wander over tlie whole earth. Now to say that
Mercury killed Argus, and liberated lo, is to say that when
rules and precepts of agriculture were introduced, mankind
were released from that ever watcliing care which early hus-
bandry had required from them, and agriculture, now reduced
to a regular system, went forth in freedom and spread itself
among the nations. This verson of the old myths finds con-
firmation in the fact that lo finally found a resting place in
Egypt, on the banks of the Nile, where the earth brought forth
the richest abundance. And again we are told, that the eyes
of Argus were transferred by Juno to the plumage of her
favorite bird, tlie peacock. And the peacock, our farmers
know, gives some indication of a change in the weather by its
peculiar cry ; and it is therefore in this respect intimately con-
nected with the operations of husbandry. So too, I might call
your attention to the twelve labors of Hercules, showing their
relation to the twelve signs of the zodiac, and of course, to the
twelve months of the year, and the appropriate labor for each,*
and also to tlie death of this hero, who finished only to com-
mence his life anew in the heavens, as do the seasons, the
emblems to the year of immortality. But of all this, I spoke
somewhat more at large a year ago, and may not now repeat.
And what was true in the early ages, of such gatherings, is
true to-day in our midst. The hymn, the song, the speech,
form now, as well as then, a part of the day's duties. The
sight which has gladdened your eyes to-day, has had some influ-
ence on your taste for the beautiful in nature and in art ; and
though you may not possess all that you have seen, yet you
have learned to enjoy with a keener relish whatever is beauti-
ful. Who then shall say that that labor is lost, which adds to
our enjoyment, though it adds not to our food or clothing ?
Now what is the retrospective view of this society, looking
back over the surface of a single year. Has a flower budded
and blossomed where last year bloomed a thistle ? Has a shade
tree struck its roots into soil last year unoccupied ? Have any
fruit trees been invited to make this island their home ? Have
any busy fingers worked in worsted or silk, specimens of beauty

* The fact that his last labor was to gather goldeu fruit.

FORETHOUGHT IN FARMING. 115

which they would not, had no coming fair held out its induce-
ments ? Has no farm had more careful working, no garden
more thorough attention, no cattle better care, no horses a
better training, no vines a better pruning ? In short, no mind
a better cultivation for the fair which to-day pleases us ?

Go into yonder hall, and amid its exhilarating beauties, feel
an answer vibrating along every nerve of your emotional nature.
Read athwart the western wall, these encouraging words, made
doubly encouraging by abundant fruits in trying times : " The
earth shall make its dividends, though every other depository
fail." Then let your eye like a pendulum swing across and
read from the opposite wall, " He that tilleth his lands shall have
plenty of bread." Linger for a little while in that little grove
of flowers and catch their inspiration as well as their fragrance,
and then look up and feel the depth of that simple wish, " Bring
flowers." Oh, where are flowers inappropriate ?

Bring flowers to crown the cup and lute,

Bring flowers, the bride is near ;
Bring flowers to soothe the captive's cell,

Bring flowers to strew the bier.

Look once more in that other corner, and lay to heart the
wisdom of that other motto, " I die if neglected." How many
a flower, how much fruit, how many a budding mind, how
many a blossoming joy has died through neglect. As you
ponder these lessons, can you fail to see that those Avhose hands
have been busy in arranging as well as cultivating all that is
beautiful, have had their minds alive and active with thought.
As you see original methods of arranging fruits and flowers,
and notice how much arrangements add to native beauty, and
mark also, how much superior is this year's display to its prede-
cessor, can you fail to see mental culture exhibited in greatly
improved taste. The retrospective glance, revealing merely the
products of skill and industry, is not enough.

Imagine how much has been done that can never be seen.
See in how many departments of human industry the desire to
do something has been awakened or created, by the stimulus of
approbation evoked by the society. From the cottage and the
palace, from the workshop and the farm, from the merchant

116 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

and the sailor, from the "white and from the bhack, have speci-
mens of skill come to adorn the hall a)id please its visitors.
Indeed, the Nantucket Agricultural Society seems to have acted
like a great magnet. You know wlien we hold a magnet over
a handful of sand, in which are particles of iron and steel, these
leap up and cling to the magnet, and thus show themselves.
Thus it is that the genius of labor has arisen in our midst, and
stretching out his magnetic hands over thesandy island, the true
iron and steel have sprung up to his embrace. Iron and steel,
the plough and the compass, labor and thought.

FARMS. IIT

F AEMS.

ESSEX.

Report of the Committee.

I know that truth lies in facts, and not in my mind which judges of them ;
and tliat the less of myself I put in the opinions I form, the surer I am to
approach the truth. — M. Emile.

The committee appointed by the Trustees of the Essex Agri-
cultural Society, have availed themselves of every opportunity
afforded them for the discharge of their duties, and regret that
their observations have not been more extensive, and that no
farms have been entered for premium. The task assigned them
is one of the most agreeable, and may be made one of the most
useful of all duties imposed upon members of the society.
Without in any way appearing before the agricultural com-
munity as a commission of investigation, they have endeavored
to obtain such information of a practical character as may be of
service to those who would learn from experience ; and they
feel that no occupation presents so many objects of deep and
abiding interest as that which connects man intimately with
nature, and establishes his dependence upon her variety and
her mysteries. The success of the farmer, who, with unwearied
diligence and instinctive sagacity, appeals to the uncertain soil
and the changing seasons for his reward, is something more
than a mere question of ordinary business, for it brings before
the mind all those associations and those strong bonds which
bind men to the earth as a great parent, and it arouses within
us those sentiments which have filled the breasts of all who
have songht relief from the perplexing cares of life, in the
simple, healthful and refreshing pursuits of agriculture ; a
relief perhaps deemed visionary by him whose daily toil has
become a burden, but most truly sweet to him who exchanges
but for an hour the fever of the counting-room, or the bar, or

118 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

tne forum, for the even pulse which marks the equanimity and
strength caught from the broad earth and the overarching sky ;
a relief, too, which the practical farmer would appreciate if he
would desert his acres for a season, and take his stand in the
narrow and crowded and hurried spheres of more restless life.
The man who is called upon to witness the agricultural opera-
tions of a community, has, therefore a higher satisfaction than
any mere survey of business can give ; he lays up a store of
pleasant associations, and cultivates tastes which may perhaps
give him hours of pleasure, as they have many a man before
him.

We cannot doubt that these feelings filled the mind of that
enlightened farmer, true patriot and distinguished statesman,
who, amid the cares of life, found repose on his farm in Essex
county, and who, as the first president of our society, intro-
duced the plan of duties which have this year devolved upon
us. For a long time, now more than thirty years, the discharge
of the work connected with the viewing of farms, has been
among the most agreeable incidents of the society ; and the
statements of our farmers, and the reports upon their farms,
are among the most valuable of our papers. We remember
with pleasure the accounts given of farms in Andovcr, West
Newbury, Newbury, Danvers, Hamilton, Ipswich, Salem, and
many other towns ; and we remember, too, with great satisfac-
tion the lessons derived from these records of experience. And
we regret that of late years, the statements presented have
been so meagre, and the number of applicants for premiums so
small, that a change of plan has been suggested, by which some
specific object, and not an entire farm with all its various ope-
rations, should be brought before the committee. We would
most earnestly urge upon our farmers a return to the interest
felt in tliis matter formerly, with the assurance that no question
in agriculture is more important than that Avhich involves the
general management of the farm, and throws light upon any
system wliicli can be applied to this great branch of business.
For although the mode of reclaiming a swamp may be the same
throughout New England, although drainage may be adopted
in one state, county or town, as well as in another, although
the application of manures to different soils may admit of some
universal rule, still there are no two farms whose capacities and

FARMS. 119

resources are precisely alike, and to which one system of man-
agement can be applied. Size, soil, condition, location, all com-
bine to prevent this ; and one of the most important and funda-
mental principles of farming is that which teaches us how to
avail ourselves of those resources which are contained, in every
variety of combination, in the thirty-five thousand farms into
which our Commonwealth is divided. The true value of this
will be fully understood, when we remember that one farmer
fails because he nev^er ascertains the true intention of his farm,
never learns how to make the most of it as a whole, and another
succeeds on the same tract of land, because he comprehends
how it can best be managed in all its parts so as to make a
symmetrical and profitable system.

We have been invited during the last year to visit three farms
in the county, not for the purpose of awarding a premium, but
for the sake of instruction and gratification. Each farm is
truly remarkable in its way, and we consider it quite a misfor-
' tune that circumstances well understood by every property
holder in this country, have prevented our obtaining an accu-
rate and systematic account of the receipts and expenditures,
the profit and loss, the cost of this crop and that, in a word,
the true economy of each. The merchant can tell you the
earnings of his ship, the manufacturer may proclaim with
impunity the profits of his mill, but the farmer, upon whose
property the eye of the whole community is fixed, is tormented
by a system of espionage which makes him the prey of asses-
sors, and throws the great burden of taxation on his shoulders,
because his estate is real, and because he is less likely than
almost any other member of society to be compelled to avail
himself of those institutions which have received the peculiar
prefix of civil. But to our farms.

The first farm to which the committee were invited, was the
estate of William Sutton, of South Danvers. It contains about
four hundred acres, extending nearly one mile from his resi-
dence towards Lynn, and has mostly been reclaimed from a
rough pasture condition within the last twenty-five years. The
cultivated land lies in the level intervals and upon the hill-sides
between rough ledges of rocks, and has been judiciously cleared
chiefly for the purposes of hay and root crops, the former of
which is usually very abundant. The orchards are in a neat

120 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

and thrifty condition, and contain the choicest apple and pear
trees. The products of the last season are one hundred and
fifty tons of hay, three thousand bushels of roots, — carrots,
turnips, beets, &c., — forty barrels of apples, forty bushels of
pears, and two hundred and fifty busliels of corn. The amount
of land under immediate cultivation, is fourteen acres, and the
amount devoted to grass is eighty-five acres. The remainder is
still used for pasturage, and serves to keep about twenty-five
head of cattle. The farm is fenced mostly with stone fences,
which are carefully kept in good order. The farm buildings
and the supply of farming implements, are well worth the
examination of every farmer in the county. The barns, stables,
yards, cellars, sheds, shops and tool and storehouses are all
models in their way. A complete outfit of tools is neatly
arranged in its appropriate place, and "near by is a well-ordered
workshop in which necessary repairs can be made. Every thing
is kept in its place. In the cellars and yards every spot is
appropriated to some useful purpose, and the most convenient
arrangements are made for cattle and poultry as well as for the
collection of manure — that most important branch of all good
farming. We consider the construction of Gen. Sutton's barn
so good, that we would recommend it to every farmer who
would make the most of the natural advantages his farm affords
for the location of his buildings. And we would also commend
the system, order and neatness of all his farming apparatus, as
indispensable to really economical and profitable husbandry.

The next farm visited by us was the Danvers Town Farm,
situated in a very unpropitious region near Lynnfield, and car-
ried on by one of the most intelligent, capable and industrious
farmers in our county. He has furnished us with his own state-
ment, which we consider a valuable contribution to our report.
He says : —

" In the programme of premiums offered the present year, I
notice it is said : ' Any person desirous of having his farm
inspected, may, on application to the secretary, have it visited
and reported upon by the committee, without entering the same
for premium.'

" It was with this view that I invited you to visit the Danvers
Town Farm, which has been under my care as master of the

FARMS. 121

almshouse, since 1850, — not that I think of placing the same in
competition with many of the fine farms in the county, favored
with natural advantages and superior means of culture, — but to
show what can be done by persevering industry, on a soil most
repulsive and forbidding in its aspects for purposes of farming.
This farm, when purchased for the use of the town, contained
about two hundred acres, and was considered valuable chiefly
for the wood growing thereon. This, as I am informed, was
about fifty years since. Sufficient wood and timber was, in the
course of a few years, cut and sold to pay the original purchase.
The buildings on the farm were old and inconvenient. The
town poor, numbering about sixty, were transferred to the
farm, and were employed as best they might be.

" Thus matters remained until 1844, when the town deter-
mined to remove the old buildings, and to erect new ones, better
fitted for the purpose. The amount appropriated and applied
to this object was twelve thousand dollars ; and the town has
since had the satisfaction of feeling that its poor are as well
provided for as their condition will admit.

" Of the farm, about one hundred and forty acres still remain
to wood, and there is now a growth upon it of from fifteen to
twenty-five cords to the acre. There are from ten to twelve
acres of meadow and swamp land, which are used to furnish
materials for making manure, and coarse fodder for the stalls.
Some of the lands have been reclaimed by drainage and top-
dressing, so as to afford good crops of the best English hay.
The remaining lands under cultivation, are hard, gravelly fields,
kept in a productive condition by constant culture, and by a
liberal application of manure, made upon the farm. In making
the manure we have freely commanded the services of the hogs
— from fifty to eighty of which have been constantly kept on
the place, until their number was greatly diminished by the hog
cholera, so prevalent in many parts of the country during the
last season. In addition to the materials taken from the mead-
ows, we collect charcoal dust, saw dust, and the offal from
slaughter houses, all of which is thrown to the hogs. In this
way we have made annually about two hundred cords of
manure, well composted, and liberally applied to the land. We
usually plough our land in the autumn, covering the manure
deeply, and plough again in the spring, in order to mix and

16

122 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

pulverize thoroughly the soil and the manure. We find under
this treatment our crops range from fifty to eighty-five bushels
of Indian corn to the acre — the crops this year averaging more
than sixty bushels, though })lanted on very shallow, gravelly
laud. Our rye has yielded more than forty bushels to the acre,
although the crop for the present year, on twelve acres, ranges
from twelve to thirty bushels to the acre, owing to tlie bad
weather at the time of harvesting. Taking tlio present year
with tlie seven preceding, the average yield of rye is a fraction
over thirty bushels to the acre. We have raised over two hun-
dred bushels of potatoes to the acre. Thiity acres of grass
land yield forty-five tons of English hay. And we raise vege-
tables enough to supply a family of sixty persons.

" Respectfully yours, &c., Adino Page."

We would add to the statement of Mr. Page, that the farm
under his care gave evidence of prudent and economical culti-
vation. His system of manufacturing manure is certainly most
effectual in supplying compost heaps which any farmer might
envy ; and that he has applied them well is fully attested by the
luxuriant fields which he has brought out of the swamps and
gravelly plains which compose the farm. The expense of this
we did not ascertain — but we can conceive that almost any out-
lay in this direction would be attended with an ultimate reward.
We look upon the operations of Mr. Page, as a fine illustration
of the application of good practical agriculture under great
obstacles, and of the success which follows careful tillage.

We visited lastly the well known farm of Horace Ware, sit-
uated in Marblehead, containing about one hundred acres, and
stretching from the road between Marblehead and Lynn to the
seashore, a parallelogram about one hundred and sixty rods in
depth. The location of the farm is very beautiful, commanding
a fine view of the sea, and affording fields admirably adapted to
cultivation. The farm buildings are judiciously located nearly
in the middle of the estate, being easy of access from every
quarter, and affording convenient accommodation for all that is
needed in extensive operations. Short distances for the travel
of laborers and for the transportation of manure, is evidently
one of Mr. Ware's principles of farming. Luxuriant orchards
surround the buildings, and give evidence of skilful manage-

FARMS. 123

mcnt. The crop of apples even this season, xinpropitious as it
has been, was very fair.

The collection and use of manure is an important item in Mr,
Ware's system of farming. His large and thrifty fields of
onions, his crops of corn and rye and roots, his abundant yield
of grass, all tell that he has discovered the secret of agriculture.
His proximity to tlie sea enables him to obtain one of the best
and most permanent fertilizers, but sea and land both are com-
passed to furnish him with the foundation of his business.
The information he has afforded the committee on previous
occasions, and which has been incorporated into the transac-
tions of the society, is valuable as bearing upon this one point,
the proper mode of fertilizing as understood by a successful
practical farmer.

It is unnecessary to give a detailed statement of Mr. Ware's
crops. Whatever they may have been in times past, they have
enabled him to bring a difficult tract of land, acre by acre, into
high cultivation, by means of good drainage and careful enrich-
mg. And if, as we have been told in another sphere in life, —
" success is a duty," — in agriculture it is also a recommenda-
tion which ought to give value to the opinions and operations of
him who secures it.

We have endeavored to lay before the society, such facts and
suggestions as we have obtained from the farms visited during
the last season. We desired that they should be more explicit.
The value of experience in agriculture, cannot be too highly
estimated, even by those who look to science for a complete
regeneration of the whole farming world. We have no disposi-
tion to undervalue the labors of those diligent chemists and
geologists who have devoted their lives to examinations of soils
and of those chemical affinities which may make the " desert
blossom as the rose." We are perfectly willing to believe that
a system of agriculture may be drawn from books, during the
dull hours of a long sea-voyage, and applied to the hardest soil
of England, as the author of " Talpa, or the Chronicles of a
Clay Farm," professes to have done. We are willing to give all
due credit to those who would tell us by theory what manures
are adapted to one soil, and what to another ; what to trees
and what to potatoes. We have entire respect for the Liebigs,
and Hitchcocks, and Jacksons, who are led through the subtlest

124 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

channels of science to the investigation of the capacities and
necessities of soils and crops. But we cannot forget the thou-
sand valuable facts which can be obtained only from those who
have hardened their hands in the practical pursuits of agricul-
ture. The paleness of the laboratory may be very well in its
place, but the flush of the field comes with its many claims for
attention, comes as one with authority. There are many facts
in scientific agriculture, interesting enough in themselves, but
having little to do with the great work of agriculture as a
branch of business. All the science in the world would not
teach us that salt is a good manure for asparagus, and were it
not for experience, perhaps empirical in itself, the gardener
might wait forever without discovering the best mode of raising
this valuable esculent. Physiology and anatom}'' are two highly
interesting branches of medical science, but let me ask any one
if a learned dissertation on the structure and functions of the
liver, would be of any service to him were he shaking to pieces
with an attack of fever and ague, which experience teaches him
quinine alone will cure ? And yet all the physiology and anat-
omy in the world, would never teach mankind that quinine is a
specific in fever and ague — no more would all the chemical
analyses that ever puzzled and mystified the most diligent stu-
dent, teach us that salt is good for a bed of asparagus. Liebig
might discourse from the winter to the summer solstice upon
the relations between manures and soils ; upon phosphates and
super-phosphates ; upon silex and ammonia and carbon, and the
long list of salts, and we might all sit and listen while the spring
months were flying away from us, but could he tell us whether
to sow our carrots early or late ; whether we should manure
our potatoes in the hill or broadcast ; whether barnyard manure
or muscle beds will give us the best onions ; whether we should
plough our grass lands in the autumn or spring ; where we
should plant our squashes, and where our corn and our carrots;
how to put in our seed so as to secure the most abundant har-
vest ? We may listen day after day, to the botanical lore of the
enthusiastic Gray, but while we listen, will not his triticum
repens, better known among us farmers, as twitch grass, choke
our fields, for all tlie knowledge he can give us with regard to
its eradication ? The learning of Agassiz may enable him to
tell us the very year in the world's existence, when in the classes

FARMS. 125

of animals, the genus Bos came in its natural order; but will
he inform us how to tell a good cow from a bad one ? We
would not underrate science ; neither would we overrate it.
We are confident no farmer of Essex county will think lightly
of intelligence and education when he remembers that Pickering
and Colman belong to their number, and have left behind them
their teachings and example. No farmer of Massachusetts will
disparage the benefits of careful education to an agricultural
community, when we have intrusted for years, the interests of
this great branch of industry to the care of our Lowells, our
Warrens, our Everetts, our Quincys, our Winthrops, names
which have given a distinction to Massachusetts agriculture,
compared with which the annual ploughing of Chinese empe-
rors for thousands of centuries, even before the days of Moses,
is a mere farce.

But there is an amount of practical knowledge based on the
experience of hard working, successful, practical farmers, with-
out which all the theory in the world is but a glittering show.
An intelligent farmer walks through your field of onions, and
lie tells you how you can gather your crop, so that all the '- bull
necks" in the field may be made to swell out into fair and mar-
ketable proportions. Did he learn this from theory, or from his
own sunburnt experience ? You have a field which you wish
to lay down to grass, and are in doubt whether to sow rye, barley
or oats, or neither with your seed; it is your experienced neigh-
bor whose land lies next to yours, and who is subjected to the
same influences, who can give you the advice you need. A
cunning gardener discovers that bone manure will bring his
fruit trees into thrifty bearing, and science says it is all due to
the phosphates. But who did the business, science or the gar-
dener? It is the collection of facts, after all, which must to a
great degree constitute the great bulk of useful agricultural
literature. It is actual experience which is to tell us how we can
reclaim the moss-grown pastures and drain the cold wet meadows
of Essex county most economically and profitably. It is expe-
rience which teaches the best modes of applying manures, of
feeding cattle, of carrying on the detail of the farm ; and it is
experience which we would obtain in our examination of the
farms of this county. That which is learned from the soil has
a practical application which gives it a substantial importance.

126 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

The knowledge imparted by a system of agricultural education,
receives its highest value from that branch of the work which
is based on actual labor. The merchant learns his business in
the counting-room, the lawyer in his,office, the physician in his
practice, the farmer in his field ; and while we welcome every
ray of liglit which science throws upon our calling, we would
most earnestly urge the practical agriculturist to preserve for
the benefit of mankind, the observations which he naturally
makes in his daily toil. We need an agricultural literature like
this, not loosely prepared, but arranged with intelligence and
care, and based upon a proper application of science to the
business of life.

We would suggest to our farmers, that every opinion obsti-
nately persisted in may not be valuable, and that an experiment
may not be useful, even if months were employed in making it.
No business requires so intimate an acquaintance with what is
past, and so ready an acceptance of what is to come, as farming ;
for in none are there such opportunities for that progress,
which, to be well made, must be based upon the failures and
successes of those who have preceded us. Columbus undoubt-
edly caught the idea of a new hemisphere from the half-formed
theories contained in musty ancestral manuscripts ; and many
a crude experiment, long since forgotten because never properly
made, may suggest an opening to an entire new world of rich
and valuable knowledge in agriculture. In the use of labor, in
the management of the land, in the application of manures,
therefore, and in all that goes to make up a sound agricultural
education, knowledge is indeed power, and wealth also ; and
we mean by knowledge tliat kind of information "svliich belongs
especially to a good farmer. Farming is no hap-hazard occupa-
tion. There are indeed certain elements upon which it depends,
which are beyond man's control, and which he can only watch
and obey to the best of his ability. But wliile the seasons are
uncertain, while the sun is capricious and the " wind bloweth
where it listeth," the ingenuity of man is more especially called
upon to give exactness and certainty to the whole business of
agriculture. Burke says : " I have been a farmer for twenty-
seven years, and it is a trade the most precarious in its advan-
tages, the most liable to losses, and the least profitable of any
that is carried on. It requires ten times more of labor, of vigi-

FARMS. 127

lance, of attention, of skill, and let me add, of good fortune also,
to carry on the business with success, than what belongs to any
other trade." If this be so, how powerfully is the farmer
appealed to, to bring an exact education to his work ! How
necessary it becomes that his labor should be something more
than the mere application of brute force to subduing the soil!
And when we remember that amidst all the fluctuations of
trade, while the rich find their fortunes flying away from tiiem,
and the laborer is starving ; while manufactures and commerce
stand with folded arms, waiting to see what the great agricultu-
ral interests of our country are to do for their relief, the farmer
has reason to congratulate himself that he belongs to a class
whom panics seldom reach, and whose expansions and contrac-
tions are hardly perceptible — a class more sure of comfort and
a rational subsistence than any other in the world. Such a
calling as this deserves the most patient observation, the most
careful experiments, the most accurate record, at the hands of
all immediately engaged in it, and the most profound investiga-
tions which science can bestow upon it. For agriculture never
faileth. Whether there be manufactures, they may cease ;
whether there be commerce, it may vanish away. But so long
as man has a home and a country, he must recognize his
dependence upon the soil, and he must feel that an occupation
which lies at the foundation of society, and produces the yeo-
manry of every nation, is worthy of his highest powers both of
mind and body.

The agricultural education, of which we speak as so impor-
tant to the farmer and so indispensable in his preparation for
his high calling, must begin early in life. The old adage that
" the poet is born, not made," applies with equal force to the
farmer. There is a love of country which must be inhaled
with the breath of childhood. There is a familiarity with the
commonest affairs of rural life, with the stones and the sods,
with the grasses and fruits, with the habits of animals, and
with what may be called the functions of agricultural existence,
which no devotion to natural history, no analysis of soils and
manures can ever give. Nature is very coy. She is not to be
wooed and won at a distance. She asks for no blind admira-
tion. But that acquaintance with her which will induce her
to " yield up all her secret store," must begin when the

128 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

powers arc yet tender and willing to be moulded by her influ-
ences, and when the feelings are moved by her faintest touch.
She requires a quick response. And that response she gets
only from those "who sit early at her feet, and learn her wisdom
while yet young. It is astonishing how keen man's instincts
become under her teachings. The birds of the air and the
beasts of the field are not quicker to recognize her changes
than is man, when he is devoted to her cause. We may be
told tliat John hates the sunrise and the sweet morning air of
summer, because they but open to him another day of toil.
But take John into the noonday labors of a crowded city, and
see how heart-sick he will become for the habits and the whole
aspect of his ancestral acres. He has genuine love for the
country, in all its very slightest movements. So, too, of his
observance of natural phenomena. All the meteorological
tables and theories of storms in the world are not so serviceable
as his knowledge of the "face of the sky," got by gazing
there. It is with the very dawn of our existence that those
powers begin to be cultivated, which lie at the foundation of
success in agriculture. And if we will but look beneath the
hard exterior wdiicli is too often perhaps acquired by constant
toil, we shall find those faculties and sensibilities to which we
have referred, as belonging peculiarly to the farmer, and which
are the rudiments of a good agricultural education.

If our farmers would bear this in mind, if they would really
recognize how much more substantial are the simple tastes
which they acquire than the nervou.s pleasures of more active
life ; if they would remember how much more certain are their
moderate gains than the inflated promises of more hazardous
business, they would dedicate their sons with peculiar care to
the soil. Education, which is now considered a means of eleva-
tion above rural callings, would be considered merely as a part
of the preparation for a proper discharge of those callings.
Those glittering temptations which turn men from steady, hard,
and honest industry into what are deemed easier paths of wealth
and honors, would all be powerless. We should seldom wit-
ness that dismal picture, now too often seen, of a young man
toiling wearily and heavily in the pulpit or the school-room, in
the counting-house or at the bar, while his father's corn fields
are suffering for the want of his sturdy arm, and the world

FARMS. 129

has lo?-t a good farmer and gained nothing. But upon the
second nature which the boy lias acquired by his early associa-
tions, a system of judicious education would ingraft the princi-
ples of the best modes of successful practical agriculture. It
is for such as he that colleges of agriculture may with pro-
priety be endowed. It is to this class that the special training
of farm schools belongs, just as the clergyman, the lawyer, the
physician, each finds his proper place of culture. And it is by
filling agricultural schools and colleges from this class, that
their true advantages can be ascertained.

Take such a person as we have described, one who has been
filled with the spirit of agriculture, and has been taught to
believe that his occupation is as honorable and as safe as any
on ear til, one who feels that " more of labor, of vigilance, of
attention, of skill," and let us add, more of the virtues of pru-
dence, patience and fidelity ar(5 required to secure success in
his business than in almost any other on earth, and give him
the benefit of all that science and experience have done for
him. Lot him learn the nature of fertilizers and their appro-
priate application to soils. Let him know that he is in danger
of wasting the invisible gases which are created in his manure,
and which he must search after as for hidden treasure. Let
him learn that the very earth upon which he depends for a
living, must breathe " through every pore," in order to be
instinct with fruitful vitality, and that she grows poorer and
poorer, weaker and weaker, like the mind of man, on super-
ficial cultivation. Let him understand the currents of the
waters and how they are to be diverted away from their chilling
invasion of the tender roots of the young plants. Let him
be educated in the science of manures, of ploughing, of drain-
age, and there will be added to the natural impulses within
him, the strength of knowledge, by which he will feel a stronger
attachment to his native soil, and a greater power to subdue
and cultivate it. Let him be led to appreciate the true value
of a fruit tree, and to understand how to take care of it. Let
him learn what has been done to relieve labor by machinery,
what methods of agriculture are systematic, economical, and
as far as may be, profitable. Send this young man from your
agricultural school, where theory and practice have combined
to give him an education, and where the earliest impressions of
17

130 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

his life have been surrounded and adorned with valuable infor-
mation, back to the irregularly and half-cultivated farm of his
father, and let us imagine what would be the result. Is it un-
reasonable to suppose that the rough, untrimmed and decaying
orchards too often seen in this county, would begin to beautify
his farm and reward his toil? Will not all that misapplied
labor, Avhich more than any thing else impoverishes our farmers,
be systematized and made profitable ? Might we not expect to
see the scanty crops which are raked from reluctant hillsides,
and whi^h mock the cultivator, giving place to the luxurious
products brought forth from the teeming earth by deep cultiva-
tion and an intelligent application of fertilizing stimulants ?
Might we not be confident of seeing such farmers as those we
have described in this report, the rule and not the exception ?
If there has really been a " wasteful and exhausting system of
cultivation" in New England, under which our land has so
deteriorated, that, as has been said, " a thousand millions of
dollars would be required to repair the effects " of it, how can
we hope to bring our farms to their fertility, except by such a
cultivation of agricultural zeal and agricultural knowledge as
we have spoken of? A thou.sand millions of dollars improp-
erly applied would make the matter 'worse. A thousandth
part of that sum in the hands of a well-educated community,
would more than repair the damage, for agriculture rightly
directed is sure of its reward. The earth is never slow to re-
cognize her benefactor, and while she still meets man with
the " thorns and briars " of the primal curse, she has also a
generous response to the appeal made to her bounteousness by
" the sweat of his brow."

The cultivation of the earth is not the most discouraging and
profitless of all branches of business. Its accumulations may
be slow, and they may not be colossal ; but they are not over-
loaded with those obligations and necessities wdiich are. the
burdens of great fortunes, and which pinch as sharply as pov-
erty itself. The wealth which it pours into the lap of a nation,
comes not in swollen streams whose floods have drained a con-
tinent into arid deserts, but it flows down through a luxuriant
country, fertilized by its thousand rills, whose waters bless all
alike. In our farming population the extremes of poverty and
riches arc unknown. J'hc one iiundred and ten millions qi

FARMS. 131

dollars invested in. farms in Massachusetts, support a class ol
people with whom the anxieties of too many other occupations
are unknown ; and when we see among them those who make
farming profitable even with the light of experience alone, we
have a right to expect that a good agricultural education will
furnish a foundation to the business, which, while it elevates to
a higher standard, will still preserve that equality which already
exists. We believe that the farmers of Massachusetts conduce
vastly to the happiness of her people ; and we believe more-
over that they are entitled to all the benefits which practical
observations, science, education, the intelligence and industry
of an efficient and indefatigable Secretary of the State Board,
well-organized societies and a liberal legislation, can bestow.

In conclusion, we would recommend that the services of a
competent person be secured by the society, to collect such
information from the farmers of this county, as will serve the
educational purposes to which we have referred. The valuable
report made by the chairman of the committee last year, was
the commencement of a plan which would secure a record of
useful farming experience, without occupying the time of the
busy farmer. We would recommend that the plan be contin-
ued. The benefit to be derived from it may be estimated by
the avidity with which every practical farmer seizes hold of
such facts as were then collected. We know of no better mon-
ument that the society could leave behind it, than the accumu-
lation of knowledge thus incorporated into its Tra ntattions
There is no way by which those important pieces of informa-
tion which now lie hidden here and there among our farms,
can be drawn forth so thoroughly and economically as by this ;
and if any suggestion of ours should operate to impress upon
the society the value of practical knowledge, and the propriety,
of this method of obtaining it, we shall feel that " our labors
have not been in vain."

For the committee,

Geo. B. Loring.

132 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

HAMPSHIRE.

Statement of P. N. Richards.

The farm which I entered for premium consists of nine and
five-eighths acres, situated in Sunderland, at the north end of
the street, and within forty rods of tlie river. Six and one-half
acres are first rate meadow land, the remainder being more
elevated, is somewhat lighter.

I have cultivated as follows : Three and one -half acres in
rye — one acre of which was so badly killed as to yield but
little — one and a half in Indian corn,, three-fourths in broom-
corn, three and one-fourth in grass, the remainder occupied by
my buildings, garden and potatoes. As the grass lot was
designed for a pasture, when the second crop had started, I
turned my cows upon it.

I have aimed to improve the land rather than to secure the
largest possible crops, and have made constant efforts to increase
the quantity of manure made on the premises. I have, the pres-
ent year, made and applied twenty-four and one-fourth cords of
barn and compost manure, and besides have purchased and ap-
plied sixty bushels of ashes, and 900 lbs. of gypsum. The gyp-
sum— except a little for the broomcorn in the hill — with twenty
bushels of the ashes, was put upon the grass ground. The barn
and compost manure I apply to my planting ground, plougliing
in the long manure from six to nine inches deep, and harrowing
in the fine, at the same time sowing broadcast and harrowing
in forty bushels of ashes. As my land has been thoroughly
ashed in past cultivation, I used but few the present year. But
on land where none had been previously used, I apply from
twenty-five to fifty bushels to the acre, six or eight in the hill,
the rest sown broadcast and harrowed in before planting. For-
merly, I used more in the hill, but now think it unadvisable, as
it injures the roots of the corn.

I now use lime only in connection with muck, finding by
experiment that it will not pay. I have also satisfactorily
ascertained, that leached ashes are w^orth as much as luilcached
in the hill for the present crop, but for the succeeding, the
latter are preferable. 1 have experimented with salt, super-

FARMS. 133

pliospliatc and poudrctte, but tise none now, preftM'ing ashes to
any of tlicni.

The manure from my horse stable is thrown into tlic hog-
yard, which is under cover, and mixed with a liberal quantity
of muck or loam, and the wash from the house, — especially the
night soil, — thus making a large quantity of first rate manure.
My winter-made manure is wholly applied in the spring, when
I return to the barnyard a liberal supply of muck or loam,
taking care that there be a sufficient quantity to absorb all the
droppings from the cattle during the summer, while in the
yard, whicli is mostly covered with a roof. My stables are so
constructed that the urine runs back to the rear of the stable,
where it settles into a large quantity of loam under the floor.
During the warm part of the year, if any unpleasant scent
arises from my yard around the buildings, I immediately apply
a fresh supply of earth, with occasionally a dressing of gypsum.
In this way at the end of the year, I find myself in possession
of a large quantity of excellent manure.

I seed to grass by two methods; one by sowing on winter rye
grounds very early in the spring ; the other by removing the
corn from the ground when cut up, ploughing and harrowing
the same, then sowing the seed — using eight quarts Timothy
with ten pounds of western clover to the acre, harrowing or
bushing in. Had I wet ground, I should plough after haying,
and when dry spread on a coat of compost, and harrow in the
seed.

My team work is done with one horse, except ploughing, for
which I use two. The whole of my land is adjacent to my
buildings.

I have fattened four swine, making 1,020 lbs. of pork, feeding
upon a mixture of one-half corn, one-eighth rye, the rest broom
seed, together with the milk and slops from the kitchen.

My fodder, except straw, with most of the grain, is spent on
the place. For its consumption I add to my summer stock,
cows that are to come in the following spring, which I find the
most profitable stock I can keep.

The amount of farm products for the present year, when not
weighed or measured, is derived from the estimate of two dis-
interested neighbors, valued at what it would fetch if sold on
the place. Also the rent of the dwellings, garden, and keep-

134

MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

ing- the buildings and fences in repair. I have charged all
labor dune on the farm by the day, including team work,
together with board.

Products of the farm : —
121 bushels of corn at 83Jc., .
725 lbs. of broomcorn brush, at Gc,
2,310 lbs. of broomcorn seed, at Ic, .
25 buslicls of turnips, at 18|c.,

Quinces and apples, . . ' .
12 bushels of potatoes, at 50c.,
5|- tons of corn fodder, at $5,
7 tons of hay, one at $14, six at $10,
2| tons of straw, at $6,
70 bushels of rye, at $1,
By pasturing cows, .
Rent of the house and garden, .
100 one-horse loads manure, at 75c.,

Expenses : —
Labor, team and board.
All kinds of seed.
Repairs of fences and buildings,
Interest on assessment,
Taxes, .....
Manure of all kinds,

. $100

83

43

50

23

10

4

67

4

00

6

00

26

25

74

00

16

50

70

00

13

33

45

00

75

00

$502

18

. $115 56

7

11

31

00

. 147

00

17

00

86

75

$404 42

Net profit, $97.76, the sum left me for tending stock and
oversight of the place.

Sunderland, April 1, 1857.

HAMPDEN.

Statement of S. Pendleton.

In presenting my farm and garden for examination, I feel a

reluctance in calling your attention to the limited number of

acres which I cultivate ; and from the fact that, generally, none

but largo and decided model farms are considered worthy of

FARMS. 135

notice. But I shall deviate from the general rule, knowing by
experience and observation, that small farms make the largest
relative dividend. In conformity with these views, I submit a
sketch of my agricultural and horticultural operations the past
season. My farm contains eighteen acres, lying in the Connec-
ticut River Yalley.

In the year 1830, I commenced on three-fourths of an acre,
being a part of the original home lot of my father, consisting of
one acre. In the year 1837, I bought three acres, a lot adjoin-
ing my own. This lot had been cultivated for years, and had
not been ploughed for more than fifty years. It Avas in good
condition, having had a top-dressing of manure about every
year since my remembrance. The lot was ploughed the fall
previous, and planted to corn and potatoes the following spring.
The potatoes were very good ; the corn proved a failure, on
account of an early frost, but had as heavy a growth of stalks and
green corn as I ever saw. This lot I have cultivated for vege-
tables for the Chicopee market, from that time to the present.
I bought one other lot, adjoining this, consisting of four acres or
more. This was in a bad condition for cultivation, being very
uneven, and a portion of it swale grass ; but I went to work and
cleared it of its worthless apple trees, and spending over §<-10 in
grading and levelling, I soon brought the lot in shape to work
to good advantage. At the }5resent time, this lot is down to
grass, the remahider I cultivate to corn and potatoes. These
constitute my home lot. I have on these lots eighty-five apple
trees, tliat I have set from year to year, many of them being in
good condition ; also a good supply of pears, plums and cher-
ries. This year has been unfavorable for apples.

I have another lot about one-fourth of a mile east, which I pur-
chased at two different times, — one in the year 1843, containing
four acres and fifty rods. This lot was in a very bad state, cov-
ered with alders, briers, and a heavy coat of moss. I went to
work and cleared off the lirush, <fcc., and ploughed" it about
eight inches deep, and manured from year to year, and in course
of a few years, I raised from this ground over fifty bushels of corn
to the acre ; have cultivated this land to corn, potatoes, oats and
grass to the present time. This year being unfavorable, the
crop was poor. The potatoes were good.

The other lot adjoining I purchased a few years after, con-

136 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

taining about six acres, including swamp land. This lot was
in rather bad condition, but has been improved in appearance
since it came into my possession, and has paid for the labor
bestowed upon it. The swamp land I have reclaimed was 'all
over to alders, high bogs, and covered with water, the brook
being permitted to run all over the lot. I dug a deep ditch on the
side of the swamp, which brouglit the brook from the lot in the
ditch. I cleared the swamp of the alders, and mowed the same
for litter ; but the greatest value of this lot, is the muck it con-
tains, whicli on a part of it is six feet deep. I mean to get out
fifty or one hundred loads a year for composting. I cultivate
the upland to corn, potatoes and oats. This year, one and a half
acres to potatoes, about one and a half acres to cabbages, cucum-
bers, &c. ; one acre to pease, beans, turnips. For potatoes, I
used guano and plaster in the hill ; for cabbages, manure in the
hill ; for pease, beans and turnips, guano and plaster were used
in the drills. I put on about one hundred loads of muck for
top-dressing. The soil on my farm is a clay loam. I have thus
briefly submitted these statements for your consideration. I
might say more, but^enough for the present.

I shall now give you the produce of my farm and garden the
season past, to November 7, 1857.

I have sold from my garden, vegetables, mostly in

Chicopee, since July o, . . . . . $'312 12
Unsold at this time, 262 00

Amount, 1871 12

I do all my own marketing and collecting, keeping
account of every day's sale from the commencement.

Expenses of the farm this year : —

One man 7 months, at $15 per month, . $105 00

One man 2 months, $18, . . . . 36 00

By the day, &c., 15 00

My own work, 250 00

Horse and wagon, . . . . . 50 00

Plaster and guano, . . . . . 30 00

Garden seeds, <&c., . . . . . 15^ 00

FARMS.

137

Team work hired, . . . . . 19 00

Taxes on land, . . . . . 16 00
Interest on land, including swamp land,

at $100 per acre, 108 00

Profit,

$!334 00
1240 12

I sliall, in conclusion, give you the produce of three-fourths
of an acre of land, in j)case, squashes, cabl)ages, &c.

50 bushels pease, early, average price ■'^1.25 per

bushel, .....
10 bushels marrowfat pease, at 75 cts.
600 cabbages, .....
2 tons marrow squashes,
2^ tons crookneck squashes, .
G bushels tomatoes,

Expenses : —
Ploughing,

Planting, hoeing, &c.,
Picking pease.
Interest on land and taxes,

$62 50

7 50

18 00

50 00

55 00

4 00

1197 00

$1 00

8 00

7 50

10 00

$26 50

$170 50

CjiiC'OPEE, November 7, IboT.

NOIJFOLK.

Report of the Visiting Cummittee.

Early in the season this committee sent circulars to the
trustees of the society in all the towns of the county, in which
circulars they offered their services to examine whatever might
be presented, and to meet the members of the society for dis-
cussion and mutual information upon any subject relating to
the interests of agriculture in the county. From several of the
towus favorable answers were received, and at appointed times
18

138 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

tlie committee fulfilled the task they had assumed. They were
cordially welcomed and hospitably entertained by the trustees
and other members, and every facility Avas afforded them to
learn the condition of the agricultural interests in the several
towns. They could not but be gratified in noticing the evi-
dences of thrift, order, comfort and intelligence in many farmers'
homes, where the people are seen to the best advantage. The
results of labor are here found in the tranquil enjoyment of life
under circumstances as favorable as usually fall to the lot of
mankind. There are but few jiositions more desirable than that
of a farmer, who owns the soil he cultivates, and is capable, by
his education and means, of developing its resources. He
has a |)owerful and permanent motive to labor, in the hope of
leaving his farm in increased fruitfulness to his children.

To give the society an idea of the impression which was made
upon us l)y our visits to a few scores of farmers, we make the
following brief extracts from our notes, not with a view to crops
raised or to specific improvements, — these will be noticed fur-
ther on in this report, — but to convey our general ideas of the
character of farmers and appearance of farms at our examina-
tion of the various premises.

Mr. C, a thinking, reading, careful farmer, is making grad-
ual but thorough improvements in fields, walls, buildings and
stock. Had a true farmer-like reception in his pleasant home ;
also an instructive interview with seven or eight townsmen.
Made and answered inquiries, found a good spirit, and obtained
four new members for the society.

Mr. P., a gentlemanly, shrewd and careful farmer, who
improves cautiously, and makes money.

Mr. P., a thriving farmer, reclaims meadows, has fine fences
and buildings ; is a hard-working, judicious, calculating man,
with much of the genuine Yankee spirit.

Mr. M. cultivates for market; shows good judgment and skill.
Has a true help-meet in a wife, a remarkable woman, Avho takes
care of the garden, and raises flowers, vegetables and fruits.
No pretensions, but well-managed fiirm and good crops.

Mr. N. exhibits great knowledge and care of trees and vege-
tables ; has the best garden we have seen, with native and foreign
fruits. Every thing here is for home comfort and enjoyment.

Mr. D. has boon improving his place for many years, and

FARMS. 139

presents in its general appearance and in the abundance of its
products, a strong motive to young men to imitate liis example.

P. S. — This town has many line farms and good men, not
enough appreciated.

^Ii-s. M. carries on a large farm with good judgment and suc-
cess ; makes improvements, and brings up her boys to work;
has great enterprise and industry.

Mr. A. is a skilful and prosperous farmer ; has made great
progress within ten years ; gives every indication of honest
work and good management ; deeply interested in the pros^
perity of our society.

Mr. B., a fine specimen of a young, diligent and thriving far-
mer ; has an excellent orchard of five hundred and fifty trees ;
his farm a first rate school for a Yankee boy to learn the trade.
Such men honor agriculture.

Mr. M., a genuine New England cultivator, whose grounds
exhibit good management and yield large crops ; makes careful
experiments ; every thing in prime order within doors and
without ; fences well-kept, implements abundant and of the best
quality. Passed a pleasant and instructive day in this town,
which has as many good farms and farmers as any in the
county.

Mr. K. has excellent and well-cultivated land, new and con-
venient buildings, orchard of five hundred trees promising well.
This farm is a credit and benefit to the town.

Mr. S., an enterprising farmer, who reads, thinks, experi-
ments, keeps exact accounts, and goes on cautiously and with
good results. Farm small, but well tilled and clean.

P. S. — This town has some capital fiirms and cultivators, not
half so well known and appreciated as they should be.

Messrs. M. have fine farms, not large but well tilled ; men of
enterprise, intelligence and skill. The example of such men is
a benefit to the whole community.

Mr. M., a young farmer, who improves his place with much
judgment, and gives promise of unusual success.

Mr. G. has good buildings, garden, fruit and vegetables.
Every thing within and around neat and comfortable. Prime
specimen of prosperous farmer.

Mr. A. does not believe farming profitable generally, but acta
as if he did ; reclaims meadows and raises great crops of grass;

140 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

and in every department shows judgment, fine stock and fair
crops.

Messrs. S. own and cultivate a market farm; as good exam
ples_as this county furnishes of industry, order, neatness and
success. Farm small, hut thoroughly worked and profitahle ;
probably more profitable than it would be if twice as large.

We might multiply such extracts from our notes. There are
hundreds of similar farms and farmers in the county. We
have learned to hold in high respect, the men who reflect so
much credit on this noble vocation, and show that on our soil
persevering industry, guided by intelligence, can produce results
that compare favorably with those of any part of the Common-
weal tli. Wo have a much higher opinion of the farms and of the
skill and industry of the farmers in Needham, Dover, Medfield,
Mcdway, Franklin and other towns in that section of the county,
than we had before. We saw many farms, where the manage-
ment would do credit to any part of the country, and where
the example set is doing a silent yet certain work in promoting
improvements that add much yearly to the productiveness ot
the farms. But we are prompted to add, that the improvements
already made should be regarded as incentives to greater efforts.
The much that is done is by no means the measure of what may
be done. Especially in the raising of stock, this part of the
county has uncommon facilities, which do not seem to be fully
improved. Its good pastures and mowings might be made to
increase the extent of its grain fields. We are scarcely satisfied
with what we so much admire, so impressed are we with the
conviction that even better things are within the reach of these
farmers. On the other hand, we see many instances of poor
farming, poor in view of the progress of mankind in other pur-
suits. In manufactures and the mechanic arts, men would
soon fail if they exhibited the same indifference to fundamental
principles and scientific processes, which characterize some of
the cultivators of the soil, who walk in the old paths without
so much as an inquiry whether, there are new and better, who
remain stationary or are retrograding amid the general marvels
of the age.

The best evidences of progressive improvement among the
farmers of our county are, first, an almost every where expressed
desire for it and f^iitli that it may be attained. Few arc found

FARMS. 141

who do not believe in the necessity and the practicability of
making their land more productive with the same amount of
labor ; who do not endeavor to apply, more or less, the princi-
ples and the results of science to the cultivation of the soil ;
who are not willing to be instructed and to profit by the suc-
cessful efforts of others. To foster this spirit is one of the chief
aims of our society.

Second. The superior information exhibited by practical
farmers on topics connected with their business. This commit-
tee learned much more than they imparted from their inter-
course with the cultivators of the soil, who showed unquestionable
proofs of increased reading, reflection, and careful experiment-
ing ; who could explain the facts and the philosophy of growing
crops, raising cattle, and the application of manures. Such
men uniformly have a good opinion of their calling. They
have too much self-respect to degrade it by unworthy and
disparaging comparisons witli other pursuits. They feel that
it is an honorable employment, Avhich, by judicious manage-
ment and economy, can be made profitable. Without these
opinions they could scarcely follow it themselves or recommend
it to their children.

Third. Tiie increase of books and papers devoted to agricul-
ture. Farmers are not afraid, or ashamed, or disinclined to
learn from the observations and the experience of others. For
the same reason that they would imitate the successful example
of a neighbor so far as it was applicable to their circumstances,
they will adopt the same improvement if recorded in a book,
and especially if the same result has followed from many
recorded experiments. Good farmers have no quarrel with
theorists ; for, while they know that most of the truths in agri-
culture are the results of practice, of trials made for ages by
men who knew nothing of the philosophy which underlaid
them, yet they are sufficiently intelligent to admit that they can
work more successfully as well as more satisfactorily if they can
understand that philosophy — if they can trace eifects to their
causes — if they can ascertain the precise connection between
various soils and the crops that would flourish best upon them
— if they could determine the exact value of each kind of
manure and the land to which it was most adapted. These
and similar things are what they desire to know. Hence they

142 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

study agricultural books and papers, and while they receive the
results of others' studies and labors with characteristic caution,
they are not slow to adopt wliatever i)romises to be useful ; for,
if pecuniary gain is their great motive to labor, they are aware
that they must choose the true principles of culture, and follow
the certain laws of nature as those laws have been ascertained
by careful observation and expounded by science. They are
disposed to ask not with how little information we can get
along, but what is the best method of reaping the reward of
labor bestowed upon the earth ?

There are many, substantially, of this kind, who admit that
" there are no accidents in nature. What we fancy such are
the offspring of ignorance." Agriculture, like every thing
else, is governed by certain laws, tlie right knowledge and
observance of which are the only conditions of success.

The fourth evidence of the progress of agriculture in the
county, is the actual increase of the value of farms. "We do
not refer solely to cash value in the market, in these times of
pecuniary embarrassment, but to tliis fact, tliat in consequence
of the better tillage they have received, they are capable of pro-
ducing^ larger crops in future. Any one familiar with the gen-
eral appearance of the county knows that important additions
have been made to their value in reclaimed meadows, in im-
proved mowings, in better pastures and implements ; that is,
in the means of making them more capal)le of production here-
after. A part of the profits have been invested in tlie business
for the purpose of securing a greater income. This is the
policy of good farmers, and distinguishes them from those who
skin the land for the largest immediate returns.

Take an example that covers a long term. No doubt there
are scores of such, but one has frequently come under our
notice that deserves to be mentioned as an argument that under
certain conditions, farming is as profitable as any other business
employing the same amount of capital and labor. A man
whom we will call Mr. C, upwards of forty years ago bought a
farm of between thirty and forty acres. The land was ex-
hausted, the fences down, the buildings dilapidated. He paid
only a part of the price, and began in debt. He laid good
walls, dug drains, cleared up meadows, and made mowing fields
where bushes had grown. He kept a horse and four cows, and

FARMS. 14a

yoinif^ stock. He brought up eight cliildren well, taught them
to work, and gave them the best literary education the town
could supply. They are all well settled, thrivmg and respectable
citizens. He has added to his farm both tillage and woodland,
and put money in his purse besides. This was done by hard
work, temperance, and economy without meanness. Our friend
and his equally worthy wife have lived useful and happy lives,
and in a vigorous old age sit under their own vines and apple
trees, and enjoy the friendship and confidence of the community.
Fortunately this is not a \;ery rare instance. Norfolk county
and New England can show many such men and homes ;
men whose character is our glory, — homes, the abodes of peace,
whence are radiated into society the best influences of morality
and religion.

We estimate at its full value the impuke given to agriculture
by rich and enterprising men, who cultivate large farms and
make farming attractive. Many such persons, from other walks
of life, of enlarged views, have been drawn into the country by
the charms of rural occupations. We have our full share of
these valued coworkers. They establish funds and premiums :
they plant trees and hedges ; they introduce the best cattle
and implements, and new varieties of fruits and vegetables ;
they experiment with manures, in which their successes and
failures are alike profitable to the community. But they do
not till the land nor contend with the difficulties of the laborer
or the small land holder. They do not depend on the proceeds
of farming to maintain their families. It is to them a pleasant
and healthy pastime. But in the example of the working-
farmer given above, there is encouragement to the young man,
who shudders at the prospect of years of labor and looks long-
ingly to the West. It is a hard life, yet not painful, not
unpleasant, not without many compensations. Is it not better
to live at home, in a land of schools and churches, and among
old friends, and to work for these advantages, than to encoun-
ter the sickness and to experience the inconvenience inseparable
from the settlement of a new country ?

The working farmers of this county, who annually increase
the value of their farms, do not depreciate agriculture by rep-
resenting it as an undesirable employment. A comparison of

144 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

any number of snch farmers with an equal number of men who
started with them in business as mechanics or traders, will show
that tlie balance is not always with the latter. Great fortunes
are not made, but a comfortable support, exempted from the
fluctuations incident to mercantile pursuits. May we not hope
that the present financial difficulties will turn the attention
of young men from the over-crowded paths of trade to the more
natural, and in the long run equally profitable business of farm-
ing ; more natural because agriculture is the foundation of the
support of a being sprung from the earth and living upon its
bosom ; equally profitable, as may be proved by a comparison
of the results of variou-s forms of industry extended over a
term of years. Let them bring the same enterprise and skill
to farming, which they display in other lines of business, and
rural life will be attractive and delightful.

The potato crop has almost every where suffered from rot, and
from the unproductiveness which the disorder has occasioned. A
great variety of experiments have been made to avoid the rot,
and to increase the crop, with generally unsatisfactory results.
It seems to be tolerably well established, that strong and rich
manure promotes too rapid fermentation, and while it increases
the growth of the tubers causes them to decay. It may also be
stated that potatoes have usually done best on light land, old
pastures, or fields recently reclaimed from the forest. Also?
that potatoes planted early succeed better than those planted
later. Perhaps the same result would be attained if they were
planted very late ; for if the object of early plantuig is to secure
cool, moist weather, that may be had in the fall as well as in
the spring. The idea is that the disease is caused by rust, and
that rust is occasioned by warm and sultry weather, and the
object of very early or very late planting is to avoid the rust at
a time when the vines are most easily affected by it. Whether
any importance is to be attached to this view, every farmer
must determine from his own experience.

One of our most judicious cultivators planted his potatoes with-
out any manure and covered the ground with meadow hay and
straw. This prevents the growth of weeds and keeps the land
from drying in warm weather, and saves the labor of hoeing.
Another saturates the straw with brine and thinks it not only

FARMS. 145

promotes the growth of the tubers, but prevents the rot.
Another puts ashes and lime in the hill, with excellent results,
using no other manure. Another ploughs in barnyard manure
and puts none in the hill. Another showed a peat-meadow
planted with potatoes. The land being too soft for the feet of
animals he dug holes, put in each a handful of stable-manure,
and with little labor had an immense crop, at the rate of five
hundred bushels to the acre, and this without rot.* Another
in strong, rich land, planted black Chenangoes, with strawy
manure in the hills, and the potatoes rotted badly. Another
planted with a handful of horn shavings in each hill, and raised
a good, sound crop. Another sows ashes and plaster broadcast
over the tops when they nearly cover the ground, and believes
that this treatment prevents the rot. Others plough in guano
for the same purpose. It is generally thought that guano, lime,
phosphates, horn shavings and other similar manures have a
less injurious effect than strong stable or barnyard manure, —
though even those must be well mixed with the earth and not
suffered to come in direct contact with the seed.

No kind of potato is safe from disease. We hear it stated
every year that this or that sort of potato has not rotted. That
may be true for a single year, or for a few years, but in process
of time, every kind degenerates in quality and yields a smaller
crop. This season, the black Chenangoes and Davis seedlings,
formerly the soundest varieties, have proved no exception to
the general rule. We have seen no reason to modify our
opinion expressed in a report several years ago, that the potato,
from long cultivation and the widest possible departure from its
natural habits, had commenced a process of deterioration which
could not be prevented in any kinds now under culture.

* Siuce tlie above was written, the Patent Office Report on Agriculture
has come to hand. From a liasty perusal, we judge it to be the most valuable
volume that has issued from that office. On page 197, in an essay on fertiliz-
ers, by Simon Brown, is the following passage : " Muck is suitable for any
lands, and may be used to advantage even on its own native beds. Drain it so
that no water shall stand permanently within fifteen inches of the top ; plough
and add alkalies in the form of ashes, lime or jalaster, and it will produce
abundantly of almost any crop of the farm. I have seen garden vegetables
growing luxuriantly on it ; and since the rot has affected the potato, that
indispensable esculent has been raised on original muck beds with better suc-
cess than on any other land."
19

146 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

"We liavo no expectation of finding a substitute for the potato,
and therefore we look for its continued cultivation under such
modifications of the present practices as future experience may
show to be advisable. It has been suggested that the Chinese
jam might be raised with profit ; but the experiments that have
come to our knowledge furnish little encouragement. The fol-
lowing note from one of our careful cultivators, will show what
has been his success : —

Stoughton, Oct. 19, 1857.

Rev, J. M. Merrick — Dear Sir : — I received your note of
inquiry in relation to my success in the cultivation of the dios-
corea, or Chinese yam.

My experience has been too limited perhaps to form a correct
opinion of the value of this tuber for cultivation ; but from the
experience I have had, I cannot recommend it very highly. I
first purchased a seed tuber, about the size of a pea, in the spring
of 1855. This was planted about the first of May, in tlie open
ground, in fair soil, not rich, and produced a tuber about a foot
in length and an inch in thickness at ths largest end. About
the middle of May, 1856, this was cut in pieces about an inch
long and planted in a ricli, deep soil. These made their appear-
ance above ground, after a considerable time, and were about
half of them hoed up by my workman, he not knowing what
they were. The plants from those remaining produced tubers
varying from six to twenty inches in length, and from the size
of a pipe stem to two inches in thickness. These roots were cut
in the same way, and planted about the same time as last
year, with the same results ; many of the plants not appearing
above ground until late in the season.

Tlie objections to the cultivation of tlie plant are, first, the
difficulty in starting it. It must be started in a hot-bed, to
secure a decent sized tuber. Second, the trouble of preparing
the soil to sufficient depth. Third, the great labor of digging
them, the largest part of the tuber being at the bottom, while
one-half or two-thirds of the upper part is little larger than a
pipe-stem ; and last, though not least, their poor quality, as
compared with the potato for table use, they being watery and
nearly tasteless.

With these objections, I think they cannot be used as a sub-

FARMS. 147

stitute for the potato, even if tlie potato should be entirely lost
by rot.

The tuber, like the potato, might by cultivation be improved,
but the manner of its growth would certainly be a great objec-
tion to its general cultivation.

I will send you some tubers the first opportunity.
Very respectfully, yours,

Lucius Clapp.

In various parts of the county sweet potatoes have been raised
of good quality and in remunerating quantities. Instead of
detailing the processes of different persons, we prefer to annex
the following letter from Mr Loring Johnson, whose long resi-
dence at the South, and whose skill in matters of gardening,
enable him to speak with confidence : —

Walpole, Oct. 24, 186T.

Rev. J. M. Merrick — Dear Sir: — In answer to your inquiries
as to the mode of culture and the yield of the sweet potato, I
would say that I have cultivated this crop to a limited extent
for the past three years, and have secured a yield of from 150
to 200 bushels per acre ; varying in quantity as well as quality
with the season — one of high average temperature and compara-
tively dry, suiting them best.

A light sandy loam with a southern aspect, is best adapted to
this crop. The ground should be prepared with a dressing of
well-rotted stable manure, ploughed in. If any thing further
is needed, apply ashes to the hill, either before or after planting
the slips.

As the tubers strike down to a considerable depth, the soil
should be worked deep, and the hills elevated a foot or more
before setting out the plants. The hills should not be less than
four feet apart.

The sweet potato succeeds best when raised from slips or
sprouts. These can be obtained in the market, or raised from
seed potatoes usually to be found at seed stores in the spring.

Potatoes from which slips are to be raised should be placed
in a hot-bed, between the first and the fifteenth of April, about
one inch apart, covered at least two inches deep with light loam
or mould, and kept moist but not wet.

148 MASSACIIUSETT.S AGRICULTURE.

.Slips, wlien from four to six inclies liigli, are ready for trans-
planting. The larger ones can easily bo drawn from the h»ed
without disturbing those not yet grown, by gently pressing the
ground with one hand, and drawing the slip with the other.

Tlie most suitable time for transplanting is between the 20th
of May and the 1st of June. Three slips are placed in each
hill, or if planted in drills place them about a foot apart. The
vines will begin to run early in July, at which time the hills
should be cleared of weeds and put in good order. After this
they will need no further culture.*

Sweet potatoes should be dug soon after the first severe frost,
and if intended for keeping, should be packed in thoroughly
dried sand, and placed in a warm and dry situation. In this
way they may be kept till the latter part of winter.
Very respectfully yours,

L. JOHNSOX.

Of Indian corn, the average crop through the county lias been
a little less than usual. Wet weather and early frost damaged
the corn in some places. Some seed rotted in the ground, and
the fields were planted a second time. Still there have been
yields from fifty to more than a hundred bushels to the acre ;
and the general opinion is undoubtedly correct, that no other
crop is so well adapted to our climate and soil. Every farmer
believes himself competent to grow corn to the best advantage.
Suggestions from us may, therefore, seem superfluous. Nor do
we claim superior wisdom or practical skill. But familiar with

* Tlie Committee has been favored with the following note from Mr. E. C.
Larrabee, of Salem : —

" In a sandy soil I set, the present year, between four and fire hundre<^l slips
on a piece of ground ten feet by one hundred and twentj-, from which I
obtained a little more than two barrels. I used horse manure and ashes. La.st
year my potatoes were considered, by com j)etent judges, to be equally as goo^l
as those from the South. This season they were not quite so goo'l as usual, in
consequence of the cool and wet weather."

The success of Mr. Caleb Bates, of Plj-mouth county, is well known. In a
recent circular he says : •• In flavor, the pxjtatoes raised in Plymouth county
are sweeter, on an average, than those brought from the South, as hundrerJa
will testify. In yielding, they far snrf>as3 the common potato, pro^Jucing from
three to five hundred bushels to the acre, with good treatment." Mr. Batei>'
address is Kingston, Mass.

FARMS. 149

the practices of the best farmers in the county, and with differ-
ent results, we may be excused for offering one or two hints,
not of things new but of things neglected. Every one knows
that corn is a rank feeder, extending its roots in all directions
where it finds nutriment. Hence the necessity of deep plough-
ing and thorough pulverization of the soil. Subsoil ploughing
has been found l)cneficial by supplying moisture in dry weather,
and furnishing room for the extension of the roots. The more
thoroughly the manure is mixed with the soil, the better chance
has the corn of exhausting its benefits. We have noticed several
fields, this season, that yielded on good ground scarcely twenty
bushels to the acre, owing to imperfect ploughing, which left
the soil in lumps, and to coarse, unreduced manure. It was
difiicult to cover the manure, and much of it was exposed to the
air and sun. " Pulverization of the earth, and the mingling
and perfect incorporation of the manures with the soil, may be
regarded as the fundamental principle of judicious and success-
ful culture " of this crop. Under any circumstances, in the
barnyard or in the field, it must be considered bad management
to let manure lie unsheltered. Its exposure to sun, rain, frost
and wind, must diminish its value by carrying away its most
fertilizing properties. The use of coarse manure for corn, so
coarse that it must be partially wasted, is the more to be regret-
ted because that which is best adapted to this crop, barn-
yard and pigsty manure, is produced at great cost, and but
few farmers have more of it than they need for this very
purpose.

When guano is used with corn, the necessity of the finest
pulverization of the soil is obvions, that the manure may come
into the closest possible contact with all the soil ; and thus
while more nutriment is drawn from the atmosphere, less is
wasted from that which we apply to the earth. When we
remember that ploughing is the primary step in the whole busi-
ness, and that it is of the first importance that the air, and the
rain, and the heat of the sun may thoroughly and easily find
access to the soil, — that crops having tubers may have ample
room and facilities of expansion, and that corn will grow nearly
as far beneath the surface as above it if permitted, it will not
be easy to overestimate the attention that should be given to
this subject.

150 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

Wg have heard of a singular experiment in the choice of seed.
A fanner planted only the corn from the small end of the ears,
choosing such as were well filled out ; then only from the mid-
dle of tlie ears ; then only from the big ends. After ten years,
he found that in seven years of the ten the crop from the small
ends was the largest and best.

During the past season, the corn-planter has come considera-
bly into use in this county. One of our friends finds it satisfac-
tory on mellow, well-tilled land, dropping the corn evenly.
Another says, that in some hills he had eight or ten grains, in
others one or two. Upon inquiry, we found his land was very
rocky and uneven. One farmer says : "I regard the introduc-
tion of the corn-planter among the most valuable improvements
in the culture of this crop. This machine immensely economizes
expense and time." It is obvious, however, that it can be used
to most advantage on smooth, well-tilled land, and where the
manure is ploughed in. Is not this an argument for bringing
land into such a condition ?

When for any reason a farmer is convinced that he may with
safety and profit leave the beaten track and lay out a new path
for himself, he usually encounters the ridicule of his neighbors.
Yet the latter are constantly receiving good impressions, and
before they are aware of it, they are found practicing the very
things which they condemn. Perhaps this is more apparent in
the corn crop than any other. It was asserted a few years ago
that it was impossible to raise a lumdred bushels of corn to the
acre, by men of the greatest experience in farming. And when
the fact could no longer be denied, it was attributed to a combi-
nation of favorable circumstances, which might never occur
again. This year there are four fields in the town of Milton
that yield more than a hundred bushels each per acre, and one
that has produced, after the most accurate tests of the commit-
tee on grain crops, one hundred and twenty bushels. There
were also many in other parts of the county which looked very
promising, the exact yields from which we have not learned.
Facts of this kind are a sufficient answer to alleged impossi-
bilities.

Within a few years the practice has been revived of raising
wheat in this county. Every real practical farmer ought to

FARMS. 151

raise every tiling towards the support of his family, which he
can raise without actual loss. Possibly in some one year wheat
may fail ; but in four years out of five success may be considered
certain. The flour may not be as white as that from the West,
but it is as sweet, and it is the farmer's own. By comparing
the returns from Norfolk county with those from the State of
New York, we find that the average crop here is full as large as
there. We read of yields of seven, ten, twelve, twenty bushels
per acre, and in unusual cases of forty bushels. With us the
yield is rarely less than twenty, and in one instance it has gone
as high as thirty-two. Mr. L. Clapp, of Stoughton, has averaged
twenty-two bushels of spring wheat for four years. Capt.
Mason, of Medway, has averaged twenty bushels for ten years.
T. Clarke, Esq., of Walpole, has this season raised excellent
wheat at the rate of twenty-five bushels to the acre. We
think he might have had five more if he had seeded higher.
Of course every farmer must judge of the necessary amount
of seed from the character and condition of his land. Perhaps
the average will be from five to six pecks. We have heard of
several good yields in the lower part of the county, the details
of which have not yet reached us.

Barley is not extensively raised in this county. A few good
crops have come to our knowledge. It is considered by some
a very profitable crop for hogs, and its straw brings more than
half the price of English hay. Barley is also highly esteemed
as fodder, when cut at the right season. It is a powerful feeder
and requires a warm, strong soil, well manured, with a previ-
ous hoed crop, and kept clean. Rank, green manure should
be cautiously used, for it tends to cause the barley to run to
straw, and increases its liability to rust. From two to three
bushels of seed must be sown early in the spring. The crop
must be gathered in good season, because if delayed, it loses
by shelling out.

Our grass crop was large and good, though seriously injured
by rain during the latter part of the hay-making season. It is
gratifying to observe in every direction, improvements in the
culture of grass fields, especially these two ; first, the reclaim-
ing and seeding of meadows ; second, the breaking up and

152 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

cultivating grass land every tliird or fourth year, instead of
eking out poor crops by top-dressings. Much is also done in
raising pure seed, by which we avoid the weeds and foul grasses
that are introduced by careless cultivation. Those who are
careful of the health of their horses take pains to extirpate
weeds from grass fields. Next to thistles, perhaps the most
troul)lesome is white weed. This is found in great abundance
in the lower part of the county. It is occasionally seen in the
upper and western parts ; but the farmers consider it for their
interest to extirpate it, cither by pulling it up by the roots or
by frequent ploughing. Cattle will eat it freely, if cut early in
the season, but it generally blooms before the grass is fit to be
cut. Grass being the most easily managed and most profitable
of our crops, whatever hinders its growth or impairs its quality
should engage our earnest attention.

The principal improvement in the cultivation of grass that
is now attracting the attention of the agricultural public, is
drainage. This has long been practiced on a large scale in
England, and with such success, that in thousands of instances
it has doubled the productiveness of land at a comparatively
small expense. Not swamps and meadow lands alone, but
ordinary uplands, a large majority of which are found to repay
the labor and expense of thorough draining. Every farmer is
aware that cold water standing around the roots of his plants
will kill them. They are killed in immense numbers, every
year, by this cause ; and tlie evils of a backward season or of
an early frost may be traced, in many cases, to the water which
freezes upon the surface or stagnates below it. And none the
less in our hot climate than in cooler ones ; for, although Ave
are liable to extremes of heat and drought, yet the average
.quantity of rain falling here is greater than in England, where
rainy days are more numerous.

We do not propose to enter into the details of this subject —
neitbiCr our practical knowledge or skill justifies such an under-
taking. But we wish to call the attention of our society to the
experiments and observations of others eminently qualified to
instruct us. In the Patent Office Report for 1850, just pub-
lished, is an Essay upon Drainage, by the Hon. Henry F.
French, of Exeter, N. H. This essay is a valuable contribu-
tion to agricultural literature.

FARMS. 153

Wc will briefly state the several points that arc illustrated by
the author. From these it will be seen that a new and wide
field is opened, that promises to be productive of the greatest
benefit. According to Mr. F., the advantages of drainage are
these : That it deepens the soil, furnishing room for the roots
of cultivated plants ; that it promotes pulverization ; that it pre-
vents surface-washing ; that it lengthens the season for labor
and vegetation by causing the ground to dry off early in the
spring ; that it prevents freezing out, by leaving the root-bed of
the plants so free from water that they retain their natural
position ; that it prevents drought by increasing the capacity of
the soil for capillary attraction ; that it warms the soil, increas-
ing its temperature often as much as fifteen degrees ; that it
supplies air to the roots ; that it promotes absorption of fertil-
izing substances from the air ; that it improves the quality of
crops. After the discussion of each of these points, ]\Ir. F.
adds a chapter on the methods of drainage, the whole forming
a complete and important addition to our knowledge. We
commend it to the careful study of farmers. By cheap and
cautious trials they can easily test its value.

Millet is fast coming into use as food for cattle and horses,
which eat it readily. A livery stable keeper, who raised a large
crop this season, informs us that he finds it profitable, both in
regard to its nutritious properties and the facility with which it
may be grown. It is cultivated in the same manner as oats,
and should be cut before the seed is perfectly ripe. A western
farmer has this year raised a hundred acres of millet.

In travelling over the county we cannot but notice the great
want of manure, and the want of a knowledge that it may be
bought and used in many cases with profit. It is believed that
much time which is now partially lost, might be advantageously
employed in increasing the compost heaps by the addition of
mud, peat, leaves, straw, lime, ashes and any thing capable of
decoAiposition. A large part of the land in this county does
not produce more than half of what it might do were it well
majiured. One farmer says : " All my outlays for manure pay
great interest on the amount invested." Is not this the usual
experience ? All admit that the principal drawback upon farm-

20

154 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTUI?E.

ing is the want of sufficient fertilizers, and how to obtain them
should be our main study. While the value of guano is
acknowledged, — especially on light lands or old and worn out
soils for the purpose of recovering their exhausted energies, —
still, the main reliance of our farmers ought to be on their own
barnyard and pigsty ; not only because this comes more directly
within the scope of their means, but also because it is believed
that their home-made manure, olitained by keeping live stock,
is better adapted to raising grains and grasses, and is more use-
ful in preventing the exhaustion of the soil. The value of this
may be greatly increased by keeping in the barnyard an abun-
dant supply of meadow mud, which is found on almost every
farm. The contents of the privy vault, and soap-suds and
other wastes of the kitchen should be incorporated with the
heap. The lime, or chloride, or plaster, or charcoal, which are
used to render innoxious the gases of the privy or barn, are of
exceeding value as fertilizers, and a liberal use of them will
prove profitable. But the meadow mud, which can be had
cheap and in large quantities, is the main absorbent of the fer-
tilizing properties of other manures ; at least, it is that on
which our farmers may chiefly rely. Nature has provided it in
abundance, and experience has shown that no other thing involv-
ing the same expense, is so advantageously applied to the land.
In the fall and early part of winter it can be drawn into the
barnyard, frozen, pulverized, mixed and trodden into the stable
manure by cattle. It not only retains the fertilizing gases that
would otherwise escape, but it brings into activity the elements
of the soil with which it is united. We cannot too earnestly
urge upon our farmers the importance of increasing in every
way their stock of manure. He who uses the most manure
can keep the largest number of animals. He who keeps the
largest number of animals can raise the most grain, and main-
tain his land in the l)est condition.

Of special fertilizers, we have little to add to our former
reports. Guano still maintains its reputation. One of our cor-
respondents, whose statement was published in last year's report,
writes : " My experiment Avith guano on grass land for this the
fourth year since its application, has yielded by careful weight
just twice as much as the piece adjoining which had none."
This is in accordance with the testimony of another intelligent

FARMS. 155

farmer, who informs us that the good eifects of guano are dis-
tinctly visible after five years.

An experiment with salt and lime mixed with meadow mud,
on a pretty large scale, has been made this fall by one of our
farmers. The result must be looked for in other years, thougji
it is right to add that the grain that was sown came up well,
and now looks flourishing. A hundred bushels of Turks Island
salt were used in this trial.

In some parts of the county the crop of apples was very small,
chiefly in those towns where the least attention has been paid
to fruit-growing ; in others, the crop was good. The bloom
was full, but the wet and cold weather which immediately fol-
lowed caused the young fruit to blast and fall. Some persons
had thought that they perceived a tendency towards a general
deterioration of apple orchards. Fortunately the farmers do
not participate in this idea. Not a single fact strikes the trav-
eller more agreeably in every town, than the sight of young and
flourishing orchards, giving promise of future harvests. We
could refer to many farms which, within ten years, have been
iijjfreased in value to the extent of a thousand dollars solely by
tfie planting of orchards. There is no danger of overdoing this
business. The demand is steady and increasing for good apples
at remunerating prices. One farmer infers from his experience
that an acre of apple-orchard, well tended, will yield more profit
than four acres of grass. All fruit that is not fit for market or
for consumption in the family, may be turned to advantage in
feeding stock.

The soil for young orchards should be strong, — no matter if
rocky, — ploughed deep, well drained, and kept in high cultiva-
tion for several years. The most thrifty we have seen are in
very rocky land that had been used for a long time as pasture.
Our experienced fruit-growers recommend large holes for the
young trees, filled with fine compost and rich soil, but never
with rank and green manure. A common error is to set the
trees too near to each other. In favorable circumstances they
spread rapidly, and if placed nearer than thirty feet of each
other, will in a few years interfere. A mulching of leaves or
straw is advisable in dry seasons. Too much care cannot be

156 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

taken that the land bo well drained, for the cold water stag-
nating about the roots is peculiarly injurious.

Nothing is more fatal to an orchard than the slovenly prun-
ing we often see practised by inexperienced hands, — large
branches hacked off, long stumps left to imbibe moisture, and
cartloads of limbs carried off at once. It would seem to be the
dictate of common sense that trees should be pruned moderately
every year, to remove decayed limbs or an undergrowth of
sprouts, and to admit the sun and air into the tops. In our hot
and dry climate, however, this last purpose may easily be carried
too far. The details of this process, as well as the fit time for
the operation, may best be learned in the school of some expe-
rienced nursery man or fruit grower, of whom no county has
more or better than ours.

The attractive exhil)ition of pears, for which our fair is so
celebrated, provoked the question. Why do we find so few pears
in most of our towns ? Nearly all are raised in three or four
towns, while in the others scarcely a pear tree is to bo seen.
Not because this fine fruit is not appreciated, but from an
apprehension of some peculiar difficidty or risk in its culture,
or from the supposition that pear trees require many years to
produce a full crop, or from a failure that may have followed
poorly conducted experiments. Nursery men raise their trees
on the best land, deeply spaded, and thoroughly manured.
The mistake which buyers make is to plant their trees on a
poor soil, half manured, and to neglect pruning and heading
in. In two or three years the trees die, or live a miserable and
stunted existence, and the farmer complains that they did not
correspond with the nursery man's statement. How could
trees so managed be expected to prosper ? Separate treatises
on the culture of this excellent fruit, may be found in books
specially devoted to pomology, with catalogues of the various
kinds best adapted to our soil and climate.

In some towns, Foxborough, Franklin, Medfield, Needham,
and a few others, enterprising men have done something towards
adorning their respective villages and road-sides, by planting
shade trees. During tlie present year many fine trees have
been planted. A report from Grantville will be found in
another part of this volume. We have overcome the difficulties
incident to a new community struggling for existence, and

FARMS. 157

have tlio means of doing something to gratify a refined taste,
and to improve the looks as well as the fruitfulness of our
county. And what objects are more beautiful than the shrub-
bery that adorns our dwellings, or thau the beeches, maples,
elms and evergreens that line the highways. Who does not
greet with satisfaction a village, the nakedness of whicli is
relieved by these permanent memorials of public spirit ? And
who has a better right to be considered a public benefactor than
the man who provides for tlie comfort and health of future
generations ?

Almost every farmer planted a little of the Chinese sugar
cane, last spring ; some from curiosity, others with a view to
fodder, and a few, perhaps, in the hope of supplying themselves
with home-made molasses. Every where the cane grew and
flourished. There is a diversity of opinion respecting its value
as fodder, some approving it, but the majority of those who
have conversed with us do not consider it equal to sweet corn
fodder. It is less sweet and juicy, the cattle do not eat it so
readily, and waste more of it. The buts are fibrous and hard.
At the fair, several specimens of good sirup were exhibited,
a detailed account of which will probably be furnished by
.another committee. We have heard of no extensive operations
in this county. In Middlesex, Mr. Hyde, of Newton, has
entered largely into the manufacture of sirup, and is not
without hope that he may overcome the difficulties hitherto
experienced in causing it to grain. The public are already
familiar with the results of his enterprise, through the daily
papers. We hope that his success will be equal to his enter-
prise, and that he will have the honor of introducing a new
and profitable branch of business.

During the past season mowing machines have been some-
what more used tlian the year before. In several towns in our
county, however, there is not one. Although every advantage
claimed for the mowing machine may be admitted, yet the
farmer hesitates, perhaps wisely, before he invests his money in
its purchase. He acknowledges the inferiority of the scythe,
but he knows what he can do Avith it. He knows how to repair
it. He knows what is the average cost of cutting an acre of

158 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

grass. Ho remembers that tlic first cost of the mowhioi;
machine is largo ; that it is complicated and liable to get out
of order ; that it may occasion diminished or irregular employ-
ment of men hired for the season or the year ; that there are
mornings and odd times "when they might do some mowing to
advantage. He says his farm is small,, the land uneven ; that
it has rocks and orchards, and will scarcely pay for the use of
the machine. It is right to take these things into considera-
tion. But it should not be forgotten that one machine would
answer for a dozen farmers, and that three or four hours' use
of it would give the farmer employment for two days in making
his hay.

The objects of improved machinery on a farm are two :
First, to diminish the cost of the production of crops ; second,
economy of time, particularly when the weather is fine, the
crop heavy, and there is danger of injury if its removal be
delayed. Manual labor is necessarily limited, especially in this
country, which by its extent and fertility invites laborers to dis-
perse over wide territories. There is no permanent class of
laborers ; the laborer of this year may soon be the employer.
Hence, labor commands good pay, and hence the necessity of
machinery to fill the place of labor dearly purchased.

Farmers, both from their isolated positions, and the conse-
quent absence of a common opinion, are perhaps less apt than
others to see the necessity of making changes in their tools or
modes of operation. Accustomed to use a jmrticular sot of
implements, and not having frequent opportunities of compari-
son, they either become familiar with their imperfections or do
not see them. Hence the difficulty of introducing real improve-
ments. But the inventive genius of our mechanics, and the
absolute necessity of machinery in large operations are com-
pelling farmers to look to their interests, convincing them that
they can prosper by farming only when they place it on the
level of the most advanced arts.

There is room for improvement in mowing machines, and it
is easy to see that improvements will be made with a view to
diminish weight, oi- to reduce friction, or to prevent derange-
ment, or to bring the implement within the reach of men of
limited means. Science has not exhausted its resources, or
skill its power of applying primary principles to the use and

FARMS. 159

wants of business. Machinists acknowledge no perfection and
admit of no impossibility. They believe that for every imper-
fection there must somewhere be a remedy. Meanwhile the
mower and other excellent machines are gradually working
their way into use, by demonstrating that farmers cannot afford
to do without them. Every thing of this kind is first opposed
and then adopted, and no doubt men are now living who ridi-
cule the mower, and will, by and by, plough their fields by
steam. It is simply a question of time. We cannot foresee
where progress in invention will stop, or why it should stop
at all.

Previous reports have contained full notices of the value and
the best metliods of raising carrots. We refer to the subject
again to notice the fact of their increasing culture. As there
is but one opinion of their utility, almost every farmer has a
piece of land in carrots. We think they will hereafter be more
extensively cultivated, in consequence of the uncertain yield
of potatoes. We have noticed several instances of what
appears to be a blight or rust of the tops, checking the growth
of the roots. Whatever tends to facilitate their early and rapid
growth will tend also to diminish their liability to this disorder.
Carrots require a good soil, very deeply and finely ploughed,
and furnished with well-rotted manure. The land may be laid
in ridges with a plough, the centres of the ridges being two
feet apart. The seed is best sown with a machhie. In good
land, with a favorable season, twenty tons may be grown on an
acre. It may be assumed that seventy-five pounds of carrots
are equal in value to eighteen pounds of good hay. This esti-
mate will make twenty tons of carrots equal to four tons and
sixteen-hundrcdths of hay. When we have ascertained the cost
of both crops, with the expense of feeding them out, and the
condition in which the land is left, we have some of the ele-
ments of a judgment respecting the comparative profitableness
of carrots and grass. Not all ; for besides the immediate and
beef-making or milk-making results, we are to consider the
effect upon the health of cattle and horses, as well as the gen-
eral idea of all root crops, namely, to increase manure by
means of stock, and to invigorate the land exhausted by grain.
It is admitted that a mixed diet, as of roots and hay, is better

IGO MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

for animals than a diet of any one article. Yarious ingredients
enter into tlic composition of tlie body, — oil, fibrin, earthy phos-
phates, lime, Arc., — and to produce these, different articles of
food are requisite. Neither starch, nor oil, nor grain alone,
will increase the weight and preserve health and the ca})acity of
labor. Fat may be laid on while the health of the animal suf-
fers, and this process may be carried so far as to render the
animal unfit for human food. For fattening purposes, for
improving the quality of milk, and as alterative for horses,
carrots may be regarded as occupying the first place.

"Within a few years a new impulse has been given to the cul-
tivation of cranberries, and many trials arc made of upland and
of artificial meadow culture. Some of these experiments are
on a large scale, and promise the best results. On some natu-
ral meadows the crop has, this year, been injured by worms.
One farmer, whose annual yield averages three hundred bushels,
had, this season, but thirty. This was almost a solitary instance
of such extremely unfavorable result. Generally the crop>was
good, and though selling at a less j^rice than last year, amply
repays the expense of cultivation. Some growers, fearful lest
the early frosts should injure the cranberries, gather them long
before they are ripe, in consequence of which they lose much of
their value. But such accurate and ample information touch-
ing tlie cultivation of this crop is contained in former reports,
and in separate contributions, tliat there is no necessity for
extending our remarks. We doubt whether the Common-
wealth has larger, finer, better managed or more profitable
plantations of this valuable fruit than our own county.

There is an increasing attention paid to good gardening for
domestic purposes. Farmers used to make this apology for
poor gardens, that they had no time to cultivate them, becaiise
their field crops demanded all their attention. We are gratified
to find that the force of this apology is not so much felt as it
used to be. The example of the market gardeners has done
much for us in this vicinity, by showing tliat a large crop may
be grown on a small space by high manuring and careful til-
lage ; and that hy these means alone a profit can l)e made.
Still, there are farmers who do not seem to appreciate either

FARMS. 161

the comfort or the pecuniary advantage of a good garden.
Instead of making it the earliest, they make it the latest of
their spring labors. Hence they have only a late and small
supply of vegetables ; two or three little rows of pease, a few
beans, a small patch of sweet corn, &c., whereas with a reason-
able amount of labor bestowed early upon the garden, they might
have an abundant supply through the summer and fall. No
part of the farm pays so well as a garden, and if any part is to
be neglected it must not be this. It goes far towards diminish-
ing the butcher's bill, and tends to good health and to freedom
from disorders occasioned by an almost exclusively flesh diet.
A good garden is eminently economical, to say nothing of the
pleasure of having a constant supply of fresh, tender and
wholesome vegetables and fruit of one's own raising. Let the
land be exposed to the sun, ploughed deep, manured well and
planted early. We have noticed in many gardens that the
onions did not bottom or grow large. In nearly every instance,
if not in all, we found that they were planted late. Onions
must be planted early ; in our climate, from the middle to the
last of April, if a large crop is expected.

Of market gardening it is not necessary to speak at length.
The skill and success of Norfolk gardeners is proverbial. We
visited several large market-farms in Brookline, that were per-
fect models of neatness, beauty and productiveness. Nothing
could exceed the thoroughness and carefulness of their cultiva-
tion. Other and similar farms of great excellence are to be
found in Dorchester, West Roxbury, and the towns in the
vicinity of Boston.

During the past year there has been a large number of
unnatural deaths among swine, — unnatural for them because
not by the knife. We do not know that attention has been
extensively called to this subject, but we hope in the course of
another year to collect sufficient information to justify an
expression of opinion upon several points : the cause of the
numerous deaths, whether any one breed is specially liable to
fatal disorders, or whether any profitable -breed is more gen-
erally healthy than others. We have learned that in numerous
instances the pigs that died were recently taken from droves out
of Illinois and other western States. Many persons have ceased

21

162 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

to eat pork, fearing that the so-called liog-cliolera of the West
has been introduced by tlie importation of swine from that
region. We would respectfully suggest that farmers should
carefully note any important facts that come to their knowl-
edge, with a view to the formation of a matured and intelligent
opinion respecting a class of disorders, from which serious
losses have arisen this present year.

The rich and flourishing county of Norfolk did itself injustice
at our late fair. The wealthy towns of Brookline, Dorchester
and Roxbury, the really good farming towns of Dedham, Med-
field and Medway, and a dozen half agricultural and half manu-
facturing places, failed to make an exhibition of their respective
productions at all commensurate with their ability, with their
intelligence, or their real interest in farming. The men and
women were out in strong force ; but the working oxen, the
fat cattle, the milk-cows, the pigs and colts, the agricultural
implements — objects which give life and interest to the show —
were sparingly exhibited. This is much to be lamented ; for,
if our experience proves any thing, it is that fairs exert a moral
and professional influence in proportion to the evidences they
exhibit of industry, skill and progress. Many farmers appear
to think that unless they exhibit some thing of the very first
quality, some thing that is sure of a premium, their time and
labor is lost, and are often deterred from exhibiting what they
have, lest some body else should have some thing better. If
this idea were fully carried out, very few would contribute.
In every town are forty or fifty farmers who have fine oxen,
cows or pigs, horses or colts, or specimens of good corn, pota-
toes or butter. They may not in all cases be the best, but if
exhibited, would })resent the average condition or the actual
condition of agriculture in the county, besides furnishing evi-
dence of the interest felt by individual farmers. What an
exhilaration would be produced by the spectacle of a hundred
yoke of good working oxen, as many milch co^vs and heifers,
and specimens of the produce of a hundred dairies. And if
this intention were .cherished from the beginning of the year,
if the farmer instead of trusting to a few weeks' effort, just
before the fair, for the sake of obtaining a premium, should
bear in mind through the whole season the duty of presenting

FARMS. 163

tlie best results of a year's work, we should have an exhibition
that would gratify our pride and promote our cause. Acting
upon the principle of doing one's best, the farmers would be
incited to read and study, to understand and apply the laws of
nature to the operations of farming ; and in each department
of their business to acquire the knowledge essential to success.
And in this way would be amply repaid for their extra trouble,
whether they received premiums or not.

Besides these immediately personal considerations, farmers
who attend the fair and participate in its exercises would learn
the importance of acting together, and of uniting their means
and information and efforts for the furtherance of their art.
Every other class of men finds its account in acting upon the
principle of association. They combine their respective forces,
have stated meetings, compare notes, give and receive informa-
tion, adopt general modes of action, and thus form and diffuse
a common spirit that contributes to tlie common welfare.

It would increase the benefits of the fair, if each contributor
would present a written statement of the process pursued in
raising his crop or stock. For some articles, such a statement
is now required ; but the premium is sometimes lost for want of
the statement ; or else the statement is very brief and defective.
Applicants do not always appreciate the importance of details ;
whereas these are the all-important matters. Those who are
interested in agricultural aflairs, want to know the precise
details respecting soil, seeds, treatment, methods of feeding
stock, &c. Many people believe that guano is a good article of
manure. They want to know how good it is, how to compost
it, in what quantity to use it, at what times, for what crops, on
what soils, and in what proportions to each. So of feeding
fatting cattle, how long grass-fed, how long stall-fed, on what
food, how much hay and roots, mixed in what proportions, and
what has been found to be generally profitable. And this with
a view to answer the question, what does a pound of beef or
pork cost the farmer ? Or a bushel of corn, or a gallon of milk,
or pound of butter ? Written statements, made with care and
based on actual knowledge, would go far towards settling defin-
itely many vexed questions. A selection from these statements
might be published in the Transactions, and the results of indi-

164 MASSACAUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

vidual research and experiment be brought to the knowledge of
the whole society.

Our farmers have the strongest inducements to develop the
entire capabilities of the soil. For most of them own their
farms, and hope to leave them to their children. Here is a
motive to intelligent and persistent efforts to show a more
thorough union of learning and practical skill, to be followed
by a more abundant reward. But this result cannot be attained
so long as we believe that we are born with all the knowledge
necessary to a successful prosecution of our art, or so long as
we neglect the study of principles and the application of them
to our business. We must not only consider our art as among
the most honorable, but follow it in the same spirit that leads to
success in other employments.

In concluding this report, the committee would repeat the
expression of satisfaction which their visits to the farmers of the
county have occasioned, and the assurance that in many essential
elements of good husbandry the cultivators of the soil are
making a decided, and in some cases, a rapid progress. We
invite the attention of young and enterprising men to the busi-
ness of agriculture. We believe tliat persistent industry, guided
by such intelligence as is within the reach of all, w^ill be amply
rewarded even in Norfolk county. The reason of our belief is
found in the fact, that there are already in the county hundreds
of beautiful farms, on which are living happy and prosperous
families, surrounded by as many blessings, liable to as few
troubles as are allotted to men in this world.
In behalf of the committee,

J. M. Merrick.

Statement of C. C. Se^vall.

My farm embraces about seventy acres in the homestead, and
twenty acres of pasture, orchard and meadow land abroad.
When it camo into my possession, — fourteen years ago, — I had
to cultivate and manage it witliout any previous knowledge of
the art, but such as observation and general reading had
afforded, and without the facilities and means for fertiliziiig
and improving it, which its former owner possessed. And here

FARMS. 165

I may, with propriety, express my obligations to the Essex
Agricultural Society, by whose annual exhibitions my interest
in the subject had been first excited, and by whose admirable
publications my mind had been most informed respecting the
best methods of farming. A feeling which, I know, is shared
by many others.

The uncertainty of my continuance in an occupation so differ-
ent from my life-long pursuits, and a still unabated attachment
to the work of the ministry, rendered me at first less interested
in the farm than was necessary for the proper management of
it. I have since devoted to it more time and thought, but only
to find that, without great physical ability and a proper train-
ing, no man can own and cultivate many acres, under ordinary
circumstances, with economy or satisfaction. It was once a
paradoxical, if not absurd, remark of an aged and highly
respected farmer in this county, — a remark which he often
repeated, — that a man was only the poorer for every acre of
land he might own. Tliis was said near the close of a long and
active life, when sickness and infirmity rendered him unable to
engage in his ordinary pursuits, and when he was obliged to
depend entirely on others for ends which he could once accom-
plish himself. And he then felt that, unless one could labor
regularly, with great power of endurance, as well as with the
advantage of experience and skill, it were better, in a pecuniary
point of view, that he should not own extensive lands. My own
experience and observation have discovered to me the measure
of truth and justice contained in his remark. Particularly is it
apparent now, when public expenditures have occasioned so large
an increase of taxation, and the expenses even of a humble mode
of living are not easily met ; where the labor to be hired is mostly
of foreign immigration. A farmer, now, must not only have
competent knowledge of his art, from study and observation,
but fixed habits of labor, also, and sufficient physical strength
to be always foremost in conducting the operations of the farm.
He cannot, ordinarily, depend entirely upon the labor lie may
hire. Hence it is that I am more deeply impressed, every year,
with the necessity of directing attention to some practicable
method of raising the character of farm-laborers, and of increas-
ing their competency and faithfulness. Unless this can be done

166 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

in some way, many farms must inevitably be abandoned by their
present occupants.

You will, I know, pardon this digression. Returning to the
subject immediately in hand, I will now state as briefly as I can,
what has been the general management of my farm.

One of my first concerns has been to increase the means of
fertilizing the farm. For this purpose, I have caused nearly the
whole of my pasture ground in the homestead to be ploughed,
and put, in different portions, under one, two and sometimes
three years cultivation. It consists of about twenty-eight acres
of high, plain land. Several acres of it had been just laid down
when I came here, ujjon which the expected crop of grass was
almost entirely lost. Part of these acres were made to yield a
handsome growth of white clover, by the application of plaster,
at the rate of a bushel per acre. I have since used plaster and
salt upon the same land, — in the proportion of one part salt,
and three parts plaster, — applying the same quantity per acre,
with still better results. The remainder of this lot, — about an
acre, — was ploughed, manured moderately, and planted with
corn for green fodder, and the crop was very large. Other por-
tions of the pasture have been cultivated and planted with corn
and potatoes, followed with spring wheat, or winter rye and
grass seed. One part, where the soil is lightest, was simply
ploughed, rolled and harrowed, and sown with rye and grass
seed in the fall. After the seed had started, plaster and ashes
were spread, at the rate of six bushels, nearly equal parts, per
acre. The grain grew well, and in the spring the ground was
harrowed with a light harrow, and rolled again. The result of
this experiment was satisfactory. I have continued to spread
ashes, or plaster and salt, or a mixture of both, on pasture
ground, up to this time ; and I am satisfied that the effect fully
warrants the annual outlay of expense and trouble. It should
be added, that, in laying down a large portion of this land, I
liave not failed to sow a quantity of white clover with llhodo
Island grass seed.

As the result of these operations, I am now able to keep a
much larger stock of dairy cows than had been kept here before,
and of course to enlarge the quantity of manure.

Next to tlie improvement of pasture land, I have endeavored
to increase the relative quantity of English hay to be cut upon

FARMS. 167

the farm. Witli this end in A'icw, 1 have reclaimed swamp
land partly by ploughing and cultivating it, and partly by
smoothing the surface, — removing hummocks and bus^hes,
ditching and draining the ground, and covering it with sandy
gravel and loam. Barnyard manure, or in other cases, guano
mixed witli sand, was then spread and harrowed in, and grass
seed sown. This has been done early in the fall of the year,
and the operation has, in every case, been successful. Find-
ing it inconvenient to cultivate distant parts of my mowing
land, I caused two acres to be turned over, and rolled and har-
rowed. Guano at the rate of three hundred pounds per acre,
and mixed with sand, was then spread and thoroughly incorpo-
rated with the soil by the harrow. Then grass seed was
sown, at the rate of one peck Timothy and one bushel red-
top per acre, and a light horse-harrow was afterwards passed
over the ground. The result of this experiment was so suc-
cessful that I have since repeated the operation several times,
under like conditions, and with like good returns. And I am
now convinced that it is much better for any one to follow the
same, or a similar course, than to cart manure from his barn,
to any considerable distance, and attempt to cultivate any land
suitable for grass. I have mowed grounds which had been laid
down in this way, for five or six years in succession, and ob-
tained good crops, — giving them, however, a top-dressing of
compost manure, or of ashes, once, or at most twice, in the
meantime.

My method of cultivation has in general been this : to turn
the sward with a large plough, to the depth of six to eight
inches, according to the nature of the soil and the crop to be
grown. This 'is followed by a heavy roller, leaving the surface
flat and smooth. Corn and potatoes liave usually been the first
crop. The ground has been furrowed only in one direction, at
the distance of three and a half feet between the furrows ; and
hills have been made two and a half feet apart. I have some-
times spread green manure on the sod and ploughed it in ; but
more frequently have spread green manure after ploughing,
and harrowed it in, and then put into each hill half a shovel-
ful of well-rotted compost. Formerly the subsoil plough was
made to follow the grass plough, in the same furrow, loosening
the earth to the depth of twelve to sixteen inches ; and the

168 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

benefit of this operation was very striking, particularly in a
time of severe drought. Corn, upon ground treated in this
way, was then perfectly green and vigorous, while that upon
ground under the common treatment, was pale and parched.
Nothing but the want of means to employ a double team, pre-
vented the subsequent regular use of this plough in breaking up
land. The use of the subsoil plough has given place to that of
the Michigan or sod and subsoil plough, which requires less
team, and may be, in most cases, equally serviceable. Either
plough is of peculiar value when, as in my own general method
of cultivation, it is intended to lay down the land the second
year, without disturbing the buried sod.

I have experimented also, in the mixing of crops, and am
satisfied of the great benefit resulting from the practice. I
have planted corn and potatoes in this way ; planting first four
rows of corn, and then two rows of potatoes ; thus covering
the acre, and presenting a larger surface of corn to the air and
light, than can be done in the usual way, — an advantage worth
consideration, — and at the same time protecting the other crop
from scorching suns in a dry season. I think the cultivation
of mixed crops is deserving of more attention ; and we have in
our reports sufficient proof of its productiveness to encourage
the practice.

It has been my custom to plant at least half an acre of corn
for green fodder, — preferring the sweet corn, or that and com-
mon field corn mixed, rather than the southern flat sort, —
planting it very thick, in furrows two and a half feet apart. I
usually put green manure into the furrows, but have found
guano and meadow mud to be equally serviceable. Besides
this, I have uniformly raised a half acre of sweet corn, plant-
ing it as I do field corn. This furnishes an abundant supply
for table use, or for market, and in connection with the corn
fodder and following it, the best food for milch cows, or for
store pigs.

I have, for many years, laid down my cultivated grounds with
spring wheat and grass seed ; finding the wheat to yield twenty
bushels per acre, and the grass seed to take well. The ground
has been usually ploughed in the spring, and compost manure
or guano mixed with sand or loam, spread upon it and harrowed
in thoroughly. I then sow two bushels of wheat per acre, with

FARMS. 169

the usual quantity of grass seed and clover. The wlieat is first
soaked in a steep of ashes, or salt, or carbonate of ammonia —
which last I prefer — and rolled in lime or plaster. The ground
is then harrowed and rolled. Wlien the grain has grown about
two inches, unleached ashes, or ashes and plaster mixed, are
sown at the rate of fifteen to twenty bushels per acre. The
best sorts of wheat I have found are the Black Sea and the
Java. The latter is a favorite grain in this vicinity, being less
liable to smut or blast, and producing very sweet, though darker
flour than the former.

I have seldom sown oats, of late years, except to be cut when
green, believing that they exhaust the soil, if permitted to
ripen, and are less favorable to the growth of grass seed, when
sown with them. Spring rye has given place, almost entirely,
to winter rye, which, on my land, is the more profitable crop.
Grass seed sown with it, generally does well. A. piece of
ground which had been used many years for garden purposes,
was sown with winter rye not long ago, without any manure.
The crop of grain was very fine, and has been succeeded by
two large crops of red and white clover, where no clover seed
had been sown for fifteen years. I have tried barley, but only
in a small quantity, and without much success. On many
farms in this section, I believe it to be a very profitable crop,
whether cut green for milch cows or ripened for the grain.

I have planted potatoes in different soils, with different treat-
ment, and with various results. The soundest tubers have been
uniformly grown on high land, with little manure, and that well
rotted. I do not think that my crops have suffered much from
the rot, still they have not been, in any way, superior to those
on many farms in the vicinity. One experiment may be worth
stating. A piece of ground, recently inclosed from a pasture,
had been ploughed, upon part of which a bed of spent tan
formerly laid. The same sort of manure was applied to the
whole, and the same sort of seed planted. That portion of the
land, where the tan was still present, yielded a good crop of
very large and sound potatoes ; while the produce of the rest
was almost worthless, because of the rot. During the last two
years, I have planted the Peach-blow and the Davis seedling
potatoes, on light soil, and used a handful of Coe's super-phos-

22

170 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

pliatc of lime in each hill for manure. The crops were good
and entirely free from rot. The black Chenango potato has
always been free from rot on my grounds.

Of fruit, I am not able to speak with satisfaction. The apple
trees upon my farm were many of them old and decayed when
I came here. In attempting to graft and restore them, several
were destroyed. I have set out apple, pear and peach trees,
but they have not answered my expectations, and probably have
not been treated rightly. I do not believe that the soil in this
vicinity is peculiarly adapted to the growth of fruit trees ; and
I know that more attention is requisite to their successful
growth, than I have been able to bestow upon them.

I have accumulated, every year, large quantities of manure
from the barn cellar, the yard, and the hogsty. My custom
has been to cover the bottom of each with peat mud, and to
add, at different times, sods, loam, sand and litter. j\Iy cattle
are yarded at night, in the summer, and housed, l)oth day and
night, in the winter. In the barn they are bedded, most of the
time, upon sand, which serves to keep them free from lice,
absorbs the liquid and adds materially to the contents of the
cellar and the manure heap. Part of my hogs have constant
access to the barn cellar, and the rest are supplied with sub-
stances which are quickly converted into useful manure. The
horse-stable is directly over that part of the cellar occupied by
the hogs, and all the manure from it is worked over by
them.

I have kept, on the average, ten milch cows, a bull, a yoke of
working oxen, four or five young cattle, and two horses. I have,
for many years, raised all my neat stock, — selecting the best
calves from the best progenitors. I have never experienced any
difficulty in raising them, and have always found that they were
quiet and orderly, and would thrive well in a locality with
which they are familiar, and where they are at home.

I had almost forgotten to speak of the sugar cane, of which I
raised a small quantity. The experiment was made in accord-
ance with the directions of those who were familiar with the
cultivation of the plant. The cane grew very slowly, but finally
reached a height of eight or ten feet. The quantity was large
for the ground which it occupied. But after a fair trial, I am

FARMS. 171

satisfied that, as a green crop for fodder, it is inferior, in every
respect, to the sweet corn. Of its value for molasses or sugar,
I cannot speak from experience. If a sirup, lilie that present-
ed at the annual exhibition, by Mr. Kinsley, of Canton, and
Mr. Hyde, of Newton, can be easily and cheaply manufactured,
the sugar cane will become a very common and desirable
crop.

Many of the details of my farm have already been published
in the " Transactions " of this society, and I will not repeat
them. My crops for the last year have been less abundant and
less valuable, generally, than usual. Hay and grain were much
injured by storms of rain, hail and blasting winds.

I have raised, the last summer, a small crop of excellent
sweet potatoes, with very little care or trouble. The ground
was ploughed deeply and ridged, in rows about two and a half
feet apart. Slips were planted, about lOtli of June, in holes
made by hand, into which super-phosphate of lime was put and
thoroughly mixed with the soil. Nothing more was done on
account of the wetness of the season, except pulling up weeds
from the ground. The soil had been highly manured in previous
years, and was too rich now for this plant. The tubers in the
hills were of good size and flavor, but many more grew between
the ridges and ran down a great way into the soil. This crop
is worthy of our particular attention. It grows well in proper
soil, and is very profitable. A light, sandy soil, with proper
manure, may be easily made to yield sweet potatoes of as good
quality as the market generally affords.

I have used, for two or three years past, one of Allen's
mowing machines, and have invariably found it to work
well when operated by a careful hand, with well-trained horses
or oxen, and saving a large part of the labor and time of hay-
making.

I have always raised a large supply of garden vegetables, and
consider the practice one of great importance to the farmer.
Carrots, turnips and pumpkins, for cattle, have also made part
of my field crops. Turnips are sown among the corn, at second
hoeing, and sometimes between rows of potatoes. Pumpkins
are grown in the same way. Both are made a separate crop,
occasionally, and this I believe to be the best mode of growing
tliem.

172 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

In harvesting corn, I liave practised both the previous cutting
of the top stalk, and the cutting up the whole crop and stooking
it in the field till it is dry. The top stalk retains its freshness
and sweetness, if put under cover, the second or third day after
cutting, and in a position to receive the air freely. But I am
satisfied that the other practice is, on the whole, most useful
and profitable.

Medfield, November, 1857.

Statement of E. and J. Sias.

The farm which we enter for premium consists of about
twenty-nine acres. We purchased it twenty-five years ago.
But about seven acres had then been cultivated, including the
land now occupied by our buildings and the lane leading to
them, and also about an acre of swale land, mostly covered
with large rocks, which we have since removed or mostly cov-
ered, leaving but about five acres in the lot fit for cultivation
and that had been mowed and fed until it produced but a very
small crop. The remaining twenty-two acres were swamp and
pasture land, the latter being mostly covered with bushes. We
came on to the place in 1837, young and inexperienced in farm-
ing, and owing for our farm $2,000. But we went to work
with a will and courage that has never failed us. We had not
the means to make improvements, excepting as we dug them
out inch by inch from a hard and rugged soil. But after a long
pull of fifteen years, we paid for our farm. Since then, our
object has been more to improve it than to lay up money, and
it gives us great pleasure to find that we have so far succeeded
as to attract the notice of the committee of the Norfolk Agricul-
tural Society on farms, and to induce tliem to visit our place
the present season.

Tliis year we, had about six acres under cultivation, and about
twelve in mowing, including about two of swamp. Our usual
stock is five cows and two horses, which are kept on the produce
of the farm exclusive of that which is sold. This year we have
been very unfortunate with our cows, by injuries, reducing the
quantity of our milk very much. We estimate the loss, by

FARMS. 173

comparing with other years, at nearly the value of one cow, as wc
had but four tlirough the winter, when we usually made about
two-tliirds of the yearly quantity of our milk, the injury referred
to reducing tlic quantity this summer and fall. Our practice is
to give each of our cows, at milking time, two quarts of shorts or
cob-meal, through the year. Having but a small lot for pastur-
ing, they require something more to keep them along, and we
think that it pays well in the additional quantity of milk, and
tlie better condition of the stock.

We profess to know but little of the science of farming, and
consequently can practice but little ; but diligence and economy
we have been obliged to practice, to bring about what little we
have. Most of the labor on our farm, since we commenced,
has been done by ourselves, besides doing considerable for
our neighbors with teams and otherwise. This is the first
season that we have hired a man through the summer and
fall. But our work for others has more than paid for our hired
help.

For a few years we have been trying to go a little into vege-
table culture, but as most of our manure has to be carted from
tlie city seven miles, and our produce carried there to sell, it
makes slovr work and small profit in comparison with that which
is carried on nearer the city and on a larger scale. "We have
not gone as largely into it as many do, or as we might, by buy-
ing more manure and hiring more help, being content to do
what we can in a small, snug way, within ourselves.

Our receipts and expenditures, for the present year, are as
follows.

Receipts : —
For milk sold,

inilk used in two families, .

beef and pork, .

Pigs sold, ....

poultry and eggs,

vegetables,

liay,

labor of ourselves and team,

$277 67

39

00

268

00

16

00

22

00

757

00

128

00

198

00

$1,695 67

174

MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

Expenses : —

For 39 loads of manure, .

. $144 00

grain boug-ht,

295 00

labor hired,

114 00

shotes, ....

12 00

blacksmi thing, .

30 00

Profit to balance,

. 1,100 67

$1,695 67

P. S. — The above is exclusive of grain and vegetables, &c.,
used in our two families.

E. & J. SiAS.

Milton, November 10, 1857.

FARM ACCOUNTS.

HAMPSHIRE.

Statement of P. N. Richards.

In compliance with the rules of the Hampshire Agricultural
Society, 1 present a statement of my farm accounts from April
1, 1856, to April 1, 1857, with a complete inventory of my farm
property, at the beginning and at the end of the year. And, as
I understand the object of the society is to ascertain the gain or
loss in carrying on the place, keeping the buildings in repair,
and spending most of the produce on the place, I have aimed to
keep my account with that object in view.

Farm Inventory, April 1, 1856.

Buildings, and 9| acres of land, . . $2,450 00
Cows, horse, swnne and poultry, . . 210 00
Hay, grain and straw, .... 141 50
Carriages, harnesses and farm tools, , 75 00

Manures of all kinds, . . . . 98 60

$2,970 10

FARM ACCOUNTS. 175

CROPS.

Indian Corn.
Produce— 121 bush, and 5^ tons of stalks, $127 08
Expense of seed, labor, board and manure, 97 79

Broomcorn.
Produce— 725 lbs. brush, and 2,300 lbs.

seed, 166 50

Expense of seed, labor, board and manure, 42 71

Rye.

Produce — 70 bushels and 56 cwt. of straw, $89 GO
Expense of seed, board and labor, .

5>-7 «o

Potatoes and Turnips.
Produce— 40 bushels, . . . . $10 67
Expense of seed, labor and manure, . 5 92

Dwelling-house.

Rent, valued at $45 00

Expense of repairs, . . . . 21 00

FARM STOCK.

Expense of keeping cattle and butter
making, ......

Milk, butter and increase, valued at

Loss on cattle, ....
Expense of keeping horse on hay and grain,

Loss on cattle and horse,

Sivine.
Value of pork sold, and hogs on hand,
Expense of keeping and first cost, .

$129 00

126

62

2

60

GO

00

$62

60

$119 16

106

27

$29 29

$23 79

$55 78

^4 75

Fruit.
Quinces, apples, <&c., .... $7 00

Ilay.
First crop, 7 tons, $80; 2d crop, $13.33, . $93 33
Expense of seed, board, labor, manure, . 21 91

$71 42

$24 00

$12 89

176 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

Fowls.

Value of eggs and increase,

812 80

Expense of feeding,

G 69

11

Manure.
Made during the year from stock, and by

composting, $80 00

Expense of composting and tending stock, 45 00

$35 00

CASH.

Money received during the year, . . $530 63
Money paid out during the year, . . 531 56

Error in cash account, ... 93

Total profits of the year, . . $271 03

From wliich deducting; —

Interest on investment, .... $178 20
Loss on stock, cattle and horse, . . 62 60

$240 80

Leaves ... . . $30 23

Farm Inventory, April 1, 1857.
Buildings and land, .... $2,450 00

Cattle, horse, swine and fowls.
Hay and grain, ....
Carriages, harnesses and farm tools,
Manure of all kinds.

320 00

88 84

75 00

98 62
$3,032 46

These accounts are taken from my book, in which I keep a
daily record of my farming, receipts and expenditures, ever
aiming to have it correct in every particular. In making esti-
mates, I have used great care, and have been aided by the
opinions of my neighbors. I have been in the habit of keeping
a farm account in past years for my own benefit, and recommend
it to all farmers, as a practice of great utility.

P. N. Richards.
Sunderland, April 1, 1857.

RECLAIMED SWAMPS. 177

RECLAIMED SWAMPS

ESSEX.

Report of the Committee.

Only a single entry for the premium for reclaimed meadows
was made. Oliver P. Killam, of West Boxford, called the
attention of the committee to about two and one-half acres of
meadow land, upon which he has been making improvements
during two or three years past.

The chairman notified the committee, consisting of five, to
inspect the meadow on the tenth day of July, while the grass
was standing*; but the committee neglected their duty, with the
exception of Benjamin Dawson, of Ipswich ; and we, being a
minority of the committee, can only say that in our judgment
the improvement is such as to entitle Mr. Killam to the society's
first premium. From an unproductive and partially submerged
swamp, we found a fine level and dry field, with a heavy growth
of Timothy and redtop. The premises were well drained, which
is the first consideration in improvements of this kind, and a
sufi&cient quantity of gravel had been spread upon the surface
to afibrd silex to the grass and give firmness to the meadow.

In improvements of this kind, there is a double advantage
gained, for while the meadow is converted from an unsightly
waste to the value of at least one hundred dollars an acre, the
vegetable matter removed from the ditches, in thorough drain-
ing, would add an equal value to an acre of gravelly and worn
out land.

If it be the wise economy of nature to reconstruct future
harvests from the decomposition of the past, what treasures of
fertilizing materials lie dormant in these partially decomposed
bodies of vegetable matter, of which the farmer might avail
himself with great advantage.

Although the society heretofore has offered its premiums, and
many valuable improvements have been made, still, considering
that within the limits of the county there are twelve or fifteen
thousand acres of these unproductive lands, a large portion of

23

178 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

whicli is susceptible of being converted to the highest state of
fertility, perhaps no field in which the society can labor offers
such inducements as this, to press the sul)jcct by every means
within its reach.

If two-thirds only of these comparatively worthless lands
should be reclaimed and made to produce crops equal to the
most fertile lands, as in some instances they have already done,
thousands of dollars would be added to the value of the arable
land of the county. What greater results could the society
effect by any of its operations ?

To bring about so desirable an end, and one which would
contribute so materially to the resources of the county, it is sug-
gested that the society offer premiums worthy of the magnitude
of the subject ; for the thorough draining and reclaiming of five,
ten, fifteen, or twenty acres, to l)e approved by a committee,
(who will attend to their duty,) within five years."*

JosiAH Newhall, Chairman.

Statement of Oliver P. Killam.

Tlie whole meadow of which I have reclaimed a part, contains
about five acres. In 1849, I dug an outlet to the same at an
expense of five dollars, with intent to ditch, but the land being
so wet I found it utterly impossible. In 1850 I cleared the
bushes, which were very thick and heavy on parts of it, at an
expense of fifteen dollars ; it being so wet this year it was useless
to attempt to ditch. In 1851, it being somewhat dry, I com-
menced ditching out a main ditch the whole length through the
centre, four feet wide, also a sliore ditch to stop tlie cattle, four
feet wide, which worked to my satisfaction, and drained tlie
water off so thoroughly it gave me courage to proceed. Tlie
whole expense of draining was twenty dollars.

In 1852 I topped about two acres, at an expense of forty dol-
lars. The expense of burning the toppings on the two acres
was twenty dollars. The expense of gravelling the two acres
was ten dollars ; spreading gravel and ashes, and seeding, four
dollars. The whole expense before topping, per acre, was eight
dollars. The expense of topping, fixing under-drains, burning,
gravelling and seeding, per acre, on the two acres, was thirty-
seven dollars, making the whole expense for reclaiming the two

RECLAIMED SWAMPS. 179

acres forty-five dollars per acre. Also one-half acre, that was
burned without topping, the whole expense of reclaiming
amounts to eleven dollars. The crop on the same has been
heavy. Also one-half acre I reclaimed by under-draining and
gravelling, the expense of which was twenty-six dollars, which
promises well.

I have now about one acre under way that I intend to seed
this fall.

West Boxfokd, July 23, 1857.

HAMPSHIRE.

Statonent of George W. Hobart.

I enter for the premium of the Hampshire Agricultural Soci-
ety three and a half acres of reclaimed swamp land, situated in
Amherst. In the autumn of 1854, I commenced draining and
cutting the brush and bogs on two acres of it. The land was
then, and for a long time had been, a worthless quagmire, cov-
ered with water and bushes two or three feet high, and was a fit
habitation for frogs and muskrats.

In the winter of 1854, I covered about half of the lot with
coarse sand to the depth of three inches. In the spring of 1856,
when the top began to thaw, I sowed it to oats and grass seed,
harrowed and brushed them in, and had a light crop of oats.
In the fall, I increased the depth of the ditch to three or four
feet. I also cvit another small ditch from the opposite side of
the meadow, and cut and burned the brush and bogs on the
remaining acre and a half.

In the spring of 1856, I ploughed, harrowed and planted to
corn and potatoes one acre, and sowed the half acre to oats and
grass seed. The grass came up well, the crop of oats was fair,
the corn good, and the yield of potatoes was at the rate of three
hundred bushels to the acre. I cut four tons of hay from the
two acres seeded the year before, which I sold at ten dollars per
ton. The present year, I cut about as much grass, and planted
one acre with Indian corn, broomcorn and potatoes. The
Indian corn produced about fifty bushels to the acre, the broom-
corn was an average crop, and I dug twelve bushels of potatoes
from eight rods of ground.

180 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

Expenses of reclaiming- : —

Cutting- and burning brush and bogs, . . $20 00

Ditching, 30 rods of hard pan, . . . 50 00

Digging stumps and roots, . . . . 10 00

Carting sand, 30 00

Ploughing and harrowing, $8 ; seeds, f 8, . 16 00
20 loads of compost manure, . . . . 20 00
Planting, hoeing and harvesting, $18 ; inci-
dentals, $10, 28 00

-$1T4 00

Yalue of crops : —

In 1855. Oats and hay, . . . . f 14 00

'56-7. First crop of hay, 9 tons, at $7, . 63 00

Second crop of hay, 2 tons, at $"6, . 12 00

40 bushels Indian corn, at 90 cts., 36 00

1| tons of corn fodder, . , 8 00

15 bushels of oats, at 50 cts., . 7 50

160 bushels of potatoes, at 50 cts., 80 00

-$220 50

The present value of the land is $300.
Amherst, November 15, 1857.

FRANKLIN.

Statement of David A. and 3Ioses Fisk.

We wish to present to you, and if worth a place in jonr
report, to the owners of similar land, as we have often been
requested to, a brief description of an experiment we have
in progress, of changing an unhealthy, sunken swamp to a fer-
tile meadow. It contains thirty or more acres, receives the
wash from several hundred acres of ujdand, and is surroiuided
with large springs. A large stream of water runs from it dur-
ing the wet season ; across which a dam was built, making it a
reservoir for a mill, and overflowing it during the fall, winter
and spring, for a long time, the mud so soft and deep that a
pole thirty feet long has been run down the whole length with-
out reaching the bottom. A man could go on the most of it by
stepping on the bogs, and by springing upon it could shake the

RECLAIMED SWAMPS. 181

ground for many rods around him. Some parts of it were so
soft that no animal larger than a water-rat could cross it. A
large part of it produced nothing but pond-lilies, moss, water-
grass, barren cranberry vines and meadow-fern ; a part alders,
hardback and willow. The outer edge was covered with swamp
ash, soft maple and white pine, and the monster stumps showed
at some former period a giant growth of pines. Appearances
indicate that it was once a pond of water. The soil is almost
entirely vegetable matter, of a reddish brown color, or in some
places black, partially decayed, and appears to have grown
where it is, and thus to have accumulated to its present amount.

About fifteen years ago we commenced to reclaim this piece
of worthless land ; an^ the first step was to lower the outlet,
which we did about three feet, and finding then it was not
sufficient to drain it, we dug it as much deeper, making it six
feet deep, through as hard a bed of hardpan, filled with rocks,
stones and boulders as a hard-working man could desire, the
distance of seventy rods, and about the same distance thi'ough
the centre of the swamp. It was so soft, we had to stand upon a
plank to work. We have been working as we have had leisure,
every year since. We have dug about two and a half miles
of ditch, including the outlet ; have laid about one-half mile
of under-drain, using on the margin small stone, and in the
centre, old rails and brush, which answer very well, and cost
nothing but tlie labor of using ; have cleared oif and seeded
twenty acres, and have drawn on to it about one thousand loads
of dirt. We estimate the expense as follows : For lowering
the outlet, 1300 ; for digging ditches, $350 ; for clearing off
logs, brush and stumps, $500 ; for drawing on dirt, f 300 ;
making -11,450 in all, estimating labor at fl5 per month. It
will be seen that the expense of covering with dirt has been
great, owing to the fact that it was so soft that we could
not work a team on it excepting when the ground was frozen
or covered deep with snow, which has doubled the cost. When
it is turfed over, it is hard enough to cart off the hay. We seed
to Timothy and redtop. A plenty of clover comes in without
sowing any seed.

We have at different times applied small quantities of stable
manure, ashes, guano and super-phosphate of lime, with good
success, super-phosphate being best and cheapest. The more

182 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

aluiniuous and retentive the soil that we spread on, the better
it is. For about eight years past we have planted from one to
two acres of potatoes ; average crop 100 bushels to the acre,
without manure, of superior quality, and always free from rot.
In dry seasons we have succeeded well with corn, having got 80
bushels to the acre. In wet seasons it has failed. Turnips
succeed well, but grass is the surest crop, producing good crops
of fair quality, in all seasons. A few of the first years we could
not use any team, only a horse, by strapping rackets or pieces
of board about ten inches square, on tlie bottom of his feet. In
this way we succeeded well, but foiuid it tiresome for a horse.
Now we can work on it with a light cattle team without diffi-
culty. This year we have got 30 tons of hay and 100 bushels
potatoes, without manure. Estimate of produce since com-
mencement: Potatoes, 1,000 bushels; turnips, 500 bushels;
corn, 200 bushels ; wheat, 75 bushels; oats, ten bushels ; hay, 75
tons. The most of it produced within the last three or four years.

"We have got to dig the outlet deeper and make more drains,
and we have got about one-half as mucli more to clear off, which
we intend to accomplish, and sometime may give the result of it.

The piece of land we offer for premium lies across nearly the
centre of this swamp, and contains 8^ acres, being 8 rods wide
and 65 long. In the fall of 1851 we cut a ditch entirely around
it, 3| feet deep, cut and burned the bogs and brush, and the
fof lowing winter sledded on to it 200 loads of dirt and 25 of
manure. In the spring of 1852, sowed on grass seed. We
have used no manure since, except about 110 worth of super-
phosphate, which we think has produced twice its value at least
in hay, though the experiments were not accurate enough to
detail. We have mowed it every year since, and present the
following account : —

Expenses for 1851 : —
Cutting ditch one-half round the piece, 73 rods.
Cutting and burning bogs and brush.
Drawing dirt, ........

Grass seed, ........

Manure, .........

Super-phosphate,

$132 00

$^20

00

20

00

50

00

7

00

25

00

10

00

RECLAIMED SWAMPS.

183

Receipts : —
By 4|- tons of hay per year for 5 years, 22|- tons, at $8

per ton, standing, $180 00

Deduct expenses, 132 00

Leaving a profit of, ... . $48 00

Yon will see by the al)ove figures that this piece has paid
about 40 per cent, on the amount invested, and about $12 per
acre per annum. All of which we submit.

SiiELBURXE, November 20, 1857.

E. E. Robinson's Statement.

The land to which I would invite your attention consists of
one acre of reclaimed bog meadow. At the time I commenced
on it, it was so soft as not to allow a team to go on it, the muck
being very deep, full of logs, stumps and bogs. There grew on
it a few hundred of coarse sedge grass which hardly paid for cut-
ting. After taking out the logs and stumps and bogging it over,
I drew on to it 250 loads of sand. Commenced putting it at the
outer edge of it and so on, till it was covered over. I ploughed
it the fall of 1854, and planted it to corn, and seeded it down to
grass in 1855, and mowed it in 1856 and in 1857. The expense
and profit are as follows.

Expenses : —
Digging up the stumps and logs,
Bogging it and clearing same off,
Drawing 250 loads of sand,
Ploughing it, .

10 loads manure and drawing 10 loads sai
Harrowing it, .
Planting and hoeing,
1 peck Timothy and 1 bushel redtop.
Harvesting the corn crop, .
Cutting the grass and getting the hay,

d,

$18

00

6

00

25

00

6

00

11

50

4

00

5

00

1

92

6

00

T

00

42

184

MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

Receipts : —

Firewood from the stumps

and

roots.

. 110 00

60 bushels of corn, at 92 cents

per bushel.

. 55 20

2 tons corn fodder, .

.

. 10 00

2 tons hay,

....

. 25 00

2| tons hay, .

.

. 33 00

Increase in value of land,

.

. 80 00

Sunderland, November 19, 1857.

$213 20

IMPROVEMENT OF WASTE LANDS.

ESSEX.

Report of the Committee.

The question is often asked : What can be done to improve
our pasture and waste land ? Your committee are to some
extent aware of the importance of the question , and find it not
easy of solution. It may seem superfluous again to recommend
plaster, as it has been recommended by former committees, and
premiums have been awarded for its use. The committee, how-
ever, feel constrained again to recommend it, as it is undoubtedly
the easiest and cheapest way of improving pasture land. There
may be some land on which it does little or no good ; but it is
believed that it may be profitably used to a much greater extent
than it is ; and it should not be given up as useless iintil it is
thoroughly tried.

Some pastures may be improved by sowing hay seed, and har-
rowing with a heavy, sharp harrow, early in spring, when the
ground is soft. Ploughing, and sowing with rye and hay seed,
and letting the cattle feed on the rye, sometimes has a good
effect. Pasturing sheep improves the land, as their droppings
are far superior to the droppings of cattle, and they will kill
most kinds of small bushes, except lamb-kill, which usually

WASTE LANDS. 185

grows on land too moist for pasturing sheep, as they will do
much better on high land, even if it is rather dry and the feed
short.

But there are many pastures, some of which are rough broken
land, and others of light sandy soil, which are of little value,
and cannot profitably be improved ; such may as well go for
wood. And it seems a subject worthy of consideration wlicther
white pines and other light kinds of wood may not be cultivated,
as the growth of light wood seems particularly adapted to light
soils.

There has been no application for premium the present year
on improved pasture land. The committee, however, were
invited by Hiram P. Goodhue, of North Andover, to view a
piece of improved waste land ; and surely it was but little
income, according to his statement, but not very much unlike
many pastures in the county. The committee visited it on the
29th of June. The grass was nearly fit to cut. Some of the
land is dry, gravelly knolls ; consequently the grass was rather
light, — much better, however, than it would have been had tlie
season been dry. On the better part of the land the grass was
good ; and in the opinion of the committee, Mr. Goodhue has
not overestimated the quantity of his crop of hay. His apple
trees look well, and with continued care and attention they will,
no doubt, prove a profitable investment, as trees on such land
will do much better than those on land that has long been under
cultivation. The committee would recommend that Mr. Good-
hue receive the society's second premium of ten dollars.

July 6th, the committee had the satisfaction of viewing an
improved tract of land owned by Benjamin Kimball, of Haver-
hill. Mr. Kimball did not ask for a premium, and declined
giving a written statement, but cheerfully gave the committee a
verbal statement of his course of management, which was to
them quite interesting. The land is situated on an elevation
or hill in the northerly part of Haverhill, near the line of Atkin-
son, N. H., and was formerly known as parsonage land. He
had at that time a beautiful field of grass, containing about ten
acres, which was nearly fit for the scythe. We say beautiful,
for what is more beautiful and fragrant than a field of grass,
with a large mixture of clover, when in full blossom. The com-
mittee have since been informed that the crop of hay when cut

24

186 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

was estimated at from eighteen to twenty tons, and the second
crop from ten to twelve tons. The two crops making about
three tons to the acre. He commenced his operation in the
autumn of 1853. He first cut the small bushes, (as it was
mostly covered with them,) then ploughed it with a large team,
and the next spring (1854) he planted it with potatoes. His
crop was 1,060 bushels, of superior quality. He planted it
again the next year, (1855,) and his crop was 1,670 bushels.
He sold them at a good price, which he thinks well paid for the
expense of cultivation. In 1856 it was sowed with grain and
hay seed, but the grain crop was rather light. He used on the
land the two years that he planted it from three to four cords of
manure to the acre, which was ploughed in. He also used
plaster and salt mixed together, put in the hills ; salt hay he also
put in the hill, as he was accustomed to do, and in 1855 he paid
from fourteen to fifteen dollars per ton, and considered it a good
investment. Upon being asked by the committee whether fresh
meadow hay and salt would not answer the same purpose, he
replied, that not being able to procure a sufficient quantity of
salt hay, he, from necessity, purchased fresh meadow hay and
salt, but the result was decidedly in favor of the salt bay. He
also used ashes on part of the field, which had a very marked
effect on the grass.

Large quantities of stones have been removed, part of which
have been used to inclose the field with stone wall ; others have
been hauled to Haverhill village by the returning teams, while
hauling manure, (a distance of nearly four miles,) and sold for
a large price, which contributed largely toward paying for the
manure. He has in the same field fifteen acres planted the
present season, mostly with potatoes, but as to the amount of
crop the committee have not been informed. He has also
ploughed about ten acres to plant next season.

On another part of the same tract of land the committee
were shown an experiment of the use of plaster on old pasture
land, where the committee were informed that it had not been
plouglied for about seventy years. It was then let out upon
shares by the neighboring minister who occupied it, to one of
his parishioners, and it was sowed with rye. The plaster had a
•wonderful effect ; where it was soAved the ground was completely
covered with white clover, while the adjoining land produced

WASTE LANDS. 187

but little feed, and that of poor quality. Mr. Kimball is accus-
tomed to use about one ton of plaster to the acre, which is
entirely different from the common practice. Your committee,
therefore, would recommend it as a subject worthy of consid-
eration.

Mr. Kimball's experiment was highly satisfactory to the com-
mittee. He has truly made the desert or the waste uncultivated
land, to bud and blossom like the rose. He has, however, been
favored with a good soil that never has been cultivated, (except
part of it that was once ploughed for rye,) which will produce
much more with the same manure than land that has long been
under cultivation. His good crop and superior quality of pota-
toes may be attributed, in part at least, to its being new land,
or land that has not been cultivated, as such land is mucli better
adapted to the growth of potatoes, and they will be of far better
quality, and much less liable to disease than when grown upon
old land. Also the use of plaster, and salt hay, would be likely
to have a favorable influence on the amount, the quality, and
soundness of the crop.

The committee were also pleased to see a son of Mr. Kimball
at work in the field, who, they were informed, intends to be a
farmer, who will, they trust, carry his father's experiments to a
greater state of perfection. It is certainly pleasant in tins day
of feverish excitement, when so many of our young men are
leaving the homes of their fathers, and going to our cities, or to
the far "West, to see one who is willing to engage in that impor-
tant business, the cultivation of the soil.

Joseph How, Chairman.

Statement of Hiram P. Goodhue.

The improved waste land I offer for your inspection, contain-
ing two and a half acres, was purchased in 1847, at |20 per
acre. It is somewhat rocky and is mostly covered with ravine
moss and bushes. In the spring of 1852, I cleared the bushes,
ploughed it and manured two acres, set it out with trees, and
planted corn and potatoes, and so continued to plant it for four
years, and then sowed it down to grass, sowing the seed between
the corn rows, and hoeing it about the first of July. The seed

188 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

did not come up well, and the next March I sowed clover, which
came up well, but not in season for a crop that year. The
other half acre being very rough, was not planted till this year.

The trees numbered 104, of which I have lost only one, and
that by the borers. They are very plenty here and require
much attention. Potash is recommended by some to kill them,
but whether its constant use benefits the trees, I think is a
question. I have used strong soap suds to keep the bark smooth
and free from moss, until this year, when I washed them once
in ley aboat the 20th of June. I keep the weeds and grass
clear two or three feet around the roots, and the bark scraped
smooth. The borers are then easily discovered during the
months of August and September, and taken out with a sharp-
pointed knife, without injuring the trees. At this season of the
year they have not made much progress and are found near the
bark. If they are allowed to make their way far into the wood,
a small wire may be used to destroy tliem.

As to my cultivation and crops, the manure was spread every
year at the rate of 15 loads to the acre, and I think I can safely
estimate the corn at 50 bushels and the potatoes at 100 bushels
yearly. In 1856, the crop of hay was 1-| tons of Timothy ; in
1857, 3 tons of clover at first cutting, and 2,500 pounds of second
crop.

NoKTii Andover, September, 10, 1857.

HAMPSHIRE.

Statement of Moses Field.

Previous to last winter, I gave some fifteen acres of exhausted
pasture land a dressing of one hundred pounds of plaster to
the acre. In the months of April, May and June, when I had
no other business in hand, I dressed fifty more acres at the same
rate. The last seems as efficient as the first dressing, the
abundant rains of tlie season having caused it to produce imme-
diate effect, as shown by the lively green grass of the dressed,
in contrast with the dull brown of the undressed pasture. My
experiment is important, not so much for its magnitude, as for
the importance of its principle. The reclaiming of our moun-

WASTE LANDS. 189

taiii pasture land by barnyard manure, seems impracticable, on
account of its great cost. But if it can be improved by the
application of plaster, at seventy-five cents per acre, once in two
or tliree years — quite as much as by a dressing- of yard manure
worth ten dollars to the acre — the owners of such pasture will
try the experiment.

That part of my land, which is most improved by plaster, is
a steep, rocky mountain slope, where there has been only one
attempt at ploughing during the past fifty-five years. This was
abortive or non-paying. It is a fact established to my own sat-
isfaction, that plaster can be used to good profit on some pasture
land, such as Mettawampee mountain land. It is equally well
established that it cannot be profitably used on granite land.
It now remains to be ascertained, whether my Mettawampee
land can be enriched from year to year by plaster, and how
much can be profitably applied to the acre. My observation
indicates two or three hundred pounds.

Leverett, October 15, 1857.

Statement of P. N. Richards.

I had three acres of pasture in Sunderland, very light and
sandy soil, which produced nothing but a stinted growth of
blackberry vines. It has been reclaimed by me. In the autumn
of 1853, 1 dressed the most sterile parts with clay, spread evenly
over the surface and so left exposed to the frost of the winter,
that it might slack and mix more freely w'ith the soil. During
the winter following, I drew on forty cords of muck, and left it
in beds of such thickness as to allow it to be thoroughly frozen.
In the spring, I drew on sixteen and one half cords of barn-
yard manure, forty bushels of ashes and fifty-six bushels of
shell lime unslacked, and five hundred pounds of gypsum, and
thoroughly mixed with the muck. I overhauled the compost
when it had become sufficiently warm to generate gases and
spread on more gypsum to prevent their escape. I then spread
and ploughed under one-half of the compost and harrowed in
the remainder.

I planted corn, putting in the hill seventy-six bushels of
leached ashes, and nine bushels of oyster shell lime, well mixed.
My crop was good, but was much injured by the severe drought

190 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

of the summer. After harvest, I planted rye, and in the spring,
while there was snow on the grovmd, put on nine hundred
pounds of gypsum, and seeded to grass. I had a fine crop of
rye, about thirty bushels to the acre. This year, I applied two
bushels of plaster, mixed with twelve bushels of ashes, and had,
it was said, the best crop of clover in the town. The sandiest
parts produced as bountifully as any. After removing the crop
of clover, I devoted the land to pasturage.

SUNDEELAND, April 6, 1857.

ORCHARDS.

MIDDLESEX SOUTH.

Statement of Willard Haven.

I have, within a few years past, set out eight hundred and
twenty-five standard apple trees on my premises, all of which I
raised from the seed. There are three hundred in one lot,
coming under the society's rules for the present year.

The soil being light, sandy and gravelly, I took special care
to prepare broad and deep holes, — about seven feet in diameter
and from two, to two and a half feet in depth, — before setting.
The holes were filled with the top soil, rich earth, and in some
cases, a mixture of mud, but no manure.

After setting the trees, I placed a few shovelfuls of coarse,
strawy manure from the yard, around each tree. A part of
the land has been kept in cultivation. In the other part, care
is taken to keep the soil broken for a large space around each
tree.

Fkamingham, Sept. 22, 1857.

Statement of 11. H. Bigeloio.

My orchard contains ninety apple trees, which were set out
in the spring of 1854, on one and a half acres of land, and at the
distance of twenty-five feet each way. The land had been used

ORCHARDS. 191

for a pasture till the year before, when I dug out the rocks — as
it was very rocky — and removed them for tlie surrounding
walls. I then ploughed the land, and in the fall dug \u les for
the trees, from five to six feet wide and twenty inches deep. I
placed the best soil by itself, to put around the roots, and using
about two bushels of compost to each tree. I took particular
pains to have the roots in the same position and same depth
that they were before being transplanted. My trees were two
years' growth from the bud when set out. I have washed them
once with potash water, not very strong, and put hay around
them to keep the roots moist in dry weather. The hay I take
away in the fall and put manure around instead. The first
year, I planted the land with 'potatoes, and the two next with
corn, and this year with potatoes, as you see.

Marlborough, Sept. 18, 1857.

HAMPSHIRE.

Statement of Lucius Nutting.

The young orchard in Leverett, which I enter for premium,
consists of two hundred and sixteen trees, principally of the
Rhode Island Greening and the Baldwin varieties, which appear
to be adapted to our climate and soil for winter use. The trees
were procured in the spring of 1850 from the Brookfield nursery.
The lot of land upon which they stand, measures twenty-four
rods by forty, and is a light, sandy loam. I set the trees, which
were of two years' growth from the bud, in eight furrows, the
trees at right angles with each other and thirty-three feet apart.
I cultivated the land the first season and took off corn and
potatoes. The depth of the furrows was about seven inches,
and I put nothing about the roots, except the natural earth,
well pulverized. All but three or four of the trees have lived
and are flourishing.

I have kept the land under cultivation and laid down to
grass in rotation, about one-half at any one time being culti-
vated and the other half laid down. The part cultivated has
had an average spread of fifteen loads of manure to the acre.
In 1852 and 1855 I gave two dressings of compost manure, con-

192 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

sisting of pond mud, leached ashes, chip, yard manure, night
soil, coal dust and iron scales, well pulverized and worked over
under cover. I laid this compost in August, having first
removed the earth around the roots, carefully with hoe and
hook, for a space two to four feet in diameter, according to the
size of the tree. I next applied to each tree a half bushel or
more of the manure, spread evenly around, drew back the
earth and covered the manure to keep it from drying.

This has been my practice or treatment until the present
season, when I put all the land under cultivation, top-dressed it
with two hundred and fifty pounds of guano to the acre, well
spread, and planted with broomcorn. I think that tlie guano
acted favorably upon the trees, as might be seen in their dark
colored leaves, and in their new, large and healthy shoots from
two to three feet in length.

Leverett, October, 1857.

. HOUS ATONIC.

From the Report of the Committee.

Your committee recommend that a premium be offered for
fruit trees planted and properly protected along highways. An
apple tree is as easily planted as a maple, and a row of good, bear-
ing trees would afford a better protection for a fruit orchard,
than the highest fence. The fence is exclusive, aristocratic, —
Young America cannot abide it, — whilst the row of fruit trees
along the road compromises the matter, and hence strikes the
American mind as perfectly philosophical and satisfactory.

We should not neglect to notice that nothing which we have
seen in all our examination has more excited our admiration,
than a hedge of buckthorn, cultivated on the grounds of Mrs.
David Ives, of Great Barrington. It is, as it were, a strain of
harmony in two parts, executed by art and nature.

The lateness of the season, and the delay and carelessness of
competitors in entering their crops, have made the committee
many miles of useless travel, attended with no little embarrass-
ment ; yet we have met every where with a cordial kindness
and hospitality, — roses that have hidden all the thorns, — and if

MANURES. 193

"we leave tliose, of whose labors wo have been called upon to
judge, as kindly disposed towards us, as we now feel towards
them, we shall conclude we have discharged our duties well,
and witli enlarged ideas of Berkshire as regards her wealth,
her enterprise and her intelligence, we gladly and gratefully
lay down the badges of office and retire to the quiet of our
farms.

Ira Curtis, Chairman 4

MANURES.

ESSEX.

Report of the Committee.

The committee regret that no statement of experiments with
manures or crops to be turned in as manures, has come to their
knowledge the past season. The county of Essex is peculiarly
adapted and located for ploughing in vegetable matter as fer-
tilizers of tlie soil, for one-half of the towns border upon the
ocean, with its advantages and resources of muscle beds and
sea-weeds, of kelp and salt grass, with thatch growing on the
banks of the numerous creeks which frequently extend to some
distance into the interior. The middle and back towns are not
destitute of material for enriching the soil. They have their
deposits of almost a compost heap in their peat lands and basins
of roots, leaves, grass and various kinds of vegetable matter —
centuries old — all near them, with the foliage of the trees and
with bushes that almost cover the pastures, and which should
be cut in August and ploughed in, as three cuttings will nearly
destroy them and make a line for the young forest trees, that
they may come thus far and no farther. Ploughing in the leaves
of the apple and peach trees in November, will nearly make a
supply for the crop the succeeding year. Pine ,and thin lands
may be improved, and a double object accomplished, by sowing

25

194 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

buckwheat early, and when sufficiently ripened, ploughing it
in, thereby producing honey for bee and man, and a fertilizer
for the crops of the coming year.

If the vegetable matter above specified was put into one vast
heap for decomposition, and covered with the sediment of ponds
and basins, that the ammonia might not escape, it would make
a supply for vegetation, the value of which could hardly be
overestimated. And we need it all, and more than all, for the
purpose of increasing the productive capabilities of the county.
And we need more tillers of the soil — more of hard working,
industrious yeomen, who will bend all their energies to the
work of the farm. The consumers are too numerous for the
producers. Many of our farmers' sons are leaving the old
homesteads, to become manufacturers or speculators, or any
thing else that does not require hard work. Sturdy young men
in our cities are already out of employment, and marching
round with cigar in mouth, carrying banners, on which is
inscribed, " bread or work." Let them come into the country —
even here in New England, with her sterile soil — there is work
enough here on our farms, if they will only do it. Let the
sons of our farmers understand that they are to become free-
holders, and let them be educated as such. Let them understand
that the fluctuations of trade affect the farmer but slightly, if
at all — that all that is raised will be wanted for consumption —
and let them apply themselves diligently to their calling, and
there is no reason why they should not be the happiest and most
enviable class in the community.

M. G. J. Emery, Chairman.

WORCESTER WEST.

Statement of Benj. F. Hamilton.

My manner of making compost manure is as follows : My
cellar is one hundred feet long, forty feet wide, and about eight
feet and a half deep. I commence by laying loam to the depth
of about two feet on the bottom of the cellar directly under the
stable where the cattle and horses stand. When a sufhcient

MANURES. 195

quantity of manure has dropped from the cattle to receive
another layer of loam, I apply it and continue in this manner
until I turn my cattle to pasture. I then have it shoveled over
and mixed together as much as possible, and let it remain until
I want to apply it to the different fields as I have a year's stock
on hand. The part of the cellar where I keep my hogs, I manage
in the same way, except they work it over free of charge and
make a large amount of the best kind of manure. I have cut
double the amount of hay this season that I did seven years ago
when I came on to the farm. I make yearly from three to four
hundred loads of first rate manure. My barn is constructed so
that I can drive directly through the whole length of the stable
on the north side and drop the loam through the scuttles down
in the cellar when I want to use it. I have scuttles in the centre
floor where I drop the loam or muck for my hogs. In this
manner it is very easy to make all the manure I want to use.

New Braintree, September 14, 1857.

Statement of Henry Holbrook.

My manner of making compost manure is as follows : The
dimensions of my barn are 100 feet long by 42 feet wide, with
a cellar under the entire length and breadth. My cellar wall
on the north-west side is very heavy and strong, being laid with
stone and mortar. The south-east side and each end is very
similar to a common house cellar. Consequently it is impossi-
ble for the manure to freeze in the coldest weather we have,
which I consider very beneficial, as manure must naturally lose
in value by freezing. After completing my spring work, I
draw from 80 to 100 loads of loam into my barn cellar, putting
about half of it under the stable where the cattle stand and the
balance under the centre floor, and shovel it into the manure
from time to time, through the winter months, as occasion may
require, for the purpose of absorbing the liquid which drops
from the stable above. A short time before drawing the ma-
nure on to the planting ground, I shovel it all over for the purpose
of mixing it well together ; going through that process serves to
make the manure much better for whatever use it may be applied

196 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

to. The above method 1 would recommend to every farmer
who has a barn cellar. In my estimation it well pays him for
his trouble and expense, to say nothing of the convenience in
drawing it from the cellar, to what it would be, should it be
allowed to remain under the stable. In the above way I make
from 250 to 300 loads of excellent manure in a year, which I
use by spreading on planting grounds, and which as yet, has
never failed to secure me good crops. I have a building for my
swine, the dimensions of which are 50 feet long by 24 wide,
with a cellar imder the whole, from which I make from 25 to 30
loads good manure per year, and from 4*0 to 50 loads in pens
adjoining, which is excellent manure for grass land. I make
from 100 to 125 loads of manure in my barnyard by drawing
in loam and yarding my cattle on the same, which I use on
mowing fields, which pays well for the labor, &c.

In pursuing the above practice, I am supplied with a large
amount of first rate manure for my crops, I am confident
that farmers are far behind the improvements of the day
in this important branch of husbandry. I believe if farmers
would husband their resources it would supersede the necessity
of purchasing manure which costs at the rate of 60 dollars
per ton.

Barre, September 14, 1857.

HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN.

Statement of Georg-e Dickinson.

I offer this statement in regard to some' experiments I have
made during the last season with manure, guano and ashes.

The lot of land on which these experiments were made is
meadow land on the Connecticut. About one-third of the lot
is a sandy soil, the remaining two-thirds is a sandy loam, rest-
ing on a sandy subsoil. The Whole lot has been cultivated alike
for many years. The stable manure was applied at the rate of
about 340 bushes per acre, the guano at the rate of about 24
pounds per acre, and the ashes 20 bushels per acre. In
order to ascertain the comparative value of these manures,

MANURES. 197

and their worth to the present crop, I pUiuted four rows with-
out any fertilizer, (Lot No. 1 ;) the product of this lot was
147|^ lbs. of broom-brush, and 9 bushels of seed, at 28|^ lbs. per
bushel.

Lot No. 2, four rows Avith ashes in the hill, yielded 162| lbs.
brush and 11| bushels seed, 28 lbs. per bushel.

Lot No. 3, four rows with guano in the hili, yielded 223|
lbs. brush and 14| bushels seed.

Lot No. 4, four rows with stable manure ploughed in, yielded
232 lbs. brush and 15-| bushels seed.

The yield of Lot No. 2, in excess of Lot No. 1, is 15^ lbs.
brush and 2^ bushels of seed ; reckoning the brush at 5 cents
per lb. and the seed 1 cent per lb., leaves a balance of $1.40 as
the worth of the ashes, 6| lbs., or 21|^ cents per bushel.

The yield of Lot No. 3, in excess of Lot No. 1, was 16^ lbs,
brush and 5^ bushels seed ; leaving a balance of $5.18 as the
worth of 81 lbs. guano, or Q-^^ cents per lb.

The yield of Lot No 4, in excess of Lot No. 1, was 85 lbs.
brush and 6} lbs. seed ; leaving a balance of $5.81 as the worth
of 3| loads or 113 bushels manure, or $1.55 per load of 30
bushels.

I do not claim for these experiments perfect accuracy in
every particular, yet great pains were taken, and I consider the
figures, stating the amount of crop from the different lots,
correct.

I would here state that the brush on Lot No. 3 was not cut
until a few days after the others, and being exposed to more
frosts, the weight of the brush was diminished probably 5 lbs.
per cwt., which would give a still more favorable account of the
effects of the guano.

If the manure had been applied in the hill, it would probably
have produced a heavier crop, Ijut its permanent effects will
probably counterbalance this loss. The ashes and guano, I
think, have spent themselves on the present crop.

If this experiment is an approximation to the truth, it Avill be
seen that the guano is far better worth what it costs than cither
stable manure or ashes.

It will be conceded by all, I think, that manure from fatten-
ing cattle costs at least $1.50 per load of 30 bushels at the

198 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

barn ; if so, mine cost in the ground not less than $2 per load,
but the excess of the crop over the same amount of land with
out any stimulus makes it only -SI. 55 per load ; the cost of the
guano was 13.10 per cwt.

Statement of H. I. Hodges.

In April, 1857, I selected and staked off seven half acre lots
on the Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden Agricultural Society's
grounds at Northampton, on the north-easterly side of said
grounds. Each lot was of precisely the same quality of soil and
in the same condition, and in grass — Timothy, red and white
clover ; six of the seven lots I gave a top-dressing, each with a
different fertilizer, leaving one lot without any. Each lot was
mowed at the same time, and managed alike, and the hay upon
each weighed separately, and the table at the close of this com-
munication presents a full and accurate statement of the experi-
ments upon these lots.

These experiments have been made with reference to knowing
the true and exact effect of the several fertilizers on this lot, by
top-dressing, as it is not desirable to plough or cultivate except
for grass, as these grounds (fifteen acres) are kept for the use of
the society, and for the purpose of holding the annual shows.
The result shows quite plainly that several of the fertilizers can-
not 1)6 used as a top-dressing upon these lands to any profit. The
soil is a loam, w^ith sand and clay so well mixed that good judges
disagree whether to call it sandyAoixvii or 67f/7/-loam, — it is a
cold land, and retains moisture late in the spring.

From the table, it will be discovered that ashes are the only
fertilizer which produce a decidedly favorable result the first
year. The increase of hay upon the lot where ashes were used
pays for the fertilizer, and one hundred and nineteen per cent,
over. The increase of hay on no otlier lot pays for the fer-
tilizer. Guano comes near it ; where guano was used the
increase of hay was the greatest. Other soils would, without
doubt, produce quite different results. It is hoped that every
meml)cr of this society will make himself familiar with the soil
and. location, if he is not already, so tliat lie may better judge
of the value of tliis experiment to his own lands.

MANURES.

199

Kind of
Fertilizers.

u

^

r)

=:, u

&

M

r^

^^

2^

" CO

sa

o

t

oB

°w

«»

s*

^ u

!^

^•^

^•"s

•?;^

•s^

■^.2

o

■^ c<

3<„ g

S^ a

3 ^

3 "

3 "

■3 °-"

■3 =■«

&

^

a

a

(>

t>

3 O.

92

■3^

pa

None, . .

Poudrette,

Plaster,

Super-phosphate
of Lime,

Ilorse and Cow

Manure,

Ashes, . .
Guano,

none,

2 bbls.
500 lbs.

150 "

4 loads.
10 bush.
158 lbs.

$4 00

3 00

4 00

8 00
2 00

5 24

1335 lbs. 400 lbs. $4 00
1413 " 400 " 4 25
1427 " 400 " i 4 28

1535

1855
2030
2135

400

4 60

400 " 5 56
1000 " 6 09
1000 " 6 40

$140 $5 40

1 40 5 65
1 40 ' 5 68

1 40

1 40
3 50
3 50

6 00

6 96
9 59
9 90

none, .
83 lbs.
92 "

200 "

520 •"
1295 "

1400 "

none.
$3 75 loss.

2 72 "

3 40 «

6 44 "
2 19 gain.
74 loss.

P. S. — These experiments are to ho followed up, so as to find
the results upon these lots the second year.

HAMPSHIRE.

Statement of N. Austin Smith.

I have a cistern with a capacity of about ten hogsheads ; the
sides are made from water lime plastered upon the solid earth,
the bottom is not cemented, the topis boarded over and covered
with dirt to keep it from freezing. It is situated in a sandy
loam in an out of the way place back of my barn. The drain
leading to it conducts the waste water from the sink through
the privy ' vault, the bottom of which is made of brick laid in
cement witli considerable inclination, which is kept by the flow
of water well cleansed, and produces in the cistern a strong
liquid and a powerful stimulant for growing plants. The drain
above the vault is made of four inch pipe tile, and below is of
brick and flat stone four inches by six ; the whole length is six
rods, and the descent is seven feet. If the sink ever smells
otherwise than sweet, an occasional application is made of the
solution of copperas.

I have distributed the liquid by means of a forty gallon cask
standing upon the back end of a one horse wagon. Into the
bottom is inserted a tube, on the lower end of which is fastened
another one horizontally, which is pierced with a number of
small holes and made of two pieces and fastened together at

200 MASSACHUSETTS AGMCULTURE.

tlie lower edge with butts, and at the upper witli hooks, that it
may be opened and freed from' any matter whicli might prevent
the full flow of the liquid. When the cask is being filled,
which I have done by means of a large dipper, a plug is put
into the outlet, having a handle reaching above the top of the
cask. By this simple arrangement the contents of the cistern
may be distributed in one hour. The whole cost may be reck-
oned as follows : The cask and fixings, two dollars ; the cistern
and conduit, five, and the dipper, an old pail, a stick four feet
long, and ten minutes work. I have applied the liquor only to
the grass in my orchard, in the spring, and soon after taking
off the first crop. The result is quite satisfactory, giving the
trees a healthy growth, and the grass an increase of about one-
third.

Sunderland, October 19, 1857.

FRANKLIN.

Report of (he Committee.

The question is constantly arising in the minds of the farmer,
what will fertilize the soil so as to secure therefrom the highest
possible results. We shall endeavor to meet that question
according to the best of our ability. And we shall attempt to
elucidate the subject by attending to three important considera-
tions. First, that which actually enriches the soil ; secondly,
that which stimulates and brings into use the riches which the
soil already contains ; and thirdly, we shall speak of the rota-
tion of crops.

As to the first point, we would say stable and barnyard
manure is the most common fertilizer in use. Manure should
be sheltered if possible. Yard manure can be greatly increased
by adding those substances which will drink up the moisture
and retain that which otherwise would evaporate by the heat of
the sun, or run to waste by drenching rains. Such substances
as cut straw, stalks, and every kind of vegetable substance.
Some add muck, and this, every farmer understands, but we
would speak a word as to its application.

For corn and potatoes, a very common practice has been to

MANURES. 201

manure in the hill. This is upon the supposition that all the
richness of the manure is imparted to the roots. But it may
be a question whether a proportion of the manure, or the
ammonia, — as it is sometimes called, — does not escape into the
atmosphere, and is from thence imbibed into the plant through
the medium of the leaves.

And another fact exists which is not taken into consideration,
that is, the roots of corn are very long, ten or twelve feet, hence
we can see that manure spread upon the ground and ploughed
in is, on the whole, preferable to manuring in the hill.

Again, muck and clay are often used with great success upon
certain soils, and hence by some they are supposed to contain
important elements to sustain vegetation. But their use
depends upon adaptation. Sandy soil is supposed to leach.
This conveys the idea that the richness passes through into the
earth and is lost through the action of drenching rains. This
idea is probably false. The richness more likely escapes into
the atmosphere through the heat of the sun upon the dry sand,
and then whatever strength of manure is applied, rapidly passes
off in the form of gases. But, be this as it may, sandy land
does not retain the elements of fertility, and the question is,
can any thing be applied to give the sandy soil a sufficient body
(so to speak) as to retain its fertility like other soils. We
answer yes. Clay applied in abundance and well worked into
sandy soil will supply, in a great measure, the necessary ingre-
dient. It tends to neutralize by the coldness of its nature the
effect of the sun upon the dry sand. For the heat of the sun
tends to draw all the essence of fertility which the soil may
contain, into the atmosphere, and thus all soon passes off and
the land is left barren. The object of clay is to neutralize the
effect, and thus the soil is enabled to retain the fertilizing ingre-
dients like other soils.

Muck will also do this, in a measure, and it contains also
many ingredients of fertility. Let the farmer try this and
apply clay and muck in abundance, and he will find in a few
seasons his barren sandy lands brought to a high state of fertil-
ity, and a fertility that will last ; and his clay and muck when
thus liberally applied will be found in a few years to be of more
value than the richest stable manure.

Liquid manure also is of great value to the farmer. Let

26

202 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

vaults be prepared so as to save tlie urine from the stables, and
fifty per cent, more would be realized, to say the least, than
now is from the stable and yard. The results upon trying this
manure are truly surprising. Cases have come under the knowl-
edge of the committee, where it has been tried upon grass land,
and It is not too much to say that the crop was doubled. This
manure is too little thought of by farmers generally, and allowed
to run to waste, and thus is entirely lost.

Super- phosphate, as a substitute for manure has been used
with great success. This is composed of bone dust, sulphuric
acid, Peruvian guano and sulphate of ammonia, and the effects
of this in some cases are surprising. One of the committee,
for experiment, tried this composition on a piece of common
light sod. At an expense of six dollars per acre, results were
secured which could not have been realized from twenty cart
loads of good yard manure. On the next year the same exper-
iment was tried, with the same surprising effects. Again the
experiment was tried, on plain land of ordinary fertility, and
the same effects were proportionally realized. But it is found
upon trial that this composition cannot be used with equal suc-
cess upon wet land. On the whole, we are led to feel that
super-phosphate can be used by the practical farmer with
great benefit.

An experiment was also tried with another article, called
Poudrette, and such results were secured as led us to feel, when
it is rightly applied, it can be used to good advantage. But
our own experience gives the balance decidedly in favor of
super-phosphate.

We come next to treat of another class of substances which
are applied with much success in producing crops. We have
reference to plaster of Paris, lime, &c. We class these by
themselves ; for it must be borne in mind that they do not con-
tain in themselves the elments of fertility. This is particularly
the case with plaster and lime, and it is a fact that the farmer
would do well to bear in mind, for they seem to act upon the
soil merely as a stimulus, so to speak, and bring into active
operation the elements of fertility which the soil may already
possess or contain. And hence we expect no further results
from them than to wake the latent energies, which in some soils,
seem to lay a long time dormant and useless. But the farmer

MANURES. 203

who uses these merely as a substitute for manure, will, in a few
years, fuid his farm barren and unproductive, and reduced to a
low state of exhaustion, although at first he may seem to realize
very desirable results. Hence we are led to say they are not
to be classed among the fertilizers.

Plaster is used with good success in connection with other
manures. The effect is to hasten the crop and give it a start
in the spring which it does not lose for the whole summer. It
also imparts color and strength which it would not otherwise
possess, and this, be it remembered is not realized, without mak-
ing the properties of the manure active in their effects. It is
also used with good success and great benefit with any kind of
manure that is only partially decomposed. The tendency is to
hasten decomposition, and mature and bring into active service
certain qualities of manure which would otherwise lie over till
the succeeding year, and even then perhaps be of little value.
On the whole, we feel that plaster judiciously applied is in most
cases of good service. But its province is not to enrich.

The effect of lime, on the other hand, is somewhat different.
Upon cold clay land, one bushel to the square rod, has been
used to great advantage. Its tendency seems to be to warm the
soil and render it loose and active after it has become cold,
hard and unproductive. Upon certain farms we may safely say
lime, when rightly applied, would not merely prove a safe
investment, but furnish to the soil an indispensable ingredient.

Again, ashes are often applied with good results ; but whether
they operate otherwise than as stimulant, like plaster, is in some
minds still a matter of doubt. We are led to believe that
ashes, aside from their tendency to loosen the soil and stimulate
the latent properties of fertility which the soil already contains,
are of little service. But even this will ever make ashes a valua-
ble article with the farmers.

Again, another department of fertilizing the soil lies in a
judicious rotation of crops, and in turning tillage ground to
green sward and vice versa. It is supposed by some that dif-
ferent productions require different qualities of soil, explain it
in whatever way you will. Yet it is a well known fact that one
field to the same crop year after year will gradually run out,
and no amount of enriching will redeem it ; but a judicious
rotation or change of crops, such as each farmer must deter-

204 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

mine for himself, can be practiced with the most happy effects.
In this lies a very important item in the science of farming.
Let the farmer take all things into consideration and then ask
himself each season, what will this or that field bear to the best,
advantage this year ? A discerning mind will easily determine
this, and he will thereby accomplish for himself and for his
farm what a far more expensive treatment would not secure.
Another important item is in seeding down or turning to green-
sward those fields which begin to be weary of the plough, A few
years rest from constant tillage will produce the most surprising
results, and if it were necessary an explanation could be given.
Land too long exposed to the sun and to the immediate action
of the atmosphere, will lose some of the most essential ele-
ments of productiveness. Hence, give it a covering of green-
sward for a few years and these elements are restored. But
care should be taken that it lie not too long, otherwise this
result is in a measure defeated by its being matted with too
heavy a turf.

Such fields cry mightily for the plough, and you cannot do
better than turn them back to tillage. Another important
result secured by seeding down tillage is to obtain thereby a heavy
bed of grass roots which, turned up by the plough, will prove of
more value to the soil than a coat of manure. Thus it will be
found that a wise and judicious rotation of crops will not only
secure a very essential economy in the science of farming, by
bringing into use all of the productive elements of the soil, but
it will also be found to actually enrich the soil, and accomplish
certain things and secure certain conditions of soil which manure
will fail to accomplish.

Li view of these statements, however imperfectly they may
have been made or however imperfectly the subject may have
been treated, your committee have one consolation, that tlicir
conclusions are founded not on theory, but in fact. Tliey are
the observations of practical farmers. The statements for premi-
ums are here given. We would call particular attention to that
of Mr. Smith, of Sunderland, on liquid manure, (p. 199,) and wish
every farmer would profit by it. We were disposed to give him
the first premium, but on looking at the rules of the society, we
find he nuist continue his experiments another year. We, how-
ever, as an encouragement, venture to recommend a gratuity of

MANURES. • 205

two dollars. The statement of Mr. Ciishman shows a series of
experiments for two years, pursued with his characteristic
energy and carefulness, and will be of much service to the far-
mers who study this subject. To him we award the first pre-
mium of six dollars. To Franklin H. Williams, of Sunderland,
we give the second premium of four dollars.
For the committee,

Chas. Hawks.

Statement of Franklin H. Williams.

Last spring I entered upon an experiment with ploughing in
green crop, or stalks, as manure, rather than burn the same on
the ground. I have about six acres of sandy soil, which had
been sown to rye so long that it was nearly worthless. About
ten years ago my father came mto possession of this land in a
very low condition. Since that time it has been covered with
muck at different times. The muck, we became satisfied, was
the very thing needed to restore this poor soil to fertility. For
the past three years we have been satisfied that we could return
more carbon (which was the object desired) to the soil, and get
a paying crop every year, by raising broomcorn and ploughing
the stalks m green as soon as the brush was taken off, cheaper
than to haul muck two miles, which we have to do. Below I
give our method of manuring and ploughing in the stalks last
year, which is our common practice. When the broomcorn is
ready to cut it is cut close to the ground with corn slashers and
laid between the rows. When the brush is cut and taken to
the barn, we turn a furrow of about three inches deep upon
each row. This so thoroiighly rots the stalks before the next
spring, that they are out of the way for the next crop with a
valuable addition of carbon to the soil to enrich the future crop.
Last winter I sledded about 40 cords of muck two miles, which
was left upon this ground. The muck was drawn green from
the swamp in very cold weather and put thin, allowing it to
freeze hard, in which case it is much finer to compost in spring.
In May, 20 loads of green manure were drawn to the field and
composted with the piles of muck. When this was well warmed
it was spread upon the surface and ploughed under. Last
season the crop was estimated at 4,000 lbs., or two tons of
brush, and I measured up 300 bushels of seed that weighed 43

206 MASSACPIUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

lbs. to the bushel. The present season the weight of brush will
be about the same as last year, but there will be little seed.
We are confident we can get the six acres in less time to cut it
as I have described, than to table the corn the common method.
We cover four acres of the stalks in a day, which is less than
half tlie cost of cutting the same with a stub-hoe, to say nothing
of the cost of burning. Thus, you see, this poor worn out soil
has been made to })roduce seven hundred weight of broomcorn
to the acre with scarcely any thing but muck and the stalks,
whicli latter have always been considered a nuisance upon the
grouiul.

Sunderland, November 12, 1857.

Statement of II. W. Cushman.

The use, by the farmers of this county, of artificial or foreign
manure and stimulants for the soil having become quite com-
mon, I have deemed it important to continue, with great accu-
racy, the course of experiments I commenced last year.

■ By referring to the Transactions of last year it will be seen
that I confined my experiments to the use of guano. This year
I have continued my experiments witli guano, and have also
extended them to the use of plaster of Paris and ashes — par-
ticularly in the regeneration and improvement of pasture land.

1. Guano on Grass Land. From the centre of a mowing
field of some three or four acres — old land and not very pro-
ductive of grass, and which had not been manured for three or
four years — I staked off a piece containing forty square rods of
land. On the 16th day of May, a damp day, I sowed on this
piece at the rate of 215 lbs. of Peruvian guano to the acre — 1-|-
Ibs. to the square rod. The result was a very visible and
immediate effect on the growth of the grass — so much so, that
the boundaries of the piece on wliich guano was sown could be
seen at the distance of forty rods or more. The quantity of
grass produced, so near as I could judge without weighing, was
about double that on the adjoining land, or at least a gain of
seventy-five per cent.

The advantage in using guano as above, may be thus stated :
Quantity of hay on land on which guano was not used, say one
ton per acre. Increase by use of guano, three-fourths ton per

MANURES. 207

acre. Value of tliree-foiirtlis ton of liay, less expense of cut-
ting, say 18. Cost of guano, 215 lbs. at $G5 per ton, $7 ;
making an actual profit of one-eightli, besides the increased
quality of hay on the same land.

I also measured off thirty square rods from another part of
the same lot and applied at the rate of 160 lbs. of guano to the
acre — or one pound to the square rod. Tlie result was similar
to the foregoing, with tliis difference, that the quantity of grass
was proportionally less. It is my opinion tliat 250 lbs. of
guano to the acre is the minimum quantity that should Ijc applied
to produce the most profit — except in raising Inickvvheat, whicli
will be spoken of hereafter.

The second crop, or rowen, on the above mentioned land was
but slightly increased where the guano was applied. And on
examining the mowing land this year, where guano was applied
last year, I found the grass to be no lietter than on the adjoin-
ing land ; and I find with other crops, on land where guano
was used last year, only a small increase — but not enough to
produce much profit.

2. Guanu on Buckwheat. By my experiments last year, 1
find guano to be more profitable for buckwheat than any other
crop ; and the same is true this year.

I have a piece of poor, sandy plain land, which was last year
sown with buckwheat and 100 lbs. of guano to the acre, and it
produced a very good crop. I sowed the same land, two and
one-fourth acres, with buckwheat tlie last of June, this year,
and applied to it — harrowing it in with the buckwheat — the
small quantity of 50 lbs. of guano to the acre. The result was
a good growtli of stalks and a middling crop of buckwheat ;
but not as good as last year, owing to the unfavorable state of
the weatlier. A blast, early in September, reduced the quantity
of grain at least one-third.

I have tluis arrived at the conclusion that on quite poor and
worn-out land, the application of 50 lbs. of Peruvian guano,
costing f 1.62, to the acre, will produce good crops for a series
of years. A larger quantity than 50 to 75 lbs. to the acre will
prove injurious — making too much straw and consequently less
grain.

3. Guano on Potatoes. In May I planted potatoes on old
pasture land of moderate quality. On a part of it I manured

208 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

the potatoes in the hill with the usual quantity — some eight or
nine cart loads — of good manure to the acre. On the adjoin-
ing part I applied guano in the hill, at the rate of about 200
lbs. to the acre. The result was that the land on which guano
was used, inithont manure, produced as vigorous growth of tops
and as many potatoes as the adjoining land, on wliich nine or
ten cart loads of manure to tlie acre was used ; thus demon-
strating the fact that guano is as valuable for potatoes as for
other crops.

WIRE FENCES.

ESSEX.

Communication of William H. Brewster.

It is an old maxim that " experience is the best schoolmaster,"
and it is only by practical experience that we have acquired and
adopted the course of agricultural improvements for which the
present age is distinguished. In those parts of our country
where the material for stone fences is abundant, the reasons for
constructing wire fences may not apply with all their force ;
but where no rocks are to be found conveniently at hand, the
construction of these fences will be true economy. They con-
sume much less labor and stock, and can be built at less than
half the cost of a board fence of similar durability.

About ten years since the writer observed in one of the agri-
cultural publications of the day an intimation respecting the
utility of wire fences, and having occasion to construct a
division fence at that time, concluded to make an experiment
with wire. For this purpose we selected No. 9 size, and pro-
cured two hundred pounds, which cost six dollars per hundred
— the price now, however, has advanced 25 per cent. Cedar
posts, about six inches in diameter, were set firmly in the
ground, sixty feet apart — in the intervals between these posts a
cedar stake, from two to tln-ee inches in diameter, was driven
into the ground, at equal distances, every twelve feet. This

WIRE FENCES. 209

being completed, the wire was annealed to make it more plia-
ble, by making a fire of brush on the premises. Being prepared
we commenced running our wire, which was done by securing
it to a five inch cut nail driven into the first cedar post four and
a half feet from the ground, and passing to the next post,
sixty feet distant, drawing the wire as tight as two men could
draw it, and securing it to a nail similar to that of the first post
— thus passing from post to post, to the termination of the line.
This was repeated until five courses were extended.

The distance between the first and second run was eight
inches — tlie three next courses were ten inches apart, and the
last was sixteen inches from the ground — the inequalities of
the surface of the ground will bring it much nearer in many
places.

The attaching the wire to the stakes was effected by driving
a two inch cut nail under the wire with its head inclining up,
and a similar nail over the wire, about an inch from the previ-
ous one, with its head inclining down ; this served to prevent
the wire from swaying, and likewise to secure the stake from
motion. It is preferable to secure the wire on the surface of the
post, that it may receive the action of the atmosphere, and avoid
corroding, which occurs when the wire is run through the post
or stake by boring and plugging.

The entire expense per rod did not exceed forty cents; esti
mating labor at seventy-five cents per day, the wire at six cents
per pound, the posts at seventeen cents each, and the stakes at
two cents each, which were the several amounts paid. This
fence has stood about ten years, and has required but a few
slight repairs, such as the righting of a post or stake to tighten
the wire. The weight of the fence is held by the posts, conse-
quently the strain upon the stakes is slight, and when they
become weak near the ground, the force of the wind meeting no
obstruction by the fence, does not move them.

The cost of fencing is a very important item in farming oper-
ations, and those who have given little attention to the subject
will be surprised at the following calculation made by a distin-
guished agriculturist in Pennsylvania, before the Philadelphia
Agricultural Society, a few years since. He estimated the
expense of farm fences in that State, (and gives the data upon
which his calculations are based,) at $105,600,000, and the
87

210 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

interest on this outlay, with tlie annual wear and tear of fences,
to be equal to an annual tax of $10,000,000 on the farmers of
that State.

Newburtport, October, 1857.

INDIAN COEN.

HAMPSHIRE.

Statement of P. N. Richards.

My crop of Indian corn was raised on 244 rods of heavy,
sandy loam, in Sunderland. In 1856, from a half acre of it, I
had a good crop of broomcorn, after having given it a good coat
of barnyard manure. The remainder produced rye, without
manure. On the first of May, 1857, I applied thirty one-horse
loads of yard and stable manure, — ploughed it under seven
inches deep, then spread on fifteen one-horse loads of compost,
and at the same time sowed broadcast and harrowed in twenty
bushels of ashes. On the twenty-third of May, I planted, with
Billing's Corn Planter, what is called Stebbins's twelve-rowed
corn. I put from six to eight kernels in the hill. The rows
were three feet apart and the hills three and a half feet. I put
in the hill, while planting, ashes at the rate of four bushels to
the acre. I hoed three times, using each time the common
cultivator, and made hills of moderate size. I thinned the
stalks, between the first and second hoeing, leaving only four in
a hill. I had ninety-six and one-fourth bushels of corn to the
acre.

Value of crop : —
146;| bushels of shelled corn, at |1,

5 tons of fodder at $6,

Expenses : —
Manure, $56.75, applying it, $7.27,
Ploughing and harrowing, and seed,
Planting, hoeing and harvesting, .
Interest on land, valued at $200 per acre,

$146 25

30

00

$64 02

3

79

20

21

18

00

$176 25

106 02

Net profit on 244 rods, . . . . $70 23

INDIAN CORN. 211

To which add one-fourth of the manure unexpended, $14 18

41

Sunderland, November 15, 1857.

Statement of John M. Smith.

The crop of corn which I enter for premium grew on a
clayey loam — rather heavy subsoil. The piece measures two
acres and ninety rods. The manner of cultivation was as
follows : —

About one acre was planted with corn last year, having been
in grass three years, without manure. Ten loads of long
manure were put upon it. Tlie crop of corn was very good.

About the 20th of May, 1857, fifteen loads of manure to the
acre were put upon the whole piece and ploughed seven inches
deep. Between the 25th and 30th of the same month, it was
planted with the " Dutton corn," putting at the same time in
the hill, at the rate of six bushels of ashes to the acre. The hills
were three feet four inches apart each way. It was hoed three
times. The yield was 2121 bushels. To the acre, 82 j^^ bushels.

Value of the crop : —
212 J bushels of corn, at |1, .

4 bushels soft corn, at 25 cents, .

7 tons corn fodder, at $6, .
One-third of the manure unexpended, .

Expenses : —

Seed,

39 loads manure, at $1.25,

Application of manure, ploughing and

harrowing.
Hoeing,
Harvesting, .
Interest and taxes,

Net profit on 2 acres 90 rods,
" on 1 acre,

SuNDEELAND, November 15, 1857.

$212 50

1 00

42 00

16 00

$271 50

100 75

48 75

12 00

7 00

19 00

25 00

$112 50

, ,

$159 00

, ^

62 08

212 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

Statement of T. P. Huntington.

My field of corn contains a fraction over two acres. About
May 1st, 1857, I ploughed in 650 pounds of guano. The
ground was prepared as usual, planted, cultivated, hoed three
times and the stalks were cut and stacked. I harvested one
hundred and sixty-two baskets of corn, one of which, after being
shelled and dried, yielded twenty quarts.

Value of crop : —
162 baskets of 20 quarts each, equal to

101^ bushels, at |1, . . . . |101 25

Corn stalks, 10 00

Husks, 3 00

Expenses : —
Preparing ground and planting,
Cultivating and hoeing,
Cutting and stacking, .
Harvesting, ....

$28 00

5

25

3

00

10

00

$114 25

$46 25

Net profit, $68 00

Hadley, November, 15, 1857.

WHEAT

MIDDLESEX SOUTH.

Statement of Josiah Gibbs.

The land on which my crop of spring wheat grew, lies in the
north-west part of Framingham. In 1856, it was well manured,
and produced corn and potatoes. After the crop was taken off,
there was a thin dressing of dirty manure from a yard where
young cattle were yarded, ploughed in. The soil, loamy — about

. $56 00

. 9 75

165 75

. $10 00

. 8 00

. 10 00

. 4 50

60

133 10

WHEAT. 213

one-half acre of land. In May, 1857, the ground was ploughed
fine, and two bushels of wheat were sown and harrowed in.
The crop was harvested in August, and threshed with flails the
early part of September, The bald wheat was the variety sown.

Value of crop : —

28 bushels wheat, at $2,

1|- tons straw, at $6.50,

Expenses : —
Dirt from young cattle yard and labor in spreading.
Ploughing and sowing, $4 ; seed, $4, .
Harvesting and threshing, .....
Interest on land, at $50 per acre,
Taxes on land, about ......

Profit, $32 65

WORCESTER NORTH.

Statement of Alonzo P. Goodridge.

The acre upon which my wheat was raised is a clayey loam.
The crop in 1855 was corn, with 20 loads of stable manure. In
1856, the crop was wheat, without manure. In 1857, it was
ploughed twice about six inches deep, with two and one-third
cords of stable manure, and twenty-five bushels of dry ashes.
Two bushels of coffee wheat were sown the last week in April.

Cost of preparing the land, &c.,

seed,

manure, .....
harvesting, ....

Product, 22 bushels of wheat, $2, .
$5 worth of straw, .

Profit, $18 50

$7

00

4

00

15

00

4

50

$30

50

$44 00

5

00

49

00

214 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

Statement of Edward Smith.

The acre upon wliicli I raised my wheat is a heavy soil, lying
on a clay subsoil. The crop of 1855 was potatoes, with ten
loads of compost. The crop of 1856, was corn, with twenty
loads of barnyard manure. In 1857, it was ploughed twice,
six inches deep. Two bushels of coffee wheat were sown May
13th, without manure. The seed was soaked in brine contain-
ing two quarts of salt, for twenty-four hours.

Cost of preparing the land,

seed, ......

harvesting, ....

Product, 21| bushels, f^2,

about 1 ton of straw.

$7 00

5 00

5 00

117

00

144 00

7 00

51

00

$34 00

HAMPSHIRE.

Statement of John Montague.

The land on which I raised my wheat lies on the bank of the
Connecticut River, and measured one acre. The soil is a sandy
loam. The ground produced two crops of clover, one in 1855,
and one in 1856. On the 27th of August I ploughed the land,
and on the first of September sowed two bushels of wdieat,
which had previously been soaked in strong brine for thirty-six
hours. The wheat was stout on the ground, and the berry
large and plump. I applied no fertilizers at all to the soil at
the time, nor after sowing. Crop, 36 bushels.

Value of crop : —

Sold for seed, 11^ bushels, at |2.25, . . $26 121

The remainder, 24^ bushels, at $2, . . 49 00

Straw, valued at 10 00

121

WHEAT.

215

Expenses : —

Ploughing, sowing, and harrowing,

. $3 00

Seed wheat,

. 4 50

Harvesting and threshing.

. 8 00

Interest on land, .....

. 6 00

121 50

Net profit, 163 62J-

SuNDERLAND, November 16, 1857.

Statement of John Dickinson.

I sowed, on 306 rods of land, five bushels of wheat, about the
middle of April last. In 1856, I applied fifteen cart-loads of
manure to the acre from my barnyard, and planted to corn and
potatoes. Before sowing the wheat, I spread 600 lbs. of guano
and 300 lbs. of plaster, and harrowed in. After planting, I
harrowed again. The soil is yellow loam.

Value of crop : —
48 bushels by weight, at $2, .
2 tons of straw, at $7, .

Expenses : —
Seed, 5 bushels, at $2.50,
Ploughing, harrowing, and planting.
Guano and plaster, ....

Harvesting and threshing,

196

00

14

00

C.11A AA

hT

112

50

5

00

22

50

11

00

151 00

Net profit, $59 00

Amherst, November 15, 1857.

FRANKLIN.

Statement of Samuel Stoughton.

Quantity of land, one acre seventeen rods ; product, thirty-
five bushels. Raised corn and potatoes on the land in 1856.
Condition of the land in 1857, good. Used eight bushels of
ashes, ploughed and harrowed in 300 lbs. of guano, and 100

216

MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

lbs. of plaster. Sowed two bushels of seed, September 20tli ;
harrowed in and rolled. Harvested about the first of August,
in good condition.

Expenses : —

Seed,
Guano,
Plaster,
Labor,

Value of crop : —
35 bushels wheat, at -12,
Straw, . ...

Profit, .
Gill, November 2, 1857.

$4 00

10

50
50

11

75

<jfc9fi 7f;

170 00

10

00

80

00

153 25

Statement of Isaac Burrows.

Quantity of land, 280 rods ; product, forty-one bushels. In
1856, the land was stubble, a crop of wheat having been raised
in 1855. In 1856, applied twenty cart-loads of long manure to
the acre and planted to corn. Product of corn in 1856, 83
bushels of shelled corn. Ploughed twice previous to sowing ;
sowed September 18, 1856 ; harrowed in wheat, sowed dry and
clear.

Expenses : —

Seed,

Ploughing, first time,
Ploughing, second time,
Harrowing, ....
Harvesting and threshing,

Value of crop :-

Wheat,
Straw,

Profit,
Seed was brought from Indiana.
Bernaudstox, October 26, 1857.

. 3

50

. 2

62

. 1

75

. 13

00

. $82

00

. 8

00

127 87

90 00

162 13

RYE. 217

BARNSTABLE.

Statement of Daniel Scudder.

I offer for premium an experiment in the growth of Java spring
wheat. The seed was brought to this country in a bag of Java
coffee, and the few kernels found were planted for experiment.
I obtained three pecks of Mr. Stephen Dillingham, of West
Falmouth, and sowed it on 103 rods of land, a mixture of sand
and loam, planted, for the two previous years, with corn and
potatoes. The land had a fair coat of manure ploughed under
the furrow, and the seed was sowed April 15th. The product
was 18 bushels and 37 pounds of first quality of wheat.

I think this variety of wheat well adapted to our soil, and
worthy of encouragement and cultivation. So far as it has
been tried, it has succeeded far beyond the ordinary kinds of
wheat.

RYE

HAMPSHIRE.

Statement of P. N. Richards.

The piece of rye entered for the Hampshire Society's pre-
mium, consists of one acre of heavy, sandy loam, in Sunder-
land. In 1856, it was well dressed with barnyard manure, and
twenty bushels of ashes applied broadcast, planted with corn,
and produced eighty-one bushels.

On the 20th of October, 1856, I ploughed seven inches deep,
harrowed once, and sowed five pecks of rye, which I harrowed
in thoroughly.

In March, 1857, 1 sowed grass seed, which took well, and on
the 26th of July I harvested twenty-nine bushels of rye. The
h3avy spring rains rendered the crop rather light.

28

218 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

Value of crop : —
29 bushels, at |1, . . . . . $29 00
2,500 lbs. straw, at 30 cents, . . . 7 50

$36 50

Expenses : —
Seed, '$1.25 ; ploughing and harrowing, $1, $2 25
Harvesting, |2 ; threshing, $6.90, . . 8 90

Interest on land valued at |200, . . . 12 00

$23 15

Net profit, $13 35

Sunderland, Nov. 15, 1857.

B A 11 L E Y .

BRISTOL.

Statement of George R. Leonard.

The barley offered for premium, was raised on a poor, gravelly
loam, with a clay subsoil, having a level surface of one acre.
Last year the land was planted to corn, and the condition of the
land had been much improved by previous cultivation. The
land was in corn hills in the spring of 1856. I spread seven
cords of barnyard manure, and ploughed in the same. I sowed
three bushels of barley, of the four-rowed kind, on the fifth day
of May, which I harrowed and rolled in ; after sowing, nothing
more was done until harvesting. I mowed and raked with a
horse-rake, the crop from the above acre on the 19th of July,
1856 ; I finished threshing and winnowing on January 30th,
1857.

The above crop from the acre weighed 1,750 lbs., which at
46 lbs. for a bushel, will be 38 bushels and 2 lbs. on the acre.
In making the following statements in relation to the profit of
the crop, I have given no credit to the manure, (which I charged
$21,) for the benefit of future crops : —

OATS.

219

Ploughing the acre,
Seven cords of manure,
Drawing on and spreading manure,
Sowing, harrowing and rolling.
Three bushels of barley,

Harvesting,

Threshing, winnowing and weighing,

Credit by 38 bushels of barley,
Straw after threshing, .

Balance in favor of crop,
Norton, 1857.

$2 00

21

00

2

50

2

00

3

00

3

50

. 4

50

$38 00

•

36

00

$38 50

$75 00
$35 50

OATS.

HAMPSHIRE.

Statement of Albert Montague,

I offer for premium a crop of oats raised on one acre of ordi»
nary land, which was in corn the year previous, giving me a
fair crop. I ploughed the land in November, 1856, and sowed
my oats the 25tli of April. I sowed four bushels to the acre,
harvested them the 7th of August, and threshed in September,
and had sixty-four bushels.

Value of crop : —
64 bushels of oats, at 50 cents, .
If tons of straw, ....

Expenses : —
Seed, ploughing, sowing and harrowing,
Harvesting and threshing, and hiter,jst,

Net profit, ....
Sunderland, Nov. 10, 1857.

. $32 00
. 14 00

. $5 00
7 00

$46 00

$12 00
134 00

220

MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

BKOOMCORN

HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN.

Statement of Henry S. Porter.

The land on which it was raised lies on the Connecticut
River, and is of a dark, loamy nature, containing one acre and
eight rods. In the years 1854-5 it was planted with broom-
corn, with eight or ten loads of long manure. In the fall of
'55 I ploughed in the broomstalks, and sowed it with wheat,
but, on account of the severity of the winter, I obtained but a
small crop. In the spring of '56, I sowed in ten pounds of
clover seed, which grew very stout before fall. Last spring,
about the 15th of May, I ploughed the crop of clover under,
rolled it down and harrowed it well. I put on six loads of dirt
that came from under an old barn. This was applied in the
hills, which were three feet apart by two and one-half, and
planted near the 20th of May. I hoed it four times, harvested
it the 1st of October, and now give the result: —

1,115 lbs. broomcorn brush, at 6c. per lb.,
50 bush, seed, at 30c., .

Yalue of crop,

Expenses : —
Ploughing, .
Harrowing and rolling.
Six loads manure,
Applying same, .
Seed and planting.
Hoeing four times,
Harvesting and scraping.
Interest on land,

Net profits, .
Hatfikld.

$66 90
15 00

$81 90

$1 25

75

6 00

2 00

1 25

8 00

10 00

9 00

$38 25

$43 65

BROOMCORN. 221

HAMPSHIRE.

Statement of Eiihu Smith.

The piece of broomcorii which I enter for premium contains
one acre and three rods. The land had been seeded to clover
one year, and was ploughed and planted on account of the
clover having been wholly winter-killed.

It was cultivated the present season as follows : Six loads of
stable manure were ploughed in, and the piece was planted
about the 25th of May, and a fertilizer put in the hill, consist-
ing of twenty pounds of Peruvian guano mixed with seventy-
five pounds of plaster of Paris. Hoed three times. Yield of
brush 900 lbs., and of seed 53i bush., weighing 24| lbs. per
bush. The expense of cultivation and value of crop is as
follows : —

Value of crop : —
900 lbs. of brush, at 6c., . • . . . |54 00
531 bush, of seed at 25c., .... 13 32

167 32

7 50

6 00

9 00

6 00

$31 00

Expenses : —
Ploughing, harrowing and planting, . . $2 50
Six loads of manure, at $1.25 per load.
Cultivating and hoeing, three times, .
Harvesting, scraping, and cleaning seed,
Interest on land, ....

Net profit, 136 32

Sunderland, Nov. 15, 1857.

Statement of Albert Montague.

The acre of land on which my broomcorn was raised is a
sandy loam. It lies in Sunderland meadow. It has been in
broomcorn for three seasons, and although not so good this
year as last, I consider it above the average of this year's crops.
I ploughed the land about the middle of May, harrowed it
enough to pulverize it well, then, with a small plough, furrowed

29

222 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

it, spread nine loads of compost manure in the furrows, and then
planted with a planter. The rows were two and two-thirds feet
apart, and the hills two and one-third feet. I hoed three times,
with much care the first and second times, to remove all weeds
and permit only the healthy stalks of corn to grow. I left
from six to ten stalks in a hill. I harvested the 7th and 8th of
October, scraped it the second week in November, and had 968
lbs. of brush. My seed was light, I think about one-third of a
crop. I estimate it at twelve dollars, and would not sell it for
less than that.

Value of crop : —
968 lbs. of brush at 6c.,
Seed, .......

Expenses : —
Ploughing and planting.
Hoeing, harvesting and scraping,
Interest on land, ....

Net profit, $14 08

Sunderland, Nov. 15, 1857.

158 08
12 00

$70 08
126 00

$3 00

14 00

9 00

CHINESE SUGAR CANE.

ESSEX.

From the Report of the Committee.

In our report of last year, we wrote with some emphasis of
the great advantage that would accrue to the public, could we
but raise our own molasses. This year the Chinese sugar cane
has been summoned upon the stand, and interrogated of its
capacities for this end, at almost every farm house in the North.
On its introduction, some viewed it as a cane for the back of

CHINESE SUGAR CANE. 223

the credulous ; others, more sauguhie spirits, on a mere desire
of what it should be, without waiting for the slow development
of facts, proclaimed it at once as the panacea for southern short
crops, or Cuban monopolies.

The results of the numerous experiments of the past season,
are before the community. On these many have based their
conclusions of tlie place it is to occupy in our agriculture. For
ourselves we consider the question one of such magnitude, that,
while appreciating with enthusiasm the great boon that the
Chinese sugar cane or a kindred species may be to the North,
from the facts developed this year, we have not been enaljled to
form any positive opinion on its comparative merits. How the
facts before the public run one another down ! One writer from
twenty parts of sap, obtained but one of sirup, while his neigh-
bor obtains the same qiiantity from seven parts ; the sirup of
one is hard medicine to take, that of the other is ranked with
the best imported sirup ; one finds it unpalatable to every ani-
mal on his farm, while witli another it proves rich food to his
neat cattle, his horse and his swine ; with one it is far superior
to corn stalks for sirup, with another corn stalks yield more sirup,
and of a better flavor ; the experiments of one satisfy him that
corn stalks are preferable for fodder, while another has demon-
strated to his satisfaction, the superiority of the sugar cane ; and
thus opposite results tread on one another's heels. We doubt
not that in this series of contradictions, each experimenter
states honestly his own findings. Now is it not evident that the
leaven of this difference in results, is in the ignorance and
clumsy experimenting of parties ? All that can be fairly charged
to this sugar cane, are those differences which arise from varia-
tions in soil and climate ; but as these contradictory statements
have been collected from a limited district, the minimum yields
cannot be chargeable in any degree to the cane, but to those
who experimented with it. When a new product is introduced,
whose culture and management is but indifferently understood,
is it not reasonable to assume at the outset, that what pure
experiment will at the first detect of its resources will fall short
of what those resources really are ? Take for examj)le the intro-
duction of corn meal into Ireland, during the year of famine ;
we all remember how ridiculous from the stand point of our
experience appeared the results arrived at, by our Irish breth-

224 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

ren, in their earlier experiments in its use, and how much more
abundant were its resources as known to us through our longer
experience. " Take it away ! " said an Irish lord, after making
his first experiment of its value in a half-baked cake, made of
meal and water without salt ; " take it away, it was evidently
made only for the hogs ! " The experiments of the Irish people
at large, proved, to their own satisfaction, that their enemies
across the water were trying to poison them by wholesale ; but
one editor, who advanced in his experiments somewhat beyond
his fellow-countrymen, discovered that corn meal was good for
fattening swine !

In forming an opinion of the capacities of the Chinese sugar
cane, may we not reasonably anticipate the maximum of the
products that have thus far been obtained ? All objections to
its culture, which the climate and cost of growing present, are
certainly legitimate, and ought to enter on the debtor side ; but
while passing judgment on it, let us remember not to lay to its
charge results which originate in the ignorance and inexperience
of the community. Let us examine a moment into the widely
different results quoted above. AVhat can be more obvious than
that the quantity of sap expressed from any given number of
canes, will depend on the perfection of the machinery used for
this end ? or that the quantity of molasses obtained from equal
quantities of sirup, will depend on the different degrees of
maturity to which the several lots of cane from which they were
expressed have reached ? At our late exhibition, four lots of
molasses were presented, three of which had been burnt in the
process of manufacture, and were consequently of a bitter taste,
while the fourth was nearly equal in flavor to the sirup of com-
merce ; who would say that this burnt molasses was not the
product of the inexperience of the community rather than of
the cane ? It is so evident that the quantity of sirup obtained
must depend so much on the means employed to crush the stalk,
and the quality of the molasses depend so much on the skill
exercised in the process of manufacture, that we feel quite safe
in assuming the greatest quantity of sap obtained and the best
quality of molasses thus far manufactured, as data of what this
cane is equal to in the North. In the instance where the cane
was unpalatable to stock, was it fed while young, or when
matured, and the case so hard as almost to turn the edge of a

CHINESE SUGAR CANE. 225

knife ? When its yield of molasses was contrasted with that
of corn stalks, was the maturity of each equal, not the age ? In
the comparison of its value for fodder, how mature was the
cane ? and among other facts, was it taken into consideration
that the cane sprouts readily when cut ?

The results made public, disparaging to the cane, given with-
out details, are unreliable and consequently worthless, when
such elements of error may be blended with them. Certainly,
before we can form any positive opinion of the comparative
merits of this sugar cane, we need thorough, accurate experi-
ments, from reliable sources. However, time must determine
its merits ; as with other new products so with this, amid
bungling and blundering, experience will grow apace, and
Yankee inquisitiveness and perseverance will in the end assign
it its place in our agriculture, when the old aphorism, " what
every body says must be true," will tell us what it is worth.

James J. H. Gregory, Chairman.

Statement of David Choate.

The land upon which I cultivated the Chinese Sugar Cane,
was the last two years in corn. Before that I had raised pota-
toes for four years, with the exception of one year, when it was
in wheat. It is loamy and has a southerly exposure. It is
early land, being dry almost as soon as it is done raining. I
manured my sugar cane land first with stable manure, and
ploughed it in at the rate of four cords to the acre. The
ground was furrowed at such distances as to admit of thirty
hills to a square rod, on the 18th of May. I then put one
table-spoonful of guano in each hill, and covered it with a small
shovel full of well rotted, but not strong manure. On the 19th
and 20tli of the month, the seed was covered on about two-
thirds of the land, and the planting was fi.nished on the 25th.
A cold rain storm on the 21st, delayed the planting, but there
was but little difference in the height of the same after a few
days. The seed started quick, and I could see no difference
between the kind obtained of Mr. Flint, Secretary of our State
Board of Agriculture, and that sent me from the Patent Office

226 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

at Washington, eillier in the seed itself or in the stalk ; nor
can I see any difrerencc in the crop between tlie two kinds.

I need not say how feeble and unpromising was the appear-
ance of the cane stalks from the first until late in July, for that
complaint, I believe, was universal. We ploughed and hoed,
however, just as for corn. Early in August, the cane began to
grow. Hot weather, evidently, was what it required, and till
that came, no mode of culture could have availed any thing.
I seriously doubt whether any early hot-house starting, of which
so much is said, would have done any thing, unless continued
till the late July or August heat should set in. This, indeed,
I have found true in relation to hot-house tomato plants. When
set in open air gardens, they appear to wait for the season,
living, it is true, but hardly holding their own, till nature's
time shall come round.

My first grinding of the cane was the 8th of September. The
seed had then formed, but was soft. Having had no informa-
tion with regard to the process of manufacturing the sirup, the
cane was ground without taking off either the leaves or tops.
The quantity of juice was nearly the same as afterwards, but
was rather more watery, and required longer boiling. It was
reduced twelve to one, but it would have been better, I think,
if it had been reduced ten to one, only. When so thick, it is
likely to burn. No soda or lime was added, and it was conse-
quently slightly sour. The acidity was not removed by an
alkali when it was afterwards heated, a fact showing the import-
ance of adding the soda at the time of boiling. The 300 canes
produced about seven and one-half gallons of sirup, which was
boiled down to five pints of sirup, about as thick as the heaviest
molasses. The boiling took ten hours. I afterwards discov-
ered that a simmering heat requiring much less fire, evaporates
the watery part quite as fast as hard boiling. I had the disad-
vantage, also, of a close boiler — in the house, too. Could a
shallow boiler have been used, set in the air, and a current of
wind be allowed to pass over it during the boiling, it would
have gone, I think, much more rapidly. Skimming constantly
is indispensable, as the scum, if not often taken off, appears to
descend and mix again with the liquor. It is this which gives
the green, corn-stalk kind of taste, so unjjleasant to many
people. It can be removed only mechanically, I think, as by
filtering through very fine sand.

CHINESE SUGAR CANE. 227

My next grinding was Sept. 29tli, and was with a common
cider mill, as was the first above mentioned, and, indeed, all
done subsequently. The first cane ground was pressed, but not
the second or the third, as it became less an object to obtain a
large quantity, than to ascertain the best method of manufac-
turing with such appliances as farmers have within their reach
generally. The juice in this case was filtered through sand,
but the sand was coarse, and the same difficulty occurred as
before, viz. : the vegetable particles remained sufficient to still
give the corn-stalk taste, though less of it. The quantity of
juice obtained appeared to be about the same as before ; but
as the first was pressed and this was not, no exact comparison
could be made. We now boiled seven gallons to one, and when
the boiling was about half done, added a large teaspoonful of
soda. This sirup was fine, needing nothing but to get rid of
the elements mentioned above.

The third grinding and boiling was on the 9th of October —
860 canes ; and I ought to state that both the cane of this
grinding, and that ground on the 29tli of September, had the
leaves and upper part of the stalks removed ; about two feet
being taken off. The prodvict, in quantity, was not sensibly
altered, neither was the quality. I filtered the liquor through
a finer sand than before, and consequently there were fewer
impurities to rise during the boiling, but I cannot say the
offensive taste had disappeared. Perhaps I make too much of
this clement ; indeed, I admit I was not a little flattered, when
exhibiting a portion of my last boiling to a few gentlemen in
Boston, to be told it was better than any they had before met
with ; and a large grocer, who was selling New York sugar-
house molasses or sirup, very heavy and rich, at fifty cents per
gallon, assured me that mine would command seventy-five
cents, and he was desirous to obtain all I had at that price.

For the purpose of determining the question whether the
sugar cane is a paying crop, I have compared it with Indian
corn in the following manner. I have £0 hills of the cane upon
a square rod. Of Indian corn, on land side by side, or with a
few rods of potatoes only between, I planted 25 hills upon a
square rod ; the manure in both cases was nearly the same, in
quantity and quality, with the exception of a spoonful of guano
in each hill of cane, not applied to the corn. The square rod

228 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

of cane lias 255 stalks. Every five stalks will make a pint of
juice without pressing, equal to 51 pints of juice per rod. This,
after boiling seven gallons into one, makes 142 gallons and a
fraction of sirup, per acre. Let the price of the sirup be the
same as was offered me by the grocer in Boston, referred to
above, namely, seventy-five cents per gallon, and the result is
$106.50. I consider one shilling a gallon of the sirup, as the
expense of boiling ; this amounts to $23.67, and reduces the
value of the sirup crop to $82.83.

The corn crop has been light this year. One square rod
taken as an average one, produced ten and one-half pints of
shelled corn, measured the last week in October. Allowing the
half pint for shrinkage, which is probably too little, the crop
would be 50 bushels to the acre. But the corn was planted
without guano, and it may be said that would account for the
smallness of the crop. My own belief is, that when land is
manured from the stable and barn cellar, as mine was, the guano
would make but little difference in the crop. This is proved by
the fact that the hills of cane, where guano was not applied, did
not differ in appearance from the hills where it was applied. So
far as the stalk itself is concerned, the advantage would be on
the side of the Indian corn, probably, though of this there may
be some doubt. Suppose, however, an allowance of ten dollars
per acre be made in favor of the corn fodder, the cane crop
will not compare badly, as the two crops would then foot up as
follows, viz. : Cane, $82.83 ; corn, $60, if reckoned at one dol-
lar per bushel. The comparison between the cane crop and
corn crop is not quite perfect, I admit, for the reason that guano
was omitted in the latter and applied in the former.

It may be best to boil the juice immediately after grinding,
such being the directions given by some writers. But this is
not indispensable. Of the juice ground on the 9th of October,
I kept a part, say two pailfuls, over two nights and one and a
half days. The mercury in the mornings of those days, stood
at 50° ; but the sirup was as perfect as any which I have made.

One other fact in favor of the cane crop is to be mentioned.
I refer to the quantity of sirup. It is to be recollected that I
did not press the cane after grinding, at all, after the first time,
September 8th. At that grinding of 300 canes, the amount
pressed in a common cider press was about four pailfuls. The

CHINESE SUGAR CANE. 229

same proportion at the other grhidings, would increase the sirup
about ten gallons per acre. My object has been as before inti-
mated, not so much to see how large a quantity of juice could
be produced from a given quantity of land, as to see how good
an article of sirup could be made. When that is satisfactory,
as it really seems to be, mills and other appliances for obtaining
the sirup, will follow of course.

Essex, November 2, 1857.

MIDDLESEX.

Statement of Eben. Davis.

I planted about one-third of an acre in the same manner as
Indian corn. There were about 1,200 hills, averaging about
five canes to the hill. It was planted about the fifth of May, on
a light, gravelly soil, too poor to produce a good crop of corn ; I
put from six to ten seeds in a hill, it taking a half pound of
seed. The spring being cold and wet, it was three weeks before
it came up ; after which it grew very slowly until the first of
July, at which time it was so small, that I began to despair of
it ; but from the first of Jiily until the first of September, it
grew rapidly, to the average height of from ten to twelve feet,
and from an inch to an inch and a half in diameter. On the
24th of September I cut 100 canes ; which, after stripping the
leaves and cutting off the tops, weighed 200 lbs. The canes
were then passed between two iron cylinders, of about eight
inches in diameter, propelled by water power, from which I ob-
tained 75 lbs. of juice. I think by a more perfect operation of
the rollers, fifty or more per cent, can be obtained in juice.

The juice was then strained into a copper boiler, and the
whites of three eggs, well beaten, were mixed with the juice ;
also a large spoonful of slacked lime, about the thickness of
cream, stirred in, after which it was brought to a boiling heat,
but not allowed to boil ; this temperature being preserved for a
few minutes, and after being skimmed clean, I commenced boil-
ing it down rapidly, until the quantity was reduced about one-
half. It was then filtered through a thick flannel, and put
into an iron kettle and boiled down on the cooking-stove to
about a gallon, weighing 12 lbs. The cane being too green to

30

230 MISSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

cut, and taking so small a quantity, I could hardly expect to
produce as good an article as I could, had the cane more ma-
tured, and in a larger quantity. If the cane I have cut produces
no more than that which I have made, it will produce 50
gallons, or at the rate of 150 gallons per acre.

Acton, September 28, 1857.

HAMPSHIRE.

Statement of Cummins Fish.

I have cultivated one-quarter of an acre in sorghum saccha-
ratum this season. The land is a mixture of gravel and yellow
loam, worth $100 per acre. It was ploughed deep last year,
and manured with four loads of -light stable manure, and
planted to potatoes. On the 17th of May, 1857, I ploughed in
five loads of compost, and afterwards five loads of mixed stable
manure, night soil, native guano, ashes and muck. On the
23d of- the same month, I planted in hills, six seeds to each,
three feet apart in one direction and two feet in the otlier.
The plants, like Indian corn, were hoed three times. The
canes, although somewhat retarded by moisture, attained an
average height of eleven feet. The panicles appeared on the
10th of September.

I made an experiment in feeding cane to my cows, weighing
five milkings before and after feeding, and found an increase of
ten pounds weight of milk. My canes were ground, and the
amount of juice produced was 288 gallons, being at the rate of
1,152 gallons to the acre. The sirup obtained from the juice
amounted to 36 gallons, being at the rate of 144 gallons to the
acre. I obtained no crj^stalized sugar, nor any ripe seeds.

Value of crop : —
3G gallons of molasses, at 75c., .
Leaves stripped from canes,

Expenses : —
Manure, ploughing and harrowing,
Hoeing, three times, ....
Stripping leaves, ....

$27 00
1 25

$28 25

$12 83

3 75

4 00

CHINESE SUGAR CANE. 231

Use of land and taxes,
Drawing cane to mill, .
Manufacturing, .
Wood to boil juice,

16

50

1

50

12

00

2

00

M2 58

Balance against crop, ..... $14 38

With mj present experience, I could do it again at loss cost.
Amherst, Nov. 15, 1857.

FRANKLIN.

Statement' of F. H. Williams.

I planted one-fourtli of an acre on soil that would produce
from 30 to 60 bushels of corn to the acre. Ploughed and planted
the last of May, in drills three feet apart, thinning in the drills
at hoeing, to about 30 stalks to the rod. The manure was
ploughed under, and the cultivation in every respect like corn.
September 19th, I stripped 100 stalks of the cane clean of leaves,
and run them four times through a common sugar crusher.
From these I obtained six gallons of sap ; this was immediately
placed over the fire, in a common copper boiler, and boiled to
thin sirup, when it was allowed to cool. While boiling, however,
I added about a spoonful of lime, and skimmed from the surface
a green matter, which rose freely to the surface ; it was also
strained. When cool, it was carefully poured off (some of the
green matter having settled to the bottom) and placed over the
fire ; one egg to one-half pint of milk were added, well beaten
together, to clarify it ; as it boiled, was carefully skimmed.

I obtained from this, one-half gallon of thick sirup, pronounced
as good as Stewart's best sirup, by good judges, I took great
pains with this experiment, to see if a superior sirup could be
made from the cane. October 2d, I commenced to strip the leaves
from the one-fourth acre of cane, which stood from twelve to
thirteen feet high. Tliese stripped stalks were then passed twice
through a common cider-mill, a one-horse load yielding one and
one-half barrels of the sap, of a green color, and not agreeable

232 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

to tlie taste. From the* one-fourth of an acre I obtained seven
barrels of the sap, which was taken as ground, to pans, where
it was boiled to thin sirup, adding as in my first experiment,
about a table-spoonful of lime, to a barrel of sap ; also skimming,
as the green matter rose to the surface. This was strained
througli a cotton strainer, while liot. After cooling, it was
carefully drawn off as before, and boiled to thick sirup ; eggs
and milk were used to clarify. From this experiment I obtained
30 gallons of thick sirup. The quality of the last, was not as
good as the first experiment, probably owing to the fact the
quantity was larger. From my experiments, I think the sap
will yield about seven and one-half per cent, thick sirup. The
cane was in blossom or just before the milk when cut.

The specific gravity of my sirup is about 1.40. I have cut
the cane for the past two years with the view of testing its value
for soiling, but could not tliink it as good for tliat purpose as
the Egyptian millet, or much better than corn, as I have not
been able to get but one growth in a season, whicli is not the
case with tlie Egyptian millet. I took some of the sirup and
boiled it sufficient to grain, but instead of grained sugar, I got
what I should tliink would make good molasses candy.

Expenses : —
Use and taxes on land, .
Ploughing and planting, .
Manure, five loads,
Hoeing three times and thinning, .
Stripping leaves from cane three days,
Running cane through mill twice, and boiling-
seven barrels sap to sirup, nine days' work, .
Horse and mill, four days' work.
Wood used to boil sap, three-fourths of a cord.
Drawing cane two miles to mill.

Whole expense, ....

Sirup, 30 gallons, at 75 cents.

Leaves stripped from cane, ....

Balance against crop, ... $3 75

13 00

75

4 00

1 50

3 00

8 00

2 00

1 50

1 50

$27 25

$22 50

1 00

$23 50

CHINESE SUGAR CANE. 233

Throu<2;li the LinJness of Mr. Isaac Guiin and Kelita Hubbard)
the mill and apparatus cost me nothing.

Sunderland, October 16, 1857.

HOUSATONIC.

From the Report of the Committee.

"We now come to a most interesting department of agricul-
tural enterprise — the culture of the Chinese sugar cane — ren-
dered still more interesting by the very valuable report of one
of the exhibitors, Samuel H. Bushnell, Esq., of Sheffield,
whose skill and success, as manifested by his statement, entitle
him to no ordinary measure of honor, and your committee
deem his report worth more than any premium this society
could bestow. It is fi-om such reports that light must emanate,
to guide us in the culture of productions newly introduced,
and that require to be tested, in order to ascertain their value
and the best methods of treatment and manufacture. We
most gladly avail ourselves of the permission granted, of
embodying his statement in our report, which is, in effect, as
follows : —

" I herewith present, for your examination, three samples of
molasses made from the Chinese sugar cane. No. 1 was made
the 9th of September, before the seed or head appeared, and while
the cane was very green. It has a strong, acid flavor, which
would be corrected by the further maturing of the cane ; but,
as it is, renders the article worthless, [we think that is too
unfavorable an expression — he should have said inferior instead
of worthless.] No. 2 was made the 15tli — six days later. The
seed or head had now appeared. This is a better article than
No. 1, though it has some of that acidity peculiar to immature
fruit. No. 3, made the 22d, yesterday, seven days later still,
is a very good article of molasses. The cane is still too green —
only in blossom. I think the seed should be ripe, or nearly so,
to make good sirup. For extracting the juice, I used a cheap,
simple machine, of my own make and invention, with which
two men will press out the juice as fast as three men will strip
off the leaves and put it through the machine.

234 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

" From twenty-four good canes we got six quarts of juic
(one-half pint from each cane,) from which we made two turn
biers full, of which No. 2 is one of them. From four quarts of
juice, measured, we made yesterday, the 22d, two tumblers
full, of which No. 3 is one of them.

" From these samples and statements you will see, that the
riper the cane the better the sirup, the sweeter the juice. From
one single cane we obtained three gills, by measure, of which
No. 4 is a part, as pressed from the cane. These samples are
made simply by straining the juice and boiling it down.

" I have one-eighth of an acre which I intend to manufecture
should it get sufficiently ripe.

" The season has been a very unfavorable one to test the prac-
tical»ility of its cultivation. Should it mature here, and I think
it will in most seasons, I have no doubt a good article of
molasses may be made from it with little expense. You will
find in the hall some of my canes twelve feet five inches high.
There can be no doubt that the cane is valuable for feeding
stock. My crop was planted about the 27th of May."

Francis Whiting.

NORFOLK.

From Ihe Report of the Committee.

The introduction of the Chinese sugar cane is, in the minds of
many, considered most valuable, either as feed for stock, or for the
manufacture of sirup. Out of New England it has proved a valu-
able and remunerative crop, both for fodder and for the manufac-
ture of sirup. From the little experience your committee have
had on this subject, they do not believe its culture advisable in
this section ; at least, such was our experience the past season,
which was cold and wet, and probably served to retard its growth.
As a crop for fodder, it has not proved equally valuable with
Indian corn, and the cattle fed witli the two have invariabl}^
chosen the fresh cut corn. This we have repeatedly noticed, and
are not willing to give countenance for the encouragement of its
growth to the exclusion of Indian corn as a crop for green
fodder.

ROOT CROPS. 235

One of your committee, who is well known for his excellent
farming and careful experiments, instituted a series of trials as
to crop and value, as compared with Indian corn, and the result
was decidedly in favor of Indian corn, cut green and fed out to
cattle.

"We have the pleasure herewith to introduce an extract from
a letter to the committee from J. F. C. Hyde, Esq. Mr. Hyde
was one of the first to introduce the cultivation of Chinese sugar
cane in this section. He has been a strenuous advocate for its
culture, and we are glad to find the opinion of your committee
agrees with the experience of Mr. H., who says : —

" I will say briefly that my half acre of sugar cane yielded
only ninety gallons of sirup. Did not ripen, — sirup not as good
as usual, — no sugar made except some grape sugar ; unripe
cane will produce grape sugar ; ripe cane, the cane sugar ;
consider it an unprofitable crop for the vicinity of a good market
for vegetables. The ' begasse,' or waste, is worth about $15
per ton for manufacturing into paper. Have no doubt that
sugar can be produced from ripe cane. If it should not yield
sugar, the sirup is valuable. I have great confidence in it as a
crop for the West. For fodder, I esteem it highly, though I
confess it costs more per ton to raise than corn fodder. It is slow
coming on in the spring, and it is a great deal of work to keep
it free of weeds."

Eben Wight.

ROOT CROPS.

ESSEX.

Statemenl of Ephraim Brown.

I herewith submit a statement of the following crops which
I entar for premium : —

Carrots. — The one-half acre of land on which these were
raised, was broken up two years ago last spring, with a double
Michigan plough, and planted with squashes, with about six
cords of kelp and barn mauure to the acre, spread on and har-

236 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

rowed in, and two shovelfuls of old barn manure in each hill.
The next year it was planted with cabbages, manured with
about eight cords of kelp and barn manure to the acre, spread
on and ploughed in. This year I sowed it with carrots the 26th
day of May. I spread on about ten cords of kelp and ])arn
manure to the acre, and ploughed it in ; the crop yielded fifteen
tons and three hundred pounds ; the rows were seventeen inches
apart.

Ruta-Bagas. — One-half acre of ruta-baga turnips. The
land on which these were raised, was mowed the 23d day of
last June, and yielded about two tons of hay to the acre.
After the hay was taken off, it was manured with about eight
cords of rotten kelp to the acre, spread on the grass and
ploughed in with the double Michigan plough ; then about three
cords of fine old compost manure to the acre, spread on and
harrowed in. The turnips were sowed the 15th day of July, in
rows three feet apart, and the plants were left, when thinned
out, standing from eight to ten inches apart in the row. The
crop was taken off to-day, yielding 370 bushels of turnips as
smooth as bottles ; and, considering the time they were sowed,
I think it is the best crop I ever raised.

The land was measured, and a strict account of the crops
taken.

Marblehead, Nov. 14, 1857.

Statement of Daniel Buxton, Jr.

Carrots. — I submit for consideration the result of my culture
of carrots, on a lot of land supposed to be half an acre, but
from actual measurement is a few rods less, the lot being 284
by 72 feet. The crop exceeded my expectations, being, when
gathered and cleaned, more than 16 tons. The variety grown
was what we call the short-horned carrots, 35 bushels weighing
a ton. I consider them as good or better than any other carrots
for use as feed for stock. The land on which they grew was
the same on which I have grown onions for several years ; it is
wet, heavy and rocky. I put two cords of stable manure on
the ground last fall and ploughed it in, running the plough as
deep as I could with two horses, say about seven inches. In

ROOT CROPS. 237

the spring I ploughed again, with a single horse, about four
inches deep. The rows were fourteen inches apart. I used
half a pound of seed. Considering the season, my crop is
very good.

I have raised a variety of turnips this season, called Golden
Ball, which I think superior to any I have before seen. The
seed was received from the Patent Office.

South Danvers, Nov. 16, 1857.

WORCESTER NORTH.

Statements of John Brooks^ Jr.

Potatoes. — The half acre on which I raised my potatoes is
wet, with clay subsoil. The crops in 1855 and 1856 were grass,
without manure. The ground was ploughed in the fall of 1856
six inches deep, and crossed in the spring eight inches deep.
Two and one-fifth cords of barnyard manure were spread before
the first ploughing. The land was furrowed, and 450 lbs. of
plaster put in the hill. It was planted on the 9th and 10th of
June, in hills three feet by two and a half, and from three to
five potatoes in a hill. The variety was the Davis seedling, of
which six and one-quarter bushels were used. A plough was
run between the rows once, and the crop dug October 6th and
7th.

Cost of preparing the land and planting, . $5 25

seed, 3 12

manure, . . . . . . 10 95

cultivation and harvesting, . . 3 37

Product, 140 bushels of potatoes.

English Turnips. — The eighth of an acre upon which I raised
my English turnips, is a wet, stiff soil, with clay subsoil. In
1855 the crop was corn, with two loads of compost, (one-third
meadow muck and two-thirds cow manure,) and 12 lbs. of
guano. In 1856, the crop was English turnips, with the same
manure, substituting super-phosphate of lime for the guano.
In 1857, it was manured the same as in 1856, and the compost

31

238 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

ploughed in about the middle of June, ten inches deep. On
the 27th July I ploughed in the super-phosphate, and used a
cultivator to level tlie ground. One-eighth of a pound of Eng-
lish turnip seed was sown broadcast, July 27th, and the crop
was pulled November 2d.

Cost of preparing the land and planting, . $0 62
manure, . . . . . . 2 37

harvesting, . . . . . 2 50

Product, 3,390 lbs. of roots.
1,660 lbs. of tops.

In lot No. 2, treated as No. 1, the product was 3,450 lbs. of
roots, and 2,440 lbs. of tops.

Ruta-Bagas. — The eighth of an acre upon which I raised
my ruta-bagas is a stiff soil, with clay subsoil. In 1855, the crop
was carrots, with two loads of compost, (one-third meadow
muck, and two-thirds cow manure.) In 1856, the crop was Eng-
lish turnips, with the same manure, adding 12 lbs. of guano.
In 1857, used the same amount and Idnd of manures as in 1866.
Ploughed June 6th, ten inches deep, and brushed it over. June
8th, sowed one-eighth of a pound of ruta-baga seed, with a ma-
chine, in rows about fifteen inches apart. The land was hoed
twice, and the crop pulled November 2d.

Cost of preparation and planting, . . . $0 37
manure, . . . . • . 2 37
cultivation and harvesting, . . 2 50

Product, 5,490 lbs. of bulbs.
2,740 lbs. of tops.

In lot No. 2, treated the same as No. 1, except that 12 lbs. of
super-phosphate of lime were substituted for the 12 lbs. of
guano ; both in 1856 and 1857, the product was 4,870 lbs. of
roots, and 1,580 lbs. of tops.

Statement of Lawrin Pratt.

Onions. — The eiglitli of an acre upon which I raised my

onions, is a light soil and subsoil. The crop in 1855 was onions,

manured with four loads of compost, (two parts meadow mud,

and one-third horse, cow and hog manure.) In 1856, the crop

ROOT CROPS.

239

and manure wore the same as in 1855. In 1857, the same
amount of manure was applied, and the land was ploughed
twice, three inches deep, and harrowed and brushed. On the
8th of May I planted three-fourths of a pound of silver-skin
onion seed. Cultivated by hoeing between the rows and weed-
ing, five times. The onions were harvested by raking into
rows with an iron rake, from the 1st to the 15th of October.

Cost of preparing the land and planting, . $1 37

manure, . . . . . . 4 00

cultivation and harvesting, . . 5 87

Product. 2,580 lbs. of onions.

BRISTOL.

Statement of Alson C4ilmore.

Ruta-Bagas. — The land, a quarter of an acre, on which I
raised my ruta-bagas, was planted to corn last year ; put on five
cartloads of manure. Soil, sandy loam. In May, 1856, spread
about two cords of manure, and ploughed about seven inches
deep. On the 9th day of June, spread five cartloads of tussuck
ashes, and harrowed and bushed the land. On the 10th, sowed
the seed with a sowing machine, in rows about 18 inches
apart. The crop was harvested the 3d, 6th and 8th days of
November, weighing 12,015 lbs., or 200| bushels.

Value of 200i bushels,

Expenses : —
Spreading manure and ploughing,
Harrowing and bushing,
2 cords of manure, and 5 loads of tussuck
ashes, ......

\ lb. seed, and sowing.

Weeding and hoeing, ....

Harvesting, .....

Net profit, ....
Eastox.

156 07

. $1 00

50

. 13 00

48

4 00

2 50

121 48
$34 59

240 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

Statement of J. B. Nev)comb.

Carrots. — The land was a high, gravelly loam ; quantity, 40
rods. Produced about 100 bushels of carrots last year, manured
lightly. The land was in a fine condition, as it was ploughed
eight inches deep when pulling the carrots last fall. The ma-
nure was a w^eak compost, nearly one cord. Quantity of seed,
something less than a pound. Kind, orange carrot, planted
first of June with a seed sower. Weeding done by odd jobs,
partly with a wheel hoe, and partly by hand. Harvested by
running a Michigan plough as close to the drill as convenient,
and then pulling out by hand. Produced 152 bushels of 55
pounds.

Expenses : —
Ploughing twice and harrowing, . . . -f 1 50
Manure, hauling and spreading, . . . 5 00
Hoeing and weeding, . . . . . 5 00

Harvesting, ...... 4 00

115 50

Sold a part of the carrots at 30 cents per bushel of 50 lbs.,
and fed out the rest.

NOKTON.

HAMPSHIRE.

Statement of F. H. Williams.

Potatoes. — The piece of ground, on which I raised my crop
of potatoes, measures 88 rods. It was sowed in August, 1856,
to wheat and clover, but the wheat was so badly winter-killed
that on the 28th of April, 1857, the land was planted to pota-
toes. After ploughing and harrowing, furrows were turned
three feet apart, and on them were dropped a small handful of
ashes, plaster and salt well mixed. The furrows were then
turned back to cover the whole, and the land was then rolled
with a two-horse roller. By this method two men and a horse
can cover three or four acres of potatoes in a day, as well as it

.12

00

. 8

00

. 6

00

. 4

00

$20 00

ROOT CROPS. 241

could be done by hand, if the ground is mellow. I always
salt my potatoe hills and have never been troubled with rotten
potatoes. I hoed three times, mostly with the horsehoe, turned
the furrows toward the hills and harvested on the 1.6th of Sep-
tember.

Value of crop : —
118 bushels at 50 cents, $59 00

Expenses : —
4 bushels of seed at 50 cents, .
8 loads of compost, .....
Planting and tending, . . .
Harvesting, ......

Net profit, not including interest and taxes, $39 00

SuxDEKLAND, November 15, 1857.

Statement of F. H. Williams.

Carrots. — I raised my carrots on 45 rods of ground, which
in 1856 produced oats and was seeded with Timothy. But
the winter was so severe that the grass seed was destroyed.
Last spring the piece was manured at the rate of twenty loads
to the acre, and planted in drills, two feet apart, cultivated
with the horsehoe and harvested, as follows : — We ploughed
round the piece, running the plough close to the row on one
side. Then the hands follow, easily pulling up the carrots,
twisting off the tops and throwing them into piles on the
ploughed side. In this way, with the help of one man, I have
in a day dug and deposited in the cellar 110 bushels.

Value of crop : —

134 bushels at 25 cents, $33 50

Tops fed to the cows, . . . . . 1 50

$35 00

Expenses : —
Ploughing, 50 cents, and seed, 40 cents, . . $0 90
Sowing with hand planter, .... 25

242 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

Manure, |6 ; hoeing and thinning, |2.50, . |8 50
Harvesting', . . . . . . . 1 50

$5ll 15

Not Profit, •. ... . . . '5523 85

Sunderland November 15, 1857.

FRANKLIN.

StatemeiU of F. II. Williams.

Turnips — Quantity of land, 56 rods ; product, 253 bushels.
Raised on the land in 1856, oats. Condition of the land in
1857, reduced. Used eight loads of compost made after the
yards were cleared at planting. A crop of hay was taken from
the ground .July 9 ; July 11th, it was ploughed seven inches
deep and harrowed. July 11th, manured and sowed hi drills
two and one-half feet apart. Cultivated by ploughing with
horse between the rows. I manure in drill, and like it much.
Cut the tops before pulling, then pull and put in baskets. One
hand can pull a hundred bushels per day.

253 bushels turnips, at 20 cts., . . . $50 60
Compost and all other expenses of raising crop, 10 50

Net profit, $10 10

Sunderland, November 12, 1857.

FARM IMPLEMENTS.

ESSEX.

From the Report of the Committee.

Early in the season, notice was given to your committee by
the secretary, that Horace Ware, of Marblehead, and Samuel
A. Merrill, of Salem, would compete for the premium offered
by Mr. Fay, for the best work done by a mowing machine, on
not less than fifty acres.

FARM IMPLEMENTS. 243

Mr. Ware proposed to use Manny's machine, the same that
he has operated for two years past, with horses weighing about
eleven hundred pounds each.

Mr. Merrill proposed to use Allen's machine, with horses
weighing about a thousand pounds each.

A day was appointed, and a favorable field selected on the
Derby farm, near the head of the harbor, in Salem. Many
people gathered to witness the contest between two so energetic
and experienced workmen. Farmers came miles to learn what
kind of things these mowing machines are — some doubting
whether they could be worked at all by horse power. Two
half acres of grass, estimated to contain one and a half tons to
the acre, were measured off as near alike as possible, and the
competitors started at the same time. Unfortunately, on going
around tlie second time, Mr. Ware's machine struck a fast rock,
which broke off one of the points and disabled it for the day.
Mr. Merrill continued on, in a manner highly satisfactory to
all present, until he completed the cutting of his half acre in
nineteen minutes. This work was witnessed by the committee.
A few days subsequent, the committee were invited by Mr.
Ware, to witness the cutting of half an acre of grass on land
of Mr. Rowe. This was satisfactorily done in twenty minutes,
containing at the rate of two tons to the acre. Subsequently,
the committee witnessed the cutting of an entire acre by Mr.
Merrill, in thirty-five and a half minutes, yielding two and a
half tons. This was the most expeditious cutting seen by the
committee. There was no perceptible difference in the quality
of the work done by the two machines ; and judging from what
we saw in the field, we do not feel justified in giving either of
the machines a preference over the other. We liked the opera-
tion of both, and were astonished that grass could be cut by
their use, at less than half the expense we have ever before
known it to be done by the scythe, under circumstances m t
favorable.

Upon examining the returns made by Mr. Ware, we find that
he has cut the present season more than one hundred acres of
grass, yielding two tons to the acre — no time varying essentially
from fifty minutes to the acre ; and in the course of three years,
with the same machine, more than three hundred acres, at an
expense for repairs not exceeding |5 per year.

244 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

Mr. Merrill's return for the present season, shows a cutting
of more than one hundred acres, on an average of time of fifty-
two minutes to the acre, and grass as heavy as Mr. Ware's.
Committee arc entirely satisfied that either of these gentlemen
will cut an acre an hour, containing two tons or more, for five
hours together, where the land is even.

The committee regretted that they were not called on to wit-
ness the cutting of grass, by other well reputed machines, par-
ticularly the Heath mower, for which a bounty of one thousand
dollars was awarded the last year. They are glad to learn that
the mistakes made by mechanics in reconstructing these ma-
chines, with supposed improvements, are not likely essentially
to mar their usefulness ; and that the probability is, the Heath
machine, the coming season, will be before the public in fair
competition with the best implements of the kind in use in
this vicinity. It is thought by some of your committee who
have seen it operate, to possess some advantages over any other
implement they have seen.

The committee, anxious to avail themselves of the best
information to be had on the use of mowing machines, attended
the grand exhibition of these implements, under the supervision
of the National Agricultural Society, at Syracuse, N. Y. But
they returned with no better information than could be obtained
at home. In view of all they have seen and learned in relation
to the use of mowing machines, — in view of the purpose of tlie
generous donor in establishing this bounty of two hundred dol-
lars,— all of which has heretofore been awarded, excepting the
sum of fifty dollars, — and in view of the well conducted and
persevering efforts of Messrs. Merrill and Ware the present
season, — they recommend that this sum be awarded, in equal
parts, to these gentlemen.

Letter of Richard S. Rogers to the Committee.

'' Oak Hill, South Danvers, Nov. 14, 1857.
" In reply to inquiries respecting ' the comparative worth of
Ketchum's, Manny's, and Allen's mowing machines,' I can only
speak, from my own personal observation, of the first and last
implements, never having seen Manny's used under circum-
stances that would enable me to form a correct estimate of its

FARM IMPLEMENTS. 245

merits. Ketchiim's I have given a fair trial, having used it for
the last three years ; after making an important alteration in
the fingers, substituting wrought for cast iron, I found it an
excellent machine, with two exceptions : that of being very
heavy, unnecessarily so, fatiguing and worrying the horses
much in draft ; and that of clogging often and badly, in thick
or wet grass. To free it of this last fault, requires a backward
motion of the machine to clear it of the grass, which is very
awkward for the driver and hard for the horses. This difficulty
does not occur in working Allen's machine, which gives it a
superiority over Ketchum's. When in proper order, it cuts
smoother, cleaner and closer than Allen's, more particularly in
second crop.

" In consequence of breaking an important piece of machinery
in Ketchum's, and finding I should be delayed in cutting my
first crop if I attempted to repair it, I was induced to purchase
Allen's machine, and with it finished cutting my grass. This
gave me a fair opportunity of testing its ability for work, and I
must acknowledge it gave very general satisfaction ; so I did
not grudge the money it cost, as I found it lighter, and very
much easier for the horses in draft, than Ketchum's, and it will
accomplish much more work than the latter, in the same time ;
and I therefore give it decidedly the preference over the latter,
at the same cost.

" Allen's, however, admits of some improvements. It does
not cut the grass as close as it should, on the score of economy,
and leaves too much uncut. This is a serious fault, in my
opinion, and should be remedied ; the knives should be lower
and nearer to the sod, and made to rise and fall as necessity
requires.

" With a suggestion and hint to the manufacturer, I shall
close. Nearly all the implements now made for farming pur-
poses, I think, are made somewhat like ' Peter Pindar's razors,'
— to sell. To the farmer who has no money to throw away on
useless inventions, it is a serious matter for him to purchase a
mower, and at the moment when most needed have it fail him ;
for it is well known he must ' make hay while the sun shines,'
for but a few days in July can be depended on with certainty.
Therefore, the manufacturers of all implements should look
well to the material they use, and see that none but good, sound

32

246 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

and efficient iron is worked, for if inferior is used, with poor
workmanship, the genius of the inventor is trifled with, and
the farmer suffers a severe loss and disappointment."

J. W. Proctor, Chairman.

NORFOLK.

From the Report of the Committee.

The Committee on Agricultural Implements found but a small
assortment offered for examination. It contained, however,
some of the most useful and valuable sort, deserving more exact
description than can be given in this report. We would partic-
ularly recommend them to farmers as worthy of their notice.

First. A sugar mill, manufactured and exhibited by Lyman
Kinsley, of Canton, for the purpose of expressing the juice from
the sugar cane. It was operated by hand-power with ease, and
performed its work thoroughly and expeditiously. Similar
mills, of large size, are manufactured by Mr. K., to be operated
by horse or steam-power. We have seen nothing of the kind
more simple in construction or effective in operation. And if
the sugar cane should continue to be grown for the purpose of
making molasses or sugar, this mill will be found a cheap and
valuable aid in accomplishing the work.

Second. A plough, exhibited by S. Hurlbut, of Boston.
This plough has an iron beam, and its mouldboard is uniformly
convex, from front to rear and from top to bottom. There
appears to be an advantage in its peculiar form, and it is said to
be of easy draught, and adapted for use in all kinds of work. It
was tried on the ground at the ploughing-match, and commanded
one of the society's premiums for its work, though operated
under most unfavorable circumstances.*

* This plough has been tried since the date of this report, on the farm of
one of the committee. It was used in breaking up an acre of sward land,
■which had been in pasture for many years. Good judges, who witnessed the
operation, were of the opinion that it performed the work exceedingly well,
and needed only the addition of a wheel to make It one of the best ploughs in
use in this section of the country. The team used was a single yoke of oxen,
without a driver, after turning the first two or three furrows, with the addition
of horse to the motive power. We understand It is now to be had with a
wheel, and also a wooden beam, which, In many cases, would be preferred.

FARM IMPLEMENTS. 247

Third. Several ploughs, with cast iron beams, of different
sizes — Rich's patent — exhibited by Mr. C. A. Haek, of Stough-
ton. These ploughs are all of good form and well finished, and
are, we understand, in common use in other counties, giving
entire satisfaction. Among them was a side-hill plough, which
we think must be particularly useful on many farms.

Fourth. A granulating mill, for reducing corn, shelled or in
the cob, — wheat, and other small grains, — coffee, spices, &g., to
uniform particles of any required size ; manufactured and exhib-
ited by E. Richmond, of Boston. This mill may be operated
either by hand or other power, for fine or coarse work ; and from
specimens shown of its production, as well as its operation before
us, seems be admirably adapted to its different purposes. It
cuts whatever substance is presented into minute and uniform
particles, instead of crushing or bruising it. When operated by
hand, it will so reduce oats, or any similar grain, at the rate of
six bushels per hour, and corn at the rate of three bushels per
hour.*

For the committee,

C. C. Sewall.
Medfield, September 27, 1857.

HAMPSHIRE.

Report of the Committee.

The number of entries was thirty-four. The first premium
for the best collection and greatest variety of farm implements
was awarded to Hunt & Co., of Amherst. The premium for
the largest collection and greatest variety of old fashioned
farming tools was divided between L. D. Cowles, of Amherst,

* From personal trial of this machine since the date of the Report, we are
disposed to recommend it as of much value for domestic purposes, and where a
common mill cannot be conveniently or immediately reached. Nothing could
be more useful in neighborhoods where a large establishment is not at hand,
and at times when the grinding is low, or wholly stopped for want of water. It
may be had of large size, fitted for operation by horse or other power, and would
be a cheap and useful machine, in many places, for the supply of farmers own-
ing it in common. We presume the chief use of the machine exhibited at the
show, is for domestic purposes.

248 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

who exhibited a lot of ploughs, the date of whose construction
must have been away back in the time when the hills were
young ; and J. E. Albee, for an ancient fork, and Edward Morse
for a like utensil. The examination of these antiquated farm
implements, was, by contrast, the most pleasing part of the duty
of your committee. A great change has been made by the
present generation in this department. The thought here
occurs — have all these changes been improvements ? The sturdy
men of a past generation, who wielded these and similar tools,
were, in their day, many of them, mighty men of renown and
successful farmers. They were intelligent, enterprising, far-
seeing men, who secured a competence, educated their children,
were useful to the State, and spent long lives in the enjoyment
of health and happiness. Then, the mechanic arts and agricul-
ture had little affinity. And yet those who were devoted to
tillage, were, as men, parents, patriots and Christians, models
for the world. Where, then, the need or utility of these modern
improvements ? Are they not, after all, in their influence on
farmers, a step backward ? In every thing essential, are we any
better than they, and would it not now be an improvement to
imitate both their noble virtues and implements ?

We answer, that an advancing civilization and increased
population, have changed the condition, structure and wants of
society. Then, land and labor were cheap, and the demand for
agricultural products beyond home consumption, limited. To
engage in farming pursuits now, requires an investment in real
estate three times as large as it did sixty years ago, and to make
it pay, the return must be in proportion. The price of labor
has doubled, and the necessary workmen of intelligence cannot
be found. How, then, shall these broad acres be cultivated ?
How shall the farmer secure the due return from his capital ?
How supply food for the increasing millions ? Plainly, some
other power than human muscles must be employed in tilling
the soil, and mechanical skill must become the handmaid of
agriculture. This idea is now uppermost in the minds of many
of our farmers and mechanics. They are bound to accomplish
wonders, and, although often rebuffed by failure, they will
eventually succeed. The movement, it must be acknowledged,
contains some humbug, which should admonish us to be cautious,
while interest requires that we do not stand aloof from real
advancement.

FARM IMPLEMENTS. 249

The seed sower, corn planter, mowing machine, and horse-
rake, have triumphed over prejudice, and are now fixed facts
and indispensable to every one who aspires to be a farmer. The
mowing machine in particular, is, at the present time, attracting
universal attention, and, in the opinion of your committee,
deservedly so. For what the cotton-gin has done for the
southern planter, the mower is to do for the northern farmer.
The machines have been brought to such a state of perfection,
do their work so well, and with such dispatch, that no farmer
can afford to cut his grass with a scythe. It is no objection
that the machine requires smooth fields to operate on, for no
farmer should have any other than such fields for mowing. It
does not come within the province of your committee, to speak
of the merits or demerits of rival machines. All that have been
on exhibition are a decided improvement on hand mowing.
Let any farmer purchase the one which, in his opinion, is the
best, and he will be satisfied of the fact.

Our grass is cut and spread by machinery. We want, and
must have a machine for turning and tending the hay. The
English have one in successful operation, and the Yankee, who
will put it in motion, here, may be sure of a rich reward.
Model loading machines are on exhibition, and we trust the
thing itself will soon be perfected and brought into use.

Although machines plant our corn, and the horse-hoe assists
in its cultivation, we need assistance in its harvest. To supply
this want, a husking machine has been invented, but has not
been exhibited in this vicinity. We trust that it will soon make
its appearance, accompanied by the patent potatoe digger and
sorter, and prove worthy of, and receive the patronage of our
farmers. The benefits already conferred on agriculture by the
mechanic arts are great, but much more remains to be done.
We need have no fear that they will abrogate the curse of the
fall, (turned by Providence into a blessing,) that labor will cease
to be necessary, and that idleness, " the mother of vice," will
prevail. For, with the steam-plough passing over our fields and
and inverting the sod, " like a thing of life," with our grain
harvested and threshed by horse-power, with our hay cut, tended,
loaded and unloaded by mechanical force, with our corn planted,
cultivated, husked and shelled by machinery, with our broom-
corn brush scraped, potatoes dug, apples pared, cored and sliced,

250 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

our clothes cleaned and washed by chemical and mechanical
combinations, there will still be need of head and hand labor,
sufficient to tax the strongest mind and hardiest frame. It will
ever be true as in the days of Poor Richard, that

" He, who by the plough would thrive,
Himself must either hold or drive. "

Levi Stockbridge, Chairman.

Hadley, Oct. 15, 1857.

NEAT STOCK

ESSEX.

From the Report of the Committee.

Milch Cows. — The milk business in the county of Essex, is
of considerable importance to the farmer. Large quantities are
raised in the immediate vicinity of our cities and large towns
to supply the inhabitants with this delicious beverage ; conse-
quently the making of butter has comparatively diminished, and
the making of cheese, in many cases, is entirely dispensed with.
Most of the cows that produce the milk are raised in the adjoin-
ing States and purchased by oiir farmers from the droves.
Many of them are purchased about the time of calving. The
better ones are selected for future use, and those of indifferent
character are well fed, for about a year, more or less, as the case
may be, then tui'ned to the butcher ; consequently little or no
improvement has been made in the breed of our cows. Of late,
however, the price of cows has become so exceedingly high that
farmers are raising more calves, and there probably have been
more raised the present year than for several years previous.
This may make a slight improvement in the stock, as most
farmers are likely to raise the best calves. But as the custom
has heretofore been to turn nearly all the calves to the butcher,
little exertion has been used to secure good bulls ; a little runt
and many of them when they are but two or three days old, but

NEAT STOCK. 251

that can be purchased at a low price, will, they think, answer
the purpose of a bull, that will cost considerably more. With
such a state of things, but little improvement can be expected in
our stock.

We cannot reasonably expect much improvement, unless both
parents are of superior quality ; and if we expect to improve
our milch cows, the parents should both be of a breed that pos-
sess good milking qualities. If the bull is selected because he
has a fine form, or for other qualities foreign from the subject,
we cannot expect that good milking qualities can be transmitted
through him.

Another subject of considerable importance, is the quality of
the milk, (I mean to those who use it for dairy purposes, and
that those who sell milk may save the credit of selling watered
milk,) as it is not always the cow that gives the greatest quan-
tity of milk, that is worth the most for a dairy ; therefore it is
desirable that every dairy-man should know the quality of each
cow's milk ; and here we are liable to fall into an error in com-
paring the several cows' milk. A cow that has recently dropped
her calf, and gives a large quantity of milk, does not give milk
of so good a quality as after she has been milked some length of
time, and the quantity fs somewhat reduced. Hence it has been
often said by those who have kept a farrow cow for making but-
ter, that a much greater quantity is produced in proportion to
the quantity of milk, than when the cow gave a large quantity.

In regard to the best breed of cattle, whether foreign, native,
or mixed, there are different opinions. There has been more
or less stock imported for more than two hundred years, and
during the whole time it has been mixing with native stock, or
that which was previously here ; so that now it is somewhat
difficult in most cases, to designate what is, or rather what is
not, mixed breed. Hence it is not uncommon for the progeny
of a red cow and red bull to be ring-streaked or speckled, not
because of their being rods placed in the watering troughs, as
was done by one of old, but because they are a mixed breed.
There are many good cattle in the county, and it matters little
what they are called, whether native or mixed ; and if farmers
will breed from superior stock and no other, great improvement
will be the result.

Joseph How, Chairman.

252

MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

Statement of Green Wildes.

My cow was seven years old the 20tli of July ; she is half-
blood Ayrshire, from the State hull. She brought her first calf
before she was two years old, and has had a calf every year
since. I milked her the present year the first day of April, and
she brought her sixth calf the 29th. Her keeping through the
winter was salt hay and damaged black grass, with two quarts
of cob meal ; after xVpril, three quarts of meal and shorts, and
no English hay. She has been kept in a common pasture with
the other cows, with the addition of one quart of meal and one
quart of shorts per day.

Pounds,

Pounds,

Pounds,

Pounds,

Morning.

Evening.

Morning.

Evening.

June 10, .

14i

21

September 1, .

9

101

11,

12|

19f

o

8i

\^

12,

14|

19f

3, .

9i

101

13,

151

22

4, .

H

111

14,

13

19

5, .

10

io|

15,

14

19i

6, .

9

11

16,

14

191

7, .

101

14

17,

15

18

8, .

101

141

18,

14|

191

9, .

10

13

19,

141

17

10, .

lOi

llf

1421

1941

9G1

121f

142i

961

Total, ....

336f

Total, .

•

218

Average per day, 33^^ j-

ounds.

Average per d

ay, 21| pounds.

Byfield, Sept. 29, 1857.

Statement of Paul T. Winkley.

The cow which I offer for premium is six years old. I bought
her when she was four months old, and have owned her ever
since. Her breed is unknown. She had her last calf last May,
and is to calve again next May. Her keeping has been, since
she was turned out last spring, nothing but pasture feed. Her

NEAT STOCK.

253

milk was weighed morning and evening, for the first ten days
in June and September, with the following result : —

■

rounds,

Pounds,

Pounds,

Pounds,

Morning.

Evening.

Morning.

Evening.

June 1,
2,

15-1
16

18i
18^

September 1, .
2, .

12i
12^

161-
16

3,

16

19

3, .

12

15^

4,

16i

20

4, .

12

1.5

5,
6,

16
17

20^
20

5, .

6, .

lU

iH

IH
14

7,

17

20^

7, .

11

14^

8,

17

21

8, .

11

14

9,

i^i

21

9, .

11

14

10,

171

21

10, .

11

13

166

200

116

147

166
336

Total, .

•

111

Total,

263

Average per day, 36| po

unds.

Average per day, 26^^^ pounds.

Eight quarts of her milk makes one pound of butter.

Newburyport, Sept. 30, 1857.

Statetnent of Aaron Dodge.

The ten calves which I have entered for premium, do not
come under the rules for premium, as they are not over four
months and ten days old. They are ten, taken from eighty-six,
that I have raised since the 1st of November, 1856. I then
began to raise calves by getting them from milk farms, where
they could be obtained at one dollar per liead, thinking that I
might raise eight or ten heifers for cows, but they did not want
to part with heifers and not males, so I took both, and continued
through the winter to the 20th of May, 1857.

I then had sixty-three living, and had lost seven by the scours
and cold weather. The herd had become so large that I then
turned them to pasture in New Hampshire, about ninety miles
off. I lost three by having to leave them out over night, in a
cold rain, snow and hail storm, on the journey. They became

33

254 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

chilled and died after they were turned to pasture. I lost two
by sco\irs and one by getting mired. The rest, fifty-seven in
number, are doing well. I have continued to raise all that I
could get since the 20th of May. There are now twenty-nine
calves at home, of which these ten are the oldest.

I have tried to raise them as cheap as I could, and in order
to do this I have tried various ways, as milk has been high and
sells well on account of the high price of cows ; and many fami-
lies are not willing to pay for fodder and cows the money asked,
choosing to buy their milk. The price for milli is four cents
per quart at the house, in Beverly, and six cents delivered. I
tried oil cake boiled and mixed with milk, which does well if
too much is not given at a time, as in most cases it will give
calves the scours. I have used scalded Indian meal and milk,
and scalded flour and milk, all of which does very well if care
is taken not to over-feed, so as to bring on the scours. This
disease is bad, for it takes a long time for the calves to recover
from it, and if over-fed it will come on again.

The cost of raising is about $2.50 per head, until weaned.
The last twenty-nine have been turned to pasture as soon as
taken from the cows, at one, two and three days old ; there
they learned to eat grass and drink water while young. When
from three to four weeks old they would eat sufficient to wean,
and were left to graze for themselves. No meal has been given
the last twenty-nine ; scalded meal and flour, milk and grass,
lias been their keeping.

Beverly, Sept. 29, 1857.

WORCESTER NORTH.

From the Report of the Committee.

Milch Cows and Heifers. — It is frequently the farmer's
ambition to keep a large number of cows, without special regard
to their quality. This, we believe, is a great mistake. The
care and keeping of a good cow usually costs no more than one
of an inferior quality ; while the income of the former may be
double that of the latter. The great disparity observed in the
profits of different cows, we believe is frequently owing quite as
much to a ditfcrence in treatment as to blood. Not that we

NEAT STOCK. 255

would be understood as speaking disparagingly of the efforts of
those who have sought to improve our native cow by a cross
with imported stock. While we acknowledge that great im-
provement has been made in that particular, we also regard a
proper treatment of the cow of vital importance in imparting
good milking properties.

It is usually the case where a family possesses but one cow,
that she is considered above the average of cows in point of
excellence. Now why is it so ? Is she not in most cases taken
from the farm from a lot of cows, where the seller is generally
shrewd enough to retain the best and part only with those he
considers below an average ? To us the reason is obvious. The
seller sold the ordinary cow, but he did not sell her future keep-
ing. Usually a great change is produced in the quality of the
cow by better care and treatment. She is transferred to a warm
stall, furnished with good bedding, — in short, is considered a
kind of a pet by the family, where every one has a kind word
and a good bite in the form of a crust of bread or some other
dainty, for which she never fails to make a good return in an
increased flow of milk. We do not wish to be understood that
all cows will become good milkers with the best of care ; but
we do believe that all may be very much improved ; and that if
it will pay to give cows ordinary care, it will certainly pay much
better to give thom good care and keeping.

Ohio Whitney, Jr., Chairman.

Statement of Joseph P. Reed.

The cow, Fanny, which I offer for premium, is six years old,
of Holderness and Ayrshire breed, raised in Princeton by
myself.

Time of last calving, January 14, 1857. The quality of the
calf is good ; as it is a heifer, I am raising it. Fanny was last
dried in November, 1856. Time of next calving, January,
1858. Her keeping has been nothing but pasture feed.

The weight and quantity of milk, beer measure, the first
week in June, was as follows : —

256

MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

MORNING.

EVENING.

Pounds.

Quarts.

rounds.

Quarts.

June 1, . . . .

18.00

7.20

21.00

8.40

2

16.25

0.50

20.00

8.00

3, . . . .

16.00

6.40

20.00

8.00

4, . . . .

15.75

6.30

21.25

8.50

5, . . . .

16.00

6.40

20.00

8.00

6, . . . .

1725

6.90

19.25

7.70

7, . . . .

15.50

6.20

20.00

8.00

114.75

45.90

141.50 56.60

114.75 45.90

Total,

•

•

256.25 102.50

Her milk, the first week in June, averaged 36^|^ lbs., meas-
uring 14^^j quarts per day.

Weight and quantity of milk, beer measure, for the first
week in September : —

MORNING.

EVENING.

rounds.

Quarts.

Pounds.

Quarts.

September 1, .

15.25

6.10

18.00

7.20

o

15.25

6.10

17.75

7.10

3, .

15.25

6.10

17.50

7.00

4, . . .

14.75

5.90

17.50

7.00

5, .

12.75

5.10

19.25

7.70

6, . . .

14.50

5 80

17.25

6.90

7, .

14 75

5.90

17.00

6.80

102.50

41.00

124.25

49.70

102.50

41.00

Total,

226.75

90.70

Average weight per day, 32-|-i lbs., measuring 12|^ quarts, a
small fraction less than 13 quarts daily, 8 months after calving,
and 4^ months before calving again.

When on trial we did not set all her milk for butter, as we
had to use out of it for the family ; her milk is of superior
quality. We have made and sold 154 lbs. of butter after using
what milk and butter we wanted in the ftxniily.

Said cow has had nothing but pasture feed, she has never had

NEAT STOCK. 25T

meal or roots ; has always been wintered upon straw, husks,
poor and good hay.

Princeton.

From the Report of the Committee on Tivo and Three Years

Old Steers.
Steers. — In the steers was evinced the care that had been
taken to blend the different breeds of Devon and Durham with
the native, in order to produce the best race of grades to be
attained ; and in awarding the premiums, reference "was had
to the promise of future usefulness, rather than to future size
or beauty. No department of our show is of more importance
than this, for unless we have good steers we can have no good
oxen. Your committee had still another office to fulfil, viz. :
to judge of trained steers. There was no competition in this
department, as there was but one pair of one-year-olds entered.
But they were truly worthy of much commendation for the
perfection to which they had been brought, being just as man-
ageable out of the yoke as in it, and each as much at home on
one side as the other, in fact performing any thing required of
them. The steers entered were owned by William W. Benson,
of Princeton, a minor, to whom we award tlie premium of f 3 ;
and in consideration of the peculiar, and in these days, very
singular circumstances in which he presents himself to our
notice, we recommend a gratuity of $5, two in money and
three in books, to be selected and presented by the president
and secretary of our society, in order to encourage him in the
laudable and very useful pursuit to which he devotes himself
and his hard earnings. Training steers may seem a very simple
and common place affair, but there is no more important, vise-
ful, or, indeed, more profitable department in raising stock.
"Well broken oxen are vastly more valuable than those which
arc merely made to go from fear of the lash, as is too often the
case, aside from preventing the vexation, ill feeling, much
pounding and some swearing that is caused thereby. The idea
that cattle are susceptible of training, that they are sensible of
kind treatment, and that they have good qualities and dispo-
sitions that may be developed instead of bad ones, is becoming
more and more apparent, as men take more pride in their good

258 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

looks and condition, as well as their performances ; and as this
increases, more care and attention will be paid to matching, thus
increasing their beauty as well as their value and usefulness.

Ezra Kendall, Chairman.

From the Report of the Committee on Yearling Steers.

The great agricultural interests of New England, and some of
the other older. States, being generally in the hands of men of
moderate means, and consequently a limited area of land, their
efforts in this useful branch of husbandry must necessarily be
directed to practical and profitable results. And to this end the
farmer, who attempts to raise this kind of stock, will of course
have one of two objects in view, viz. : to supply the stall, or the
yoke, because these are the great practical uses for which steers
and oxen are wanted at the present day.

Now if the farmer would raise stock successfully for either of
the purposes above named, after having determined to engage in
the business, he should not commence till he has first definitely
fixed in his own mind the object for which his steers shall be
raised — whether for the stall or the yoke ; nor until he has
learned, so far as he may be able, what qualities are required in
the animal to best adapt it for the purpose designed. Having
done this, he should determine upon some plan or system by
which to be governed, and then go to work diligently to carry
out tliat plan, just as the skilful mechanic when he would con-
struct a good house or any thing else, first ascertains what qual-
ities are required to constitute a good article of the kind desired,
and then lays out his plan to secure those qualities, taking care
always to obtain the most approved plan at the beginning ; so the
would-be successful stock rearer should be careful in maturing
the plan of his work, and having once adopted it abide by it, till
successful, or he has found by experience that it is wrong.

Every farmer engaging in this business, acting upon the
known law of reproduction in nature, " that like produces like,"
with improvement by proper nurture and cultivation, should
select animals, both male and female, from which to raise his
stock, possessing in the highest degree practicable, those quali-
ties required by the object to which it is to be devoted ; and
having obtained his young animals, should commence at once to

NEAT STOCK. 259

perfect them according to the plan adopted, and not wait till the
first year — the most important part of the life of the animal —
for a healthy start toward perfection has passed away, and they
perhaps stunted forever, as is too often the case.

It is rare that very inferior animals of this kind, at one year
old, ever attain to any high degree of perfection, anymore than
vegetation which is puny when the season is a third gone. Such
may, in some instances, be the case, but they are exceptions to
the general rule, and should never be relied upon by the farmer
who would be certain of success.

Charles H. Merriam, Chairman.

HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN.

From the Report of the Committee.

Stock in General. — The fear which was expressed in a
prophecy, that the new trotting course would attract horses to
the show ground to the exclusion of cattle, was proved to be
unfounded by this year's exhibition. Equally false was the
prediction, that the Fair and National Horse Show, at Spring-
field, would leave the public interest and curiosity so exhausted
as to furnish within the enclosure of the society few animals to
be seen and few spectators to look on. The show of stock was
full and various, yet of uniform excellence. Veteran farmers
did not remember so rare a gathering of oxen, steers and cows.
The new and convenient enclosure, if it had something to do
with the success of this year, will doubtless present grander
displays of animal life and manners hereafter. The society has
now a local habitation as well as name. It takes on a new
character by having a place it can call its own, a home, and
lays new claims upon all the vicinage, to send up annually,
from pen, field and fold, every useful and ornamental quadruped
which may serve as proof and example of the improvement of
stock. These claims will be acknowledged and met. The show
grounds will quicken interest and skill in stock raising, and will
annually gather and exhibit the evidences of such enterprise.

S. T. Spalding, Chairman.
Northampton, October, 1857.

260 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

HAMPSHIRE.

Report of the Committee.

We think we shall be sustained in the statement, that the
stock, as a whole, compared favorably with former years, and
in some departments, was in advance of any.

The Amherst town string was the largest, numbering fifty-
six pairs, and that from South Hadley the best, containing
twenty-four yokes, almost every one choice oxen, averaging
3,300 lbs. a pair. The string from Hadley numbered forty-eight
pairs ; a large proportion were decidedly good.

The first herd premium was awarded to Alfred Baker, of
Amherst, mostly grade Devons. Mr. Baker has raised some
good stock from the bull and cow presented to the society by
the Massachusetts State Society, several years since, and greatly
improved his herd ; his stock shows that a cross of Devon and
good native is worthy of attention, and we think the farmers
did not show a just appreciation of that pure Devon stock for a
cross.

Until correct information is more generally diffused on the
subject of stock-breeding, the highest excellence will not be
attained. The first cross, as a rule, will be the best, and any
one breeding from a grade animal, however fair looking, is
liable to disappointment.

We would suggest, that when an animal is entered as of dis-
tinct breed, or a grade of any breed, the owner should satisfy
the judges of the purity of the breed or the grade.

The State Fair, held in Boston, showed, that there is good
stock in the State of pure blood, — Short-horns, Devons, Ayr-
shires, Alderneys and Herefords, — and now that it is brought
more fully to the notice of the farmers, we look for a rapid
improvement in this department.

None of the bulls were thought worthy of the first premium
by the committee.

There were thirteen entries of working oxen and eight of four
years old, good looking, and several pairs well matched. A
pair of four years old twins, weighing 3,900 lbs., owned by Ce-
phas May, of Conway, attracted much notice, — their symmetry of

NEAT STOCK. 261

form and perfect training was the subject of universal admira-
tion. The kind manner of tlie driver they seemed fully to
appreciate, and it was demonstrated that a good teamster may
be very sparing of the lash.

There were a few fat oxen, but the number and quality were
not equal to the exhibitions of some former years. The same
remark will apply to milch cows.

There were twenty-eight entries of steers, heifers and calves,
and this part of the exhibition was very creditable, and is evi-
dence, we think, of the usefulness of the society in stimulating
the farmer to raise good stock instead of going from home for
it. We could but notice the pride with which owners pointed
to the stock raised on their own farms.

Of sheep there were few, and we are sorry to see so little
attention given to raising sheep, when the testimony of all who
keep a flock is, that it is their most profitable stock.

There were fifteen entries of swine, numbering about seventy-
five. The swine of this vicinity have been so judiciously crossed
and bred, that it is doubtful whether there remains much
improvement to be made.

L. SwEETSER, Chairman.

Statement of William. Hunt.

Milch Cows. — The cow which I enter for premium was
eleven years old in August, 1857, is one-fourth Ayrshire and
three-fourths native. Her maternal ancestors have not been
large, but remarkable for the richness of their milk and the
good quality of their butter. She weighed 960 lbs. on the first
of this month.

Our first trial of her was during the second week in June,
when we made from her milk 15 lbs. 1 oz. of butter, or an
average of 2 lbs. 2^ oz. per day. The milk was not weighed
at this time.

The second trial was made the last of June and early in
July. During a period of one week, the quantity of milk was
112 quarts, which weighed 268 lbs. The daily average was 16
quarts, or 38^ lbs. Her butter, during this week, weighed 14|-
lbs., and the daily average weight was 2 lbs. 1 oz.

My third trial occurred during the second week in Septem-

34

262 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

her, when she produced 78 quarts of milk, weighing 191| lbs.,
and averaging 11 quarts, or 27 lbs. 5 oz. each day ; from which
we made 10| lbs. of butter, an average of 1| lbs. per day.

The food of this cow has been regular through the season, it
being a good pasture, and two quarts of corn meal each day.

I have the reputation, among my neighbors, of being rather
a liberal feeder, but I wish to say to them that I think it pays.
On three acres of ground I have kept my three cows to October
first. Two and a half acres of this land is an old pasture,
turned over and seeded to grass the last year. The other half-
acre is about my barn. Neither piece being in a high state of
cultivation, but they have given my cows a full supply, (v>'ith
the addition of a small allowance of meal daily.) One of the
three cows was not put on this pasture until the middle of July,
the other two the latter part of May.

Sunderland, October 20, 1857.

FRANKLIN.

From the Report of the Committee.

Miscellaneous Stock. — The committee on " Miscellaneous
Stock," believing that their office was to examine and bring into
notice such animals as would not fall within any class entitled to
premiums, and such as should be presented for exhibition only,
have attended to the service expected of them, and report : —

A fine herd of animals, eleven in number, was presented by
Hon. Henry W. Cushman, of Bernardston, for exhibition. This
gentleman, having heretofore rendered great services to the
society as its active, intelligent and efficient president, is still
untiring in efforts to enlarge its usefulness, and improve every
department of agriculture.

This herd comprises seven generations of stock, beginning
with a cow now ten years old, which was a cross of the Durham
and our native breed ; there were present ten descendants from
this cow; and all were reared on Mr. Cushman's farm, by his
thorough farmer, Marshall Slate. They gave evidence of great
care in breeding, producing fine forms, of fine color — bright
red. The two oldest cows, being of the native and Durham

NEAT STOCK. 263

cross, all the rest, descended from these, were half-blood Devons.
From such crossings, the best results were to be expected. The
advantages of the Devon mixture with the native and Durham
were apparent. The animals were not in high flesh, but in
good thrifty condition, showing good judgment in rearing and
management. One two years old heifer, and two pairs of steers,
though not very large of tlieir age, were very handsome, prom-
ising stock.

Your committee cannot foil to remark, that this family of
stock was commenced on the same farm by Gov. Cushman's
father, the Hon. P. L. Cushman, deceased — a noble specimen
of farmer and man. We are glad to render a tribute of respect
to the memory of one of so great worth in all the walks of life.
To him, too, this society, and indeed this whole agricultural
community, are greatly indebted — a wise and good man.

Mr. Timothy M. Stoughton, of Gill, presented for exhibition
a valuable herd of Alderney cattle, nine in number ; thorough-
bred animals. Two of the cows were imported from England ;
the rest, with several other cows, too forward in calf to be driven
to the field of exhibition, were descended from them. These
are of the Alderneys imported by George Bird, Esq., of New
York. The stock has been leased to Mr. Stoughton for several
years ; most of it was reared by him, and his experience with it
enables him to appreciate its value. He speaks in the highest
terms of the milking qualities of the cows, especially for yield-
ing butter. Such is their repute in England, where they are
said to stand ahead of any other race, not excepting the Ayr-
shires. The animals would be deemed of small size, compared
with much of the neat stock of the county, and not of the most
perfect symmetry of form. They are eminently for the dairy ;
and it is believed they are a valuable acquisition to the farm
stock of Franklin.

Mr. Stoughton, who is one of our most enterprising farmers,
with a laudable spirit and at some sacrifice, by the request of the
officers of the society, presents this stock, not for premiums nor
for sale, but for exhibition only.

If the funds of the society will admit, the committee think
Mr. Stoughton should receive a gratuity of

Geo. Grennell, Chairman.

264 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

NOEFOLK.

From the Report of the Committee.

Milch Cows. — At the late exhibition, the duties of the com-
mittee were less arduous than formerly, in consequence of the
superior arrangement of animals ; for which they think the
committee of arrangements and superintendents are entitled to
much credit. They are also happy in being able to say, that
competitors complied much better with the requisitions of the
society, in making their statements, than in 1856.

Different writers have given their marks as signs of a good
cow. One, in speaking of a breeding cow, says : —

" A perfect breeding cow ought to have a fine head, with a
broad, smooth forehead ; black eyes ; clean horns ; a smooth,
elastic skin ; a large, deep body ; strong, muscular thighs ; a
large white udder, with long and tapering teats ; together with
every other token requisite in a bull, allowing for the difference
in sex. Further, such animals OTight particularly to be young.
Milch kine are not good for breeding after they are twelve years
old ; indeed, it has been said that the first calf which a cow
brings is the best for raising."

Mr. Culley gives the following marks : " Wide horns, a thin
head and neck, dewlap large, full breast, broad back, large and
deep belly ; the udder capacious, but not too fleshy ; the milky
veins prominent, and the bag tending far behind ; teats long
and large ; buttocks broad and fleshy ; tail long and pliable ;
legs proportionable to the size of the carcass ; and the joints
shut. To these outward marks may be added a gentle disposi-
tion, a temper free from any vicious tricks, and perfectly man-
ageable on every occasion. On the other hand, a cow with a
thick head and a short neck, prominent backbone, slender cheek,
small udder, or a fleshy bag, short teats and thin buttocks, is to
be avoided as totally unfit for the purposes either for tlie dairy-
man, the suckler, or the grazier."

And Mr. Wilkinson humorously sums up thus : —

" She's long in her face, she's fine in her horn,
She'll (juifkly get fat without cake or corn,
She's clear in her jaws and full in her chine,
She's heavy in flank and wide in her loin.

HORSES. 265

She's broad in her ribs and long in her rump,
A straight and flat back with never a hump ;
She's wide in her hips and calm in her eyes,
She's fine in her shoulders and thin in her thighs.

She's light in her neck and small in her tail.
She's wide in her breast and good at the pail,
She's fine in her bone and silky of skin,
She's a grazier's without and a butcher's within."

Others might be quoted, but enough has already been said to
guide the inexperienced in the selection of cows.

In conclusion, the committee would state that the venerable
cow, mentioned in last year's report, owned in Milton, is still in
good health, being now nearly twenty-five year's old ; and they
would further say that her owner has two other cows, one of
which was bought in 1839 and the other in 1840. Consequently,
each of them must now be over twenty, and probably twenty-
two or twenty-three, making the united ages of three cows,
owned by the same person, nearly or quite seventy years.

This circumstance is not mentioned with the belief that cows
of such an age are profitable, but because it is thought that
another such an instance of longevity in cows can scarcely be
found.

Elijah Tucker.
Milton, October, 1857.

HORSES.

ESSEX.

Report of the Committee.

Brood Mares. — The committee on brood mares report that
they are pleased to note the improved condition of such stock
within the few past years. Farmers are just beginning to realize
the difference in breeding from old, worn-out stock, and from
young and sound animals, of good speed and spirits, and that
bring colts that sell at a year old for hundreds of dollars. Many

266 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

such animals, if the owners were to he helieved, which we have
no reason to doubt, were on the ground this year. The notion
that any slow horse will do for the farmer, is a very foolish one.
The ch lirman can state from Lis own experience, that a high-
spirited, fast road horse, with a little careful training, is as much
better adapted for tlie work of tlie farm, as for the road. The
difference between such a horse and one of an opposite character,
can hardly be estimated, where you have to pay so high for farm
labor as at the present time. I have the past season, broken in
to the plough and harrow two high-spirited fast road horses,
that one, to see on the road, would hardly think of using in the
plough. But I can show ploughing done by them among stumps
and roots, that would be thought rough work for steady oxen.

William Osborne, Chairman.

MIDDLESEX.

From the Report of the Committee.

Mares and Stallions. — In reporting upon breeding mares
and stallions, your committee would make some suggestions,
which they consider worthy of note.

In selecting a breeding mare, we should look for an animal of
sound constitution, full of vigor and strength ; not a broken
down aged beast turned over to close her life as a breeder. The
general good qualities of the breeder should receive particular
regard ; good disposition, smoothness of limb, soundness of
wind, &c., and the general structure of the animal, "the make
of the beast," are essential requisites. A breeder should possess
a broad, prominent chest and breast, with the largest breadth
across the hips, and a capacious foal bed, and withal rather
loosely made. The other parts may be suited to tlie owner's
taste, or requirements. Great caution should be used with every
mare with foal, and particularly in regard to long and hard
driving, or over-working of any kind, these being highly inju-
rious to both dam and foal.

All stallions (stock horses) should be of sound constitution,
and without blemish. This should be an axiom with all breed-
ers. Then their conformation should correspond to the wants

HORSES. 267

and necessities of the breeder. The different breeds will con-
tribute, each in its particular line and class, to impress upon the
foal the peculiarities, beauties, and deformities of that particular
class. The Black Hawk will give grace, symmetry and tract-
ability. The Morgan is a more compact specimen, with good
proportions, and great enduring powers.

What we farmers of Middlesex want and need is, the
combination of as many of the good qualities as one hide can
cover. We need a fair roadster, enduring and quiet ; a good
cart, plough, and general worker, " tractable and tough ;" a
family horse for mother and the boys to drive, kind and willing,
with good action, for we can keep but one horse, or at tlie most
a pair. We must cast a judicious eye at both sire and dam, that
by a well balanced admixture of the good parts, or a reasonable
offsetting of the inferior, the foal may present a specimen of a
well proportioned, excellent animal, in all respects. Should we
possess a rather coarse limbed mare, and other parts proportioned,
in all probability we would get a fine foal from a beautiful
limbed symmetrical Black Hawk, and vice versa. And in this
connection, we would respectfully suggest to those who may
make up the class of stallions for premiums, that a covering
stallion should be five years and upwards, for general use.

Now we have the foal, how shall we treat him ? We have a
fair representation of a horse of good qualities and disposition
in embryo. How shall we enhance and mature these qualities
to usefulness, and this disposition to service ? From four to six
months' good suck from the mare, is an excellent early diet,
provided that the mare has a generous milk-giving sustenance
herself and is a milker. Then the foal should have a good keep
of rowen, with some milk, say one quart per day, through the
first winter, then good summer pasture, and carrots and hay for
winter feed. Colts never should be pampered, nor starved,
frozen, nor made to be the receptacles of vermin. In breaking
and training, the first lesson should be, gentle familiarity ; the
second lesson should be constant and familiar gentleness ; the
third lesson should be unceasing patience and enduring kind-
ness, with decision. He who has not " Job's patience under
afflictions," should not attempt to handle, to break, or train a
colt, any more than he or she should attempt to teach a child,
without the same absolutely necessary qualifications. Patience

268 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

and kindness should be the word and the act. Impatience and
harshness to the colt, will give us restiveness and viciousness in
the mature horse.

We of Middlesex cannot compete with Vermont, in the
business of raising horses. But the manifest interest shown in
our county, by the exhibition of so many fine breeding mares,
and so many justly noted stallions, with their progeny, from the
colt to the mature horse, each and all with their peculiar
niceties, bear ample testimony that the breeding and rearing of
God's noble animals, are receiving judicious and merited atten-
tion, and in some instances afford a satisfactory remuneration.

S. H. Rhoades, Chairman.

WOECESTER NORTH.

From the Report of the Committee.

Colts. — The committee feel compelled to say that there is
among breeders of horses, great evidence of inattention to the
stock from which colts are raised. Some of the colts presented
for our inspection were large and well formed, but logy and with-
out spirit, and gave evidence of an unfortunate cross of sire
and dam. A pure blooded horse should always be selected as
a sire, if he can be found, and the cross breeds or scrub races
should be avoided as much as possible. The purity of the
blood of the dam is also very important; and it should be
borne in mind that the size and beauty of a mare is not always
so sure«a guaranty of her bearing good colts, as her own purity
or predominance of stock. It is a law of generation, abun-
dantly proved in the raising of horses, that the highest and
most intensified vitality will bestow a preponderating character
upon the offspring. Tliis law should be observed and obeyed
in breeding horses. Those animals whose vitality has been
enfeebled by frequent crossings, and who possess no pure marks
of any valuable breed, ought to be withheld from generating.
This is a very important subject, and we would urge it upon
the society as greatly conducive to the pecuniary interest of
breeders. A poor colt is poor property, while a good colt, of a
pure blood, is the most profitable kind of stock to be raised by

HORSES. 269

a farmer. We say then, to all farmers, improve your breed of
horses, and let no misjudged economy deter you from availhig
yourselves of the purest thorough-bred horses from which to
raise your colts.

Alfred Hitchcock, Chairman.

HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN.

Report on Horses.

The exhibition of horses this year was every way an improve-
ment upon the past. The number of entries in the several
classes was not only much larger, but there was manifestly
what is so much needed, a decided improvement in quality ;
and the exhibition sufficiently proves the wisdom of the society
in so tastefully and appropriately fitting the grounds for their
annual exhibitions.

The example so nobly set by the society in this respect, is fol-
lowed by others in this vicinity on a more extended scale, and
elaborate finish. Others are provoked to good works by our
example.

While the society has done so much to encourage the exhi-
bition of horses, as a part of the productions of the agricultu-
rists, much still remains to be accomplished.

The only reliable source of improvement in the quality of
our exhibitions, must of necessity be in the breeding of stock.
And while we recognize this as the source of our errors in the
past, it is also the source from whence we are to hope for future
improvement.

The money value of the horses of this country, equals one-
lialf tlie money invested in railroads, or five hundred millions
of dollars, if the railroad interest amount, as is supposed, to
one thousand millions. And it is not too much to say, that
this enormous sum can be doubled during the next ten years,
by simply improving the quality of the horse, by proper atten-
tion to tiie subject of breeding, without increasing the number.

The quality of the breeding mares on exhibition, satisfied
your committee that what is needed is better sires for their
progeny — better blood, better bone, better spirit, and better
endurance — in short, better horses.
3d

270 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

Let the horse breeder study the subject and do his busmess
intelligently, and not look upon his results as mere chance, not
under his control, for nothing in nature is more entirely under
the guidance of man, than the future generation of horses.

Let the blooded mare be selected with care — free from con-
stitutional or inherited imperfections — which she will be very
apt to transmit to her posterity, but accidental imperfections
are of less consequence. In short, let the animal be as perfect
in all the essential qualities desired in the colt, as possible —
due reference being had to the physical capacity for the great
function of reproduction — and the higher the strain of the
desired blood sought, the better ; and you will have accom-
lished all that is possible on the side of the dam.

But the most common mistake is on the side of the sire. A
mistaken and ruinous economy dictates that a cheap sire shall
have preference ; whereas a horse of sufficiently high strain of
blood to justify breeding from him, is necessarily one of great
value and corresponding high price to his purchaser, and a colt
from whom must cost more as well as be worth more than from
an inferior horse, who costs but little, whose service can be
obtained cheap, and whose colts follow their sire both in their
qualities and value to the breeder.

To illustrate the economy of breeding from the two classes
of horses above suggested : The former pays, say |20 for the
service of an ordinary horse, and gets a colt which will be worth
in the market, at two years old, $100, which pays him perhaps
a fair profit, and with this he is satisfied, for it is proverbial
that our agriculturists are, with certain moderate profits.

C. C. Chaffee, Reporter.

HAMPSHIRE.

Report of the Committee.

Mares and Colts. — The breeding of horses is a very import-
ant branch of husbandry. There are very few persons who
are not pleased with a fine colt or a beautiful horse, yet few
have the taste and skill requisite for breeding superior animals.
Most persons who desire to breed animals of superior quality,

HORSES. 271

fail to pursue a wise course for producing them. They either
make a bad choice of their breeding animals, or unwisely couple
them. It is quite common for breeders to use a horse which
pleases them, whether his size or conformation are adapted to
the mares he is coupled with ; and the progeny often manifest
the folly of the course, by the good points of the sire being
neutralized by the defective structure of the mare.

Many breeders seem to think, that' if they use a stallion of
good style and qualities, the progeny must be good, however
inferior the mare may be. The Arabs are said to care more
for the good qualities of the mare, and to select for breeders
such as manifest great endurance as well as speed, and to keep
their records of pedigree by their mares. When breeders
become as careful in the selection of their mares, as they are
generally in the choice of horses for breeding purposes, there
will be a prospect of greater improvement in the breed of horses
than has heretofore obtained. Youatt says : " It may be justly
affirmed, that there is more difficulty in selecting a good mare,
to breed from, than a good horse."

The qualities of both parents are doubtless transmitted, but,
perhaps, not uniformly in an equal degree. It is common for
the foal to resemble the sire more than tlie dam, in size, style,
and. form ; while, probably, the dam ordinarily imparts her
own constitutional qualities to her offspring, in greater degree
than the sire — hence the folly of breeding from mares with
feeble or broken constitutions.

To accomplish the best results in breeding, the animals
chosen for the purpose, both male and female, should be such
as have descended from healthy and well-bred ancestry, with
good constitutions, courage and temper, having as much size as
is desired in the progeny, with form adapted to the purpose for
which the foal is designed. In breeding for good roadsters,
such animals should be selected as have a conformation adapted
to easy and rapid motion. The breeder may not expect a fine
trotter from a horse with heavy, upright shoulders, however
perfect the shape of the mare may be.

The horses used for stock are generally too large for the
mares. A colt that is designed for a stock-horse is usually
more highly fed than he would otherwise be, and his size is thus
increased ; while the female commonly gets shorter keeping.

272 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

She is also often put early at work, and her growth is by that
means checked, hence a greater disparity in size than nature
would give. It is quite common for breeders to select large
animals for sires, when it would be much wiser to choose fine,
compact ones of medium size. The greatest improvement ever
made in England, in her breed of horses, was accomplished
by the use of small stallions of eastern blood, coupled with
mares having much more size. Skilful breeders adopt the
rule of using a male proportionably smaller than the female.
By this course larger lungs are obtained and greater perfection
in form. The foetus generally takes its size from the male
parent, and the female, if much smaller than the male, will not
ordinarily properly nourish her offspring, either before or after
birth. Animals improperly nourished in youth, are usually
coarse. " To produce the most perfectly formed animal, abun-
dant nourishment is necessary from the earliest period of its
existence until its growth is complete."

It is usually wise to do well whatever we do. It is so in the
raising of horses. The cost of rearing a fine animal is not much
greater than the rearing of an inferior one. The first gives to
the breeder both pleasure and profit, the latter little of either.
How frequent is the complaint, that " there is no profit in
breeding horses ;" and yet we know that horses really good,
uniformly command remvmerating prices, and often large
profits. Let those who would make the breeding of them repay
well the cost, be sure to make a wise selection of their breeding
animals, and give to their offspring a good supply of suitable
food, with proper care, and they will not be disappointed.

G. C. MuNSELL, Chairman.

SHEEP. 273

SHEEP.

WORCESTER NORTH.

From the Report of the Commiltec.

Your committee had hoped that the pons allotted to their
department would be well filled, and that there would be gome
difficulty at least, in deciding who were the most entitled to the
premiums. In this we have not been disappointed. Never
since the formation of the society, has there been so fine a dis-
play of sheep as has been seen here to-day.

There were nine entries ; three flocks, six bucks, in all, forty-
four. We are aware that most farmers think more of a fast
horse, or a work horse, an ox, or a steer, a cow, or a fat swine,
than they do of a sheep, or a flock of sheep. Among most
farmers this kind of stock has gone out of date — it has become
nearly obsolete.

But your committee have no doubt that sheep husbandry can be
made profitable in this part of the county. In England, farmers
engage in sheep husbandry for the sake of enriching the soil.
This is done by fencing off a lot of an acre, and sometimes less,
and there keeping from one hundred to three hundred sheep,
feeding them with hay, grass, or roots, until the soil is well fer-
tilized ; then tliey are removed to another lot, and this process
carried on until a large tract is prepared for the plough. With-
out sheep, many farmers say they could do nothing with their
land. We believe, also, it is one of the best ways of reclaiming
rough pasture lands. Sheep not only enrich the soil, but
destroy bushes, briers, and thorns.

To show that sheep husbandry can be made profitable in this
State, we would refer to the statements of a few farmers in
Hampden County. One says that he had last year, nine ewes
and one buck, a mixture of the South Down and native.
About the first of January, seven of the ewes dropped each,
one lamb. In April the remaining two dropped each a pair of
twins, and about the first of July, the seven named first,
dropped one laml) each, making in all eighteen lambs from nine
owes, within seven months. In June, eight of these lambs were

274 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

sold for $32, or $4 per head. Another says that his income
from ten sheep, last year, was f G9. And another, that the net
profit of ten sheep was $41, or $4.10 per head.

The successful wool-grower endeavors to raise sheep, as well
as wool for the market ; consequently he has regard to the size
as well as the form of the animal. If any one wishes to raise
sheep for the wool, we recommend the Merino mixed with the
native ; if for the shambles, then the Leicester mixed with the
native.

There are two objections made to sheep husbandry. The first
is the difficulty of fencing against them ; and the second is the
, danger to which they are exposed from the canine race.

But there is no more difficulty in fencing against sheep than
the horse, the ox, or the cow- It is true, they require a different
fence from most other animals. But one made of rails, boards,
or even brush, will stop any sheep worth keeping. With regard
to dogs, we believe that every town should pass a vote, not only
to restrain neat cattle, horses and swine, but dogs also, from
running at large.

We recommend that the society request that hereafter every
one who offers a flock, or a single sheep for premium, shall make
a written statement of the weight of each fleece, of the kind and
value of each, the number and value of the lambs, if any ;
also the expense and the net profit of each.

John M. Harris, Chairman.

POULTRY.

ESSEX.

Statement of Horace F. Longfellow.
I offer for your inspection two baskets of Bolton Gray chick-
ens, which were hatched on the 15th of May, making them four
months and a half old. Bolton Grays usually commence laying
at the age of five months.

POULTRY. 275

I also beg leave to submit a statement of the produce of a
part of my flock of hens, (which I do not exhibit because they
are shedding their feathers, and do not present a fine appear-
ance,) from the 1st of June, together with the cost of keeping.
I commenced my account with nine hens of the following varie-
ties : Four Bolton Grays, four half Boltons, and one half-breed
Shanghai. On the 26th of June, one of the half-breed Boltons
died suddenly, reducing the number to eight, which were kept
shut up during the months of June and July, with the excep-
tion of a few moments at night. The remainder of the time
they have had their liberty. They have been fed on corn at
one dollar per bushel, and have consumed eighteen and two-
thirds quarts per month, worth fifty-eight and one third cents.

Number of eggs each month : —

June, 12 doz. and 4 ; July, 12 doz. and 7 ; August, 12 doz.
and 9 ; September, 13 doz. 6, (estimating five for to-day, as
that has been their average for the past week,) making 50 doz.
and 2. Sold them for 19 cents per doz., amounting to $9.72.
Cost of keeping at 58^ cents per month, $2.33^. Net profit,
$7.38|-.

Newbury, September 30, 1857.

HAMPSHIRE, FRANKLIN AND HAMPDEN.

Statement of A. C. Howland.

I have kept the present season fifteen hens and two cocks.
The hens have laid from the 1st of January to the 6th of
October, 1,638 eggs and raised fifty chickens. I keep the
greater part of my hens in a yard thirty by forty feet, with a
good shed facing the south, wiiere they roost and have their
nests. I keep earthen nest eggs, wliich neither freeze nor
decay. I always bring in the new eggs every night, and never
break up the nests. If a hen desires to sit and I do not wish
to have her, I shut her up in an adjoining yard, about eight feet
square, and if convenient, shut a cock up with her, and she
will soon give up her sitting propensities, and then let her out
with the rest of the hens. In a ^qw days she will commence
laying again. There is no hunting for hen's nests. I have not

276 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

had an egg spoiled by a hen stealing her nest for six years, and
there has not been a day for the last nine months but some one
has laid. I keep a bin of dry ashes for the hens to roll in, and
their roosts are made of sassafras poles, with the bark on ; the
bark is supposed to keep off the lice. I feed them with corn
meal mixed with warm water in winter and cold in summer,
corn, wheat, oats, boiled potatoes j meat, burnt bones, old lime
mortar, cabbage leaves, grass in summer and rowen hay in
winter. The greater the variety of food the better. They want
drink at all times. They will eat and drink almost any thing
that man or beast will, except beans, tobacco and rum. If a
healthy animal dies by accident, and the meat is not fit for
family use, or any other meat whatever, if vjell salted, and
boiled until it is tender, the salt will not hurt them, and they
will devour it greedily if confined and not able to obtain insects.

I was riding leisurely a year or two since through a distant
neighborhood, when I noticed at almost every house there would
be one, two, and sometimes three dogs, lying on the terrace or
playing in the yard, ready to yelp at every passing traveller.
The thought struck me very forcibly how much better it would
look if there was a respectable hen-yard filled with a few fat
hens, — not in the front yard how^ever, — in some warm, dry and
pleasant place. Hens will not do well in a cold, wet and dark
place ; they want the sun. Eggs have been worth here from
seventeen to tvrenty-five cents per dozen, chickens thirteen cents
per pound, when dressed, or fifty cents apiece alive.

One important item in keeping your fowls shut up is, that
you can save the manure much better. It may be favorably
compared with guano. Last spring, when I planted my corn, I
scraped up what I could conveniently, and put about a quarter
of a shovelful on the top of the barnyard manure in the hill.
Whether this was too much, or not enough, I do not know,
but the result was, that the corn was about one-third heavier,
and the pumpkins were double in quantity those in the adjoin-
ing rows. While I recommend keeping hens shut up, they
may be let out some parts of the year, just before night, if your
garden is not too near. Chickens will grow better to run at
large if they are well fed, but if you are blessed with near
neighbors, you will do well to see that your fowls do not trouble
them. It makes some people nervous to have their crops

POULTRY. 277

destroyed by their neighbor's fowls. I would recommend to
every family that likes good living, and has more land than is
needed for buildings, front yard and garden, to have a respecta-
ble hen-yard and house for the hens, with a supply of good
fowls. If your means are small, keep but a few hens. As the
hen fever has entirely subsided, no one can make himself inde-
pendently rich by keeping fowls. If you will keep good fowls,
and keep them well, they will pay well.

Young hens will lay the best. It will be necessary to raise a
few chickens, and if you wish to raise good and healthy ones,
it is necessary to cross your breeding fowls every year. I have
a pullet which commenced laying in August, when she was
about four months old, and has laid ever since. She was a
cross between good sized fowls, while the pure blood, which
have been allowed to breed in-and-in for several years, will not
probably lay until they are twice as old. Breeding in-and-in,
is one of the most destructive things for good fowls, or any
thing else.

I think it is more profitable to raise eggs for market than it
is chickens, at the present prices. If you wish chickens or eggs
for your own use, raise good sized ones, and keep them well,
but if you wish to sell your eggs by count, which is an unjust
way, you can keep small hens, probably, with less expense.

I have killed, to-day, some chickens between five and six
months old, which weighed over five pounds each when dressed.

At the present high prices of grain, it has cost about three
mills per day to keep each hen, and no more, this season.

Statement of Frederick W. Clark.

The first of April, 1857, 1 purchased ten hens and a cock, for $3.
Since that time I have sold twelve dozen eggs, also having what
we wanted for our own use. I have also raised 125 chickens :
one hen had twenty-five chickens. Some of my hens are part
common and part game, others Bolton Gray, and part Shanghai.
When a hen comes off with a brood, I put her in the coop, and
keep her there till the chicks are old enough to take care of
themselves, which is in about five weeks. When they first come
off, I feed them on Indian meal, mixed with a little warm
water ; but as they grow older, I mix it with cold water. When

36

278 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

they arc young I give them a clisli of food every day, which I
think makes them improve very fast.

In this manner of raising them, I have lost but a very few.
I think that the best coops are made after this manner : make
a box about four feet long, two feet and a half high, and two
feet wide, with boards on the back side, and on both ends, with
slats in front, with one-half of the bottom boarded, and the
other half open, so that the hen can come to the ground. The
chicks do better when the mother has a chance to scratch, and
a dry place to brood them at night, always taking care to have
a cup of clean water within the reach of the hen. In this man-
ner I have raised my poultry this season, and I have never seen
chickens do better.

Profits on ten hens from 1st of April to Ist of Oct., 1857.
April 1. Bought ten hens, .

Bought eight bushels of meal,

^11 00
Have sold 12 doz. eggs, at 25c.,
50 chickens, at 20c.,
Have on hand 50 chickens, at 25c.
10 old hens, 50c.,

$30 50

$3

00

8

00

13 00

10

00

12

60

5

00

Profits, $19 50

Northampton.

BEE CULTURE.

Far less attention has been paid to this important branch of
farming than its profits and the pleasures attending it deserve.
It is worthy of a greater encouragement by the county agricul-
tural societies. Several entries of hives and swarms of bees
and specimens of honey were made at the State Fair, and among
others those of Henry Eddy, of North Bridgewater. The fol-
lowing statement of Dr. Eddy contains some interesting facts
on the subject : —

BEE CULTURE. 279

Social Organization. — Bees are never known to live in a
solitary state. They proceed upon tlie principle that it is not
good for them to be alone. In this respect they differ widely
in their habits from the wasp, the hornet and various kinds of
flies. There is a reason for this which I do not recollect to
have seen stated. The material which is used in the constrvic-
tion of their nests or cells, is different from that which is
employed for the same purpose, by solitary insects, and this
material cannot be used except at a high degree of temperature.
The instruments to be employed in comb-building, are small?
and the wax must be softened, in order that it may bo spread.
A solitary bee cannot come and deposit his quantum of wax,
and thus enlarge the cell. The degree of warmth which is
necessary for comb-building, is produced by the clustering
together of the bees. Their animal heat, when they collect
together in a mass, is sufficient for this purpose. Hence we
are able to understand why it is they cluster very compactly
together, and remain quiet for the most part for several days
after swarming, when the foundations are to be laid, and comb
is to be built in their new home. The comb is built the most
rapidly during the night, when all are at home, because the
temperature is then the highest, or the animal heat is the great-
est. It is observed that the temperature of the hive is at a
higher point during the season of comb-building, than at any
other time. The naked hand placed upon the glass will be suf-
ficient to convince any one of the fact, without the aid of a
thermometer. They have the power of increasing or concen-
trating their own animal heat whenever it is necessary for the
purposes just specified.

A colony or swarm of bees is composed of the queen, the
worker, and the drone. Each has distinct ofdces to fulfil, and
all are important in their bearing upon the welfare of the
society, or body politic which they form. They never revolt.
They remain true to their organization, until death separates
them.

The Queen. — The queen is the mother of the whole family of
which she by instinct and by common consent, is constituted
tlie head. She is distinguished from the other bees by her
shape, color, and size. She is larger than the common worker,

280 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

and longer even than the drone, and different hi her propor-
tions from either. The rings of the abdomen are less fully
developed, or less visible. She has a more delicate structure
than the drone, is more wasp-like in her appearance, with an
abdomen more nicely tapered, or pointed at its extremity. She
is of a darker color upon the back, especially upon the back
part of the abdomen, than either the worker or drone. Upon
the lower side of the abdomen she presents a yellowisli, or semi-
orange appearance. Her wings, when compared with those of
the worker or drone, are wider, stouter, and shorter, in propor-
tion to the length of her body. She is seldom on the wing, and
is seldom seen except at the time of swarming, and when she
comes forth in the open air to be impregnated by the males.
She lays all the eggs from which the increase of the colony pro-
ceeds. The number of eggs which she deposits in the cells
during a single season is truly astonishing, amounting to hun-
dreds and even thousands in a single day, as may be witnessed
by those who use observatory hives.

Queen. Drone. Worker.

The Drone. — The drone, like the queen and worker, is appro-
priately named. He is larger, stouter and more bulky than the
worker, and not so long as the queen. The drones are the only
males in the hive. They are hatched from April to July, and
usually number from three to four hundred in a single colony.
They are literally "gentlemen of leisure." They add nothing
to the stores of the family, perform no labor, and do not even
gather their own food, but live on the labors of others. They
seem designed merely for propagation. Their days are very
limited. When the work of impregnating the queen is per-
formed for the following season, they are destroyed by the
workers, who seem intent on carrying out the principle that he
that will not work shall not eat. This general slaughter of
drones usually takes place during the month of August, some-

BEE CULTURE. 281

times a little earlier. Rarely do tliey live longer than four
months. None of them are allowed to survive the winter.

The Worker. — The workers are so called because they perform
all the labor of the colony. They seem to have no other pro-
pensity except to labor in various ways and to accumulate stores
for the subsistence of the family ; and such is their propensity
in this direction, that they often accumulate much more than is
found needful for their own supplies, and are able and, I doubt
not, are willing to furnish a liberal quantum of honey to their
keeper to defray their necessary expenses, such as hoiise-rent
and the time which is bestowed upon them. They uniformly
pay better for a good tenement than for a poor one. They like
to work to advantage, and never like to be in debt, and if they
are, it is not so much their fault as that of the keeper, who fails
to place them in favorable circumstances, in which they can give
full scope to their natural instincts. Their industry is prover-
bial. Some are employed during the working season as senti-
nels, some in comb-building, some in gathering and storing up
honey, some in nursing or feeding the young, some in pasting
over, mason-like, the crevices and joints of the hive, some in
removing from the hive offending substances, and others, like
a kind of body guard, seem to bestow special attention upon the
queen. Whether the principle of the division of labor is strictly
adhered to by them, or separate classes of bees perform con-
stantly the same kind of labor, or whether they are employed
alternately or promiscuously in different departments of labor,
is a point which is not satisfactorily settled by any observations
or experiments which have hitherto been made. Their number
varies in different swarms, from twelve to forty thousand, ac-
cording to circumstances, the size of the hive or the degree of
prosperity which they enjoy. They are styled neuters, but are
really females of a dwarfish size. They are imperfectly devel-
oped in size, and their female organs and propensities are in
like manner imperfectly developed, except in some few instances.
In consequence of a more perfect development than is usual,
they have been known to lay drone eggs. That they are really
females and not mongrels is proved by the fact that when a
queen is lost or removed from the hive in the hatching season,
a newly laid worker egg is taken from the cell in which it has

282 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

been deposited and transferred into a queen cell, which is pre-
prepared for the purpose, and by a peculiar feed called royal
jelly it becomes a perfectly developed queen or mother.

Bee Glue. — There is a great disposition among bees to coat
over every part of the interior of the hive. This is done chiefly
by what is called bee glue. This is not a secretion from the
bee, as some have supposed. It is a substance which is gathered
or scraped from the bark and leaves of trees. It is used as a
kind of cement in attaching the comb to the hive, and in closing
up the joints and crevices of the hive, and for general coating
purposes. When dry, it is much stiffer and harder than the
wax of which the comb is built, and well adapted to the purpose
for which it is employed.

Wax. — This is a secretion from the bee, which exudes from
the body like a thick sort of perspiration, between the rings of
the abdomen, which seem to be connected by so many joints or
hinges. This is employed in the construction of the comb.
As the instruments are very small which are used by the bees,
the wax must be very warm or soft in order to be wrought by
them. Here we see why a small swarm of bees never prosper
in a very large hive. Not because they are discouraged by the
extent of space to be filled, but because they are unable by clus-
tering together to get up (" steam ") a sufficient degree of ani-
mal heat in order to mould the wax.

Honey.— This is the proper and only food of the mature bees
at all seasons of the year. The queen, the drone and the worker
subsist upon it. It is collected from a very great variety of
blossoms. I shall not attempt to enumerate all the sources
from which it is gathered. Early in spring the bees work
upon the willows and alders which are found in our swamps,
more for the pollen which is found upon them 'than for the
quantity of honey which they contain. Next they resort to the
cherry-tree, the pear-tree, and the apple-tree blossoms : subse-
quently to the white clover. This usually furnishes the greatest
supply of honey, more, I am inclined to think, taking one season
with another, than all other things in the climate of New Eng-
land. They rarely, if ever, work upon red clover, from the fact

BEE CULTURE. 283

that tlieir proboscis is not of sufficient length to reach the honey
which is contained in it. Later in the season they resort to
fields of buckwheat. This furnishes honey in considerable
quantities, but it is inferior in quality and flavor to that which
is n-athcrcd from the white clover. It however answers well for
their winter stores. It helps many late swarms to survive the
winter. Buckwheat should always be sown in the vicinity where
bees are kept. The idea is extensively prevalent that bees have
the power in some way to manvfaclure honey. This is an error.
They have no laboratory for this purpose, and no peculiar pro-
cess by which the work is done. If it were so they would bring
all the materials which they employ to a given standard ; but
such is not the fact. Apple-tree blossom honey is one thing,
white clover honey is another, buckwheat honey is another,
southern or Cuba honey, which is gathered from the sugar
plantations, is quite another, and sugar sirup, which is some-
times fed to bees and is transferred by them, the liquid part of
which at length evaporates and leaves the sugar in a candied
Btate in the cell (thus spoiling the cells) is still another. Bees
are merely gatherers of honey, which various blossoms sponta-
neously produce. The honey is their food and they gather it.
They will transfer to their cells any kind of sweet which you
choose to give them, and large quantities of it, but no chemical
change takes place in the article while the bees have it in their
possession, or during the act of transportation. In one minute,
and frequently in less time than this, the material which is
gathered is deposited in the cell, and is substantially the same
thing after the transportation as before. But more of this in
another place.

Bee-Bread or Pollen, — This is conveyed to the hive from
various flowers upon the thighs of the bees, and is often stored
up in considerable quantities beyond what is needful for present
use. There has been much diversity of opinion as to the par-
ticular use which is made of this article. It is at length settled
by satisfactory experiments, that the only use which is made of
it, is in feeding or rearing their young while in the larvje or
worm state ; that what is stored up is for use early in the
spring, when the hatching of the young commences, before

284 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

fresli pollen can be gathered abroad. Mature bees do not sub-
sist upon it, but often die of starvation with a plenty of it in
the hive.

Bee-House. — The bee-house which was once thought to be
essential to bee-culture, is found, in various respects, to operate
unfavorably, and all the advantages which it affords can be
secured much better in some other way. Bees should never be
exposed to the direct rays of the sun except in the morning and
at evening. The intense heat of the sun often causes them to
lie in a cluster upon the outside of the hive or to melt down —
a circumstance which proves fatal to them. The bee-house, if
properly constructed, may afford protection from the injurious
and excessive heat of the sun ; but, as it is usually constructed,
it is too narrow even for this. Being open on one side, as it
usually is, with a southern exposure, the sun acts with all its
intensity upon the bees (or hive) in spite of the bee-house.
The bee-house attracts the sun in winter, and so much warmth
is occasioned that the bees are induced to leave the hive, and
are soon chilled. They fall upon the snow, and, being unable
to rise, soon die. Great numbers are lost from this cause
alone, when they would have remained in the hive had it not
been for the accumulated and reflected heat of the sun occa-
sioned by the presence of the bee-house. Its protection, in
winter, against the cold, the bees do not need. It is impossible
to freeze them in our climate, unless the swarm is quite small ;
in that case the probability is they will perish from some other
cause. Those swarms which lie the most dormant in winter,
(that is, occupy the coldest place,) eat the least, come out
brightest in the spring, and increase and prosper most during
the following summer. The kind of protection from the exces-
sive heat of the sun, which the bees need, will be spoken of
when I come to treat of the bee-hive. The bee-house furnishes
the best kind of protection for ants, millers, bugs, worms, and
every kind of insect which delights to collect in or about a bee-
hive. Here they find convenient lodging places. They are
attracted thither by the scent or delicious contents of the hive,
and they often collect there in great numbers. The miller,
especially, from which the bee-moth proceeds, — the greatest

BEE CULTURE. 285

enemy against which the bees have to contend, and which has
made such havoc with many swarms throughout New England,
— may usually be found lurking or secreted, during the day,
about the roof or platform upon which the bees stand, ready to
go foi'th at night, as it is accustomed to do, to perform its work
of destruction by laying its eggs in or about the hive. Many
swarms have no doubt been lost which might have lived and
done well, had it not been for the depredations of those insects
which collect in and about the bee-house. Ordinarily it is a
" cage of all manner of unclean birds." It should, therefore,
be dispensed with entirely. There is a more excellent way.
The open air is far preferable. This will appear when we come
to speak particularly of the bee-hive.

Hives. — Yery few bee-keepers have felt, adequately, the
importance of constructing a good hive. I refer, at present,
not so much to the plan of construction as to the materials
used and the workmanship which has been employed. Too
often any kind of box which would contain a hen and chickens,
(and perhaps very suitable for that purpose,) has been used for
a bee-hive. In behalf of the bees, I utterly protest against all
such " fixings." The idea that any thing in which bees will
remain and labor, will answer for a bee-hive, is utterly futile
and ruinous in its bearing upon bee culture. A bee-hive
requires the best stock and the best workmanship which it is
possible to obtain. It should be made for exposure to the
weather so as to constitute hive and house. A bee-house is to
be entirely dispensed with, for reasons already assigned. It
should be water-proof and air-tight. Every joint which com-
municates with the interior of the hive, should be protected by
tongue and groove, or their equivalents. No chink or crack
which allows the warmth of the hive or the animal heat of the
bees to escape, is to be tolerated for a moment, unless we intend
to give the bee-moth possession of the interior by allowing it to
deposit its eggs in these crevices, where they will hatch and
multiply until they outnumber and destroy the bees, as they
often do. The joint which usually exists about the base of the
hive, is to be protected as effectually and as thoroughly as any
upright joint. I know of but one hive which is constructed in
37

286

MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

this thorough manner, and I know of but one hive which affords
any real protection against the encroachments of the bee-moth.
This is

■S^^^^^^^^^'V-^Y*

niOTECTIVE BEE-HIVE.

This will be found, in its practical results, to be a very dif-
ferent thing from the construction of a moth-cage, trap, drawer^
or " hot-house," as if the great object of the bee keeper was to
raise such creatures for market, or was extremely anxious to
furnish them a lurking place and a snug warm nest, or was
desirous to induce them to stay about his apiary ; and a very
different thing from placing a hive over a wire screen, (with a
moth drawer beneath!) which wire net-work furnishes all the
opportunity for the deposit of eggs, which the bee-moth could
desire. All such " fixings," which furnish a place for the
deposit and hatching of eggs, must gratify the bee-moth exceed-
ingly. It could ask or desire nothing better, and if it had the
power, I think it would be disposed to remunerate the bee
keeper amply for such an arrangement. I shall not, in this
place, go into the merit or demerit of different plans of con-
struction, but would say, that whatever particular plan is

BEE CULTURE. 287

adopted, the hive should be constructed in the thorough manner
which has been alluded to above.

Location. — A bee-hive should never be exposed to the direct
rajs of the sun during the summer season, and in the winter it
is to a certain extent injurious, especially if the hive is unpainted
or is of a dark color. A dark colored hive, if it is painted, or
one "which is the color of the wood, absorbs the rays of the sun
and causes too much heat in the hive. The high temperature
which is thus produced, causes the bees to cluster upon the
outside of the hive in summer, and not unfrequently results in
what is called " melting down," which is nothing more nor less
than the soft state of the wax or comb, which falls by its own
weight when the cells are filled with honey. A bee-hive should
be placed in the open air and in the shade. The best place is
under the south half of a tree, where, from 9 o'clock, A. M.,
until 4 o'clock, P. M., it will be shaded or protected from the
direct rays of the sun. There it should remain during the
entire year. Nothing will be gained by removing the hive to
the attic, the cellar, or a dark room, in winter. I have tried
all these experiments to my entire satisfaction. More bees will
be lost by such a transfer, than by permitting them to remain
in the open air.

Swarming. — Divers opinions have been entertained relative
to the theory and expediency of swarming, and these different
opinions have led to very different methods of bee management.
One virtually believing that the propensity of the bee to swarm,
should not be gratified, or that the Creator (thus impeaching
His wisdom) has given them a wrong bias, has devised some
method to interrupt or prevent this " wild freak of nature."
Another, fearing that the bees — poor ignorant creatures — do
not understand the best method of conducting this process, or
that they w^ill mistake the best time of attending to the matter,
has undertaken to hasten the process by some " hot bed "
arrangement, or volunteered to give them a few elementary
lessons, relative to a matter which he understands [query]
much better than they. In the view of one, the bees swarm
too often. In the view of the other, they do not swarm often
enough. Both of these cannot be right, perhaps neither of

288 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

them. I take the liberty here to suggest, that it is barely possi-
ble the bees understand the thing, and their Creator also,
nearly as well as those who set themselves up as teachers in
this matter. The first, or non-swarming plan, is about as wise
and profitable as it would be for a dairy-man to prevent the
natural increase of his stock, by keeping on his farm perpetu-
ally, a parcel of farrow cows. The other, or artificial swarm-
ing, is about as wise and salutary an interference, as it would
be for a boy to catch the old hen and squeeze her because she
does not lay soon enough. There has been too much officious
meddling in this matter. Between these opposite extremes, or
with Scylla on the one hand, and Charybdis on the other, we
find the bees occupying the golden mean, where truth and
safety dwell, confident, it would seem, in the position which
they have taken, unchanged in this indomitable propensity, and
intent upon giving to their keeper a " windfall," as soon as they
are able with all their industry to furnish it to him. Swarm-
ing is a natural process. It cannot, to any great extent, be
interfered with, and the results prove permanently beneficial to
the bee keeper. The theory of swarming is this. The queen
lays eggs enough ordinarily, in a common sized hive, during
the hatching season, to make up for the losses which the swarm
sustains in various ways, and to increase the number of bees
to such an extent, that a colony can be spared or sent off, which
shall constitute a new organization. If the hive is double the
ordinary size, and the swarm which occupies it is double also,
its losses at the same time are double. If the hive is treble
the ordinary size, and the swarm is trebled also, its losses are
treble. The queen lays just about eggs enough during the
season, to make up for the losses which are sustained by a
swarm which is treble the ordinary size. There is no increase
in numbers beyond the wants of the household. No colony is
sent off, because none can be spared. They remain stationary
for a time, or from year to year, although strong and vigorous.
At length the queen becomes less fertile as she advances in age.
Fewer bees are raised. Their losses are not made good by the
increase. They gradually diminish in number, dwindle and
die. Bees are to be placed in a hive of suitable dimensions,
which contains about one cubic foot, with an arrangement for
the deposit of surplus honey, where full scope is given to their

THE DAIRY. 289

swarming propensities, if the keeper is to receive from tliem
the greatest profits which they are capable of furnishing. The
old queen leaves the hive with the first swarm, ordinarily before
the young one is hatched, yet about the time she is hatched.

Hiving. — The bee keeper, as a preparation for hiving his bees,
should walk around among them while they are in the act of
swarming. As a consequence his presence will be more accept-
able to them when he comes to handle them for the purpose of
putting them into the hive. During the whole time he should
move with the utmost gentleness and deliberation. His moder-
ation should be known to the bees. He should make no sudden
or violent motions, which may serve to enrage them. The
hive may be set over them, after they have been placed — with
the limb upon which they Iiave clustered — upon a cloth which
is spread upon the ground, or they may be shaken or jarred
from the limb into the hive when inverted, or they may be
brushed into the hive gently, by a soft wing or dust brush, as
circumstances may dictate. When bees are put into a hive
inverted, it should be turned back very gently or slowly, lest
the bees should be removed or poured out. Always place the
hive in the shade, or protect it from the direct rays of the sun,
while the bees are taking possession of it. About sunset remove
it to the place where it is to stand permanently.

THE DAIRY.

ESSEX.

Statement of Mrs. Paul Titcomb.

Cheese. — I offer for inspection, four new milk cheeses, the
like size and quality of thirty-six made in the months of July
and August.

The evening milk is strained into a tin tub and rennet added
immediately ; the rennet should be of sufficient stjength to form
the curd in thirty minutes, but it should not be broken up
under one hour or more. After being carefully broken, it is

290 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

dipped off and left to drain until morning. The process is
repeated with the morning's milk. After that is broken, the
evening's curd is sliced into it ; the Avhole is then scalded with
whey dipped from it ; then thoroughly drain, chop fine, salt
and press twenty-four hours.

They are dried in a perfectly dark room, turned and rubbed
daily. Late in the fall they are removed to a cool cellar,
packed in straw, and occasionally rubbed and repacked.

Byfield, September 30, 1857.

WORCESTER NORTH.

Statement of George Miles.

Cheese. — I offer two lots of cheese ; one common, the other
sage. We make but one cheese per day. The night's milk is
strained into pans and the cream taken off in the morning.
The milk is then warmed to blood heat, and added to the morn-
ing's milk with the cream returned ; then add rennet enough
to form the curd in thirty or forty minutes. When the whey
is sufficiently drained from the curd by a gentle pressure, it is
cut with knives to the size of dice and salted with about one
pound of salt to twenty-five of curd. It is then submitted to
the press for two days with several turnings, then covered,
dressed and turned daily until cured.

For sage cheese, the juice of green sage, with some of that
expressed from pounded corn-blades and is added to one-holf
of the milk when set for cheese.

HAMPSHIRE.

Statement of Mrs. Stovghton D. Crocker,

Butter. — The milk is strained into tin pans, set in a cool
place, left to stand from one to two days, or longer according to
temperature. The cream is taken off as free as possible from
milk, and is stirred occasionally until it is churned. The but-
ter is then rinsed with cold water, salted, worked twice and
formed into Rimps.

Sunderland, November 15, 1857.

THE DAIRY. 291

Statement of Mrs. Simeon Clark.

The sample of ten pounds was made from a dairy of four
cows. The milk was set in tin pans, from thirty-six to forty-
eight hours. The cream is put in tin pails, stirred occasionally,
and cliurned twice a week. The buttermilk is thoroughly
worked out, salt applied at the rate of one ounce to the pound,
and the butter, after standing from twelve to twenty-four hours,
is again worked over and lumped for market or family use.

Amherst, November 15, 1857.

FRANKLIN.

From the Report of the Committee.

In several cases no statement of the manner of keeping the
cows was presented, which is necessary in order to conform to
the rules of the society and to be entitled to a premium.

The committee take great pleasure in saying, that they
believe the dairy-women of Franklin County can produce as
good butter and cheese as those of any other section of the
State.

Two things are indispensable to the manufacture of good
butter: 1st, good feed for the cows that furnish the cream:
2d, perfect cleanliness in every thing connected with its manu-
facture. The manner of washing and salting is important.
Great care should be taken to cleanse the butter as soon as
churned, from all particles of buttermilk. The finest dairies
in western New York are made where they have the best facili-
ties for the use of pure spring water. Butter should be salted
with the best of ground rock salt, so that the salt should all
dissolve and leave a sweet flavor and a pickle as pure as sprijig
water. Butter made in this way will keep through the year
without souring, and need not become frowy if kept in a clean
cellar, excluded from the air.

Your committee feel great delicacy in presuming to advise or
instruct the staid mothers and fair daughters of Franklin, in
the science of making good butter. The only apology they can

292 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

offer, is a desire to promote the interest of the manufacturers,
and the benefit of the consumers.

Zebina L. Raymond, Chairman.

BERKSHIRE.

From the Report of the Committee.

Butter and Bread. — We must decide upon certain qualities,
which should be indispensable to insure a prize for butter.

The first requisite is cleanliness. In the language of another,
any suspicion of unfaithfulness here, cloys the appetite at once,
and makes one perfectly willing to eat his bread alone.

Nearly allied to this is the absence of all unpleasant taste in
butter. Many housewives, who perhaps are not justly charge-
able with want of neatness, permit this article of manufacture
to go from their hands, intermixed with substances entirely
foreign to the pure article. Salt is one of them — and though
necessary in certain proportions, it will hardly do to adopt the
principle that there cannot be too much of a good thing.

Butter seems to possess in a remarkable degree, the power of
appropriating to itself the flavor of substances with which it is
in near contact.

We believe that one grand defect in making butter is, that
the cream is kept too long before being churned.

Another quality is color and density. Common consent
declares the color should be yellow. It is granted that this is
not wholly within the dairy-woman's power, but if she has a
husband, and knows how to manage him, she may not find it
difficult to induce him to keep only such cows, as shall by the
aid of her hands produce an article which shall be as pleasing
to the eye, as it is tempting to the appetite.

Your committee entered upon the duty assigned them, with
much diffidence, well knowing that to treat upon any point so
connected with the good housewife's reputation, as the making of
bread and butter, must be a matter of great delicacy, and how-
ever justly might be the awards, dissatisfaction would undoubt-
edly occur, yet in the discharge of their duty, they can safely
say, they have been actuated by no partial considerations.

Herman L. Bates, Chairman.

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 293

FRUITS AND FLOWERS.

ESSEX.

From the Report of the Committee on Fruits.

In arranging the list of fruits for which premiums were
offered, the object was to induce the farmers to cultivate the
best standard varieties, those particularly well adapted for
culture in our county. To this list we would hereafter recom-
mend some other varieties, which were accidentally omitted.
It is certainly good policy to cultivate the best sort of apples, in
preference to many indifferent ones that have been, and are still
raised in our county. The Hubbardston Nonesuch, Minister,
Danvers Winter Sweet, Seaver's Sweet, Porter, Rhode Island
Greening and Roxbury Russet are certainly preferable to the
York Russet or Cat Head, Blue Pearmain, and some others with
local names and indifferent fruit. In our list of apples for
cultivation, we did not include Newtown Pippen, Esopus Spitz-
enberg, nor Williams' Early, from the fact that the first two,
excellent as they are at the South, are indifferent in our soil and
locality, and the last named, requiring deep soils, high manuring
and the best garden culture, to produce good marketable fruit.
In pears, the selection is more difficult than in apples ; many
sorts producing well in our sheltered gardens, do not flourish in
the open country, such as Easter Beurr(i, Marie Louise, Long
Green and Broca's Bergamotte. Then again other varieties that
fruit well upon strong land with a clay bottom, are almost
worthless upon a light, dry, sandy loam, and others again are
destitute of flavor upon moist, retentive soil. In the cultivation
of this fruit, we would recommend the fine American Seedlings ;
they are generally hardy and of thrifty growth. The following
descriptive catalogue of many of these sorts we append to this
Report : —

Lewis. — This fruit is of a medium size, a great and constant
bearer. In eating from November to January. Originated in
Roxbury. It requires strong and rather moist land. A fine,
melting pear.

38

294 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

Lawrence. — This pear is of the first quality ; is of good size ;
origin, Fhishing, Long Island, N. Y. ; it produces fine crops ;
ripens from October to January.

Heathcote. — Originated on the farm of Gov. Gore, in Wal-
tham, Mass. ; without being always first-rate, is still a fine pear ;
of medium size ; bears well, not greatly ; ripens in September.

Gushing. — Origin, Hingham, Mass. This is a fine fruit;
above medium size ; produces well ; identical with the " Kau-
nas " of Boston; ripens in almost all soils, resembling in this
peculiarity the Bartlett.

Seckel. — A pear of the richest flavor of any variety known.
It is of small size ; the tree is healthy, with a short, compact
growth ; origin, near Philadelphia ; the fruit grows larger when
worked upon hardy old trees, such as the Windsor, Pound, &c.
This fruit sells well in all the markets of our country ; it ripens
from October to December.

BuFFUM. — Native of Rhode Island ; a fine orchard fruit ; it
bears greatly, and is of a strong, upright growth ; a handsome
and salable fruit of medium size ; ripens in September and
October.

Blaker's Meadow. — This fruit, said to have been found in a
meadow in Pennsylvania, is one of the most thrifty and hand-
some formed trees ; an excellent stock for grafting. We once
raised a fine lot of seedling trees from this fruit. The fruit is
generally good, not first-rate ; a prodigious bearer ; on a light,
warm soil, it is often rich, hence it has been called at the South,
the large Seckel ; fruit below medium size ; rij^ens in November.

Wilkinson. — This sugary pear, particularly in strong and
rather moist land, originated in Rhode Island. It is an excel-
lent fall fruit, of large medium size, coming between the autumn
and winter pears ; an annual bearer ; always ripens, never
rotting at the core.

Deaeborn's Seedling. — A fine early pear ; origin, Boston ;
bears Avell, not greatly ; it succeeds the Bloodgood, and precedes
the Bartlett in ripening. The growtli of the tree is handsome
and thrifty ; fruit rather larger than the Seckel.

Bloodgood. — This fruit wc consider when grown upon a warm
and rich loam, to be the best early pear for cultivation in this
vicinity. This and the above are superior to the Jargonelle,
Franc Real, Madaleine, and English Red Cheek ; fruit rather

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 295

above medium size, and like most early pears, should be taken
off and ripened in the house ; in eating early in August.

Fulton. — This fruit originated on a farm in Topsham, Me.,
and is a hardy tree, producing abundant crops ; the fruit is of
a Bergamotte or apple-pear form, rather larger than the Seckel ;
a much finer fruit than the old English Bergamotte ; it should
be gathered in September and ripened in the house, when it will
assume a fine, yellow russet color, with a sprightly flavor.

Washington. — This early fall fruit, second only to the Seckel
in flavor, was first grown on a farm in Delaware ; producing a
beautifully spotted medium sized fruit, sweet and juicy ; consid-
ered in Philadelphia one of the best early fall pears we possess-

Tyson. — This accidental seedling, found in a hedge near
Philadelphia, is a fine fruit, although some years in coming into
bearing ; fruit medium size ; flesh melting ; ripens in August.

Winter Cross. — This new winter fruit, origin Newbury port,
is said to be a fine melting pear. We have never seen it under
cultivation, but learn that it promises to be a fine market fruit ;
good bearer ; medium size ; in eating from December to Jan-
uary.

Andrews. — This favorite pear, resembling in form the Louise
Bonne de Jersey, is more sugary and melting ; not so vinous in
flavor as that variety ; originated in Dorchester, Mass. It is an
annual bearer ; tree hardy ; fruit rather large ; ripening early
in September.

Dix. — This fine, large and high-flavored pear originated in or
near Boston ; is, when well grown in strong land, generally good,
but with us in warm sandy loam, is inclined to blast. In 1848
it cracked badly in our grounds. The tree is handsome and
healthy, but is a long time in coming into bearing ; the fruit
commands a high price in the markets ; ripe in October and
November.

Petre. — The original tree was found in the grounds of the
old Botanic Garden in Philadelphia. The fruit is about the
size of the Washington, and resembles the Gushing in flavor ;
a good bearer, ripe from October to November.

Among the large collection of pears which have, from time
to time, been introduced from various countries, only a small pro-
portion, comparatively, have been found of good quality in our
country ; it is therefore difficult to decide what are the best on

296 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

the whole for general culture here ; a variety may be called
first-rate in our country, and second, or third rate in Europe,
and vice versa.

The Bartlett, in England called " Williams' Bon Chretien,"
is classed in their books as second rate. We consider it —
taking into consideration its productiveness, accommodating
itself to almost all soils, as well as its quality — first-rate. The
Beurrc d' Aremberg there is first-rate, but with us — from its
uncertainty in ripening and bearing — we should not so consider
it, but should infinitely prefer such winter pears as the Law-
rence and Winter Nelis, as giving better results.

Prom the list of foreign pears we should select the following :
For an early fruit, Rostiezer, and for the fall variety, the Bart-
lett, Belle Lucrative, Beurre Bosc, Beurre d'Anjou, Bezi de la
Motte, Louis Bonne de Jersey, Golden Beurre, Beurre Clairgeau,
Thompson, Duchesse d'Angouleme, Beurre Diel and Urbaniste ;
and for winter fruit, the Winter Nelis, Glout Morceau, and
Vicar of Winkfield ; and for cooking pears, Catillac, Rush-
more's Bon Chretien, Chelmsford, Pound, and Black Pear of
Worcester.

Regarding dwarf pears, the inquiry is often made, " What
do you think of the quince root for pear culture ?" From our
own observation, together with some experience, we should say
with Downing, " that the dwarf pears belong to the small gar-
den of the amateur, rather than to the orchardist, or to him who
desires to have regularly large crops and long-lived trees."
The pear upon the quince root requires more care, than upon
its own stock ; the Duchesse d'Angouleme is the only one we
have known that ordinarily does better upon the quince. The
quince root cannot be depended upon for many years ; the
winter of 1853, '54 was disastrous to dwarf pears in many sec-
tions of our country ; the few who still advocate this culture
advise " mulching all the trees, especially all those in an exposed
situation before winter." This course for our farmers would,
as is said of the upland culture of the cranberry, " cost more
than it would come to." A nurseryman of Long Island, some
years since, commended highly the raising of dwarf pear trees ;
the same individual, having gained more experience, honestly
acknowledges his mistake and pubHcly recommends the pear
stock as highly for permanency and safe returns. The great

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 297

desideratum Ave apprehend in the culture of this fine fruit, is
for every one to ascertain, by trial, what varieties do best in his
soil, and to cultivate to any extent those only.

John M. Ives, Chairman.

Letter of N. Page, Jr., to the Secretary.

Strawberry Culture. — A.ccording to request, I now present
a few notes on strawberry culture. My experience has not
been very great, but I find it of some value to me, and if those
who have less shall be benefited by such items as I may give,
they are welcome.

It is not necessary to make any remarks on the use of straw-
berries, or their value as a market crop, while it is so well
known that it requires many thousands of boxes yearly, to sup-
ply cities no larger than Salem, or Lawrence. Strawberries
may be considered a luxury, but they are a necessity also, and
so many are now grown that the poor as well as rich, even in
our cities, can enjoy their bowl of strawberries and milk.

The best soil for strawberries is a deep loam, somewhat
gravelly, on a gravel or other porous subsoil. Garden soils that
have been long tilled, are not so good as newer soils. Worn
out fields and old pastures make good strawberry plantations.
Those who possess them may select soils perfectly adapted to
their wants, but the first question with most is, how to prepare
those not so congenial. There is no invariable rule — not any
general method even — for inexperienced cultivators to pursue.
The true methods of operation will be as various as are the
soils to be operated upon ; and, again, they will be modified by
the extent of our grounds, the varieties we intend to cultivate,
&c. But there are some general results to be kept in view, and
each cultivator must judge for himself how he can best obtain
them.

1. Clear your grounds of all kinds of iveeds and grasses and
their seeds. This may be done before setting the plants, and
cannot well be done after. A good way to do this, is to plough
in the first crop that starts in spring very deeply, and when the
second crop shows itself, harrow in well across the furrows.
The third crop may be turned under with a cultivator, and the

298 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

fourth should be ploughed iu. So continue sprouting and kill-
ing through one entire season. Immense numbers of weeds
may be destroyed very easily in this way.

2. Blake your soil deep. Eighteen inches will do well, two
feet will do better. One fair crop may be obtained on a soil
only eight inches deep if the season is every way favorable, but
if you undertake to continue that mode of culture, you will
become fully satisfied in three years that " strawberry grow-
ing won't pay." Nearly all soils need trenching or subsoil
ploughing.

3. Make the soil sufficiently porous, that the surface water
may drain through and pass off readily, that the roots may pen-
etrate in all directions easily, and that, in the dry season, mois-
ture may come up from the subsoil freely. A strong clay loam
may be prepared by thorough under-draining, with a large
application of sand, or red loam and coal ashes, well mixed
with the soil. Spent tan, meadow muck, and lime are useful
on such soils.

4. Fertilize your soils with manure rich in potash, soda and
lime ; with decayed vegetable matters, as rotted turf, leaf mould,
or meadow muck. The soil must furnish silica. Some soils
contain enough of these substances to produce good crops for
several years without much addition, but they are exceptions.
In preparing grass lands they should be ploughed very deeply,
and one or two crops may be taken off before setting the plants.
Corn is a good crop to precede strawberries. If the ground is
free from witch-grass and other troublesome roots, and is not
very weedy, the grass sward may be turned under very deeply
and smoothly in spring, and the plants can be set the same
season. In this case apply per acre, after ploughing, from
fifty to eighty bushels of fresh ashes and from three to six casks
of lime. Oyster-shell lime is best. Slake the lime with brine
strong as salt will make it, or, mix a half-bushel of salt with a
cask of lime and slake with water. Slake the lime to a fine
powder, not to a paste, or mortar. Spread the lime and ashes
and harrow in thoroughly. It is better to do this a week or
two before setting the plants. Do not set them until after at
least one good soaking rain. A very coarse and poor gravel I
made productive by applying strong clay, ploughing in green
crops sprinkled with lime, and using ashes as a top-dressing.

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 299

Burned clay is good on heavy soil, applied in any way, and
roasted turf, pounded fine, is excellent top-dressing for straw-
berry beds on any soil. Liberal applications of stable manures
are recommended by some cultivators, but I do not make much
use of them, or other manures containing an excess of ammo-
nia. I have tried glue grounds, (refuse from a glue factory,)
trenching in very deeply, and have thus obtained large crops of
very fine strawberries ; but the prodigious growth of runners
and vines caused much labor in clipping and thinning, and by
this very excess of growth the ground was soon rendered unpro-
ductive for either plants or fruit. Fish compost gave similar
results.

5. Select the best varieties, not only with reference to the use
you intend to make of them, but also to the kind of soil you
intend to grow them on. So many " new " and " very supe-
rior " sorts have so lately been introduced that it is difficult to
make a selection. If we give equal credit to descriptions in
the advertisements of the various kinds raised here, or imported
from Europe, and buy accordingly, we shall soon find ourselves
in possession of at least one hundred and forty " best kinds ! "
It will be quite as safe and much more profitable, to make plan-
tations of a few good and well tried sorts. I would not dis-
courage any from trying new varieties when they come well
recommended, for if one kind more valuable can be obtained in
twenty it will pay perhaps to buy twenty kinds to get it. But
cultivators who learn with surprise that they can occasionally
produce strawberries five inches or more in circumference, need
not therefore believe that this or that new variety will bear
every year an immense number of berries of the first quality,
each half as large as his fist. In selecting varieties not fully
tested it is well to remember that pistillate sorts bear much
more uniformly than hermaphrodites, and that the more fully
the stamens arc developed the less likely they are to produce
full crops. Very few of the large hermaphrodites bear uni-
formly and well, and most of the exceedingly large varieties
are of that class, or approaching the staminate.

It is not necessary for me to give full descriptions of the dif-
ferent varieties which have been found suitable for market or
garden culture, as fruit books and horticultural journals fur-

300 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

nish them in abundance, but I will note a few of the peculiari-
ties of some of them.

Large Early Scarlet. — Produces fair crops every year on
any soil where strawberries will grow. It will bear better on
poor gravelly hill-sides than any other that I have tried. The
plants, singly, do not produce a large number of berries, but
they can be grown near together, thus making up the deficiency.
It is one of the best and most reliable early market varieties. It
is a hermaphrodite, and will bear alone.

Hovey's Seedling, is a late and very excellent market variety,
and yields abundant crops of very large fruit when all things
are favorable. It will not bear well on wet or very rich soils, or
on poor or dry soils without copious waterings. It is a pistil-
late variety, and some staminate or hermaphrodite kind must
be near to furnish its blossoms with pollen, or it will not bear
fruit. Early Scarlet will do, but the Boston Pine may be bet-
ter, as it blossoms later.

Boston Pine needs a deep, rich, and rather moist soil, and
plenty of room. It is a large, late and good variety, but is
rather uncertain with many cultivators.

Jenney's Seedling — that which was described as " Jenney's,"
by Cole, in the New England Farmer, vol. 3, but quite differ-
ent from that described by R. G. Pardee, and sent out by some
nursery-men. I shall not now attempt to say who is correct, but
will describe the variety which I refer to. The fruit is of me-
dium size, roundish ovate, dark crimson, somewhat acid, with
a rich, high flavor, very firm, late, and a superior fruit for
market. The plant is a strong grower, very hardy, and very
prolific. It requires a deep and rich soil. It is worthless on a
poor, dry soil — hence the unfavorable opinion some cultivators
have formed of this variety. I have never succeeded in obtain-
ing so large a crop from any other kind, and have no other that
will bear carriage so well, or keep so long after being gathered.

Monroe Scarlet, (P.) will bear very large crops in a variety
of soils. The fruit is large, but is sour and not high flavored.

McAvoy's Superior, (P.). This is a very fine fruit, about as
large as Hovey's Seedling, much more juicy, sweeter when fully
ripe, with a fine flavor, but is too soft for a market fruit. It
has borne well with me on a deep loam with red loam subsoil,
on strong clay loam, and on a coarse, gravelly soil. On the

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 301

latter I watered the beds two or three times in the dry season.
Probably it will not boar so large a crop as Hovey's sometimes
does, but it appears to be a more reliable variety.

MoYAMENSiNG PiNE, (P.) bas been considered a good market
variety, but the quality is inferior to many kinds, nor does it
bear particularly well.

Orange Prolific, (P.). A large, late and showy variety, but
not rich or sweet. It is very prolific.

Walker's Seedling, (H.) has not proved very productive with
me, nor is the fruit of the first quality.

LoNGWORTii's Prolific, (H.) I have not fully tested. Most
of the plants which I procured for that variety, proved to be
pistillate, although I was assured that they were genuine by a
leading nursery-man from whom I obtained them.

Primate. Gives promise of being valuable for market. The
fruit is firm, of good size and fine quality.

Cornucopia, (P.) sets a large quantity of fruit deep in the
dirt — ripens some large berries and more small ones. It is not
a valuable variety.

Triumph, (H.). Early, very large, juicy, good flavor, very
productive, but is rather soft for market. The plant is deficient
in foliage, and the plants sometimes get scalded by the sun. It
requires a rich soil and good care.

There are very many other promising varieties that I have
not cultivated, and I can of course give no useful information
in regard to them.

6. Adapt your cultivation to the kind of plants that you select.
Early Scarlet, Jenney's Seedling, and some others may be
grown most successfully in beds one and a half or two feet
wide, with the plants only six or eight inches apart. Not more
than two crops should be taken from the same bed, and usually
but one. Soon as the crop is gathered, prepare the ground
between the beds and let the runners from each side take root
there. Early in the autumn dig in the old beds and thin out
the new. In this way, with proper care, full crops may be
obtained every year. Hovey's Seedling often yields more fruit
the second year. It may be grown in beds or hills. Boston
Pine, and nearly all large hermaphrodite kinds produce more
and better fruit when grown in hills one foot or more apart,
and kept free from runners.
39

302 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

The l)cst general method in field culture is to set the young
plants in rows three feet apart. The strong growers, as
Jenney's Seedling, Early Scarlet, Boston Pine, McAvoy's
Superior, and Primate, may be set two and a half feet apart in
the row, but slow growers like Ilovey's, should be set from
twelve to eighteen inches apart. As they send out runners,
place them so that the young plants will fdl up a bed twelve or
fifteen inclies wide. A horse hoe or a cultivator may be used
between the beds. For field culture, set strong jjlants of the
last season's growth, in spring. Do not set them too early.
May is the best time in this latitude. For gardens, the lirst of
September is quite as suitable.

In buying plants for field or garden culture, it is cheaper to
get them of those who will furnish good ones, even if the first
cost should be greater. Some dealers send out very good
plants, and others exceedingly mean ones. A fair remunera-
tive price should be paid, and good plants always be given. It
is essential in our climate, that the vines be protected in winter
with straw, salt hay, sea-weed, or some other suitable covering.
The fruit should all be gathered, if possible, when the vines are
not wet with dew or rain. It should be carefully picked when
fairly ripe, as carefully looked over and prepared, and be placed
in clean boxes.

It is the custom here to remove the stem and calyx before
sending to market. This necessarily breaks the skin, and often
bruises the berries, and they lose some of their flavor and do
not keep so well. Those who desire their fruit in all its fresh-
ness and beauty, should order it with the handles on. It Avould
be but a pleasant task for the daintiest fingers, to prepare so
nice a dish for the table, if required. But wherever prepared,
it is due to the buyers that it should be done in a nice and
cleanly manner. The boxes of fruit should always be carried
in some careful way, and not be jumped and jolted to market.
A multitude of directions might be given, but all would not
supply the want of intelligent care and practical skill in those
who perform the labor in the various departments of strawberry
culture. And it is here that cultivators find a great difficulty,
but it is perhaps not altogetlier insurmountable.

The amount of the strawberry crop varies according to sea-
son, soil, kind and culture, from 600 to 2,400 quarts of •prepared

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 303

fruit per acre. Some small pieces have been said to pro-
duce at tlic rate of 4,000 boxes per acre, exclusive of the
alleys, and measured perhaps with the stems on.

A word in regard to profit. I do not think that in Essex
county, larger average profits are made in strawberry culture
than in the cultivation of many other crops, although great
profits are sometimes realized for one or two seasons. Putting
the receipts of a full crop sold at good prices, against the
expenses of that year, might show an exceedingly large profit,
but it should be remembered that it often requires one or two
years to prepare the soil, and always one year's cultivation
before obtaining a crop, and that after two or three years the
crops will continually decrease. When all things are taken
into account, the profits will not seem so great, and, indeed, in
seven years' culture the balance may be quite on the wrong
side of tlie leger. With a favorable situation, suitable soil,
skilful culture, constant care, and a good market, strawberry
growing is profitable.

Danversport, 10 mo., 1, 1857.

From the Report of the Committee.

Flowers. — The testimony of Mary Plowitt, as sweet a poetess
as ever sang, is abundantly sustained by thousands of the highest
intellects of the age.

" God might have made the earth bring forth

Enough for great and small ;
The oak tree and the cedar tree,

Without a flower at all.
Our outward life requires them not —

Then -wherefore had they birth ?
To minister delight to man.

To beautify the earth ;
To comfort man — to whisper hope

Whene'er his/aith is dim,
For whoso careth for the flowers,

Will much more care for him ! "

Hear Henry Ward Beecher, one of the few modern preachers
who dares appeal to nature and her divine teachings. He
speaks not to gladden and encourage the pampered pride of
sectarian bigotry, but to cheer, CAlighten, and exalt the entire

804 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

world of humanity — and it hears him gladly. He says : " If
there were no indications of the goodness and bounty of God
except in flowers, that evidence would be all sufficient — no
better evidence of God's high attributes would be needed. God
has adopted flowers as symbols to reveal his own nature. A
man who lives among flowers is almost in an unconscious state
of regeneration."

Your committee invite especial attention to a most serious
consideration of the unconsciously regenerating and ennobling
influences which the love of flowers and nature exert in forming
human character — " first the tender blade, and then the ear,
and after that the full corn in the ear." To fresh, unbiased
childhood, all the demonstrations of nature, or God in His
works, appear peculiarly sublime, beautiful and instructive.
The lightning's flash, the thunder's roar, the starry heavens,
the flowery mead and the smiling snow-drop, windflower and
crocus bursting gladly out from the frost-stricken earth, to
greet the first genial sunshine of returning spring — all speak
most eloquently of an Omnipotence, not only of power but of
love. It comes as unostentatiously and unconsciously home to
the souls of children, as the gentle, noiseless dew, the small
still voice of ceaseless blessing descends from the smiling
heavens.

If, between the All-Father and the unblemished infancy of
our race, there was originally the most perfect oneness, confi-
dence and sympathy, how much more may it now exist between
Him and the infantile purity of every human being ? And if,
" As the twig is bent, the tree's inclined ; " or in other words,
if " The child be father of the man" — how infinitely important
are bright flowery homes for modulating childhood ! Home !
Home as it should be is but another name for heaven and hap-
piness ! Earth has no bright, no sunny spot aside the homo
where the heart and all its aspirations meet. It is the nursery
of religion, the most pure and undcfiled ; and the patriotism
which most freely bleeds for " My own, my native land," there
first germinates in youthful breasts. To guard and protect our
country then against foes without, and the reckless infidelity
within, which reveres not God, nor regards the rights of man —
fill it not only with abundant supplies for animal wants, but
with fragrant flowers and flower-loving children, and they will

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 305

cherisli patriotism and piety quite as reliable in the hour of
trial as that manufactured by political or religious sectarianism.

It is almost unappreciable how early the minds of children
are capable of receiving impressions. At the early age of six
months they usually attempt setting up their own wills and
establishing their own " peculiar institutions." This is the
great and all important crisis with the child, and especially
with the parent, which cannot well mistake for one of pain the
angry, vindictive cry, with which the demand is made, and can-
not produce the spirit of obedience and submission to parental
authority, on which domestic peace and happiness so much
depend, but by the infliction of physical pain. In a state of
angry passion and uncontrolled temper, the tender infant
appears almost a demon, and for the time, seems well to merit
the character of being totally depraved ; but the decisive and
judicious application of " the rod," a small, slender, flexible
one to the calves of its fat little legs for instance, till it yields,
draws out all the poison, and leaves only an openness to moral
suasion and a sweetness of temper which grows with its growth,
as the tender plants of the flower l)ed from which all weeds
have been faithfully extracted. This is not said from theoreti-
cal, but actual, practical knowledge. Try it, young parents,
you who have these little unwhipt budgets of immortality in
your arms, ripening to fill your hearts and homes with joy and
sunshine, or to make night hideous with the angry, turbulent
screechings of spoilt children ; and worse than all, who will
grow up in society first in tyrannical and unreasonable exac-
tions, first in discord and controversy, and first in all the vices
which contaminate the world.

Flowers are the early or infant stage of vegetation, as child-
hood is of humanity ; and children seek them as like seeks like,
in natural affinities, or as they seek for dolls and little pets on
which to shower their fountains of youthful love.

We would like to see every primary school furnished with
grounds, so that both teacher and pupils might have the means
of cultivating and enjoying, not the gaudy exotics of hot-house
culture, emblems of frail, aristocratic pride, extravagance and
folly, but the hardy, ever-enduring, perennial and self-sowing
kinds, which should be universal and as free as air, in home
and school-house gardens, as they are on mountain tops and in

806 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

lowest valleys. The early March flowering liver-wort, anemone,
snow-flake, crocus and narcissus, should be among them, testi-
fying of the goodness which cheered them on through the winter
of tlicir discontent ; then might follow a few daffodils, hya-
cinths, tulips, crown-imperials and such other flowers as might
be most readily obtained, not neglecting the faithful, enduring
panzas, erysimums and marigolds, which may easily be kept in
bloom into December, leaving only January and Feljruary
flowerless months.

The universality of flowers through earth and ocean, in torrid,
temperate and frigid zones, is proof enough of their importance,
and hint enough to all who have superfluous means, of pro-
ducing them, to impart to others without the niggardly regret
or fear of seeing one of his favorites blooming in a neighbor's
garden, or that of a man poorer than himself. A penurious or
stingy flower lover is altogether a misnomer. The presence of
one indicates the absence of the other. The monopoly of soil
which deprives so many willing hands of the privilege of turn-
ing it into productive gardens, is a great hindrance to horticul-
ture and other kindred branches ; still there is so much of it
free and attainable, that the possession of flower seeds, even by
the poorest children, presupposes not only a will but a way
also, of finding a sly corner somewhere, in which to make them
grow and display their beauty.

Your committee are of the opinion, that this society has suc-
ceeded so admirably in encouraging the cultivation of flowers,
by the praiseworthy example it set many years ago, of reward-
ing the most successful exhibitors of them, that it may now
judiciously offer gratuities for the most valuable collections of
flower seeds presented at its exhibitions, for gratuitous distri-
bution, mutual exchange, or even for sale ; and also for the
best exhibition and means of destroying insects so injurious to
the interests of horticulture. The due encouragement of these
additional items may be well assumed by the floral department,
if the means of awarding gratuities are but increased in pro-
portion to the greater number of visitors it attracts and dimes
it pays into the treasury above others.

These festivals occur but once a year, and as they arc for
every individual in the county, let their importance and their
attractions and innocent amusements be increased as much as

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 307

possible, by connecting with them every object of interest, so
that every man and woman, and every boy and girl, Avill have
good cause to inquire as earnestly for the time of their occur-
ring, as for the coming of Thanksgiving-day ; and after they
are past to look back upon them as the most delightful and
instructive of all their holidays. The more all of us can be
made to feel that we have something there to do, and are
somehow part, if not parcel, of this great jubilee, the greater
will be the good cheer and animation of the occasion. It is no
time nor place for exclusiveness, formality, or conventional
reserve. The proudest nobility of the world may gladly mingle
in such festivals. And, that women, if endowed wit!i common
sense and observation, should co-operate with committees on
flowers, dairy productions and domestic manufactures, seems
not only appropriate but in many respects very desirable. They
are not less interested in having such productions of the choicest
character, than men ; nor are they less prompt and active in the
exercise of quick perceptions, good taste and sound judgment,
in estimating their true value and merits. For the want of
their more active participation in its interests this society suffers
essentially, and it is high time that the evils were corrected.

There were, we are sorry to say, contributions of flowers
without labels attached to them, and others without full names,
which must of course leave some contributors unnoticed and
unrewarded. Some fifty varieties of flower seeds for exchange
were offered by F. G. Sanborn, of Andover, but as there were
no others for which to exchange them, they were mostly distrib-
uted gratuitously. The example is worthy of imitation. It
might be well to have a department in this and all our agricul-
tural societies, for receiving and exchanging seeds, bulbs, and
all elements of floriculture, by which the rarest and most desira-
ble flowers might be widely and cheaply distributed.

We cannot forbear, too, our commendation of the exhibition
of insects — some half a dozen cases, containing about 1,500
varieties, either injurious or beneficial to vegetation, having
been presented — by which much valuable knowledge may be
communicated to the growers of fruits, vegetables and flowers,
and to all agriculturists more directly, perhaps, than by any
other means. The department of entomology will, it is hoped,
receive special encouragement by the society, by liberal pre-

308 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

miums, at future exhibitions. The specimens exhibited this
year reflected great credit on the patience, ingenuity and scien-
tific researcli of the contributors.

We would, before closing, suggest to parents who cultivate
flowers for the silent, elevating influences which they exert on
the minds of their children, that we know of lione more desira-
ble for this effect than the early spring blooming ones, some of
which we have already named. They spring up from the just
opening earth so unexpectedly as often to take children by sur-
prise and fill their hearts with a joy never to be forgotten.
Crocuses, of which there are some half a dozen common kinds,
may be bought usually as low as six cents a dozen, and at auc-
tion much lower, and are hardy and multiply very fast ; snow-
drops, which are the earliest bloomers, cost a little more, and
increase like the crocus, as do also narcissi, jonquils, daffodils,
tulips, hyacinths and all the hardy bulbs of the kind, and will,
when once in the ground, remain with a little care, increasing
perpetually.

Eastman Sanborn, Chairman,

MIDDLESEX.

Statement hij E. W. Bull.

Grape Culture. — The grape has been cultivated from the
earliest ages, and wine was made from it in periods of remotest
history. The European grape was derived from the East.
Gradually spreading from Syria into Greece, and along the
coasts of the Mediterranean, it finally reached even England,
where at one time it was much cultivated.

This family of grapes, however, is not hardy enough to endure
our severe climate, and it has been considered a capital error
on our part, to liave endeavored to acclimatize the foreign
grape instead of improving our native stock, which being indige-
nous, and perfectly at home in our variable climate, might be
expected to yield in time a grape of good quality and easy of
cultivation.

The Jiative grape had indeed yielded several varieties of merit
many years since, prominent among which were the Isabella and
Catawba, excellent grapes, where the climate permitted them to

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 309

ripen ; but too late for our New England climate except in the
most sheltered situations, and uncertain even there.

Under these circumstances it is not surprising that grape cul-
ture received little attention with us. Constant eflforts indeed
were made by enthi\siastic amateurs, to overcome the difficulties
of climate and season, and not without some success. But this
success cost much in time and money, and it is not perhaps too
much too say, that it would have cost less to have raised the
crop under glass — the amount of crop being considered — than
in the open air ; and such seems to be the general conclusion
in the public mind, for glass structures multiply, while out-door
culture of the foreign grape, and even of the Catawba and
Isabella, diminish from year to year.

It is unfortunate perhaps, for us, that so much time has been
wasted in a wrong direction, but the horticultural mind, not
wearied with difficulties, but seeking new expedients, has
turned to our indigenous vine, and marked success has already
rewarded many intelligent cultivators, who have originated
seedlings of merit, hardy and excellent, and marking a new era
in grape culture in this country. But it is not my purpose so
much to speak of the new sorts of grape which have been bred
out of our native stock, as to offer to my friends and neighbors
some hints in regard to grape culture, drawn from my own
experience, which I hope may be of some service to them, in
saving perhaps some time which otherwise they might devote,
as I have, to experiments now to some extent made and estab-
lished. And I shall proceed to speak of soil, aspect, training,
pruning, cropping, <fcc,, as briefly as the case will permit.

Soil. — There is some diversity of opinion as to soil. Some
contend that a strong, rich soil is the best for the grape. In a
hot climate this is probably true, as such a soil would resist
drought better than sandy loams, which are generally recom-
mended for the grape. Buchanan, however, in his excellent
treatise on the grape, says that the sandy soils are not so good
for the grape ; the juice is not so rich nor so sweet. He recom-
mends a dry, calcareous loam, with a porous subsoil. English
writers of repute recommend a soil of burnt clay, and I have
found this to be excellent, but it would be too costly in most
cases. Almost any soil, however, will do to grow the grape in,
if it can be made mellow, avoiding soils underlaid by a stiff, wet

40

310 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

clay, and wet spongy lands. The main requirement in regard
to soil is permeability. The grape will flourish in any soil not
positively injurious, if its roots can easily penetrate it. Other
things being equal, the warmer the soil the better the success,
and this leads me to speak of

Aspect. — All writers on the grape, concur in giving the first
place to a south aspect. A gentle slope, sheltered from the
north and east winds, and on which the sun darts his genial
rays during the whole day, warming the earth to a good depth,
and bathing the plants in light from morn till night, is undoubt-
edly the best. In such a situation the plants receive a larger
share of light and heat than in any other ; and light and heat
are the great essentials in the successful culture of the grape.
The vine will succeed well, however, in any aspect from east to
west, but always the best where the sun warms the earth to the
greatest depth ; a south-west aspect will be better than a south-
east, and a west better than an east, because the sun lays upon
it in the latter part of the day, and in the autumn, when the
grapes are ripening, this afternoon sun is of great service. We
do not, however, always have choice of aspect, but we may cul-
tivate the grape successfully in any aspect, from west to east,
preferring first the south, next south-west, next south-east, next
west, lastly east.

The soil should be stirred to as great a depth as possible, say
two feet ; three feet would be still better, but it is not often
possible to trench three feet. It is a very good plan to plough
the ground with a double Michigan plough, or to follow two or
three times in the same furrow, deepening the soil as much
as possible. I do not think tiie soil need be made very rich for
our native vines, which seem in this respect, to have a different
constitution from the foreign grape ; but it will be well to
plough in some light rich compost before planting, because it is
not so easy to supply it afterward, and it will lighten the soil.

The only substances which seem to be absolutcl3Miecessary to
the grape, are bone dust and ashes. A peck of bone dust well
incorporated with the soil, and half a peck of ashes, will be
enough for each vine.

Planting. — Some cultivators prefer plants of two or three
years' growth, in order to get the vine soon into a bearing state ;
but in planting a vineyard, I think well rooted and vigorous

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 311

plants of one year, are better on the whole, as they are more
easily planted, and brought into such shape as the cultivator
may desire.

My own practice is, to plant one year old vines which have
abundant roots, not caring for the top, which in all cases I cut
down to two eyes. Spread the roots out carefully, laying
them straight, taking care that they do not cross each other ;
let the roots be six inches under the surface, but let the crown
of the plant be within two inches of the surface of the ground,
leaving the earth about the vine a little higher than the
adjacent grounds, so that water may not stand about the
plant ; this is especially necessary where there is a retentive
subsoil.

As to planting in the autumn or spring, I think if the soil be
dry, the autumn is the best season, as the roots get established
in the soil, usually making fibres from the main roots during
the first two or three weeks after planting, and they are thus
prepared to start early in the spring, getting a good growth
before they are pinched by the heat and drought of midsum-
mer ; this is a great gain in such soils ; but if the soil be heavy
and liable to heave with the winter frost, or if water stand upon
it in the winter and spring, then I should prefer the latter sea-
son, when the advancing warmth promotes the formation of the
fibrous roots ; and the plant having the whole summer to estab-
lish itself, is much more likely to go through the ensuing winter
without harm. It is always good husbandry to put an inch or
two of leaf mould or chip dirt, about the plants the first winter
after planting, to prevent the heaving by frost. After the first
winter they are safe.

I have found in my experience that the native vine requires
much more room than is usually allowed in vineyard culture.
The directions copied from foreign books, although they may
be well adapted to the foreign grape, will certainly mislead the
cultivator who applies them to our native varieties, some of
which make shoots twelve or fifteen feet long in a season.

Buchanan, in his treatise on grape culture, says : " For steep
hill-sides, 3|- feet by 4i, or 3 feet by 5, may answer, but for
gentle slopes, 3|^ feet by 6, is close enough, and for level land,
4 feet by 7." I think the cultivator will find 6 feet by 8 near
enough, or if his space is limited, and he desires to realize an

312 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

earlj and large crop, let liiin plant G feet by 4, and after five or
six years cut away every alternate vine.

The reason for giving the vines this wider space to grow in, will
be obvious to the reader, when he recollects how large a space
single vines will cover under favorable circumstances, and that
there should be a proper balance between the roots and branches,
both of which should be as near as possible to what nature
designed ; that is to say, should have a good extension, that the
vine may be healthy and long lived.

Pruning. — There are various modes of pruning the grape, all
of which have value and adaptation to particular circumstances,
as covering a certain space, an ornamental espalier, or the pro-
duction of large bunches of fruit. And this last is an object of
some importance, for, other things being equal, the largest and
hand&omest bunches are the most valuable, often bringing in
the market double the price which can be obtained for small
bunches.

I shall speak of the renewal, or long cane system, and spur
pruning ; either of which, judiciously followed, will give good
crops and large bunches, always supposing the kind of grape
cultivated will give large bunches, for many kinds of grapes,
though of fine quality, cannot be made to give large bunches
under any kind of pruning. I should mention, also, that some
kinds of grape, as the Clinton Strawberry, and such grapes gen-
erally as make long, slender wood, must be laid in long canes
upon the espalier to give good crops.

To begin at the beginning, then, we will suppose the vine just
planted and cut down to two eyes ; after these two eyes have
grown about a foot, pinch the weakest one at the end and train
the strongest one to the pole or espalier. If it run away weakly,
pinch it occasionally, which will set back the sap and thicken
the stem ; it will probably push out lateral shoots, which should
always be pinched at the second leaf ; this will prevent the for-
mation of weak, watery shoots, and strengthen the leader. At
the end of the season cut back the long shoot to the lower bar
of the espalier, which is usually about eighteen inches from the
ground, and cut the short one clean back to the old wood, your
purpose being to have a single stem for about a half yard from
the ground ; but if the grape is trained against a house, and it
is desired to lead off the side arms at a greater height, as

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 313

above a door, &c., then cut off the vine at that height, observing
that there must be but one stem from the ground to tlie point
from whence the arms diverge ; and any shoots which come out
at the base of the vine, must always be rubbed out, lest they
run away with the strength of the vine and rob the upper
shoots of the necessary sap.

The second year you will allow two shoots to grow from the
top of the vine ; lay them in diagonally on the espalier, pinch-
ing them occasionally as before, and if the buds on the main
stem push, pinch them at the second leaf as before. I forgot
to say that at the fall pruning, all the laterals should be cut
clean out. If dry weather ensue, water occasionally at the
root, and syringe the foliage occasionally if you have leisure.
At the end of the season cut away all the laterals, and lay in
the two shoots right and left on the espalier, horizontally, cut-
ting each of them back to a strong bud. Be sure to cut back
to a strong bud, for these arms are to be permanent, and it is
necessary the wood should be strong and well ripened.

The third year you may take a few bunches, if your vine is
strong, but it is better to wait until the fourth year, as the bear-
ing even a few bunches checks the extension of wood. Your
side arms will push every eye. Train upright shoots from
these horizontal arms at about eighteen inches distance ; this
will usually be every alternate bud ; rub out the bud in the
interval, all buds, if there be more than one between these upright
shoots ; pinch all laterals at the second leaf as before, whether
on old wood or new, and pinch the upright shoots when they
get to the top of the espalier ; sooner, if they run away weakly.

In the autumn, cut every alternate upright shoot back to one
eye, to make new shoots next year for subsequent bearing, and
leave the others at full length for bearing, unless they are not
strong ; in that case cut them back to a strong bud. It may
happen that the side shoots will take several years to fill up
the espalier with strong wood ; but do not fail to cut them back
at every fall pruning to a strong bud, making sure of getting
strong wood, though you get it little by little ; cut away all
laterals as before.

You have now got a number of upright shoots for bearing ;
every eye will push and probably set fruit, and now, unless you
have the firmness to cut out two-thirds of the fruit, you are in

314 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

danger of over cropping the vine with its first crop. Not more
than twenty bunches of fruit should be allowed to remain, and
these should be of the largest and best placed. The thinning
should be done when the young grapes are as large as young
peas ; pinch these laterals, now bearing fruit, at four leaves
beyond the bunch you leave on ; this will generally be the first
or second bunch, the largest of course. If the laterals push
again, pinch at the second leaf as before. You will train up
the alternate shoots, pinching them at the top of the espalier,
and also all laterals as before. These are also to be the bearing
wood of next year. After the fall of the leaf, prune out all
the upright shoots which have borne fruit to one bud, and all
laterals from the new shoots which you have trained up for
bearing next year.

This is the system known as the renewal system. It is well
adapted to the house or the espalier. If applied to vineyard
culture, you must have two poles to each vine, (after the third
year) cutting out each cane in alternate years.

Spur pruning, however, is better adapted to field culture in
our climate, if I may trust my own experience. The vine is
not called upon to make so much wood, and after it is well
established, any intelligent boy who can handle a knife, can
prune the vine as well as a thorough-bred gardener. Train up
your vine as before, with a single stem ; cut out all laterals at
the end of the first year ; and cut back the main stem to
eighteen inches from the ground ; lead up a single stem from
the upper bud the next year, tying it to the pole and pinching
'when it has reached to the top of the pole, which should be six
feet high. Pinch all laterals, as in the renewal system, and if
the main stem is not strong, cut back to a strong bud.

The next year you will make your spurs ; let them be alter-
nate, right and left, and as nearly equidistant as possible.
Pinch them in occasionally, and if side shoots push, pinch them
at the first leaf. Do not let the spurs grow more than half a
yard or two feet long, for you want strong buds at the base of
the shoot to bear next year.

At the fall pruning, cut back the lowest spur to three eyes ;
cut out the second and third spur to one eye each ; this brings
you to the fourth spur, which is opposite the first ; cut this
back to three eyes ; proceed as before through the whole length

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 315

of the vine. You will have alternate spurs for fruiting, and
the intervening spurs cut back to one eye, to make bearing wood
for the next season, when the spurs which have borne this year
are to be cut back to one eye, to make new spurs for alternate
bearings. A modification of spur pruning, practiced by some
grape growers, is to cut back the spur to the strongest bud,
without regard to the length of the spur ; rubbing out the
shoots from the other eyes, except the one at the base of the
spur, which is trained for the new wood of the next season, the
old spur being cut clean out, at the fall pruning. Well estab-
lished vines, spur pruned, generally ripen their crops a few days
earlier than vines pruned on the renewal system.

The best time of pruning for this latitude is probably the early
part of November. If the vine is pruned at that time, the
organizable matter which the roots continue to take up until
hard frost prevails, changes the wood and the buds, making
them to start with more vigor in the succeeding spring, and
perhaps increasing, to some extent, the size of the bunch. It
is safe, however, to prune at any time after the fall of the leaf
until the succeeding spring, avoiding to prune when the wood
is frozen, or so late in the spring that the vine will bleed, which
would be likely to happen at the beginning of April.

WORCESTER NORTH.

From the Report of the Committee.

Fruit Trees.* — In the planting of an orchard it is very impor-
tant that a correct judgment should be exercised in the selection
of the spot for its location. For it is not a temporary location,
to be easily changed if we find we have made a foolish blunder,
but is one for life, and has much to do with success in the mat-
ter. It should be shielded as much as possible from the west
and north winds. The south-east slope of a hill may be consid-
ered a favorable position, and a deep loamy soil the best.

Second, the soil in which the trees are planted should be kept

* The following Report and statements were received too late to appear in
their appropriate place under the head of Orchards. They are given here on
account of the value and importance of their suggestions.

316 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

under cultivation for the first four or five years. Thus the
ground, being often stirred, is kept light, and the young roots
are thereby furnished more readily with air, moisture and nutri-
tious gases, and solutions of substances in the soil, by which
the trees are made to acquire a more rapid growth, assume a
more thrifty appearance, and become in all respects a better
type of what is known as " Young America," than is the case
when the land is laid down to grass. The difference is much
greater when the orchard stands on the side of a hill, for then
the refreshing showers of summer, instead of penetrating the
ground to invigorate the languishing roots, are turned off by the
hard soil, and wash into the valley below.

Third, we desire to refer to a matter which is far too mvich
neglected by the farmer, and that is a constant care and atten-
tion to the proper training of the trees during their years of
infancy and childhood. Early fix in your mind the picture of a
perfect tree, in form and proportion, and begin immediately to
train every tree in your orchard to the standard of your beau
ideal. It will be impossible for you to make every one assume
the same type and degree of beauty, for trees, like children,
have their peculiar hereditary predispositions, which may not
be entirely overcome. But by a suitable watchfulness, every
tree can be securely guarded against any palpably vicious devel-
opment of limbs, which by their straggling character, and by
repeatedly crossing each other, form an almost impregnable
barrier to sunlight and air, thus materially lessening their future
usefulness as fruit bearers if left in this state, and vitally affect-
ing the health of the tree, if, as is often the case, the limbs are
cut away after they have attained a large size.

In your leisure moments go forth into your young orchard
carefully observing every tree, and whenever you find a shoot
coming forth in an improper place, or assuming an improper
direction, take your knife and cut it away. Take care of
the little faults of your trees while they are young, and they
will have no great ones for you to correct, when they attain
maturity.

We also wish to make a suggestion in relation to the feasibility
of increasing our present number of varieties of apples. It is a
practical question whether it is desirable to make the attempt.
It seems to us that mider the present system very many of our

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 317

existing varieties will run out, while no provision is made for
any addition whatever. Now we think it desirable that some
system be adopted whereby the propagating powers of nature, in
developing specimens of exeellence from the seed, may not be
entirely suppressed. Grafting and budding are the works of
art, and we are not disposed to underrate their advantages.
But we think that the subtle and wonderful powers of nature
should also have a chance to operate in the great work of pro-
gress and development. For all new varieties in the future,
like those in the past, must come of seedlings ; and the old say-
ing, that " there is as good fish in the sea as ever was caught,"
is applicable here. Nursery-men raise trees for the market ;
they therefore rear such as the community wants, and generally
none others, and as the community demands but a few standard
varieties, to those varieties they confine their operations. It is
to them no paying business to go into an adventurous chase
after new ones. The proper class of persons to engage in this
enterprise is the farmers ; they generally have plenty of land
and can do it cheaper and with less inconvenience than any one
else. Our plan would be to procure the seeds of fruits, them-
selves the products of seedlings of good healthy growth, and of
an improving state, and plant them. When the stocks are of a
suitable size to transplant, make a judicious selection of the
number you'wish, and arrange them into a small orchard on the
land you may appropriate for the purpose. When they come to
a bearing condition, it will be apparent if any are of a quality
worth perpetuating ; you may chance to have a specimen or
two of a very superior order. In this case you will give to the
world a valuable accession, while to yourself it will be a matter
of innocent pride and gratification, besides attaining historical
immortality by embalming your name in the christening of the
apple. The bearers of worthless fruit can be grafted with any
kind desired, and that without losing more than three or four
years. Any other means that may be accessible maybe availed
of for procuring superior specimens not generally known, such
as for instance going to orchards lying back in the country,
many of which have some specimens of most excellent fruit, but
being without a name, are not known beyond their own neigh-
borhood, and if no one takes the trouble to introduce them to
society, they will soon be lost to the world.

41

818 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

We offer, in closing, a few miscellaneous reflections.
Fruit trees arc now assuming an importance in the commu-
nity equalled by few products of the soil.

The little care and labor that are usually necessary in the
attending growth, and in the gathering of the fruit, the ready
sale and remunerating prices of good, merchantable fruits,
particularly apples, often render the income of a few acres of
land a very desirable and pleasant addition to the profits of the
farmer. To be sure, for a year or two past, (in this immediate
vicinity at least,) the fruit trees have failed to yield their wonted
bounty, a liability incident to almost every crop. But taking a
series of years together, an orchard in a well selected place, to
which due attention has been paid as to the selection of the
kinds of fruit, healtliy, hardy stocks, and good healthy bearers ;
and to which ordinary care has been bestowed on the soil in
which they grow, and to those insects, which, in great numbers,
are so destructive to fruit and vegetation, we think that no crop
will yield a better per cent, profit than apples, peaches and pears.
The time may come when an abundance of supply will result
in a great diminution of price, but that time is far distant.
And even should it come in our day and generation, no great
catastrophe would occur thereby to the farmer, wliile a most
invaluable blessing would be bestowed upon the community.
For, may it not be believed, that but few things aside from the
actual necessaries of life, would contribute more to enhance the
comfort, health and pleasure of the families of our cities and
villages, to those particularly in moderate and indigent circum-
stances, than a supply of good winter fruit, of apples and pears.
For who will dare say that there is no social attraction in a
bowl of apples when surrounded by a merry band of swains and
maidens ? and what lover of fruit will deny that the bowl of
apples itself does not furnish much of the inspiration ? Pardon
us, if, in tracing out the moral influence of an apple, we advance
a little into the regions of metaphysics.

We are all aware of the potent power of memory to awaken
in the breast long forgotten sentiments of goodness, to inspire
the halting with energy, the wavering with confidence, the
desponding with hope, and the fallen with a redeeming force to
arise and walk again the paths of virtue. We all know, too,
that law of association, whereby one little forgotten incident

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 319

revived in the mind, awakens another, and that another, and so
on till all the rills of memory combine in one mighty river, and
on its current we are borne back through the years of life, till
we stand a child again in all the artlessness of being. And
then a mother's love, a father's counsel, and a sister's affection,
speak to us with a power which no pulpit voice can equal, and
roll upon us tides of virtuous emotions, incite resolutions for
good, and elevate the soul to those Pisgah heights of moral
excellence, from whose lofty summits we view the goodly land
of promise.

Now of the thousands of bowls of apples that grace the
hearth circles of thousands of humble abodes through the land,
how many through the law of association, acting upon and
stirring the deep waters of the memory, may prove a messenger
of good to some participant. ' For how many, at the sight of
the dish of ruby cheeks, and the taste of the luscious fruit,
would be carried back in memory to the distant homes on the old
farms, where, in the simple activities of virtuous, rural life, with
its comforts and its joys, the halo of childhood surrounded them,
and the gilded skies of youth bended over them, but in which,
with adventurous eyes, they fancied they saw the star of fortune
move far onward, till it went and stood over some great city or
large manufacturing town. And thither they went, there to be
taught the old truth, that thousands had learned before them,
that " all is not gold that glitters," that the dreams of youth
have rarely any counterpart in the realities of mature life ; and
how many in these particular hard times sigh for the simple
comforts of the rural old farm.

Who would not wish, even from motives of simple benevo-
lence, to do something in the way of elevating the race ? And
when this object lies in the direct line of pecuniary profit, every
farmer should be stimulated to exert himself to increase very
materially his production of good orchard fruits. Thus might
man do much, by the cultivation of the apple, to reclaim in
the present, and avert from the rising generation, much of that
evil which has fallen upon mankind, in consequence of that
sad mistake which a certain vmman is said to have made, in
the matter of an apple, in the garden of Eden.

E. F. Bailey, Chairman.

320 MASSACHUSETTS AGEICULTURE.

Slatemeyit of Jabez Fisher.

The " statement " required by the rules of the W. N. A.
Society being, as I understand it, chiefly, if not entirely, for the
benefit of tlie public, I propose to include in that statement the
history and management of the whole of my central pear
orchard, the westerly half only of which is entered for premium.
Said half was planted in the spring of 1854. The easterly
portion was planted in the spring of 1855 and 1856, and to
some extent in 1857, and there are still remaining a few yacan-
cies to be filled. The orchard is intended, eventually, to com-
prise 1,037 trees, of which one-third are upon pear stocks, and
the other two-thirds are upon the quince.

The form in which the trees are set is that known as the
modern quincunx, in which each standard tree occupies a corner
of an equilateral triangle, the sides of which measure eighteen
feet. In the centre of each triangle, (of which there are two
to each standard,) at a distance of about ten feet five inches
from each other, are placed those upon the quince. This
arrangement gives to the trees a more equal distribution over
the ground than any other, and secures to each the greatest
amount of sunlight and air compatible with the distance at
which they are placed one from another. It also allows of
horse cultivation in three different directions, a most important
aid in the after management. The entire orchard occupies
about two and one-third acres. The soil is a strong loam,
resting upon a clay bottom, with mica slate underlying at a
depth of five to fifteen feet. The soil is one retentive of mois-
ture, and requires drainage.

In the spring of 1854 the land was a clean piece of mowing.
I commenced by digging holes five feet in diameter and twenty
to tw^enty-two inches deep. The holes were filled with sods
and loam that were thrown out in digging, and enough more
was borrowed from the sides to set the trees in. The trees
were procured from Hon. M. P. Wilder, of Dorchester, the
standards being mostly worth a dollar each, and the dwarfs
were imported trees, two years from the bud on the Angers
quince. The standards were placed rather high in the ground,
though after the soil had settled, some of them proved to be too
high, and a few have been lowered. The shape assumed by the

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 321

roots of some of the trees was such, tliat the action of the frost
has since been to lift them out. The pears on quince I placed so
that the junction of the pear with the stock, should be two or
three inches below the surface, but after the soil had become
settled, the point of junction was sometimes above the surface.
I have since endeavored, in planting, to bury the junction four
inches deep, after the soil has settled.

The manures used were leached ashes, coalpit bottom, Mapes'
improved super-phosphate of lime, and woollen waste ; each
being used alone and in combination with the otliers. They
were mixed with the soil at the time of setting, and a few rows
were left without manure. I have not been able up to the
present time to trace the influence of either of these substances
with any distinctness.

The cultivation in 1854 was simply once hoeing and after-
ward pulling the weeds and leaving them on the surface. In
1855, the whole was ploughed and planted with potatoes, with
guano and super-phosphate of lime in the hill. In 1856, it was
again planted with potatoes, and manured in the hill with horn
shavings and leached ashes. The trees received a pailful each
of strong liquid manure from the barn cellar. The present
season the trees were treated with the same application, and
the crop is cucumbers for pickling, manured in the hill. This
crop is a very good one for the purpose, as it is not at all an
exhausting one, and it admits of ploughing and cultivating a
number of times in the early part of the season before planting.

The growth of the trees has been fair throughout the differ-
ent seasons, the average since the first year having been per-
haps, twelve inches of new wood for each year. The best
growth was in 1856, when shoots in many cases exceeded four
feet in length. The present season gave promise of an equal
increase, but when the orchard generally had made from six to
ten inches of new wood, the foliage and small twigs became cov-
ered with honey dew. This excretion was at first a limpid, watery
fluid, having a sweet and slightly sickish taste. It became
inspissated in a short time and then appeared much like honey.
It attracted thousands of flies, bees, wasps and other insects,
that feasted upon it with much avidity. At the same time
many of the leaves, especially those upon the new growth,
dropped off; all extension ceased, and the remaining leaves and

322 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

the wood became covered with a black incrustation, and pre-
sented altogether the appeai'ance of October. This occurred
in the latter part of July and early in August, and but very
few of the trees made any attempt at a second growth. The
cause of this phenomena is not well understood, though I have
some confidence in the assertion that had it been a dry season,
it would not have occurred.

The whole growth for the four seasons past not having been
quite satisfactory, I am (October) placing around each tree two
or three shovelfuls of night soil. This is to be covered by a
conical mound of loam about three feet in breadth and one in
height, for the triple purpose of covering the manure, securing
the trees against the chance of the depredations of mice, and
preventing the injurious action of frost, which in heavy soil
lacerates the fibrous roots and stunts the tree in its growth.
This latter difficulty is almost entirely prevented by thorough
draining, and to my mind, at least on my own land, draining is
of vastly more value to an orchard by keeping the water out of
it during the season of frost, than in the summer, when for the
most part the land is dry enough. Before distributing the
night soil I strew around each tree half a pound of the scales
of protoxide of iron, such as are found around the blacksmith's
anvil. Next spring the hillock of loam will be partially levelled,
and the manure mixed with the soil.

The object which I have kept in view in pruning thus far,
has been mainly to promote wood growth rather than the
formation of fruit. For this purpose I generally prune just as
the buds are swelling in spring. This I am aware is theoreti-
cally the wrong time ; directly after the fall of the leaf being
usually considered the more appropriate period. I have found,
however, that when pruning takes places in autumn or winter,
the terminal buds upon which I rely for the extension of the lead-
ing shoots, become detached, killed, or so far enfeebled, that
they refuse in spring to make any extension, and the second or
third bud from the end becomes the extending shoot. By wait-
ing until the buds commence swelling in spring, I am able to
select one for the prolongation of new wood, having the most
proper position, and at tlie same time giving promise of vigor-
ous growth. This applies only to the shortening in of the lead-
ing shoots. The removal of superfluous limbs should take place

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 323

in autumn, and the surface of the wound be covered with some
preparation to keep out the air. An alcoholic solution of shellac
answers the end better than any thing else. Besides this kind of
pruning, the object of which is to promote wood growth by keep-
ing up a preponderance of strength in favor of the roots, I at
the same time keep an eye to the eventual production of fruit.
For this purpose I practise pinching out the ends of the lead-
ing shoots after they have made from ten to twelve inches
growth. Such an operation, without apparently weakening
the tree, causes the wood already made to become ripened, and
the buds througliout its length to assume a more decided char-
acter and eventually become fruit spurs. This treatment is
applicable only to those varieties which arc inclined to vigorous
woody growth. For some thrifty growing varieties, like the
Urbaniste, which show no disposition to fruit, I reserve all
pruning to the season of growth, during the latter part of June.
This gives the tree a sudden check, and instead of spending its
force in making new wood, it applies it rather to the formation
of fruit spurs, without which no tree can be fruitful.

Another object gained by continued pruning is to render the
tree stocky. That is the size of the trunk becomes large in pro-
portion to its height. Low, stocky trees are more fruitful than
those that are tall and spindling, and their first full crop does
not break them down or destroy their vigor.

The form which I prefer for pears on quince roots, is what is
called half standard. The branches which form the head of the
tree leave the main stem at about two feet from the ground.
This form gives more ease and facility of cultivation than the
pyramid, and is more easily produced and kept up. In prun-
ing standard trees less heading in is required, but the objects
are in the main the same, i. e. to promote growth and to obtain
a proper disposition of the branches.

The trunks of all the trees were washed in the spring of
1856 with a mixture of one pound of potash, one pailful of
water, and a shovelful of fresh cow-dung. I intend to wash
them again in the spring of 1858, but shall use a strong suds
made from soft soap rather than any mixture containing dis-
solved potash.

The following is a list of the principal varieties with a few

324 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

observations appended to each, such as are suggested by their
appearance at the present time.

Louise Bonne de Jersey, one hundred and five on the quince.
A fair grower and an early bearer.

Beurre d'Anjou, twenty-six on pear and forty-two on quince.
Grows well on pear, but little on quince, preferring to fruit
before it has the ability.

Urbaniste, ten pear, fifty-eight quince. Handsome and free
grower on both stocks. Shoots rather slender, with small pres-
ent promise of fruit.

Beurre Did, sixty-seven quince. Makes a pretty good stocky
growth.

Vicar of Winkfield, eight pear, sixty-two quince. A free,
strong grower and a handsome tree on both.

Lawrence, sixteen pear and nine quince. Free but slender
growth on pear. Very unpromising on quince.

Flemish Beauty, sixteen pear, forty-three quince. Grows
well on both, though on the quince it hesitates a little for a
year or two.

Glout Morceau, forty-nine quince. A line, stocky, handsome
tree.

Duchesse d'Angouleme, forty-six quince. Growth only
moderate.

Winter Nelis, twenty-five quince. Rather a handsome and
more stocky grower than is usual on pear.

Bartlett, twenty-eight pear. Fair growth.

Beurre d'Amanlis, five pear, twenty-two quince. Strong, but
straggling and open grower. Fruits early on both stocks, but
much finest on quince.

Easter Beurre, twenty-six quince. Grows moderately.

Belle Lucrative, ten pear, ten quince. Fair growth, fruits
early on both.

Seckel, seventeen quince. Growth slow. Not promising.

St. Michael, seventeen quince. Moderate grower.

Doyenne Boussock, seven pear, nine quince. Grows pretty
well on pear. On quince very poorly.

Doyenne d'Alen^on, three pear, six quince. Same as Doyenn^
Boussock.

Noveau Poiteau. Grows well on quince,

Epine Dumas, (juince. Good.

FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 325

Figue, quince. Very good grower ; makes a handsome tree.

Soldat Laboreur, quince. Like the Figue.

Onondaga, pear. Good grower, fine tree and early bearer.

Beurr6 Langlier. Strong grower on pear.

Buffum, pear. Very fine, strong, upright growth.

Beurr^ d'Aremburg. Moderate grower on pear.

Marie Louise, pear. Good growth. Weeping head.

Beurre Giffard, quince. Free slender growth with early
bearing.

I might enumerate some fifty or sixty more varieties of which
there are from one to five specimens each, but further experi-
ence is desirable ; and indeed of those already specified I may
have occasion hereafter- to modify my opinions as herein ex-
pressed. Three or four seasons' growth will hardly afford the
data upon which to approve or condemn a tree, which may be
fifty years in coming to its full development.

NOEFOLK.

From the Report of the Committee.

Flowers. — Every flower should have beauty of color, or it
will need much to redeem it from our ban. We have seen
dahlias, full petalled and full quilled, with such a dead, mahog-
any hue as to repel any thought of admiration, destitute of
frarance, or rather having a very offensive one ; such an one
should not find place in any, much less choice collections.

Many beautiful flowers are inodorous, but a pleasant perfume
greatly increases the value of a plant. It is nearly the only
pretension of the mignonette, but it makes that unambitious
plant a favorite in every parterre. Of two roses, equal in beauty,
that which has fragrance is worth incomparably more than that
which lacks the quality. Continuance of flowering is an essen-
tial quality of a flower. Some bloom and fold themselves up
churlishly before people are usually out of their beds, having
no indulgence to the infirmities of human nature. A flower, to
be loved, must be seen, and we have a high respect for those that
can bear the daylight two or tliree days, the longer the better.
Beauty is a fading flower, but a fading flower is not a beauty.

Deficiency of stem is deficiency of value. What can you do

42

326 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

with the balsams, but look at them where they grow ? No bal-
sam ever reached the honor of a bouquet, any more than a duck-
legged man ever reached the honor of enrolment in the Impe-
rial Guard of Bonaparte.

Color, fragrance, durability, and strength of stem are all
considerations, and a few choice flowers combine them all.
The rose has each in perfection. The beauty of flowers in the
garden depends much on the character of the plant that bears
it. The plant of the poppy and the herbage of the dahlia are
coarse and unseemly, while some are beautiful in themselves,
scarce needing the flower that grows upon them.

Your committee rejoice in the manifestation of increasing
interest in flower culture. Many beautiful collections were
presented that by themselves would excite admiration, and were
only lost in the profusion that prevailed around them.

Samuel B. Babcock, Chairman.

VEGETABLES.

ESSEX.

From the Report of the Committee.

Your committee are happy to report, that, as far as testimony
came to their ears, the exhibition of this year gave universal
satisfaction, and was ranked by many as the crowning exhibi-
tion of the society in this department. A close and critical
examination of the great variety displayed by the live farmers
and gardeners of old Essex, has led them, for the most part, to
coincide with the general sentiment.

The feature which characterized the exhibition of this year,
was the overwhelming display of mammoth squashes. These,
we doubt not, added greatly to the " glory " of the exhibition,
catching the eye of the crowd as usual, and, it may be, filling
the eye of gentlemen of high position, and thus enabling them
publicly to compliment us on our fine display. Such are cer-
tainly very agreeable results for all parties. But so sudden and

VEGETABLES. 327

so rapid an increase of these monster varieties, appears to indi-
cate something of a mania among our worthy farmers. In the
year 1855, five or six of the large varieties were exhibited ; in
1856, upwards of a dozen, and at our last exhibition not far
from one-half of the space was occupied by huge specimens of
the squash tribe. At this rate of increase, for a certainty the
society will soon have to make arrangements for the squash
exhibition, and make this a special department. However, we
rate the common sense and prudent foresight of our worthy
farmers too high to anticipate any great injury to our agriculture
from this source. The community certainly have a right to
expect some aid from the committee to determine the quality of
these large varieties. "Are they sweet ? " " Are they dry ? "
" Are they fine grained ? " were questions continually asked by
the spectators, to which they could obtain answers from no
responsible, disinterested party. Nearly all of these monsters
sprung from two varieties, specimens of one or both of which
were exhibited for the first time at tlie fair of 1855 ; we found
by inquiry that one of them for table use was utterly worthless,
and that the other might at times be passable. This is as might
have been anticipated from their size, but if the committee of
that year had been enabled by the regulations of the society to
test the quality of these and all other new comers, and could
thus have reported authoritatively in this matter, would not
their report have given a check to this mania ? Unless the
committee have granted to them in the programme of the society,
the right to test the qualities of every new candidate for public
favor, what inefficient automata they are ? they can merely cer-
tify that the articles were new or looked well, but what practical
aid do they render the farmer by recommendations resting on
such a basis ?

As one illustration of the necessity of such disinterested testi-
mony on which the public may rely, a most prolific variety of
the gourd family may be instanced, fifty-two of which, averaging
seven or eight pounds each, were exhibited as the product of a
single seed. Such an extraordinary yield exhibited under the
name of squashes, would at once draw the attention of enterpris-
ing farmers, and with the general intimation (if tliey obtained
any information on the subject) that one person had heard a
second person say that a third person had cooked one and found

328 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

it good ; very many would obtain seed, and it may be that in
another season hundreds may be giving time, ground and ma-
nure, to determine a question that could bo decided by the
committee most speedily. These gourds came under the notice
of your committee, and as the information above mentioned was
all the facts that could be obtained in answer to their interroga-
tions, they determined to take the liberty to interrogate the
gourds themselves. On doing so, found them to be a bitter,
repulsive fruit, certainly utterly worthless, and possibly, like
the bottle gourd, more or less poisonous. An additional argu.
ment for the end sought, is the fact that the seed of new pro-
ducts issue yearly from the great head of the progressive agri-
culture of this land, the Patent Office, to determine the merits
•f which intelligent farmers both need and desire the aid of
some responsible, disinterested body. It seems to the chairman,
therefore, that if the committee on vegetables have the power
conceded to them in the programme, to test, in whatever way
they may think proper, the quality of any article on exhibition,
an imputation will thus be removed from the practical workings
of our exhibitions ; the committee will feel that they are not
engaged in a mere farce, and their report will be more satisfac-
tory to themselves, and of more interest and value to those into
whose hands it may fall.

Before closing this portion of our report, we would dwell for
a moment on the instincts of this most interesting family of
plants ; to him who loves nature beyond her mere pecuniary
value, they will amply repay a careful study. We once observed
a squash vine, which had extended itself horizontally about ten
feet, pass under a pear tree, the lowest branch of which was
three and a half feet from the ground ; here, without any means
of support, it lifted itself nearly vertically towards the tree,
until it had almost reached the branch, when gravity proved
too powerful for its watery structure, and it fell in an arch to
the earth. Not satisfied with this result, it tried a second and
third time, with like success as at the first attempt, making
three arches, which carried it beyond the tree, when it con-
tinued, as before, its horizontal growth. Did not the vine knoiu
that the tree was above it, and by what means did it know the
fact ? Becoming specially interested in its instincts, I tested
them still farther, by plai ting stakes a little to the right or left

VEGETABLES. 329

of the extremity of the vine, previously removing all weeds
from within reach. In a few hours, in every instance, I found
that the runner had turned towards the stake, and soon the
tendrils had seized hold of it and had it in fast embrace. Did
this indicate a different instinct in plants from that found in
animals ? With this knowledge of its instincts, the vine
advancing over the ground more than a foot in twenty-four
hours, having the runner slightly elevated above the surface,
with its tendrils with their wonderful instincts stretched out,
hungry looking, into space, the unfolding growth at the extrem-
ity resembling a reptile's head, and the numerous leaves in
orderly arrangement, stretching far behind like a multitude of
expanded wings, — it needed but a slight play of the imagination
to see before one some wonderful reptile of a geologic age.

As an illustration that a close study of nature, aside from the
elevation of character and calling, which sure return she makes
the intelligent husbandman, has, also, its practical value, let us
here draw an inference. If the squash vine has this sure instinct
to detect and seize hold of, and thus support itself by whatever
protrudes above the surface of the earth, would it not be well
in many localities, to supply the field with stakes, or leave, here
and there, stout weeds, that the summer gusts may not prove so
injurious to the vines, rending, twisting and turning them, as
every farmer knows is apt to be the case when the fruit is in
the prime of its setting. The tendril of the squash, in twisting
around the object it has seized, forms a most finished spiral
spring, which, yielding, graduates into nothing, the effects of a
sudden force. The more fully to answer this end, it will often-
times be found that the spring is compound in its character ; in
one-half of its length the revolution being to the right, and in
the other to the left, and thus the effect of rude force is still
better graduated. Truly a wonderful contrivance of the All-
wise Creator.

The instinctive knowledge of the tendril office is, in plants,
so strong, that we recently noticed an instance in the woodbine,
where the tendrils passing over a smooth, perpendicular surface,
and consequently being unable otherwise, to secure a hold and
support the vine, their ends flattened themselves against the
surface, and spreading out into pads, resembling those attached
to the feet of a fly, secured quite a firm hold, and thus answered
the end of their creation.

330 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

Passing from the tendril to the flower, we find in the marrow
a fragrance almost equal to the magnolia, a fact of wliich our
farmer girls seem generally to be ignorant. It is a fact, well
known to the botanist, that in the squash family all the organs
necessary for fertility are not found in the same flower. The
centre of the male flower is a single piece, sometimes called by
boys " the candle," while in the fertile flower the centre is
divided into several parts, the number of which vary slightly
in different varieties, and below the flower the miniature squash
appears. The unproductive male flowers are long stemmed and
are the first to mature. The crossing of squashes when pure
seed have been planted, depends on the presence of the male
flowers of another variety, within a distance sufficiently near
for the wind, or busy, but mischievous bee, to bear the fine
dust, which is their product, to the fertile flowers of the pure
variety. It will be seen, therefore, that, provided the amateur
has nothing to fear from his neighbor's vines, he may raise the
seed of any particular kind pure, provided the seed was pure
when planted, and he has the patience to trim tlie other varieties
of their male flowers as fast as they appear and before they are
developed. It is a mistake to infer that the seed of a squash is
pure because the squash itself lias all the outward characteris-
tics of purity. The crossing of varieties, as in the apple, pear,
and all our fruits, is not in the pulp, but in the seed ; and were
the squash vine like our trees, perennial, no matter how near
other varieties might grow, the fruit would always be constant ;
bnt when we plant the seed, be it of squash, apple or pear, then
the result of growing it in the vicinity of other varieties, at
once shows itself in fruit of all degrees of purity, though the
seed planted may all liave come from one squash.

Several collections of excellent sweet corn were exhibited by
S. A. Merrill, of Salem, and others, but among them all we did
not find any specimens of the Black Mexican. Of ten varieties,
which we tested the past season, this was decidedly the sweetest.
The ear is rather below the average size, and matures somewhat
late, the kernels when ripe being of a rich, dark, purpl > color,
but when in the milk but slightly tinged with purple. The
Black Mexican is prolific, will bear close planting, and we can
confidently recommend it to the gardeners and farmers of Essex.

J. J. H. Gregory, Chairman.

VEGETABLES. 331

WORCESTER NORTH.

From the Report of the Committee.

No branch of agriculture when successfully prosecuted, pays
so large a profit as the cultivation of vegetables ; we propose,
therefore, in this report, to offer a few thoughts and suggestions
connected with their cultivation ; and first.

Ploughing. — The object of ploughing is not alone to kill the
weeds and grass, nor even to furnish a seed bed of fresh turned
soil for planting or sowing, nor any thing that looks merely to
the inversion of the sod, but the chief value of ploughing is
the preparation it gives the soil for producing vegetation, for
giving to the various plants the elements of growth and fruit-
fulness. Hence the object of the plough is to thoroughly
pulverize and loosen the soil, and. thus admit a free circula-
tion of air and moisture, which by chemical action, breaks
down the strong or mineral portions of the soil, so that
they may be the more readily dissolved, and taken up by the
roots. In a soil thus ploughed and prepared for yielding its
support to vegetable life, plants can appropriate both far and
near the nutriment needed for their growth. It is in this way
dissolved and ready for their use ; not hidden in unbroken
clods, or slumbering in an undisturbed subsoil, but awaiting
the action of the roots in a friable and penetrable state, when
every hungry rootlet sent out to gather nourishment for its
parent plant, may find food to satisfy its own hunger, and a
ready surplus to gratify its worthy sire. Fineness and depth
of soil are requisite also in order to receive the full benefit of
the manures applied. It is not fertilizing food in its crude
state which assists vegetation, but it must become intimately
mixed with, or more properly become a part of the soil in order
to produce the best results.

Barnyard manure, especially, seems of little worth, while
forming visible layers between the clods of a half ploughed field.
It being often dry and coarse it will rather be shunned than
sought by the roots and fibres sent out in search of suitable
food. If a well prepared soil has any strength or virtue, it will
yield readily, and poor land even, when properly prepared, is
often more productive than richer soil less perfectly prepared.

332 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

By such a preparation the influences of moisture and air have
freedom to work, and they are no sluggards in supplying the
wants of vegetation.

A deep sandy loam is undoubtedly the most favorable soil for
most kinds of vegetables, and yet by proper culture, a liberal
crop may be obtained upon those less congenial. The adapta-
tion of the different kinds of manure to the different varieties
of vegetables^ is a matter worthy of careful investigation and
experiment. Liquids, however, for top-dressing, are far prefer-
able to all others.

Selection of Seeds. — Li the cultivation of vegetables, great
care should be taken in the selection of seed, not merely in
obtaining the best varieties, but so far as possible that which
. hacf a healthy growth and came to an early maturity the previ-
ous year. Those who rely wholly upon our seed growers for
their supply will not always get the quality or variety sought
for ; but if proper care be taken, each man may raise mostly
his own, and thereby not only save an item of expense, but
determine the age and quality of his seed for himself.

Potatoes. — Doubtless it will be conceded by all that no
vegetable has so large a claim upon our attention as the potato,
inasmach as none occupy so common a place upon our tables,
or is so well adapted to meet the wants of those in poverty and
distress. Hence, whatever knowledge human science or practi-
cal experience can furnish, either to improve their culture or
preserve them from disease, should be cheerfully presented and
widely diffused. So general was the disease the past year,
coupled with the severity of the winter, that the price of good
potatoes reached a point in our maket before unknown.
Although the disease has made fearful ravages in many sections
the present year, yet the indications are that the crop will be
much larger and of better quality than that of the previous
year. Had our farmers the certainty of a large and healthy
yield, no crop would be so profitable at any thing like present
prices. But as no infallible remedy has yet been discovered to
protect this valuable vegetable from tlie fatal disease to which
it is now subject, we have only to go forward in the use of such
means as science and practical experience may suggest, imtil
the turning of a new leaf in the great book of Providence shall

VEGETABLES. 333

reveal to us either the cause of the disease, or suggest a per-
manent and effectual remedy.

Squashes. — Few articles raised in the garden exceed in value
and importance the squash. It makes the very best of pics, and
its place among other vegetables in an old fashioned boiled dish
cannot well be spared. The best varieties are the crookneck,
marrow and Hubbard ; the latter is said to be far superior to
either of the others in every respect, for pie or table use. With
ordinary success the squash is a profitable crop to raise for
market, as the demand is uniformly beyond the supply.

Cabbage. — There is no vegetable in general use so nearly
allied to meat as the cabbage. Oxygen, hydrogen and carbon
are the constituent elements of most vegetables, but the cab-
bage adds to them nitrogen, whicli makes it similar in its com-
position to flesh ; this renders it a more hearty food than other
vegetables. That it is a healthy and highly nutritious article
of food is indicated by the hardy constitutions of the Dutch and
Irish races, who make it a leading article of daily consumption.
This vegetable is used in some sections extensively for feeding
stock, and is found to be highly valuable. A crop for fodder
may be sown broadcast, with no culture except an occasional
sprinkling of ashes. It may be secured by mowing, and feed-
ing green.

Cauliflower. — This is regarded by many as the most deli-
cious vegetable of the cabbage kind known. It has a large
white head, composed of flower stalks and unexpanded flowers,
surrounded with long pale green leaves ; the white head only
being eaten. The plants should be raised like early cabbage
plants, and transplanted in a similar manner ; they require a
rich soil, and where grown in small quantities in a vegetable
garden, the benefit of soap suds on washing days is very appar-
ent ; there are several varieties, the best of which is the Early
Paris.

Carkots. — Carrots are said to be less used liere than in any
other country in the world. In France they are considered
one of the necessaries of the table, and are particularly prized
as an article for soup making. It is a very wholesome vegeta-
ble and undoubtedly deserves more notice than it receives, for
table use. For stock feeding it is more extensively used, and
is considered invaluable. The early short horn is tlie earliest

43

334 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

and best variety for the table ; next to this, and the best for
winter use is the Altringliam. A deep, rich, sandy soil is best
adapted to the beet and carrot.

Few vegetables are more palatable than good beets, and they
deserve a more frequent visit at our tables than we are ac(?us-
tomed now to give them. The best variety for all seasons of
the year is the early turnip.

Pumpkins. — While we would not discourage the raising of
the ordinary field pumpkin for feeding stock, we would earn-
estly recommend the small sweet variety for pies and table use.
Who does not wait with anxious longing for the season of
pumpkin pies to return, and with what a keen and hearty relish
are they welcomed and devoured ; now if you would have your
palates tickled with a new and more agreeable sensation, pro-
cure the sweet pumpkin, and let the good lady of the house
display her skill upon that which nature evidently designed for
pumpkin pies.

We should be glad to follow out the list of vegetables on
exhibition to-day and speak of each in detail, but the growing
length of our report forbids such a reference. In conclusion,
we may add, that the present variety and excellence of our
vegetables has only been obtained by careful research and per-
severing effort. Let then the spirit that has animated the past,
in this department of agriculture, be applied to the future also ;
then we may hope that the time will come, when the vegetable
gardens that refresh and adorn the rural homes of our land
will bear some humble resemblance to that which was planted
more than three thousand years ago, amid the bowers and fruits
of Paradise.

J. S. Brown, Chairman.

MAPLE SUGAR. 335

MAPLE SUGAR.

HAMPSHIRE.

Statement of Zebina M. Hunt.

In making maple sugar, I first have all the apparatus clean ;
and I have liad my boiling arch constructed so that the fire
does not come above the sap, when boiling. After gathering
the sap it is strained and boiled to sirup, then strained, cooled,
and when boiled to sugar I cleanse with the white of an egg
and milk.

SuKDERLAND, November 15, 1857.

Statement of H. O. Field.

My maple sugar was made from sap taken from maple trees
and boiled to sirup. I then strained, put it in a cask till cold ;
again strained and placed it over a slow fire. I added a little
sweet milk and saleratus at the rate of a teaspoonful to twenty-
five pounds of sugar, and boiled until it would crystalize. It was
then taken from the fire, stirred gently, and when it began to
crystalize was poured into dry tin dishes.

Lkveuett, November 15, 1S57.

Statement of A. Montague.

To make maple sugar, I procure sap from the maple tree in
March and April. I collect it in wooden tubs, strain it, boil to
sirup, then strain, cool, and settle it. I next cleanse with the
white of an egg or eggs ; again strain ; boil until done, and
then it is stirred and caked.

Sunderland, November 15, 1857.

336 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

ESSAYS.

The Massachusetts Society for the Promotion of Agriculture, pro-
pose the following subjects for Prize Essays for 1858. One hundred
and fifty dollars for each.

I. An inquiry as to the best breed of Cattle for the State of Mas-
sachusetts, taking into consideration beef, milk, and ivork.
Does such a breed exist ? If not, can it be made either by
crossing known breeds or by selection, without reference to
breed ?
II. Manures, natural and artificial. The best mode of preparation.
The best mode of application, — having especial reference to
the soil, climate, and crops of IMassachusetts.

III. The most useful system of instruction, by which to acquire a

practical agricultural education, such as would fit a young
man to commence the business of a farmer upon the average
farming lands of Massachusetts.

IV. Best Essay on the advantages to be derived from establishing

regular fairs or market days throughout the State, for the sale
and exchange of agricultural products, together with the best
practical method for commencing and continuing them so as
to create new markets to the fiirmer.

No Essay will be entitled to a premium, unless it shall be consid-
ered by the Trustees or by those appointed to decide upon its merits
to be of sufficient practical value to agriculture to make it worthy of
publication in the Transactions of the Society. The Essays must be
sent in to the Secretary on or before October 1, 1858, and the name
of the author must accompany his Essay, sealed up in an envelop,
and not to be opened unless a premium is awarded to the writer.

RICHARD S. FAY,

-Sec'?/ of the Mass. Soc. for the Promotion of Agriculture.

February 13, 1858.

EXPERIMENTAL FARMING. 33T

ESSEX.

INQUIRIES IN RELATION TO EXPERIMENTAL
FARMING.

BY WILSOX FLAGG.

Inquiries are frequently made with reference to the method
that should be pursued in conducting an experimental farm.
The subjects for experiment are so many and so various, that it
is difficult to understand the rules that should govern a com-
mittee in their selection of those which are worthy to be tried
on a farm of a limited number of acres. It may likewise be
objected, that as farmers are constantly engaged in experiment-
ing on their own lands, and with tlieir own stock, instigated and
directed by leading minds, that a farmer, -devoted to this purpose,
can do little but repeat the , experiments which have been pre-
viously made by private individuals. We must, however, bear
in mind, that when an individual carries on a series of experi-
ments, the results may never be made known to the public.
They may likewise be awkwardly conducted, and imperfectly
communicated, so that between the want of scientific method in
conducting them, and of clearness and precision in reporting
them, the real facts are never ascertained. It may be added,
that the experiments of an individual, acting in a private
capacity, seldom obtain that degree of notoriety which would
attend those of an association, and hence the former, however
well presented, seldom reach the minds of persons beyond the
immediate neighborhood in which they are conducted.

Let the same experiments be made by an association, and
they immediately obtain notoriety. When published they are
read by all who are interested in agriculture, and the facts are
spread abroad over the whole country. All experiments would
be concentrated upon this farm, which would otherwise be
scattered over the land in widely separated places ; they would
generally be conducted with more skill and method, and the
results would be presented to the public in an aggregate report,
which would enable them to be seen at one view. A visit to
the society's farm, when in full operation, and a perusal of its

338 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

reports, would enable us to witness and to obtain facts which
we could otherwise learn only by riding over a great many
farms, and searching the pages of multitudes of journals.
Experiments, made under the direction of an intelligent com-
mittee of an agricultural society would bo judiciously selected,
and conducted in a methodic and intelligible manner. There
is no end to the advantages which a society would enjoy, for
rational and philosophical experiments, on a farm under tlie
management of a clear-headed and industrious superintendent.

Before we proceed to enumerate the objects which might be
accomplished, it ought to be premised that the farm should be
made to pay its own expenses, as this fact made known to the
public, would afford to common minds the most intelligible and
satisfiictory evidence of the practical utility of the institution.
The produce should pay for all the labor expended on it.
Though it could not reasonably be expected that the farm, in a
commercial sense should be made profitable to tlie society, the
object of the donor would undoubtedly be accomplished, if the
experiments made upon it should furnish the community with
certain useful discoveries, without any pecuniary loss. If a fund
should be bequeathed or donated to the society, it might bo
prudent to use up the interest of this fund v/ithout expecting
any substantial returns ; but the public would be better satisfied,
if the produce of the fiirm should always cover the actual
expense laid out upon the crops.

Let us r.ow proceed to consider in detail the objects which
should be sought in the conduct of the farm.

1, The society should confine its attention chiefly to such
experiments as require too much science to be well conducted
by the generality of farmers, and which are not im|)artially
made by gardeners and nursery-men. The latter arc constantly
experimenting upon fruits, but the results are not always hon-
estly given. Not that there is often a wilful and deliberate
intention of deceiving the public, but these men are influenced
'by a strong temptation to exaggerate the merits of any new
variety of fruit wliich they hold in their exclusive possession,
;and by the sale of which they hope to make a profit propor-
tioned to tlieir praises. Otliers who are not interested, might
endeavor to expose the partiality of the encomiums passed upon
tlie fruit by its proprietor ; but the public has equal reason to

EXPERIMENTAL FARMING. 339

suspect the honesty of the contradiction, and the private tests
of its value must be very slowly communicated to the public.
On the society's farm these fruits might be fairly tested, and
every- body could witness the honest result. The controverted
merits of any new species or variety of esculent root or vege-
table, might be settled by the same test.

2. Seeds are sent from abroad to the Patent Office at Wash-
ington, for distribution. The majority of these are probably
of little value, but those which have never been fairly tried are
legitimate subjects of experiment. There is no reason to
believe that we are acquainted with every valuable species of
grain or pulse which might be profitably raised in this north-
ern climate. The success that has followed the experiments
already made upon the Chinese sugar cane seems to warrant
the belief, that there is yet a wide field open for investigation
into the qualities and merits of other foreign articles of agi-i-
cultural produce. The sorghum offers a probable source of a
new and abundant supply of domestic sugar. Is there not
some other vegetable yet undiscovered, that may afford a new
supply of oil ? Or may not oil bo extracted from the seeds of
some well known plant that has hitherto been considered worth-
less ? Experiments might be made in the cultivation of those
plants Vv^hich are known to furnish this product, with reference
to their improvement. We do not yet know the real value of
the seeds of the sunflower, cotton seed, rape seed, and the seeds
of the poppy. Is there no new method of cultivation by which
the fatness of the seeds of these plants might be increased ?
Why should this object be more difficult to attain than that of
improving the sweetness of fruits, or the farinaceous property
of esculent roots ? Who is prepared to assign precise limits to
the usefulness of these and other oily seeds, when improved by
scientific culture.

However numerous or extraordinary the new chemical means
for supplying the community with oil, the supply can never make
headway of the demand. The whale fishery has long ceased
to yield as abundant a supply of this product as it yielded
when less oil was consumed. Lard oil has in a limited degree
supplied the deficiency, but were it not for the use of spirits of
turpentine for light, under the various names given it, for the
purpose of deceiving the public in regard to its identity, and to

840 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

the dangers attending the use of it in all its possible forms
and under all possible circumstances, the people would be greatly
distressed for expedients to supply them with light. One of the
principle desiderata in the agriculture of the present age, is the
discovery of some plant capable of being profitably reared in
our own climate and on our own soil, which shall afford an
abundant produce of oil ; or what would be still better, the
improvement of oleaginous seeds by a new system of culture.
It would be expedient, therefore, to submit every plant that
promises to be valuable in this respect, to the test of scientific
experiment ; or to adopt such new methods of culture as might
be supposed to improve the qualities of those already known.
If the application of certain alkalies to the soil will improve the
quality of fruits, and if by the application of phosphates we can
increase the size of grain, why may we not improve the oleagi-
nous properties of seeds, by some yet undiscovered method of
chemical fertilization ? Chemistry may yet teach us the art of
converting water into oil, through the agency of certain sub-
stances applied to the roots of the hemp or the sunflower.

3. It is yet undeternlined whether it would be more profitable
in our climate to cultivate the early varieties of Indian corn
which yield a small crop but a sure one, or the later varieties
which are not so sure but more productive. A series of well
conducted experiments might unfold the means of turning
these early varieties to a profitable account, by sowing the land
after it was reaped, in the same season, with some other crop.
No species of grain can be advantageously sown after the
gathering of the later kinds of maize, while after the Canada
corn is gathered, grass and several kinds of grain might be
profitably sown for the next year, and increase beyond that stage
of growth, that is necessary to secure them from injury during
the winter.

Whatever might be the success attending any such experi-
ments, there is undoubtedly a great deal to be learned in regard
not only to the qualities of the different varieties of maize, but
also with regard to its culture. One great desideratum is the
improvement of this plant by increasing its property of early
maturity, or its precocity, without diminishing its i)roductive-
ness. Experiments should be made in order to combine, as far
as possible, these two seemingly incompatible qualities in the

EXPERIMENTAL FARMING. 341

same variety of maize. This may be done by careful selection
and hybridization, and careful watching for accidental varieties,
in which these properties seem to be combined in the highest
degree. "We must also call in the aid of chemistry in our exper-
iments on this grain, since the ingenuity of man seems to have
been exhausted in inventing any new mode of culture by the
ordinary applications. It would be useful also to make some
investigations into the different qualities of the white and the
yellow, and the flinty and mealy grains. The white corn is
preferred at the South for all sorts of bread and puddings and
for husbandry, and the white varieties only are fit for table use
in a green state. Yet the yellow corn is preferred by hogs,
cattle and poultry. What is the chemical difference in these
different kinds, and are different modes of culture required for
each ? These few suggestions are sufficient to show that there
is yet much to be learned with reference to the different varie-
ties of Indian corn, and the means of improving them.

4. The influence of hibernation, or a state of rest in the
winter, on plants which are not accustomed to it, is a point
which has not been sufficiently investigated, and it opens a wide
field for curious and ingenious experiment. The results of
such experiments might be turned to a profitable account in
the culture of early fruits and vegetables. If we subject an
annual plant, the tomato for example, when half grown, to a
period of hibernation, we artificially convert it thereby, if suc-
cessful, into a biennial, like the cabbage or turnip. How far is
this practicable ? Can any method be devised by which the
tomato, the cucumber, and the melon, by a peculiar sort of
protection, might be preserved in a state of rest from October
until May, without injury ? There is no question that if they
retained their vitality and their health, after sucli hibernation,
they would grow with extraordinary rapidity when exposed to
the sun and atmosphere in the spring. We might by this
means obtain ripe tomatoes in June, a season of the year when
they would supply a very general want in the market.

It is well known that if any plant has been forced in a hot-
bed or a greenhouse, it loses some of its capacity for growing
thriftily when transplanted into the garden or exposed to the
open air. It remains apparently at rest for some time after
transplantation, before it can acquire sufficient energy to

44

im MASSA(MHJSMTTS Ml\lH)[]\s'V\}\lK.

inci-diiHC! ill ^;r()wUi, iiiidiir its ikjw (;ii(',iiiiiH(,iiiiC(!H. Tin; (toiidi-
Uoii of Mi(! li(ui,llJiy pliuil, wliicli litis l)(;i!ii kopi, all vviiil,<;i- in u
h(,il(,(i of rcsl,, is Uk! very (»|t|Mi.sil,(; of this. 'J'lilu! I,w<> plantH of
l,li(5 s.'iiiKi Hp(;(',i(!H, wliicli Ii.hI nlliiiiKid (,li(5 Hii,Mi(5 Hi/,0 iumI malu-
ril.y, oik; of wliicli liiul jiisl. I*(;i;ii r:iis(Ml in ii IioUkmI, mikI tlu;
oUku* JiihI, liikoii IVoiti (,li() ('-(dliir, wlnud i(, wns (l(i[)(»Kit(Mi hIx
nioiilJis previously, licl, iJicm Ix; h.-inspliiiilcd iiilo Uio garden
ill May, and l.lio liisl, would lie, ioiiiid l,o j-rovv iiioi(! rapidly and
vi}!,'oroiisly iJian (,lie (iisL

l<]x|»erinienl,.s nii;'lil, l>e made lor iJii:; olijeel, in VMiioiis ways.
'V\\i: phtnl.s iiii;>lil, he reinove(| into (lie cellar and iJieii (Covered
willi sand ; or Miey ini^dil, Ik; iillovv(Ml lo K-niiiin in iJie ^'iird(Mi-
l)e(| vvIkm'c lliey were pl!in(,e<|, covfU'od liy ;i, lM)\,()r prol,(;e,|.ed
l»y ii, hed ol' Ii;iy or sJivvdnsI, of sullieienl. (Jiielui(!SS 1,0 siivo tlio
plaiils IVoni rr(M'y,iii^;. Tlxiy ini^'Jil. Jilso Ite prol,o(',l,od (Voin tlio
Hulti.orriinean eoniiiiiinicafion of cold by si. Ireiieli all around llio
ImmI, ii.ImmiI, lliree I'ei-I, in depi li, Imi:i rded :ind lilled willi some
Horl, ol" dry cIiiiH, I,o l»e kepi, dry l»y llie sludter of a roof.
When (lio plants w(U'e uiicovcu'e.d in Uie spriiifj!;, Uiey would
comnieiiee {'-rowing' in a, sl.iii.e of rorwardness \j>\ry lilll(! In-hind
(,lia(, vvhieh Ihey lia.d :i.ll;iiiied when Iliey were coviired (Mi Mk;
preec^diii}'; iinlnmn.

i"). Our indij'cnons rrnil-s jiim; \i'i-y impeileelly known (,o enl-
tival.ors. M,speriin(Mil,s l,o a limil,(!d o\l,enl, liavo Ixhmi ]iiado wiMi
ilio f^!;nip(!, (he hhiekh(!rry, nnd oilier spei^ies (d' rilhus. Mill,
llicrc; lire olJier IViiils l,li:il, mif/'lil, Ik; remhn'ecl iiroliUlbUi l>y <-iil-
l,ival,i(Mi. <hie of IIk; iiio:1 imporranl. wan Is of IlKM-ommiitiily
is a ^dod supply of I'luil, in llie early |(ar(, of the summer. Al,
no season of l.lie yesir is Ihe waiil, of fresh friiil, so painfully fell,,
as in May and .III lie. Miflil, iiolcerliiin speeies he diseovered
which would ripen MiiMr fruil, al, Uiis eiirly |teriod. 'I'here is an
indif'cnous sliruh, wi'il known l,o nil who !i.rc familiiir vviMi our
N(;w hln<_';l!Mid Mora, which mij-hl, he, rendered liij'hly servic,(!ahlc
hy ciilUvalion. This is Ihe .liiii(5 herry, so called from (he
nionl.h in vvhicii il, ripens ils fruil,, Ihe jit/rus oiut/is oi' i'i^ndow's
"• riaiils of Uoston," Mild (Jie <iiiir/<ui(/iiif canddcnsis of 'Porrey
ami dray. II. is (»iie of (»ur earlicsl, llowcriiig sliruhs, and lias
received (he name of shad hush, from (Ik^ period of ils (loW(5r-
iiifj^, which is (he lime oC (he arrival of (he shad in oiii- rivers.

The earliesi, frnil, of our fields and <-';ardens is (,li<i sLra,w herry,

KXI'KIMMKNTAIi KA l{,MIN(J. JM:{

which is sctldoiii iil)(iii<lii.iil, h(tr()i-(; l\\t) HisI, wcok in •liily. I(,
TiKjuircs ^fdiil, c.iuM! lor ilsKiiccti.s.sCiil ciilMvniiuii, ilikI is cxI.idiiKily
(Iciir ill (,li(^ iiiwiknl. W(U'() iiiiy iicvv filiiiili (<» Imi iiil i(t(|iic<!(|
into our fj-Jirdons, vvhicth would |)rodii<'i' nii alniiidiincc, of ripo
IViiil, ill (lid nuly \mvl of .hiiic, il, would Ik! an iiivalualilo IdoHH-
iiiji,' l,o (Ik; <',oinMiuiiily. 'I'lm //i/nis oiui/is ollors II.mcII' hh n, (it
Hubjccl, lor such oxjxsrinuiid-. A <|iiai(, of (Jk; IVuK, of (Jiis nlinili,
i'i|)OU(;d Itoloi'o (Jio suuinuu' koI.'IJci!, would hu inoi'o highly |iit/(mI
iliiin a huHhol of pciiclK^s in Soj)I.(umI)(!I'. Thu borricH of (Ik;
|)hi.ii(, ai'o or<iX(Uill()ii(, (|uali(,y. 'V\h'. only <|U()H(J<)n to ho miHworod
in i'(!j^iu'd (,() (.lioni, is wh(dJi<!i' Lluiy aio suH(',(!|»(,il)I() of iitiprovo-
niciit, and wh(;(,li('i- (lut Nlinil) ciin Ix; nuuh; to yi(dd alMindaMtly
by cuI(Jva,(i(»ii.

Miirly NUiuiiidr I'luils arc, iio(, only in ^'Tca,!, dciiiaiid, luil, I, hey
ans also hi^.dily ini|ioi-|,aiil, (,o (he li('a.l(Ji oC (JiC; coiiiniuiiity.
Indeed, wi(,lioii(, doiilt(., a, ^rvcni deal of acliial sudeiiii}' t:\tv\i\^fH
IVoni (Jie wa,nt of (Ikmii on (lie lirsl, a,|i|iroa(!li of warm wt^allier.
Tln! waij(, in (lie, sys(,eni, which is sii|t|ilied by (,lie acid and o(,b(ir
(]ualiti(;K of fresh ripe IViiil, is iiior<; painruliy |e|(, in .Iiiik; and
.July (Jian in any o(,h(!r pari of (,h(5 y(!ar. TIk! (,ru(,h \h, we
uctiuilly need Ihe iiios(, (Vui(< a(, a seanon wliieli ai'lbi'(|H u;< (Jk;
loant ol' i(/. 11" by any mode ol" eultiire, (be June ixniy can b(i
iriado an ubundanl, prodneer of early rrui(,, i(, wonbl be moio
vahiable lo (Jie, jMiblie (Jian any IViiil, wliieli lias ye(, been dis-
Cov(!red.

MxperiirKJuLs (mi)j;Ii(, likewise (,o In; made, upon oIIku- (tarly
fi'uiL-b(!arin^ shrubs. Tin; a,(,(,(!n(,ion of e,ul(,iva((MS has been
hiLlnu'lo exelusiv(dy eouline.d (,o (Jie donies(,iea,(.i(*n of a,ii(,umna[
or late Kiimmef rrui(s, from a.monjr our indi}'eiioii:; j»laii(,H, sueh
aw the }^rap(! and bja.c,kbe)*ry. lhi(, la(,e riui(,H ai-e HunieienLly
various and abiindanl. Our alLenlion oii^ld/ (.o be mnrt; j)ar(,i(;u-
larly direcLijd to th(5 oarliost fruitw of HninirKu-. 'I'he low hlu(5-
berry (varcinium Unnllum) is very early in bearing, and by
cultivation and care in the Kchiction of the earlioHt varieticH,
it mi(j;ht iindoub(,(!dly b(! brouf^ht (,o niaturi(,y at Jin e,arliei'
period than the strawberry, and it would yictid IViiit with nine,|i
hiSK care and at(,(!ntion from the cultiva(;or.

0. Anotlnjr Kubjeet of experiuKjiit is th<; doirjeHtie,a,tion of n<!W
spOcioH of hinlw and (juadrupe.ds. It wa,s the (Opinion oC Audii-
})0M, who (lo(!H not KCirun to havo boon a visionary man, (hat

344 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

many species of indigenous birds might be successfully and
}3rofitably domesticated. The greater part of them are of the
genus Anas. Among these may be named the wood-duck,
Anas spousa, which has already been partially domesticated ;
the black duck, A. obscura ; the blue-winged teal, A. discors ;
the gudwell duck, A. strepera; and eider duck, Fidigula molis-
sima. All these have been occasionally tamed, but no experi-
ments have been made for the purpose of ascertaining their
value as additions to our domesticated stock. Some of the
grouse family are worthy of trial, two or three of which are
recommended for domestication by Audubon.

Such new species as might be considered fit subjects of experi-
ment, could easily be procured by advertisement ; and many
would be presented to the society by individuals who are curi-
ous in these matters. Rare birds are often brought home by
adventurers from the interior of the continent, and by seamen.
There are also undoubtedly some species of quadrupeds which
might be useful additions to our domesticated kinds. I do not
feel very sanguine of the success of operations in this depart-
ment ; but if one new and valuable species of bird or quadruped
were brought under complete domestication by the efforts of
the society, one very important item of experimental research
would have been accomplished. The experiments would seem
at least to draw public attention to the natural history of our
own country.

7. Poultry ought not to be considered beneath the attention
of the philosophical ["experimenter. The comparative value of
the different varieties of the domestic hen has never been fairly
tested. Notwithstanding the universal rage that prevailed a
few years since, in regard to the rearing of poultry, the people
seem to have acquired no useful experience. They still enter-
tain the fallacious opinion that success depends on the selection
of good and productive breeds, more than on any other circum-
stance. If any are convinced that more depends on a careful
mode of rearing and keeping them than on the selection of the
breed, they still suppose that success is owing to the use of some
particular nostrum, and that the height of good management is
the judicious dispensation of medicaments, that stimulate the
productive powers of the hen.

Very few of our farmers pay any proper attention to their

EXPERIMENTAL FARMING. 345

poultry ; and so careless are they of this kind of stock, and so
contemptuously do they regard it, that not one in twenty can
estimate the cost of his fowls. Poultry are generally consid-
ered as causing more expense than profit to the farmer ; and no
one can doubt it who has observed the careless manner in which
they are reared. As they are generally kept, they annually
destroy more produce than they consume, and eat more after
they have attained their growth, before they are killed, than the
price of their flesh would buy, when they are carried to market.
Two important things are yet to be learned in regard to poultry,
first, the most economical mode of feeding and taking care of
them ; second, the most profitable age at which they should be
killed, for the market, or for one's own table.

From some experience obtained by the writer of this essay,
it would appear that there is considerable profit in rearing
chickens to the age of three or four months, and that after that
period they are expensive unless they are to be kept for laying.
It is a rational subject of inquiry, therefore, to determine the
cost of a chicken from the time of its first escape from the egg,
during the first six months of its existence. It would probably
be found that the only profitable period of its life, when raised
for the table, is the first three or four months. If, for example,
a chicken attain the weight of two pounds, from the time it was
hatched, at a cost of six cents a pound, the next two pounds it
would gain only at a cost of ten or twelve cents a pound, or in
that ratio.

With regard to laying hens, it is important to learn what are
the characteristics of each distinct variety, and whether there
is any essential difference in their annual productiveness, sup-
posing each kind to receive the most judicious care and atten-
tion. The speculators in this kind of stock have purposely
deceived the public, sometimes lauding one variety, and some-
times another, in order to create a demand for that particular
variety which they have for sale. There is not a single variety
or sub-variety of the domestic hen, that has not had its turn in
being eulogized by respectable authority, as exceeding all others
in the production of eggs.

Some of the questions to be answered by future experiments
are these : What is the best variety of the common fowl for
the production of eggs, and what the best to raise for its flesh ?

346 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

What variety of fowl arrives at the earliest maturity ? At what
age ought a hen to begin to lay, in order that her eggs, moder-
ately produced, should pay for her cost previous to her laying
and afterwards ? To what age in general might hens be kept
for their eggs, before they cease to be profitable ? At what
period of their growth is it most economical to kill chickens for
their flesh ? What season of the year is the best for raising
chickens to supply a stock of laying hens ? What effect has
the rearing of two or more broods of chickens during the sum-
mer, on the productiveness of a laying hen for the remainder of
the year ? Will she make up by her fruitfulness in the autumn
and winter, for her rest in the summer ? Is the effect of stimu-
lants, like pepper, to increase the annual amount of eggs pro-
duced by the fowl, or is it merely to hasten the production of
them at a particular period ? The answers to these questions
should be learned by experience, since it is only by attention to
such minute details in the management of poultry, that they
can be made a profitable stock.

8. The art of feeding other kinds of stock, though it has
received more attention from our farmers, is very far from being
well understood. It is doubtful if experiments with reference
to this art have ever been conducted very methodically in this
country. Some of the valuable and economical practices of the
European peasantry might be tried, and introduced to the atten-
tion of the public. The profitableness of stall-feeding for cows
has not yet been the subject of general experiment. This is not
a matter of so much consequence here as in Europe, though in
the neighborhood of our cities pastures are not easily obtained,
nor very accessible. Many families are deterred from keeping
a cow, which might be made a source of considerable profit to
them, by supposing that one cannot be well kept without a pas-
ture. In relation to this point it is important to ascertain
what is the influence of stall-feeding upon the healthy condition
of a cow ? Will she bear confinement in a stall and yard with-
out incurring disease ? Are there any means of supplying a
cow with that sort of moderate exercise, in a state of confine-
ment, which would compensate for the want of that which is
obtained in the pasture ?

What are the effects of different kinds of food upon the quan-
tity and quality of milk ? The German peasants feed their

EXPERIMENTAL FARMING. 347

cows upon a farinaceous gniel combined with straw. Ought
not all their farinaceous food to be made into a gruel, in order
to render it more productive of milk by assimilating it to the
nature of green, succulent food ? The supposition is that food
in a dry state tends to increase the fat of the animal, while the
same food coagulated with water, tends rather to increase the
quantity of milk. Is there no plant, without the disagreeable
properties of the cabbage, that might be preserved in a green
state during the winter, to supply the cow with succulent food
at this season? Will more milk be produced by green, succu-
lent food, combined with hay, than by the same hay combined
with thin, coagulated meal porridge or gruel?

Is it expedient to employ cows for any sort of labor ? If
they are fed in their stalls and not sent to pasture, would not a
certain amount of labor be useful to them ? What is the effect
of labor upon tlie quality and the quantity of milk produced by
the individual subjected to it ? If the common labors of oxen
are too severe for a cow, might she not be used in an easy tread-
mill, to cut her own fodder, to shell corn, or even to churn her
own milk. These questions might be indefinitely multiplied, but
those already offered are sufficient for suggestion. In this place
we might also speak of the importance of ascertaining the com-
parative value of the cow and the goat, for supplying private
families with milk.

9. Not inferior in importance to any of the subjects already
mentioned, is an inquiry into the capability of the soil. What
amount of any description of produce may an acre, when raised
to its maximum of fertility, be made to yield ? And how far is
it for the interest of a farmer to confine his labor and attention
to a small number of acres ? The less ground in a farm of any
given extent is under tillage, the more remains to grow up to
wood, or to be devoted to pasture. If a farmer has been accus-
tomed to raise upon twenty acres of land, a certain quantity of
produce of different kinds, by the labor of three men, and the
same quantity of produce, by another system of tillage, could
be raised upon ten acres of the same land, would the labor of
the same or a smaller number of men be required to effect it ?

Admitting that a saving of labor could be made by adopting
the concentrated system of tillage, it still remains undetermined
whether the ten acres, mentioned above, would require the same

348 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

quantity of manure which was used upon the twenty acres in
the previous system of culture, to be made to yield an equal
amount of produce. If five hundred dollars worth of manure
would obtain five hundred dollars of net profit from twenty
acres, would it require the same quantity, or less, or more, to
obtain the same profit from ten acres ? Would the increased
productiveness of the soil, trenched and worked, and manured
in such a manner as to be raised to its greatest capacity, pay
our farmers for pursuing such a system, or approximating to it,
throughout their own husbandry ?

10. What influence has the cultivation and draining of the
soil upon the temperature of the local climate ? * Is the atmos-
phere resting over a certain tract which is naturally wet, ren-
dered warmer by perfect drainage ? What is the difference of
temperature at the time such a difference exists, in two contig-
uous fields on the same level, and originally of the same char-
acter, one of which remains in a wet and boggy condition,
while the other is thoroughly drained, and converted into a dry
and friable soil ? At what season and at what period of the
twenty- four hours, is this difference of temperature perceptible ?
There is reason to believe that it is very considerable during
the summer, especially on summer nights. Wet lands radiate
more heat than dry lands, and this heat escapes into the higher
atmosphere. Hence the great liability of low lands to be affected
by spring and summer frosts. The influence of drainage upon
the local temperature of any tract, is a curious subject of inves-
tigation. The advantage of draining, in order to insure good
crops, is well known and admitted on all sides. How much
does the consequent change of local temperature contribute
towards producing these superior crops ? Many a farmer whose
lands are wet, and whose situation is comparatively cold in
summer, would render his home more comfortable and his farm
more productive, by perfect drainage.

A series of experiments should be instituted, to ascertain, as
nearly as practicable, the precise am^mt of benefit accruing to
the local climate, from thorough and extensive drainage. The
subjects of inquiry are not only the amount of change effected
in the temperature, but also the time of the day and of the year

* This question is more fully discussed by the author, in Ilovey's Magazine
for November, 1857.

EXPERIMENTAL FARMING. 349

when it is most sensibly felt. It would probably be found to
be the greatest during the four warmest months of the year,
and most perceptible in the night, especially when there is a
liability to frost.

11. The potato disease deserves to be made the subject of
experiment by every association connected with agriculture.
It is time that every farmer tries more or less experiment, either
incidentally or for the purpose of obtaining information on the
subject. But their experiments are not the result of concerted
action, and are seldom based on a sound, inductive method. A
farmer in the town of A. may be engaged this year in expensive
trials, which have been repeatedly made without success by
farmers in the town of B. On a public farm such experiments
might be conducted on the most philosophical principles, — the
experimenters having the advantage of suggestions from scien-
tific and practical men throughout the world.

Though it is not probable that an absolute cure or prevention
of the potato rot will be discovered, we may, perhaps, by a
series of experiments conducted on true inductive priuciples,
learn the means of keeping the potato comparatively free from
disease. We should inquire : What kinds of soil are the most
favorable, and what kinds are most unfavorable to the sound
conditi-on of the potato ? What is the influence of a greater
and .a less amount, than an average of dryness or humidity ?
Is there any chemical application that would lessen the evil
effects of moisture, if excessive moisture be one of the secon-
dary causes of the disease ? Does the potato remain more
exempt from the rot, in a sandy, or in a calcareous soil, of
equal humidity ? Is there any kind of soil that is uniformly
favorable or unfavorable to its soundness ? Does a virgin soil
produce a sounder crop than one that has been freely composted ?
What are the effects of different kinds of compost, of the dif-
ferent modes of distributing it, and of small or profuse quanti-
ties ?

Above all, is the potato disease contagious ? If contagious,
may it not be communicated by growing the potatoes in a soil
in which diseased potatoes were raised on the preceding year ?
Might it not also be communicated by using compost, in which
some of the diseased tubers had been mixed ? This appears to
be a very probable conjecture. If the disease be contagious, it
45

350 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

is evident that it might be checked and perhaps nearly eradi-
cated by observing the following requirements : 1. Let every
diseased potato be burned, boiled, or dissolved in caustic, before
it be thrown upon the compost heap or upon the land. 2. Let
no field in which potatoes were raised the preceding year, unless
they were perfectly sound, be used on the following year for a
potato crop. 3. See that no rotten potatoes have, at any time,
the least communication with those which are designed for
seed, 4. If there be any probability that the seed potatoes
have thiis imbibed a taint, let them be washed in the chloride
of lime before they are planted, to kill the virus that might
otherwise be buried with the tuber, on its surface.

As the means of ascertaining whether the disease be conta-
gious or not, we might institute the following experiments :
Let a virgin soil in a field, say of three acres, be ploughed at
one time, and divided into three parts, taking care that the soil
of the whole field is uniform and equally exposed to light and
moisture. Manure one of these acres with a compost contain-
ing a li]jeral mixture of diseased potatoes. Let a second be
manured with some substance that could have had no possible
communication with the virus ; and let the third portion of the
field remain without the application of any kind of a fertilizer.
Plant each division of the field with sound potatoes, of the
same kind and from the same lot, after washing all the seed in
some disinfecting fluid. Take pains to cut open every tuber
before it is planted, to see that it contains no visible marks of
the disease or of its symptoms, and reject all that look sus-
picious.

Watch the result when the crop is taken from the ground.
If the potatoes in the first division, which was manured with
compost, containing diseased potatoes in a decayed state, bear
a crop which soon becomes infected, while those in the other
two divisions remain sound, we have incontestible proof that
the disease is contagious. But it still remains to be proved
that there are not also other ways by which the disease might
be engendered. A constant repetition of such experiments
continued through a number of years with the same result,
would demonstrate that the disease might be averted, by scru-
pulously preventing any communication between the planted

EXPERIMENTAL FARMING. 351

crop and the disease, either through a contaminated soil, or by
contact with diseased potatoes.

Experiments with the potato might also be made, in regard
to its connection with the atmosphere. It is possible that the
source of the disease may be meteorological ; that it is some
effect produced by the atmosphere upon the vine, and commu-
nicated from the foliage to the tuber. But enough has already
been said to show that thousands of new facts it may be needful
to ascertain, before we can obtain a clue to the cause of the
potato disease. Let us not despair, however, until every possi-
ble mode of experiment has been unsuccessfully tried, of yet
discovering the means of averting this great calamity.

12. It is highly important to learn the comparative profitable-
ness of scientific and empyrical farming ; understanding by the
former the custom of reducing enlightened theory to practice in
cultivating the ground, and by the latter the art of tilling the
ground by the rule of precedent and experience, and of fertiliz-
ing by composts prepared, not on chemical principles, but
according to rules ascertained by practice. The latter, or the
empyrical system, is the most certain and indeed the only safe
one in the hands of a merely practical farmer ; as the use of
decoctions for the sick is more safe in the hands of an uneduca-
ted physician, than the concentrated and to him unintelligible
drugs of the apothecary. But the question is not wdiether we
can substitute any thing better than compost, in the place of it,
under circumstances that render it abundant and easily pro-
cured ; but whether, under circumstances in which compost is
hard to be procured, the use of chemical fertilizers may not be
reduced to such method and science, as to be equally cheap,
sure and efficacious.

Such experiments are constantly on trial by cultivators in
different parts of the world ; but they are no less worthy of
being tried on the society's farm. We cannot trust implicitly
to the published results of the trials of substances which form a
staple article of manufacture and commerce, because they are
invariably puffed beyond their merits, like patent medicines, by
those who are interested in their sale. The society, which is
not likely to enter into any commercial speculation by the man-
ufacture of fertilizers, may be considered a disinterested body,

352 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

and the published result of its experiments would have its due
wei<2,lit with the public.

But this is not the only line of investigation with reference to
chemical farming. The mixing and compounding of different
Boils, after ascertaining their nature by chemical tests, is a curi-
ous subject of inquiry, which may lead to important results.
There are some ingredients which improve the soil when applied
to it, and yet evidently impart none of their substance to the
crops that are improved by it. What is the nature of the benefit
they yield to the soil ? Take charcoal for an example. Is this
substance simply hygrometric in its action as a fertilizer ; or is
it also a chemical absorbent dni^ fixer of certain volatile matters
which are useful to plants ? Why is plaster useful as a fertilizer
of certain upland soils ? Does it supply the soil with a chemical
ingredient that constitutes a part of the food of plants ; or is
this substance simply hygrometric, and does it act by retaining
moisture in a condition that renders it available to the roots of
plants, while it is not liable to be confronted by the sun and
atmosphere ?

It is needless to multiply these queries, which might be indefi-
nitely extended. A few leading questions will nevertheless seem
to point out the direction which a philosophical experimenter
might be disposed to follow. It is important to learn by experi-
ment to distinguish between these substances which act by
fixing and retaining volatile matters, that enter into the organi-
zation of plants, and those, on the other hand, that are the
immediate food of plants. Among the former, charcoal may be
classed ; for though carbon is an important part of vegetable
nutrition, it cannot be supplied to vegetation in the form of
charcoal. To be rendered available to plants it must be in a
gaseous or in a liquid form, like carbonic acid and carbonic
acid gas.

13. Tlie art of preserving our crops and other vegetation
from the devastations of insects, is one of the most important
that can occupy the attention of the cultivator at the present
day. There are some species of noxious insects which have
increased to an alarming extent, within a few years, and that
seem to multiply with greater rapidity than the agents employed
by nature, to check their over-multiplication. Birds are gener-
ally supposed to be the the most useful of all these checks.

EXPERIMENTAL FARMING. 353

Next in importaiico to birds, arc certain species of reptiles and
small quadrupeds ; and lastly, there are predatory insects, that
live by the destruction of other species of their tribe. Natural-
ists have not generally made this subject their particular study.
They have been satisfied with ascertaining the general character
of the food of the animal under examination. They are able
to inform us that certain birds live u])on insects, others upon
seeds, while others are omniverous and birds of prey. The
same may be said of their remarks on the food of reptiles and
of the smaller quadrupeds.

Experiments remain to be made with special reference to the
comparative importance of each species of birds, reptile and
quadruped, as destroyers of these vermin. Which are the most
useful and diligent devourers respectively of grubs, of cater-
pillars, of chrysalids and of insects in their perfect form ? There
is a disposition on the part of the majority of fruit cultivators, to
underrate the services of those birds which steal the fruit of
our gardens. The common robin comes under their ban on
this account. Tlie robin does not hunt the bark of trees for his
food, but he devours vast quantities of those injurious grubs
that live upon the surface, or near the surface of the ground ;
such as the cut-worm, the chrysalids of beetles, and moths,
while they are in a feeble and nearly metamorphosed state. All
these particulars should be ascertained ; and the birds should
be classed according to the description and the value of their
services.

The society should institute a series of investigations to be
carried on at their own farm, and should open a correspondence
with individuals and other societies, for the purpose of collect-
ing authentic information from all foreign sources, in regard to
the food of every kind of bird, of the common toad, the tree-
toad, and of every species of insectivorous reptile and quadru-
ped. Such investigations might lead to very important results,
if the superintendent of the farm was a man of ingenious and
scientific turn of mind. At the farm should be kept a speci-
men of all insects injurious to vegetation, classed as far as they
will admit of it, according to the department of vegetation to
which they are injurious. Let those which infest the grain form
one class, the devourers of the leaves of plants a second, those
which are destructive to the wood a third, and so on, according

351 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

to the part of the plant wliich they attack. Side by side with
each, let their natural enemies be arranged, among birds, quad-
rupeds, reptiles and insects. In this way materials might be
gradually accumulated, which would supply the public with a
fund of curious and useful information.

In conclusion, some inquiries might be made with reference
to the general mode of conducting the farm. It is necessary
that some intelligent and well educated person should be
appointed to superintend the operations of the farm ; one who
has sufficient knowledge to see that the experiments arc per-
formed in a scientific and economical manner, and stifficient
skill as a writer to present a faithful and luminous report of the
process and result of all important experiments. The superin-
tendent should be the secretary as well as the president of the
establishment. Practical men are generally wedded to routine
and prejudiced against innovation. Their services would be
indipensable on the farm, to conduct the plough, to swing the
scythe, to advise concerning times and seasons, and numerous
other practical details of farm labor. Such men are for labor-
ers and advisers, but not to superintend. The superintendent
must be a man of logical mind, and expanded views, who is
capable of discerning at once the true aim and nature of every
experiment that is proposed by the society. He must see the
bearing of every operation upon the general conclusion that is
to be drawn, and not only incapable of blunders in his own
plans, but capable of detecting the flaws that may exist in the
plans of others. The superintendent will be placed between
two sets of individuals — first, the society represented by intelli-
gent men of theoretical and practical knowledge, and second
the men who do the labor of the farm, from each of whom he
will obtain hints, by means of which, through the medium of
his own pen, he is to digest all facts into an intelligible result.

He should be a man of sober habits, who is willing to confine
himself to the duties of his office ; who is not bigoted to old
practices, nor wedded to whims and theories originating in his
own mind ; a married man who will make his home upon the
farm, and superintend the labors which are performed upon it.
He must not be worldly-minded, to make his office an excuse
for riding round to see men and sights, nor a horse-jockey who
is too proud to attend to the inferior animals. See that he

ARTIFICIAL PLANTING OF TREES. 355

prizes a cow and a sheep no less than a horse or a dog. Other-
wise the woods surrounding the farm maybe made his hunting-
grounds, and the adjoining streets a race-course. See that he
is not a man of vulgar mind who despises little things ; but a
practical philosopher who is not above the necessity of giving
his attention to what the former would contemptuously regard as
trifles. Sec that while he is capable of prizing a noble tree, he
does not look with contempt upon a whortleberry bush, and that
he can look after the welfare of a toad, on account of its useful
sevices, and not centre all his interest upon a blood-horse or an
imported bull.

The humble as well as the more attractive concerns of the
farm should receive a due share of his attention. He should
not despise information from the most humble sources, nor exag-
gerate the importance of that which proceeds from men of high
position. By his reports he should endeavor to enlighten the
public mind with reference not only to the immediate subjects
of experiment, but should enter into the philosophy of rural
life, domestic economy, and the ethics of agriculture. He should
endeavor to exhibit the true aim and rational ambition of the
farmer and the farmer's family, and to throw a charm around
the humble homestead, which should render it more attractive
than all the splendor of the city.

NOEFOLK.

ARTIFICIAL PLANTING OF TREES ;— ITS IMPOR-
TANCE AND BENEFITS.

BY REV JOHN L. RUSSELL.

Nature, in its kindly ministrations, has clothed the surface of
the earth with vegetation. No spot of land, no outside of rocks,
nor even still or running waters, that are devoid of some kind of
plants. The enterprise of industrial art lays bare the long-
covered strata of stone, railroad cuttings through sterile gravel
ridges, swamps, bogs and miry places made firm by deposit of

356 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

foreign substances, instantly assume now forms of vegetation,
and the rudeness tliat labor has occasioned is covered with
drapery of plant-life. Myriads of minute plants, seen only in
their distinct proportions by the microscope, spring forth upon
the smoothest surfaces, others, of a larger growth, upon the
quarried rock ; out of their decay, grass and shrubs and even
trees, in turn, rise, and no waste of opportunity or of space is
allowed in the economy of nature. The hardest rocks, abraded
thousands of years ago by the iceberg and polished by the drift
geological material, and left covered by superstrata of earth,
when exposed to light and moisture and the atmospheric
changes, yield some kinds of alga or lichen, from which the
botanist foresees manifold uses to future generations. He
traces, too, in the sedimentary layers of mud of the ditch or of
the pond, wonderfully constructed vegetables, and anticipates
from their agencies new fields of labor to unborn nations, whose
people shall " plant vineyards, and sow fields, and dwell on the
dry ground," which once were " standing pools." To a benevo-
lent Creator's will and power these most minute agencies of
nature are made subservient, and no soil so sterile which may not
be converted by His wisdom into results beneficial and impor-
tant, and from whose lessons science is not enabled to profit and
to make practical application.

This almost instantaneous presence of vegetation upon new,
artificially-created areas suggests a lesson of some importance.
It implies the need of such agencies in fitting this earth as a
comfortable residence of men. The chemist analyzes the rock,
the solid ground, the semi-fluid mass of bog and mire, and
detects in them all some particular elements favorable to some
peculiar sorts of plants. He analyzes the plant and finds in
turn secretions, which act upon such substances, and which
render them fit for successive and higher orders. The results
of combined observation and study encourage industry in new
channels, and recommend some hitherto untried plan to renovate
or beautify the earth's surface.

Artificial planting and culture of forest trees has been left too
much to the man of fortune or to those of decided artistic tastes.
By want of judicious observation on the part of otherwise prac-
tical people, a great many serious blunders have occurred. The
proper season to sow the seeds of forest trees, the proper modes

ARTIFICIAL PLANTING OF TREES. 357

of raising the seedlings, the proper time to transplant them, the
soils adapted to them, have been too often the tediously slow
work of experience, and hence repeated failures. Many farmers
are, therefore, deterred ; but would they take some slight notice
of, or read some treatise on the subject, such errors would be
few. Much of this work could be done by the junior members
of the family, who are to reap the most benefits hereafter. And
then, again, from what the observation of many years has shown,
I am convinced that there is no farm so barren that could not
be immensely improved by attention to tree planting. There
is no reason why farmers should not be arboriculturists as well
as the men of fortune and of taste. Why leave this branch of
industry and profit to them ; and why not learn from their
experiments what costs tlie farmer nothing, but brings him in
sure results of profit ? True, every farmer is interested in
orcharding, but arboriculture belongs to him likewise. Indeed,
the arboricultural art addresses him rather the more of the two
pursuits, and he might better plant shade and timber trees than
fruit trees. The orchard, in its wider sense of a place for fruit
growing, belongs rather to the horticulturist than to the farmer.
The usual and necessary avocations of the farm cannot afford
the requisite time for care of the choicer apples, pears and
peaches, which are the best fitted for the market, as the market
now-a-days is expected to be ; and while the insect foes have so
much increased in numbers and in their ravages, more demand
still is made of the farmer's time to keep them in clieck. A
few trees could supply the family ; but to raise market fruit
has become an occupation of its own. Even the apple trees
should have no ordinary care, would they pay well and make
a return of all their possibilities. A very few acres of land, kept
in excellent heart by careful manuring, by judicious pruning, by
washing the trunks with alkali to destroy vermin, in fine, by
the art of fruit culture, would, 'if near an available market-
town or city, yield a greater return than farms of much wider
area. And these few highly cultivated acres would afford the best
sorts of apples, the choicest kinds of pears, and the most delicious
cherries ; yet all these are the results of a horticultural rather
than an agricultural department of industrial toil. I repeat,
then, that trees requiring such attention do not belong to the
farmer, for he could not spend the time, bear tlie cost, nor devote

46

358 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

the attention, if lie depends, as it is expected he will, on his
Indian corn, his grass and root crops, with other field produce,
for his living and business. He cannot afford " to serve" two
" such masters ;" one or the other must receive his chief service.
All this reasoning does not apply to arboriculture ; and a well-
regulated farm, now-a-days, seems to look toward the artificial
rearing of forest trees, as well as toward their protection for the
future increase of its value. In some sections of Massachusetts,
forest tree planting, I am sure, would be very important ; and in
every instance there are valuable species of such trees, which
could be readily introduced without any great outlay of cost or
trouble.

Then, again, our State, indeed all New England, may be con-
sidered as peculiarly fortunate in the general adaptedness of
climate to the growth of forest trees. Some of the finest kinds,
native to Europe, stand our winters perfectly, and grow with
vigor. But where circumstances or want of availabilities incline
any one against the raising of foreign species, the immediate
vicinity may afford sufficient variety. It is my intention to
specify some such as could be rendered both ornamental and
useful to the most ordinary farming purposes and to the most
varied soils.

Massachusetts farms may be divided into four or five great
divisions of the soils found upon them. These may be thus
stated, viz. : —

1st. Light, sandy soils.

2d. Gravelly or thin soils.

3d. Rocky soils, much broken by ledges.

4th. Boggy or peat meadow soils.

5th. Stiff, clayey, loamy soils.

On these different soils particular kinds of forest trees thrive
best. Observation can easily point out ways for using all these
to the best advantage for artificial plantings. Often what were
once timber or woodlands have become, l)y accident or misman-
agement, sterile and unproductive ; and for sucli places this
planting of trees might be prudent as well as wise. It is no
uncommon thing to find on the same farm acres of "good for
nothing" land, but still capable of becoming good for something.
A little extra attention to these may turn them to some valuable
account.

ARTIFICIAL PLANTING OF TREES. 359

Besides this, a little thought should ])e spent on the dwelling-
house and barn, on the cattle-yards, pigsties, and other sur-
roundings, to get the greatest amount of comfort from one's
farm. This observation is trite in the general, so prudent in
these particulars have good farmers become. But I make it in
this connection as bearing on the topic of my essay. Trees
make the homestead more attractive, and lielp much to its com-
fort. Indeed, what is more attractive to the eye, what more
refreshing to weary limbs, what could be more pleasant to
declining years, what more salubrious to young children than
fine shade trees, shrubbery, some little flower patch even, near
the dwelling ? A root of blossoming chrysanthemum, in some
rude wooden box even, a rosebush trained over the front door,
a few beautiful flowers in the borders of the sauce garden or
herb beds, some bright berried shrub, such as the spindle bush
or tree cranberry or mountain ash, planted near the wall, will
add much to the real pleasure, attracting, too, the birds about
the house and garden ; the birds, the friends of the farmer, I
consider these as sureties of self-respect, of refinement and cul-
ture within. The noble, spreading, umbrageous elm tree of a
century's growth overshadowing the house, old and venerable
as it may be, and weather-stained and even paintless as it may
have grown by time, is significant of some such limited pros-
pective wdsdom of ancestry, who planted for the comfort and
pleasure of those who were to come after them. I often see
farm houses which seem to stand out of doors, they look
so lonely and cheerless, and with a mean kind of air, as if they
had no right on the premises, but intended to quit on shortest
notice. The sun, too, seems to consider them as some ripening
vegetable production, and glares upon them with his most vivid
rays, as if to fit them for harvest, and to have them ready to be
gathered and stored away with the pumpkins and corn. And
in a cold wintry day, how the wind sweeps, and howls, and mut-
ters about them, making one feel that discomfort must be within
as well as without. This, to be sure, is not always the case,
and often hospitality may be found in such abodes. But how
it would warm the heart, how cheer the whole man, how much
more social and refined the aspect of the farm house, when
judicious planting about it would render really delightful the
scenery by beautifying the premises. If a new house were

360 MASSACHUSETTS AC4RICULTURE.

never considered finished or fitted for a residence until shade
trees were provided, or an old house were considered defective
until tree-planting were attended to, its owner would find how
much dearer his home would become to him year by year. It
is time to do away with our strict, puritanical notions of utility,
and to do away witli habits of thought and of practice, which are
better suited to a century ago than to the present day. A man
will have none the less potatoes because he has a maple or two
on his avenues, nor need he abridge his field crops because he
chooses to raise artificially a few acres of pines. The idle com-
plaint of want of time to make these experiments is altogether too
idle for excuse ; for we have all the time there is, and it will
be found enough to fulfil whatever our hands find to do, if
interest and prudent calculation are in the right place. And
then, too, who does not know the influence the female part of
the family exerts ? Who so churlish as to refuse to gratify a wife
or daughter by a little extra work to make their homes more
agreeable ? I have been acquainted with wives in farm houses
whose hands " were never weary in well doing," and who were
ever diligent in houshold cares, yet finding time for rearing a
tulip bed, for tending a flower patch, or pruning the shrubbery
of a few choice roses or the like. And it may be set down as
a truism, that uniformly the most industriously employed are
the very ones who have at their command the most time for
whatever improves or benefits themselves or others. What
flowers and shrubs are to the women, the trees are to the men.
Trees are but flowers of a larger growth, and which pay back
larger dividends of profits. A fine avenue, such as any one
might justly bo proud of, will soon grow ; a few years may
make great changes and greater improvements in looks, com-
fort and utility even. I can recall some splendid elms which
have made an otherwise unpleasant site one of the most cosy
and pleasant places in the village ; and a line of elms, ashes,
&c., which really make celebrated a sandy public road, other-
wise avoided if possible, but now sought for its beauty in the
drive or ride. Many were the thoughtless jeers at the expense
of those who undertook the thankless labor of love and " good
will to man ;" but now double the thanks to the memory of
those who, dead, yet speak in their deeds.

A great many folks, and it is not confined to the farming

ARTIFICIAL PLANTING OF TREES. 361

occupation, value a tree if it can be compelled to bear some-
thing to eat. They would graft their elms with pears, their
larches with apples, and their chance shade trees with plums
and peaches. But failing in this impossibity, they regard such
pleasures as encumbrances, and would be glad to have them
away at shortest notice, preferring a poor cider apple tree to a
splendid button-wood or elegant horse-chestnut. I allow that
the mouth and the palate are valuable organs, and so is the stom-
ach ; indeed, without them we could not well exist under the
present arrangements of life. But we should never forget that
" man cannot live by bread alone," and that the mind, heart,
and the higher natures claim our heed also. Were we created
with more decidedly animal instincts, those prudent and careful
considerations would be more commendable ; but we are " liv-
ing souls," and the soul of man and his truest spirit exhibit
themselves most correctly in rising above grosser thoughts.
And as such was intended in the Creative plan, what would it
profit to " gain the whole world and lose the soul ? "

Some sorts of forest trees and of a highly ornamental and
picturesque character, do actually bear fruit without grafting
or budding ; and if we must have the useful with the orna-
mental, there are the walnuts and shagbarks, and chestnuts and
beeches, and wild cherries, all tempting to boys and to birds
alike, and all ornamental too. And then the nuts would afford
abundant treats for the one and the cherries for the other ; and
without both, in their relative places, the farm cannot get along.
We can as little spare the birds as the boys, and the truest
interest is to preserve these little and industrious insect devour-
ers, which keep in check hosts of enemies to the farm.

And while speaking of shaded avenues to the approach of the
farm, I recall one planted with the yellow locust tree (^Rohinia
psendacacia.') This tree is highly commended in Emerson's
Report on the Trees and Shrubs of Massachusetts. In this
instance the trees were planted along the county road, just out-
side the field-walls on either side ; and by thinning and prun-
ing, they had risen to the height of forty or more feet ; and in
a hot summer's day, scarcely any thing could exceed them in
real comfort of shade, beauty and cheerfulness. This tree, too,
has been found decidedly advantageous to plant in clumps or
belts, or in artificially formed woods, to renovate the soil, as

362 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

there seems to be something very fertilizing in the decay of its
foliage, while its shade is not destructive to grass, which actually
has been known to spring up thickly, after a little time, where
none grew before. I have often looked with extreme pleasure
upon another more ancient avenue of the yellow locust trees,
whose stout stems and broad branches rise to upwards of sev-
enty feet, and whose tops in the leafy month of June are laden
with fragrant, snowy blossoms, tempting to bees and regaling
the senses of man. The generous and hospitable owner of this
farm is justly proud of this ancestral glory ; and who would
not consider it a noble crop ?

The yellow locust tree grows readily in any light soil, and can
be most easily propagated by setting out the young suckers, or
even pieces of the roots ; but seedling trees are always most
advantageous. I have known this course pursued, however, in
covering old, worn-out rye fields, and thus inducing a rapid
growth of a tree, whose improving qualities are undeniable.
These pieces of the root, a foot or more long, could be planted
like potatoes, in furrows made by a light plough, and the work
of a few hours may tell well at no distant day. It is presum-
able that many farmers and land proprietors would prefer any
kind of vegetation, to having their barren fields covered Avith
mullein and golden rods. I have been informed also that on
such places the black, wild, cherry tree (^Prunus serotina) will
grow very fast. The aspens or poplars, of which we have sev-
eral species, spring up readily, and are also adapted to such
soils ; and that kind called Abele, or silver-leafed poplar, would
soon cover an area with its natural plantations. This is a very
rapid growin g tree and becomes respectable in size in a very
few years. Fifty years since, there seemed to be a sort of rage
for planting a very inferior kind of foreign tree, — the Lom-
bardy poplar, — happily getting out of repute ; yet even this
unsightl}' species is better than none ; though I should not
recommend its planting. As, however, no tree whose falling
foliage docs not return threefold more to the earth than it took
from it, true wisdom has learned to be patient with every sort
of tree which will please to grow where nothing else could
readily be made to thrive.

A farm that has the misfortune to have fields once cultivated,
but afterwards overspread by drifts and heaps of loose sand,

ARTIFICIAL PLANTING OF TREES. 363

need not allow further increase of so dire an evil. To say
nothing of the probability of growing the white birch (^Betufa
popiilifolia) upon it, tlie pitch pines (Pinvs rig-ida') and white
pines (P. sirobus') and even the red pines, (P. resinosa^
sometimes called the Norway pine, can be most readily planted
and raised. I have seen such fields, in part, redeemed by this
process ; and a very few years were found to be sufficient to
clothe with perennial greenery, these waste and sterile sand
drifts. All sorts of evergreen trees and shrubs should be taken
up for transplanting after they have begun to grow, and the new
growth should be three or four inches long. With pine trees,
this occurs about the middle of June. I am familiar with an
instance in which Dearly an hundred pitch pines and a few white
pines were planted out by a few hours labor, and wdiicli all grew
with remarkable celerity and vigor. By and by, the loose sand be-
came bound together by their roots, and its surface so deeply car-
peted by its dry and persistent needle-shaped leaves, as to stop any
further drifting or changes. The pitch pine has been successfully
planted out at Nantucket, where the bleakest winds render
almost every tree-growth a difficult matter : and if these experi-
ments were instituted by some public measures, it would not be
long before that island would be clothed again with a thick
forest growth, such as were roamed in by its Indian tribes before
the white man came and stripped its leafy honors. I was once
shown a single red pine tree, which stood on the edge of an old
rye field, from which, in about forty years a respectable forest
of its progeny had sprung up around it, and rewarded the
careless spirit of letting it alone in its work, by its industrious
yearly increase.

The white birch has been incidentally mentioned among the
kinds of trees well fitted for a poor soil. According to my
observation, it seems best adapted to the second division, viz. :
to gravel and gravelly ridges. This tree is, usually, near the
sea-coast, of a small size, but still it is of economical value.
It grows very fast. A friend, who has much of it upon portions
of his farm, assures me that he considers it as one of his best
crops. He cuts, for market, the young stems down to the roots,
as often as they are of sufficient size for hoops of nail, casks. I
have repeatedly noticed that white birches spring up very thick
and readily from seeds self-sown by the winds, upon the quick-

364 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

sand often found under those small, gravelly hillocks, when they
have been removed to fill with their material some lower spot,
or in making enbankments. The same facility of growing is
noticeable in the old cart-paths and in grassy pastures, where
the sod has been abraded and the soil laid bare. The process of
vegetation on soft, quaking quicksands is curious in the extreme.
In the course of the first year, mosses appear, then, on the next
year, the little seedling birches, then a bulrush or two,, by and
by some grasses, the moss growing thicker and more abundant,
but the young birches outstripping every other form and invad-
ing the newly exposed soil like a conquering host. It is
evident, from these facts, that what Nature thus easily and
readily does, art could imitate, and that unlimited supplies of
seedlings could be raised with as little trouble as we employ in
sowing carrots on better lands. The white birch, small as it
grows, is considered a very valuable fuel for the stove, if cut and
suitably seasoned ; and what trifling amount of labor would
plant coppices of the tree on every sand pit, gravel bank and
other encumbrances of the farm. Several kinds of the oak
grow naturally upon gravelly spots ; and this tree is not difficult
to transplant, especially if raised from the acorn in the seed bed.
When we look at an old oak tree, we compute the long years of
its probable growth, but we are not aware how fast it really grows
from year to year. 1 know respectable oak trees, of the third
and fourth generation, from young seedling plants imported
for the pleasure grounds of a gentleman, who lived to see the
acorns of their posterity to that descent, actually five generations,
from his seedlings imported years before in flower pots, so small
were they then !

The artificial planting of forest trees is even available on
rocky soils, much broken by ledges and by crumbling fragments
of stones. Here, one of the very best trees is what is called the
Scotch larch, similar to our hackmatack, an account of the suc-
cessful planting of which in Scotland, may be found in Emerson's
Report, p. 91, which is well worthy of perusal and imitation. I
know myself of extensive plantings of it on spots seemingly
most unpropitious for any sort of tree. The red cedar too
(Junipencs Virginiana) is admirably fitted for such places, and
when these trees spring up spontaneously, they should be
encouraged by lopping off the lower branches and inducing

ARTIFICIAL PLANTING OF TREES. 865

them to rise to greater height, for in a few years there will be
a fine crop, fitted for making posts and rails for the pains. The
red cedar bears this lopping and pruning so well, that it can
become used to the shears under hedge culture, and can be cut
into any requisite shape. One of the most picturesque little
spots I ever saw, was composed of a rocky ledge, out of which
and rising above the wild growth of smaller trees, a sour gum
{Ni/ssa miiUiflora) shot out into the air, equally beautiful and
attractive in winter, when its straggling and flattened branches
were grotesque and unique, as in summer, when its dark green
foliage was lovely, or in autumn, when crimsoned by incipient
decay. Some amateur may chance give more money to pur-
chase its surroundings for a dwelling-house, than the entire
price of the farm without this pretty knoll would amount to
under other circumstances.

The hop hornbeam, also called ieverwood and ironwood
( Ostrya Virginica) thrives upon the scanty soil of such spots —
a tree a thousand fold better for use than bare rocks and sun-
burnt ledges.

For quick growing, ornamental and useful trees, the maples
stand conspicuous. But the sugar maples, Acer saccharinum
and Acer dasi/carpum, the most sweetly and pleasantly useful,
require good soils, and such ^s it is considered are better em-
ployed in other ways. And yet it may be a question whether
for iitility or for ornament, land by the sides of fields bordering
on public roads could be better used than in the culture and
care of these trees. The Chinese sorghum will never do away
with the sugar maples, as a producer of the sweets of life, nor
do I believe that in the long run, that grass will be preferred to
the tree, especially while it is problematical whether cane sugar
can be produced from it.

The well-known value of the willows (^Salix spp.') for secur-
ing pieces of roads over swampy and miry places, while they
also afford agreeable shades, renders this group of beautiful
trees more worthy the attention of the farmer. I have often
wondered on seeing patches of perfectly worthless lands on
farms, why a few hours' or days' labor had not been expended
to redeem them. Hollows consigned to the blackbirds and
frogs, could be made to produce some sorts of willows, and by
degrees, to afford, by their tops, occasional fuel for many years.
47

366 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.

The willows grow so easily, that pieces of the branches cut into
stakes and driven into the mud, readily root and grow into fine
trees. Rows of these rudely prepared cuttings, planted over the
surface of such places, would surely be more comely than wild
bushes and noisome weeds. The osier willow or golden willow
(^Salix vitellina) is a beautiful tree in summer, spring or even
whiter, and is worthy of note. I have seen this tree planted
near out-houses with signal effect. The weeping willow (^Salix
Babylonica) grows rapidly and large, and is very ornamental,
and grows from any one of its twigs planted out in the spring
time. There is a kind of dark green willow, a shrub with rich,
smooth, shining leaves, as beautiful as a foreign plant, which
grows easily, and very ornamental ; and the basket osier wil-
lows are easily raised near ditches and boundary division lines
of swamps, known as the Salix viminalis. The common willow
tree (^Salix alba) grows very large. Two immense trees of this
species, about fifty years old, I lately saw in a wet place in the
rear of an old farm house, in the branches of which were per-
manent seats, and room ample to spread a table for some exer-
cise of reading among the shady tops, or even to furnish a tea-
drinking on pleasant occasions. These twin trees were planted
by an humble domestic, whose memory is associated with these,
her labors. A willow answers very well to shade the pigsty
from the summer sun, or in drooping over the barnyard ; but
custom, in some sections, has preferred the butternut tree or
oilnut tree, (^Juglans cinerea,') which feeds luxuriantly upon
the superabundant manure, and appropriates rather more than
its share to its own ends.

The ash trees, (^Fraxinus acuminata and Fraxinus samhuci-

folia,') called white and black ash, do very well, even when

transplanted in quite ordinary soils ; and their cleanly habits

and. handsome contour and light graceful leaves render them

all desirable.

The horse-chestnut tree (^jEscuIus hippocastannni) is most
easily raised from the nuts, which should be scarcely covered
with earth and leaves immediately on ripening and falling from
the trees, and transplanted when of convenient sizes. The tree
of Heaven (^Ailantlms gianchilosa') grows very rapidly, and is
much sought for to plant in cities, where it thrives exceedingly ;
but its unpleasant scented flowers and disagreeable smelling

ARTIFICIAL PLANTING OF TREES. 367

leaves, often render it an object of aversion, which objections do
not lie against its relative, the Kentucky coffee tree, {^Gijmno-
cladus Canadensis,^ equally beautiful in appearance and equally
hardy.

Some one has made a quaint remark, that among other duties
of life, every man should build a house and plant a tree. There
is not always the need of the house-building, nor always the
means ; but means and ability and future need all cry out for
the tree-planting ; and let every one plant a tree and see that it
grows, and future generations will silently bless the public spirit
that dictated such a course. Especially should the farmers look
to this, and begin at once on such good deeds of duty and of a
true and refined charity, which shall in due time make our State
a garden, and render it full of pleasant associations to those
whose fortunes or business lead them away from their early
homes, to which the heart yearns always to return, to spend
declining years and die beneath their eld ancestral trees.

INDEX

TO THE ABSTRACT

Agricultural Schools and Colleges,

" Education,

" ImproYements, prejudices against.

Agriculture, importance of,

" science applied to,

Animal Food,
Apples, profits of raising,

" Yarieties of, .
Articles of Food,

Barley, culture of,
Bee Culture, .
Broomcorn, culture of,
Butter, manufacture of,

Carrots, cultivation of.
Cheese, manufacture of,
Chinese Sugar Cane, .
" Yam, value of.
Cranberries, culture of,

Drainage, importance of,

Essays, prizes offered for,

Farm accounts.
Farms, statements on,
Farm Implements,
Farm Improvements, .
Farmer, position of the.
Farmers' sons.
Farming, experimental.

38

93, 96, 97, 101

. 88, 93, 94, 126, 127

3, 43, 49

42, 46, 59

. 43, 56, 76, 124, 351

. 30, 32, 35, 37

17, 155

. 293

. 30, 32, 39, 42

151,218

278, 280, 282, 286, 288

. 221

290, 292

159, 236, 240, 333

289, 290

8, 157,

170, 222, 225, 229, 234

. 146

. 160

. 153, 155, 181

. 336

174, 176

. 117, 120, 164

10, 70,

150, 158, 242, 245, 249

11

, 15, 17, 60, 70, 80, 157

. 24, 59, 69, 81, 138

14, 20, 22, 27, 71

97, 337, 342, 349

370

INDEX.

Farming, comparative estimation of,

" forethought in,

Fences, structure of, .
Food, articles of.
Flowers, culture of, .
Fruits, selection and culture of.

Gardening, increased attention to,
Grape, culture of the,
Grass crop, importance of the,
Guano, use of.

Hedges, ornamental, .
Home Embellishments,
Horses, breeding of, .

Indian Corn, culture of,

Knowledge, its value to the farmer,

Manures, preparation of,

" experiments with,

Maple Sugar, manufacture of.
Milch Cows, statements on,
Millet, culture of.
Mowing Machines, use of.
Muck, use and value of,

Oats, culture of.

Orchards, care and pruning of.

Onions, cultivation of.

Pastures, improvement of.
Pears, raising of.
Plaster of Paris, use of.
Poultry, profits of,
Potatoes, culture of, .

Root Crops, cultiire of,
Rural Life, attractions of.
Rye, cultivation of.

Seed Corn, use of tips, middles and butts,

Sheep Husbandry, profits of, .

Sirup, manufacture of,

Squashes, cultivation of,

Steers, raising and training of,

Stock, keeping of,

Strawberry, culture of the, .

24, 28, 46, 52, 58, 69, 107

. 103

. 11, 12, 28, 208, 209

30, 32, 35, 37, 40

3, 4, 115, 303, 305, 307, 325

. 293, 295, 319, 324

. 160

. 308, 310, 314

. 152

65, 145, 149, 154, 167, 206

12

. 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 15, 60

266, 268, 271, 272

41, 64, 80, 108, 148, 210, 212, 341

.21,22,26,60,75,83

123, 133, 153, 170, 193, 195

197, 199, 200, 205

. 335

251, 253, 255, 261, 264

. 153

. 157, 244, 245

65, 177, 201, 205

. 219

. 156, 190, 315
. 238

166, 184
17, 156
203, 352
275, 277, 344, 345
41, 65, 79, 108, 144, 169, 237, 240, 332, 349

66, 235

27, 29, 60, 63, 71, 84

. 217

. 160

273, 274

226, 228, 230, 233, 235

. 328, 329, 333

257, 258

67, 250, 257, 259, 262, 346

. 297, 299, 302, 342

INDEX. 371

Super- phosphate, use of, ..... . 65, 14-5, 202

Swamps, reclaiming of, .... . 177, 179, 181, 183

Sweet Potatoes, culture of, . . . . . . 147, 171

Swine, disease among, . . . . . . .161

Trees, culture and planting of, . . . 12,15,17,18,355,357

Turnips, cultivation of, .... . 66, 236, 238, 242

Vegetables, ciiltivation of, . . . . . . 326, 331

Waste Lands, improvement of, ... . 184, 187, 189

Wheat, value and cultivation of, . . . 41, 108, 150, 168, 212, 216

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