UMASS/AMHERST #

3 1 E D b b D D 5 a 1 D ■=] n

LIBRARY

OF THE

•1863'

DATE DUE

UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS

AT
AMHERST

I

h

;

THE

Massachusetts Agricultural

REPOSITORY and JOURNAL.

VOLUME VI.

I

CONDUCTED BY THE TRUSTEES OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL

SOCIETY.

BOSTON : •

rUBLISHED BY WELLS AND LILLY.

1821.

J

V

^

BttMMMM^MMI

MASSACHUSETTS
AGRICULTURAF JOURNAL

V.);. VI.] JANUARY, 1820. [No. I.

-^— -

AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE THE MASSACHUSETTS
AGRICULTURAL SOCIEI'Y, AT THE BRIGHTON CATTLE
SHOW, OCTOBER 12th, 1819. BY HON. JOSIAH QUINCY.

The Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for
Promoting Agriculture, have requested that I should ad(hess
vou, this day, on topics, connected with the objects of their
Institution and with the occasion. In acceding to their
appointment, I have yielded to considerations of official
duty. For the manner, in which the task shall be
executed, I need not apologize to practical and intelligent
men, such as I have now the honour to address. They
know well how difficult it is to cast over a trite subject
the air of novelty, or to make one, that is familiar, interest-
ing. There is also something in the every day labours of
agriculture, apparently too rough for a polished discourse,
too common for one that is elevated, and too inseparable
from soil and its composts to be treated to the general ear,
without danger of offence to that fastidiousness of fancy,
which is miscalled refinement.

Amid the perils, which thus surround every public
speaker upon such topics, where, on the one hand, the
rough necessities of the farmer require plainness and parti-
cularity ; and where, on (he other, the over-scrupulousness
of the imagination requires that important subjects of agri-

Vol. VI. 1

^ "sL

MR. HUINCy's address.

culfure should be generalized, and intimated rather than
uttered, I shall deem myself sufficiently fortunate, if it shall
be my lot to escape, without failing in fidelity to the inter-
est of the country, and yel without violating the dainty ear
of city sensibility.

Our purpose, then, this daj' is to seek what is true and
what is useful in relation to the interests of our agriculture.

In executing this purpose, I shall address myself chiefly
to that great body of our countrymen, who are emphatically
called— farmers. By which, I mean, the great body of
ftjassachuselts yeomanry ; men, who stand upon the soil
and ,are identified with it; for there rest their own hopes,
and there the hopes of their children. Men, who have, for
the most part, great farms, and small pecuniary resources;
men, who are esteemed more for their land, than for their
money ; more for their good sense than for their land ; and
more for their virtue than for either ; men, who are the
chief strength, support, and column of our political society,
and who stand to the other orders of the state, in the same
relation, which the shaft bears to the pillar; in respect of
whom, all other arts, trades, and professions, are but orna-
mental work ; the cornice, the frieze, and the Corinthian
capital.

I am thus distinct, in declaring my sentiment concerning
the importance and value of this class of men, from no
purpose of temporary excitement, or of personal concilia-
tion, but because I think it just and their due, and because,
being about to hint concerning errors and defects in our
agriculture, I am anxious that such a course of remark
should not be attributed to any want of honour, or respect,
for the farming interest. On the contrary, it is only from
a deep sense of the importance of an art, that a strong
desire for its improvement can proceed. Whatever tends
to stimulate and direct the industry of our farmers ; what-
ever spreads prosperity over our fields; whatever carries
happiness to the home, and content to the bosoms of our

MR. QHINCy's AUDUE8B.

yeomanry, (ends, more Ihan every thing else, lo lay the
fountlaiions of our republic deep and strong, and lo give
the assurance of immortality to our liberties.

The errors and deticiencies of our practical agriculture
may be referred, in a general survey, with sufficient accu-
racy to two sources ; the want of scope of view among our
farmers, and the want of system in their plans.

Concerning another want, of which farmers are most sen-
sible and most generally complain, the want of cash in their
pockets, I shall say nothing, because it is not a want pecu-
liar to the faraier. It is a general want, and belongs to all
other classes and professions. Besides, there is no en-
couragement to speak of this want, because it is one that
increases, by its very supply. All of us must have ob-
served that it almost ever happens, with, however, a few
splendid exceptions, that the more any man has of this
article, the more he always wants.

The errors and deBciencies, to which I shall allude, will
not be such as require any extent of capital to rectify.
All that will be requisite is a little more of that industry,
of which our farmers have already so much ; or that indus-
try a little differently directed. It is not by great and
splendid jparticular improvements, that the interests of
agriculture are best subserved, but by a general and gra-
dual amelioration. Most is done for agriculture, when
every farmer is excited to small attentions and incidental
improvements. Such as proceed, for instance, from the
constant application of a (ew plain and common principles.
Such are — that, in farming, nothing shoidd be lost, and
nothing should be neglected ; that every thing should be
done in its proper time ; every thing put in its proper place ;
every thing executed by its proper instrument. These
attentions, when viewed in their individual effect, seem
small, but they are immense in the aggregate. When fhey
become general, taken in connexion with the dispositions
which precede, and the consequences which inevitably

MR. QUINCy's address.

follow such a slate of improvement, they include, in fact,
every thing.

Scope of view, in a general sense, has relation to the
wise adaptation of means to their final ends. When ap-
plied to a farmer, it implies the adaptation of all the build-
ings and parts of a farm to their appropriate purposes, so
that whatever is fixed and permanent in its character, may
be so arranged as best to facilitate the labour of the farm,
and best to subserve the comfort, convenience, and success
of the proprietor.

Our ideas, upon this subject, may be best collected from
inspection. If our fellow farmers please, we will, therefore,
in imagination, adjourn, for a tew moments, and take our
stand, first, at the door of the farm house. I say " at the
door." Far be it from me to enter wi'hin it. Far be it
from me to criticise the department of the other sex, or to
suggest that any thing, peculiarly subject to their manage-
ment, can be either ameliorated, or amended. Nor is it ne-
cessary, for I believe it is a fact almost universally true, that
where the good man of the family is extremely precise and
regular, and orderly in his arrangements without doors, he
never fails to be seconded, and even surpassed, by the
order, the regularity, and neatness of the good woman
within.

Let us cast our eyes, then, about us, from the door of the
farm house. What do we see ? Are the fences on the
road in good condition? Is the gate whole, and on its
hinges ? Are the domestic animals excluded from immedi-
ate connexion with the dwelling house, or at least from the
front yard ? Is there a green plot adjoining, well protected
from pigs and poultry, so that the excellent Jiousewife may
advantageously spread and bleach the linen and yarn of the
famil} ? Is the wood pile well located, so as not to inter-
fere with the passenger; or is it located with especial eye
to the benefit of the neighbouring surgeon .' Is it covered,
^o that its work may be done in stormy weather ? Is the

MR. QUINCy's address.

well convenient ; and is it sheltered, so that the females
of the family may obtain water without exposure, at all
times and at all seasons ? Do the subsidiary arrangements
indicate such contrivance and management as that nothing
useful should be lost, and nothing useless offend ? To this
end, are there drains, determining what is liquid in filth and
ofiiil to the barn yard, or the pens? Are there receptacles
for what is solid, so that bones and broken utensils may
occasionally be carried away and buried ? If all this be
done, it is well; and if, in addition to this, a general air of
order and care be observable, little more is to be desired.
The 6rst proper object of a farmer's attention, his own and
his family's comfort and accommodation is attained. Every
thing about him indicates that self-respect, which lies at
the foundation of good husbandry, as well as of good
morals. But if any of us, on our return home, should find
our door barricadoed by a mingled mass of chip and dirt ;
if the pathway to it be an inlaid pavement of bones and
broken bottles, the relics of departed earthen ware, or the
fragments of abandoned domestic utensils ; if the deposit of
the sink settle and stagnate under the windows, and it ia
neither determined to the barn yard, nor has any thing
provided to absorb its riches, and to neutralize its
effluvia; if the nettle, the thistle, the milkweed, the elder
berry, the barberry bush, the Roman wormwood, the bur-
dock, (he dock and the devil's apple, contend .for mas-
tery along the fences, or flower up in every corner ; if the
domestic animals have fair play round the mansion ; and
the poultry are roosting on the window stools, (he geese
strutting centry at the front door, and the pig playing
puppy in the entry ; the proprietor 'of such an abode may
call iiimself a farmer, but practically speaking, he is igno-
rant of the ABC of his art. For the first letters of a
farmer's alphabet are, neatness, comfort, order.

As we proceed to the farm, we will stop one moment at
the barn yard. We shall say notiiing concerning thQ

6, MR. quincy's address.

arrangements of the barn. Tbey must include comfort,
convenience, protection for his stock, his hay, and his fod-
der; or they are little or nothing. We go thither for the
purpose only of looking at what the learned call the ster-
corary, but which farmers know by the name of the manure
heap. Will our friends from the city pardon us, if we
detain them a moment at this point ? Here we stop the
rather, because here, more than any where else, the farm-
ers of Massachusetts are careless and deficient ; because
on this, more than on any thing else, depends the wealth of
the farmer ; and because th.s is the best criterion of his
present, and the surest pledge, of his future, success.
What then is its state? How is it located? Sometimes we
see the barn yard on the top of a hill, with two, or three
fine rocks in the centre; so that whatever is carried or left
there, is sure of being chiefly exhaled by the sun, or wash-
ed away by the rain. Sometimes it is to be seen in the
hollow of some valley, into which all the hills and neigh-
bouring buildings, precipitate their waters. Of conse-
quence all its contents are drowned, or water-soaked, or,
what is worse, there having been no care about the bottom
of the receptacle, its wealth goes off in the under strata,
to enrich, possibly, the antipodes. The Chinese, for
aught we know, may be the better for it, but it is lost for-
ever to these upper regions.

Now all this is to the last degree wasteful, absurd, and
impoverishing. Too much cannot be said to expose the
loss and injury, which the farmer thus sustains. Let the
farmer want whatever else he pleases. But let no man call
himself a farmer, who suffers himself to want a receptacle
for his' manure, water-tight at the bottom and covered at
the top, so that below, nothing shall be lost by drainage,
and above, nothing shall be carried away by evaporation.
Let every farmer, wanting such protection for his manure,
be assured that he looses, by the sun and rain, tenfold as
much as will pay all his taxes, state, town, and national,

MR. qDINCl's ADDRESS. T-

«veiy year. Let not the size of his manure heap be any
objeclion. li' it be greyt, he looses the more, and can
atfurd the expense the better. It it be small, this is the
best way to make it become greater. Besides, what is Ihe
expense? What is wanted ? Au excavation, two or three
feel deep, well clayed, paved, and " dishing," as it is call-
ed, of an area from six to thirty feet square, according to
the quantity of manure ; over head a roof made of rough
boards and refuse lumber, if he pleases. The object being
to shut out the action of the sun and cast off the rain, so
that no more should come upon his manure heap than the
farmer chooses. This he regulates by spouts at his dis-
cretion.

Tims will not permit us to stay long upon the farm ; we
will go out upon it, only for the purpose of making a single
observation, and that in relation to the fences.

It is thought to be a great virtue in a fanner to build
good fences. And so it is. None can be greater, so far
as relates to external fences ; those which bound on the
road, or a neighbour. They ought to be perfect and suffi-
cient against every intrusion. But when the remark is
applied to interior fences, it is often far otherwise. The
making and keeping in repair unnecessary fences is one of
the greatest drawbacks from the profilable employment of
the labour of our farmers. Every year new fencing stuff
must be bought, or stone walls must be built and stone walls
repaired. Much of that time and capital are expended
about these objects, which ought to be employed in col-
lecting manures, in ploughing their land, or in some labour
directly conducing to the prosperity of the immediate, or
ensuing crop.

The adopting of a single principle, in relation to the
management of their farms, would save at once one half of
all thjeir interior fences. I allude to the making the dis-
tinction between arable and pasture lands permanent, and
adopting it as a principle, that no beasts should be permit-

8 MR. huincy's address.

ted to range upon (he soil destined to the plough and the
scythe.

I know that this proposition will be received by ra;iny
with surprise, and by some with a sneer. But consider of
it farmers. Be assured (hat \hp practice of grazing your
mowing lands is the falsest of all that bears the name of
economy. It is impossible, in a discourse so general as
this necessarily is, to give all the grounds of this position.
I look at the subject now, on\y in relation to saving the
expense of making fences and repairing them. Let any
farmer of middle age take his pencil and calculate what it
has cost him, and his ancestors, in (he course of his and their
lives, to make and maintain rail fences, or stone walls, upon
their farms. I am mistaken if one half of the farmers do not
find (he expense far exceed their present conception, and if
the other half do not find, that, at a fair estimate of mate-
rials, labour, and interest, (he cos( of (hese fences. or walls
has been more than (be whole farm would now sell for under
the hammer.

Now more than half of all (he stone wails and rail fences
in Massachusetts are interior fences, dividing lands belong-
ing to the same proprietor. These interior fences are ab-
solutely useless, except for (he purpose of enabling the
proprietor to pasture his mowing land. They are worse
than useless on exclusively aralj'.e land. These walls are
in fact harbours for all sort of vermin ; for field mice, and
woodchucks and skimks and squrrrels. Then, on both
sides, what a rare assemblage ahvaj's of elderberries and
barberry bushes, and nettles, and all sorts of injurious
weeds ! Thus not only much land is lost, but worse than
lost. There is done a positive injury. Besides, when (he
plough begins to run, what (hen? Why, upon many
farms, you cannot run a plough forty rods in a straight line,
without coming, as farmers say, " plump" upon a stone
wall. Then what a " hawing and jeeing !" And the good-
natured fellow, at the front yoke, must always take time to

MR. ciuincy's address. 9

crack bis joke, or to have " a cup of comfort," with the
good natut-ed fellow at the plough tail. And all this at the
direct and positive loss of the owner of the land, or the em-
ployer!

But our lands are full of stone, what shall we do with them ?
Certainly there is no absolute necessity of building them up
in the shape of a stone wall. If there be, then thicken,
or heighten, your external walls. But this is done already.
Well, then, have you never a pondbole to fill up ? Is there no
useless hollow, into which they may be thrown? If nothing
of this kind can be done with them, better pile ihera up pyra-
midicaliy, and cover them with grape vinee, than go to the
expense of building walls, worse than useless.

Let me not be understood to intend, that good farming re-
quires that farmers should level, or remove the walls, or fen-
ces, which they, or their ancestors' labour have already pro-
vided. The condition of every man's farm is in this respect,
a particular fact, by which the calculations of his business
should be made, and his conduct, in relation to it, governed.
The only object of these remarks is to invite farmers, who
are contemplating building new walls, or purchasing new ma-
terials for interior fences, to consider, whether their own and
oxen's labour may not be better employed ; and whether
grazing the land, intended to be fenced, be in fact a com-
pensation for the great expenditure, they are about to incur,
of the only capital, they have, generally, at their command.

Farmers should never, one moment forget that their and
their oxen's labour constitute their capital, and that they
should be wasted in no object, which does not add some-
thing to the present, or future, years, actual product. It is
not too much to say that the capital expended in rail fences
and stone walls, which are useless in Massachusetts, would,
if it had been applied in collecting manures and in deepen-
ing the soil, have added, at this day, a third part to the in-
comt' of every farmer in the country.

Vol. VL 2

\
10 MR. QUINCy's address.

Let every farmer divide his pasture ground as he pleas-
es. Let (he fence between his arable and pasture land, be
as strong as an external fence. But, if possible, lef all his ara-
ble ground, though it be a hundred acres, be in one lot. Then
his plough runs clear, in a long furrow. His tillage is di-
vided only by the different species of grain and vegetables,
he cultivates. There are no fences ; of consequence no
inconvenient and worthless headlands ; no apology for this-
tles and nettles. The scene is beautiful to the eye. The
whole has the appearance of a garden ; and begets in the
farojer a sort of horticultural neatness.

Before passing to treat, very briefly, the remaining topic
of discourse, may I be permitted to say a word on the style
, of our buildings ? It will be worth the time, if it make only
one man, about to build, consider.

The fault is not peculiar to farmers, it is true of men, in
almost every rank and condition of life, that, when about to
build, they often exceed their means, and almost always,
go beyond the real wants of their families, and the actual
requisition of their other relations, in life. Bui let not the
sound, practical, good sense of the country be misled, by
the false taste and false pride of the city ; where wealth,
fermenting by reason of the greatness of its heaps, is ever
fuming away in palaces ; the objects of present transitory
pride ; and too often, of future, long continued, repentance.
Now, what do we sometimes see, in the country ? Why
a thiiving farmer, touched with this false taste, will throw
up a building thirty, or forty, feet square, two, or two and a
half, stories high, four rooms on a floor, with an immeasura-
ble length of out building behind. And what is the conse-
quence of all this greatness ? Why often, for years, the
house will not be wholly glazed : or, if glazed, not clap-
boarded ; or, if clapboarded, not finished ; the destined por-
tico is never put up ; the destined front step is never put
down ; and the ragged clapboards, on €ach side of the front
door, there they stand, year in and year out, staring and

Mft. quincy's address. 11

gaping at each other, with a look of utter despair of ever
being united. And if you go into these mansions, what do
you see ? Why, you will often find, that while the good man
of the house and his consort are snugly provided with
warm, well plaistered rooms, the children and all the rest of
the family sleep about in unfinished chambers ; subject to
every sort of exposure ; and " the best room," as it is call-
ed, in the original plan of the mansion, there it stands, the
lumber room of the family, for half a century ; the select
and eternal abode of crickets and cockroaches; and all sorts
of creeping and skipping things ; full of old iron and old
leather; the stuffing of decayed saddles ; the ragged relics of
torn bed quilts ; and the orts and ends of twenty generations
of corn cobs.

When will man learn, that his true dignity, as well as
happiness, consists in proportion ! In the proportion of
means to ends ; of purposes to means ; of conduct to the
condition of life, in which a kind Providence has placed him ;
and to the relations of things concerning which, it has des-
tined, he should act !

The pride of the farmer should be out, in his fields. In
their beauty, in their order, in their product, he should
place the gratification of his humble and honourable ambi-
tion. The farmer's great want is capital. Never should his
dwelling be splendid at the expense of his farm. In this, all
that is surplus, in his capital, should concentrate. Whatever
is uselessly expended elsewhere, is so much lost to his family
and his fortune.

I shall now recur, briefly, to another class of deficiences,
the want of system in the plans of our farmers.

System relates to time, to courses and to modes of hus-
bandry. A full elucidation of each topic would embrace
the whole circle of farming dispositions and duties. The
time will not permit any thing more than a recurrence to one,
or two, leading ideas. Want of system, in agriculture, leads
to loss of time and increase of expense. System, has chief
reference to succession of crops ; to sufficiency of hands;

IS2 MR. QUINCr's ADDRESS.

and to selections of instruments. As to the succession of
crops, called rotation, almost the only plan of our farmers
is to get their lands, into grass as soon as possible ; and I hen to
keep them, in grass, as long as possible. The consequence
of this practice, for it deserves not the name of a system, is
to lead to the disuse, or rather to the least possible use, of
that great source of agricultural riches — the plough. Ac-
cordingly, it has almost become a maxim, that the plough is
the most expensive of all instruments ; and of consequence
as ranch as possible to be avoided. And so it is, and so it
must be, as the business of our farms is managed. By keep-
ing lands down to grass, as long as possible, that is as long
as the hay product will pay for mowing and making ; the con-
sequence is that our lands, when we are obliged reluctantly.
to put the plough into them, are bound and matted, and
cross-barred, with an impervious, inextricable, infrangible
web of root and sod. Hence results a grand process, called
"a breaking up," with four, five, or six head of cattle, as
the case may be, with three men, one at the oxhead, a
second at th-^ plou?h-beam, and the third at the plough-han-
dle. Is there any wonder that such a ploughing apptuatus
is an object of aversion ?

It is impossible for any man to witness " a breaking up" of
this kind, without being forcibly reuiinded of the reflection
made by a dry Dutch commeniafor, on that passage in the
book of Kings, where it is said, thai Eiisha was found
" ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen." " Well," said the
commentator, " it is no wonder, that Elisha was glad enough
to quit ploughing, for prophecying, if he could not break
up with less than twelve yoke of oxen."

In fact, the plough is the natural instrument of the far-
mer's prosperity, and the system of every farmer ought to
have reference to facilitating and increasing its use. Let a
rotation, be adopted, embracing two or three years succes-
sive ploughings, for deepening and pulverizing crops, to be
succeeded by grain and grass, for two or three years more.
The plough, on its return, every five, six, or seven years,

«

MR> qUIKCv's ADDRESS. 13

finds, in such case, the land mellow, soft, unimplicated by
root, and tender in sod. The consetjuenie is, that -'a
breaking up" is th^^n done wilh one yoke of oxen and one
man. The expense is comparatively small. Theie is nothing
to deter, and every thing (o invite, the farcner to increase
the use of that most invaluable of all instruments. It ought to
be a principle that our fanning should be so systematized
that all " breaking up" should be done with one yoke of oxen
and one man ; who both drives and directs the plotigh.

Systematic agriculture also requires, suffit iency of hands.
Whatever scale of farming any man undei takes to fill, hands
enough to do it well are essential. Although this is. a jflain
dictate of com-non sense, yet (he want of being guided by-
it, in practice, is one great cause of ill success, in our agri-
culture. Because we hear every day, that "labour runs
away with all profits in farming," almost every farmer lays
it down as a maxim to do with as little labour as possible.
Now this maxim almost always results in practice, in doing
with less than he ought. The effect is ahnonl every
where seen in loss of time; loss of season; loss of the
employ of working cattle, and loss, or deterioration, of
crop. Now, in truth, labour, as such, never yet diminished
any man's profit, on the contrary, it is the root and sj)ring of
all profit. Labour, unwisely directed and unskilfidly mana-
ged, is, indeed, a great consumer of the farmer's pro.«peiity.
But labour wisely directed and skilfully managed, rati, fioiu
the nature of things, result in nothing else than profit.
What is skilful management and what is wise direction of
labour opens a field almost boundless ; and not to be attempt-
ed on the present occasion. A single remark must s(j{fice.
The great secret of European success, in agriculture, ia
stated to be, "much labour on, comparatively, little land."
Now the whole tenor of Massachusetts husbandry, from
the first settlement of the country, has been little labour, on
much land. Is it wonderful theti, that success should be
little, or nothing, when conduct is in direct violation of the
principle, on which success depends?

14 MR. ciuinct's address.

With respect to utensils too, system requires that they
should de the most perfect of their kind; and always the
most perfect in their state.

* Great profits in agriculture can result only from great
improvements of the soil. Great improvements of the soil
can result only from unremitting industry. The chief
study of every farmer should be what is useful, and what
is useless expense, in relation to his art. The- discrimi-
nation between these is the master key of the farmer's pros-
perity. The first should be incurred with a freedom, little
short of profusion. The last should be shunned, as the
sailor shuns the rocks, where are seen the wreck of the
hopes of preceding uiariners.

In this art, and almost, in this art alone, " it is the liberal
band, which maketh rich."

Liberality, in providing utensils, is the saving both of time
and of labour. The more perfect his instruments, the more
profitable are they.

So also is it with his working cattle and his stock. The
most perfect in their kinds are ever the most profitable.

Liberality, in good barns and warm shelters, is the source
of heallh, strength and comfort to animals; causes them to
thrive on less food and secures from damage all sorts ot
crops.

Liberality also, in the provision of food for domestic ani-
mals is the source of flesh, muscle, and manure.

Liberality to the earth, in seed, culture and compost, is
the source of its bounty.

* 1 am indebted, partly, for the general turn of thought, and for
some of the expressions, in a few of the ensuing paragraphs, to a work
entitled Arator, by John Taylor, Esq. of Caroline county, Virginia; — a
work principally destined to ameliorate the agriculture of the State,
of which the author is a citizen, but written, so far as it relates to its
agricultural tendency, in an admirable spirit, and abounding in refleC'
tions at once practical and philosophical.

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON. 15

Thus it is, in agriculture, as in every part of creation, a
wise and paternal Providence has inseparably connected
our duty and our happiness.

In cultivating the earth, the condition of man's success is,
his industry upon it.

In raising domestic animals, the condition of his success
is, kindness and benevolence to them.

In making the productiveness of the earth depend upon
the diligence and wisdom of the cultivator, (he Universal
Father has inseparably connected (he fertility of his creation
with (he strongest intellectual inducements, and the highest
moral motives.

In putting the brutal world under his dominion, he has
placed the happiness of which their nature is susceptible,
under the strong guarantee of man's interest.

Instead, therefore, of repining at bis lot, let the cultivator
of the ground consider his, as among the highest and happi-
est of all human destinies, since in relation to (he ear(h, he
is the instrument of Heaven's bounty ; and in relation to the
inferior orders of creation, the almoner of providence.

TRUSTEES' ACCOUNT OF THE CATTLE SHOW, AND EX-
HIBITION OF MANUFACTUKEy, ON THE 12th AND 13th
OF OCTOBER, 1819, AT BRIGHTON.

1 HE Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society
having assembled at their hall, in Brighton, on Tuesday
the I2(h of Oc(ober, conformably (o notice, they proceed-
ed to the Mee(ing-house, accompanied by a grea( concourse
of Members of the Society, and of their fellow citizens, and
of distinguished strangers, whom the interesting occasion
had collected.

Prayer having been made by (he Rev. Mr. Foster, the
rules and regulations having been read by the president,

16 CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON.

and an address delivered by one of the Trustees, the va-
rious Cointnittees proceeded to execute the tasks preiscrib-
ed lo them.

These Committees had been previously selected and
arranged, and were constituted in the following manner:

COMMITTEE ON ALL STOCK EXCEPT WORKING OXEN.

Hon. John Lowell, Chairman,
Isaac M'Lellan,
Joseph Harrington,
Willard Gav, and
Abijah White, Esqrs.

OW WORKING OXEN.

Hon. John Welles, Chairman,
Gen. S. G. Derby, and
Col. Baldwin.

* ON AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS.

Thos. L. Winthrop, Chairman,
i Gorhain Parsons, and

E. H. Derby, E^iqrs.

ON INVENTIONS.

Hon. Josiah Quincy, Chairman.
T. W. Sumner, Esq. and
Mr. Paul Moody.

ON MANUFACTURES.

Hon. Richard Sullivan, Chairman.
Abbott Ijawrence, and
John Lemist, Esqrs.

* This Committee at the present lime only receive notice for the
claim of' Premium. The evidences acro.diiis to tiie riiie prescribed
in the list of t^remiums, may at any time previa, iis to the first of De-
cember, be delivered to either ot' tlie above Committee.

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRICHTOli. 17

ON THE PLOUGHING MATCH.

S. W. Pomeroy, Esq. Chairman.
Joseph Curtis, and
Benjamin Goddard, Esqrs.

MARSHALS.

Major Samuel Jaqiies,
Col. Luther Gay,
Col. D. S. Greenough,
Capt. A. H. Gibbs.

Jonathan Winship, Esq. Clerk.

M. D. Worcester, Assistant Clerks

G. G. Chanaing, Esq. Auctioneer.

REPORT Oii^ THE COMMITTEE, ON ALL STOCK, EXCEPT

TVORKINC OXEN.

The committee appointed to award premiums upon
every species of live stock, beg leave to report, that
in the execution of their duties, they have necessarily
experienced great embarrassment, resulting not only from
the common difficulties which occur in deciding on ca-
ses wliere the shades of difference are scarcely per-
ceptible, but from the unexampled increase of the num-
ber of competitors in this part of the exhibition. —
These have increased from about thirty-seven to eighty.
In many cases there were six or eight competitors for one
premium, and as our fellow citizens have learned already, a
lesson, well worth all the expense and trouble of these pub-
Tol. VI. 3

'18 CATTLE SHdW, &G. A'P BRIGHTON.

lie shows, that no animal, who has not some very considera-
ble pretensions, can stand any chance of success, the diffi-
culty has annually increased of selecting those, among many
excellent ones, which should be deemed deserving of the
premiums of the Society.

It may be useful to remark that the character of the ex-
hibition in this branch of live stock, has every year improv-
ed, and the qualities of the animals offered have been regu-
larly more valuable; but to transient observers, this may
not seem to have been the case. The trustees have in past
years rather discouraged the idea, that their premiums
would hereafter be awarded to animals of a monstrous size
— that they should look rather to productive and profitable
qualities.

Hence those persons who visited the show with the ex-
pectation of seeing something out of nature, (the objects
which attract the allenlion of a midtitude, without reflecting
that their cost may have been double their ultituate value)
may have been disappointed. It is to the younger zx\\mz\s
chiefly, that the eye of the jiidiciaus observer would look
to ascertain the actual improvement and the solid benefits
of this recent exhibition. — We have no hesitation in declar-
ing unanimousl}-, that in ^ this respect, the show of the pre-
sent year has far exceeded that of any former one, thereby
affording most complete proof, that an. increased interest
and attention had been produced by the exhibition.
rlf any thing further could be necessary to satisfy the
public of this fact, we might add, that the finest specimens
of young animals were in almost every case the progeny of
those to whom the Society and public suffrage had awarded
the premiums on former years.

Thus to instance a few examples — The progeny of the
excellent imported bull. Fill Pail, generously given to the
Society by the Hon. Mr. Thorndike (though raised in dif-
ferent parts of the country) were in every case distinguish-

CAtTTLE SHOW, Set. AT BRIGHTON. 14)

ed by Iheir resemblance (o the sirfe, and Ibeir beautiful pro-
portiotiB, and they afford a reasonable hope (of (he sound-
ness of which time only can decide) that they will prove
ao important accession, and work a rapid iaiprovemeiit in
our stock of catMe destined for the dairy.

The same remark may be made with still more force as
to the progeny of Mr. Williams's extraordinary imported
Teeswater bull.

The descendants of Dr. Foster's prize cow also prove
the same proposition. — It may be assumed, in short, fiom
three years experiencey as an esidh\hhet\ truth, that the effects
which the Trustees hoped to produce by their exhibition,
have been realized; which were, first, to call the attention of
farmers to the difference between good and bad races, and
individuals. — Secondly, to induce them to bring forward
those which excel. Thirdly, to enhance their market val-
ue, thus giving to the raiser, besides his personal gratifica-
tion in the prize, a substantial reward — and lastly — to pre-
serve from the butcher, the progeny of excellent animals,
that the race may be essentially ameliorated.

We say without hesitation, that all these effects were
visible in the various classes of milch cows, bulls, bull
calves, merino sheep and swine. We wish we were not
obliged to add, that we have seen no attempt to improve
the breed of our native sheep, but, on the other hand, the
specimens exhibited have regularly grown worse.

W ilh these preliminary remarks, which were thought
necessary to explain the principles on which the committee
proceed, as well as to shew the real wier/f of the exhibition,
we proceed to announce the premiums.

For the best bull raised in Massachusetts, above one
year old, to Mr. Jonathan Whitman, 40 dollars.

The second premium, for a bull exceeding one year, to
Judge Goodale.

'»"

20 CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON.

The bull owned by Major John Bigelow, was so excel-
lent, that the committee hesitated whether he was not a fair
candidate for the first premium, but the consideration that
Mr. Whitman's bull had exhibited proofs of his excellence
by the progeny produced, induced them to give the final
preference to Mr. Whitman. They gave the second pre-
mium of 25 dollars to Judge Goodale's bull, because, in
some points, he exhibited qualities which were exceedingly
rare, and they thought he might be very useful in improv-
ing the race of our cattle in these particular respects. — The
universal admiration of him, was also another ground, which
induced them to notice him.

There were many very excellent bulls, which their limit-
ed authority could not permit them to introduce, such as
Moses Kendal's, Eli Stearns* and Benjamin T. Reed's.
For the Best Bull Calf, under one year— to Slepheu
W^illiams, Esq. of Northborough, 1st premium of 15 dol-
lars. It must be remembered that he was sired by the ad-
mirable Teeswater Bull, sent out by Charles Williams, Esq.
to his brother, the claimant to whom the premium was
awarded.

To Samuel S. Gardner, the 2d premium of 8 dollars ;
for a beautiful Bull Calf ihe issue of the Bull Fill Pail, ira-
ported by Col. Thorndike. There were some beautiful
Bull Calves exhibited by Marquis Converse, Jabez Ellis,
Joseph Lovell, Hei)ry Newell, and Gen. S. G. Derby, the
two latter by Fill Pail.

For the Best Milch Cow, not less than three years old— ?-
1st premium to Dr. Stearns, of Medford, 40 dollars — 2d
do. to Luke Fiske of Waltham, 30 dollars — 3d do. to Oliver
Lock, of Chelmsford, 20 dollars.

There were many other excellent Cows — but the com-
mittee on the whole gave the preference to the above.

Mr. Parkman of Brighton had a very fine Cow, respect-
ing which, he produced proof, that she had given 1760
quarts in four months, next preceding the Show.

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON. 31

Major Wheeler's two Cows were verj fine — one of them
had given 13 quarts at a single milking, and eleven pounds
of butter per week.

Mr. Howe's and Mr. Fayerweather's Cows were also
very fine — but considering all the circumstances of feed,
age, form, duration of giving milk, and adaptalion to improve
the breed, they decided as above slated.

For the best Heifer from one to three years old — To
Gorham Parsons, Esq. 1st premium, 15 dollars — to Dr.
Luther Stearns, '2i\ do. 10 dollars.

The most distinguished after these were Edwin Fiske's
and John Fayerweather's.

For the Best Ox, fitted for slaughter — to Luke Fiske,
1st premium 50 dollars.

This Ox weighed alive 2798 pounds, being by a few
pounds the heaviest Ox ever offered at this exhibition.

To John Fayerweather, 2d do. 40 dollars — to Lewis
Lilly, 8d do. 30 dollars.

There were no Merino Wethers offered for premium.
This would look as if Merinos were unreasonably getting
into disfavour. — We should never forget the success of (he
Saxons, who have surpassed all Europe in the qualities of
their Merino Wool.

The Native Wethers offered were below all considera-
tion, and we repeat, that unless the animals offered be of
remarkable worth, we give no premiums.

For the Best Boar, not exceeding two years old — 1st
premium to Francis White of Watertown, 10 dollars.

It should be known that this was an imported Boar, and
the most perfect animal in bis form ever seen in our coun-
try. What he will prove on trial, or what effect he may
produce in a cross with our native Pigs, is yet to be ascer-
tained.

2(1 premium to John Prince, Esq. 5 dollars — not import-
ed, hut from the imported Bedford breed.

22 OATTLE SHOTT, &C. AT BRIGM'fON.

For the Be^t Sows, two in number — to John Prince, Esq.
10 dollars. These also were imported and were admirable
specimens. ..>

" For the Best Pigs, not less than four nor more than eight
months old — to Isaac Jefferson, 1st premium 10 dollars —
to Edxvard Jones, '2d do. 5 dollars.

For the Best Imported Bull — 1st premium to Gorham
Parsons, E*q. 100 dollars — 2d do. to Cornelius Coolidge,
Esq. 75 dollars.

It should be remarked with regard to imported Stock,
that the reason we offer a higher sum is, that the first cost
and expense of importation very much exceed our pre-
miums— nor will they probii!)!y be long continued — the de-
sign being to introduce these races which have been so
much improved since the emigration of our ancestors.

For the Best Imported Milch Cow — to Charles Tracy,
Esq. 1st premium, 75 dollars.

To Cornelius Coolidge, Esq. the Trustees voted a special
premium (not offered) of 30 dollars, because his Cow was
imported at an early age, and not entitled on that account
to any premium, but her merit was such, and his exertions
so great, that she was deemed a fit subject for notice and
reward. She was of the Hulderness breed, the most dis-
tinguished for the dairy.

For the Best Merino Ram — 1st premium to Nathaniel
Ingersoll, Esq. 20 dollars — 2d do. Samuel Jaques, Esq.
10 dollars.

For (he Best Merino Erves, five in number — 1st premi-
um to the said Mr. Jaques, 30 dollars — 2nd do. to Nathan-
iel Ingersoll above named, 15- dollars.

All which is respectfully submitted, with one additional
and important remark, tending to shew the perfect impar-
tiality of the Trustees. Four of the committee out of five
are not of that body, and are selected from a conviction of
their discernment, skill and impartiality, and the only mem-

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT IBBIGHTON. 23

her on the coramiHce belonging to the board was not a com-
petitor for any prize. It is certain tiial tbe decision was as
fair as it could possibly be. For errors in judgwent the
Committee are. responsible. ^

„';yU \w'^\.i JOHN IjOWEhhi Chairman.

'hi •

UEPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON WORKING OXEN.

The Committee " On Working Oxen" were gratified to
notice the increased cjompetif ion for the premiums this year.
The eflfect has been to display at this exhibition a fine spe-
cimen of well matched and well broken Oxen, of great
strength, beauty and docility. These qualities were care-
fully compared and the usual trial made of their power and
faculty of movement, particularly in what i i termed " back-
ing" a loaded waggon.

Sixteen yoke were entered for the preiirmm — and after
as fair and impartial consideration as the Committee were
capable of, they unanimously awarded as follows :

To Spencer Boyden, of Walpole, the first premium ^30
To William Cobb, of Roxbury, the 2d do. 25

To John Plympton, of Dover, the 3d do. 20

To E. H. Derby, of Salem, the 4th do. 15

To Moses Bailey, of Sterling, 10

To Lewis Lilly, of Oxford, 10

As there was an equality in the opinion of the Commit-
tee in the cattle exhibited by the persons last named, they
by leave of the Trustees awarded the amount of the fifth
premium to each of them.

The Committee would have thought Mr. Parsons entitled
to a premium for his cattle (the four that ploughed) had

24

CATTLK SHOV/, &,C. AT BR16I1TOX.

they have been rightly entered. But they feel it a duty
to attend to precision in this resspect, lest injury should
arise from the precedent.

There were some cattle of great powe^iand value, but
not being perfpc.tly trained, particularly in " backing," they
•were excluded from consideration. Whilst the Corumittee
notice with pleasure the iinproveoient in this useful stock
of the country, they hope to induce a little more attention to
the defect in training herein mentioned, as it has formed in
the minds of the Committee hitherto an essential requisite.

By order of the Committee,

JOHN WELLES, Chairman.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MANUFACTURES.

The Committee on Domestic Manufactures adjudge the
First Premium for sriperfine Broadcloths to Messrs Shep-
ard and Jones of Northampton, $ 30

To Mr. Asa Goodale and Co. of Millbury, the se-
cond Premium,

For superfine Cassimeres, the first premium to
3Iessrs. Walcoft and Groves, of Slurbridge,

To the Kock Bottom Company, of Marlboro', the
second premium,

For superfine Sattinet, first premium to Messrs.
Wolcott and Groves,

To the Eock Bottom Company, the second premium, 6

For Woolen Cloth of household manufacture — To
Mr. Lovett Peters, of Westboro', the first premium,

To Pays^n Williams, Esq. of Fitchburg, the second
premium,

For Fine? Kersey, of household manufacture — To
Payson WJlliams, Esq. the first premium,

20

15

10

10

12

8

12

CATTLK SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON. 26

For Blankets — To Capf. Joseph Lovell, of East
SuilliiMv, the secoiul premium, 4

For Sewing Silk — To Mr. Samuel Childs, of Cam-
briilflje, the first premium, 5

For Butter — To Mr. Luke Bemis, of Watertown,
the first premium, 10

To Mr. Silas Bemis, of Barre, the second premium, 5

For Cheese — To Mr. John Crehore, of Milton, the
first premiufn, 10

To Mr. Kitridge Hill of New Braintree, the second
premium, 5

For Soal Leather — To Capt. Samuel Hobbs, of
Weston, the first premium, 10

To Dr. John Bartlett, of Roxbury, the second pre-
mium, 5

For Calf Skins— To Mr. Henry H. Hyde, of Framing-
ham, the second premium. — There were four competitors
besides. The specimen of one of them, the Committee
thought entitled to the first premium. But as no name
was affixed to the parcel, and no person present to inform
the Committee to whom it belonged, the premium could
not be awarded.

Premiums were offered for Cotton Cloths, and some kinds
of Linen falirics, but none were exhibited. The Trustees
and the public, notwithstanding, have the pleasure of know-
ing that these branches of manufacture are prosecuted, in
this Cornmonwealth, with a degree of success, which entitle
the Manufacturers to an honorary notice from the Society,
whenever its countenance is asked.

To do honor to the occasion, and unsolicited by offers of
premiums, the benches of the Hall were covered with a
great variety of tasteful fancy articles, and beautiful fabrics,
which added much to the interest of the Exhibition, and
did great honour to the ingenuity, skill and industry, of the
persons who presented them.

Vol. VL 4

26 CATTLK SHOW, 6cC. AT BRIGHTON.

A large mass of cbrystalized Alum was exhibited, from
a Factory in Saletn — Superb Cut Glass Vases, from the
Lechmere Point Factory — A Bonnet which was a good
imitation of fine Leghorn Straw, manufactured from a com-
mon grass — A variety of fine thread Lace fabrics from the
Watertown Factory — Fine Linen Thread, spun by a lady
of Worcester — An assortment of elegant Artificial Flowers,
the work of Mrs. Elizabeth VVillington, ot Cambridge.

And among others, a number of articles for which, being
of general use, and therefore better entitled to encourage-
ment from the Society, the Committee recommend the fol-
lowing gratuitous premiums : —

To Capt. Joseph Lovell, of East Sudbury, for a Cotton
Counterpane, $A

To Benjamin Wheeler and Co. of Framingham, for
Straw Bonnets of a very fine quality, 5

To Mr. Johnson Mason, for do. 4

To Mr. William Wyman, of Boston, for Buckskin
Gloves, 5

To Miss Sarah Hearsy, of Dorchester, for a knit
Counterpane, 5

To Misses Sarah, Catherine and Hatmah Lewis, of
Boston, for Tippets made of Turkey's Down, 6

To Miss Martha Lee, of Beverly, for a knit Cap, 3

To Mrs. Elizabeth WiUington, of Cambridge, for
Feathers of Turkey's Down, 3

To Mrs. W. Slarkwell, of Worthington, for Hearth
Rugs, 4

To Mrs. W^hite, of Dedham, for a Counterpane, 4

To Miss Polly Carr of Salisbury, for White Yarn, 3

The Committee think it right to observe, that some of
the Cloths of the Rock Bottom Company, of which Mr.
Cranston is the agent, and some specimens of other compe-
titors, were highly approved, and that it is very high praise
to Messrs. Shepard and Jones, and to Mr. Goodale and

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON. 2T

Company, Ihe successful candidates, lo say (hat theirs were
better.

It is due especially to Ihe Bellingham Woolen Factory,
of which Mr. Anios Hill is the agent, to mention, that the
Committee were for some time undecided between the
Cloths of this Company and those which obtained the
second premium.

The double milled Drab Kersey, offered by Mr. Crans-
ton, agent to the Rock Bottom Company, was thought, by
the Committee, the best piece of cloth of the kimi they had
ever seen of American manufacture, they were of opinion
that any so good is very rarely imported from Europe.
They regretted that the limits of their authority did not
permit them to award a premium for this article.

RICHARD SULLIVAN,
ABBOTT LAWRENCE,
JOHN LEMIST.
Brighton, Oct. 13, 1819.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PLOUGHING

MATCH.

The Committee on the Ploughing Match, most respect-
fully report : —

That the ground selected, a green sward, rendered firm
from being pastured for several summers past hy fat cattle
that were awaiting the weekly fairs, was surveyed into
sections of twenty rods by two, making a quarter of an
acre that each team was to plough, five inches in depth.
That seven competitors entered the field, and are designated
in the order of the lots they drew, as follows, viz. ; —

Lot No. 1. Gorham Parsons, Esq. of Brighton ; team
one yoke of oxen, ploughman, Hervey Stone, no driver;
finished in 55 minutes 30 seconds — 33 furrows turned.

28 CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON.

No. 2. Aaron D. Williams, of Roxbiiry ; team two
yoke of oxen, ploughman David Morrison, driver Joseph
Howe ; flni>«hed in 43 minutes 30 seconds^ — 28 ftirrows.

No. 3. Mr. Asa Wyman, of Roxbury ; team two yoke
of oxen, ploughman Moses Pond, driver Asa Wyman ; fin-
ished in 42 minutes — 2r furrows.

No. 4. Mr. Isaac Cook, of Brookline ; learn one yoke
of oxen, ploughman Isaac Cook, Jr. (a lad,) driver Daniel
Philips, (a lad ;) finished in 55 minutes — 34 furrows.

No. 5. Hon. Josiah Q,uincy ; team one _y oke of oxen,
ploughman Joseph Goodspeed, no driver ; finished in one
hour 49 minutes — 39 furrows.

No. 6. Mr. Stedman Williams, of Roxbury ; team two
yoke of oxen, ploughman S- Williams, driver David Howe ;
finished in 38 minutes — 25 furrows.

No. 7. E. Hersey Derby, Esq. of Salem ; team a pair
of low priced horses, ploughman Henry Burreck, no dri-
ver; fir)ished in 65 minutes — 39 furrows.
. Your Committee award as follows, viz. : —

First premium to Mr. Isaac Cook, — plough ^20 ; plough-
man, Isaac Cook, Jr. 15 years of age, $10; diiver, Drtuiel
Phillips, 16 years of age, $5 ; total $'S5.

Second premium to Gorham Parsons, E q. — plough $^'2\
ploughman, Hervey Stone, $6 ; do. do. (no driver) $3 ;
total $21.

Third premium to Hon. Josiah Quincy — plough $8 ;
ploughman Josiah Goodspeed, $4 ; do. do. (no driver) $2;
total $14.

Your Committee observed, that the several teams on the
field were in fine order, under good command, and the
ploughs of substantial and approved constructions.

They beg leave to remark, that the teams owned by
Messrs. Williams and Wyman appeared to combine strength
with great activity, and to have been used to constant ser-
vice and good keeping — pre-reqiiisites to successful farming

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON'. 29

— and had the ploughman taken more titne in the execution
of their work a different result might have been expected.

Mr. Derby's plojigh exhibited very regular handsome
work, and in reasonable time ; but when your Committee
took into consideration (he expense of a horse team (oi farm
work, compared with oxen, keeping in view the continual
deterioration of capital vested in korses, they were impel-
led to a decision different from what the same performance
under other circumstances, would have been entitled to.
They, however, recommend a gratuity of six dollars to the
ploughman, as a reward for the skill displayed by him.

In considering the performance of Mr. Quincy's plough,
your Committee were constrained in some measure, by
their construction of the terms on which the premiums were
offered, viz- " the best work with the least expense of la-
bour," to place time against good ivorky as it was unques-
tionably the best in the field, and the team under exempla-
ry discipline.

The^^ would further remark, that the several lots were
nearly equal, except the one drawn by Mr. Parsons, which
was encumbered witli a number of fixed stones, and being part
of a headland, by far the hardest ground ; though your
Committee had no criterion for ascertaining (he difference,
they acknowledge it did not afford a fair specimen of the
goodness of his plough, but srrong evidence was furnished
of the skill of the ploughman, and the vigour and discipline
of his team.

On the performance of Mr. Cook's plough, conducted by
boys, your Committee offer no comment. They trust that
the Members of this Society, and the Farmers in general
throughout the Commonwealth, are alive to the importance
of accustoming their sous, at an early age, to the use of an
implement so essential to the existence of all arts ; and

30 CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON.

were Ihls more practised, <liey venture to predict, there
would be Ies8 complaint of hard times.

SAMUEL WYLLYS POMEROY, Chairman.
Brighton, October 13, 1819.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURAL
EXPERIMENTS.

The Committee to consider the claims for premiums on
Agricultural Experiments, report : —

That Payson Williams, Esq., of Fitchburg, in the Coun-
ty of Worcester, is entitled to the Society's premium of
forty dollars, for a crop of Spring Wheat, being twenty-
eight bushels and thirty cpiarts, raised on one acre and one
eighth part of an acre of land.

That Dennis Stebbins, Esq. of Deerfield, in the County
of Franklin, is entitled to the Society's premium of thirty
dollars, for the best crop of Potatoes, being six hundred and
twelve bushels raised on one acre of land.

That Doctor James Thacber of Plymouth, in the County
of Plymouth, is entitled to the Society's premium of thirty
dollars, for a crop of Ruta Baga, or Swedish Turnips, being
four hundred and twenty eight bushels, raised on one acre
of land.

And that Mr. Eben Thrasher of Salem, in the County of
Essex, is entitled to the Society's premium of thirty dol-
lars, for a crop of Beets, being six hundred and thirty-five
bushels, raised on one acre of land.

Mr. Payson Williams of Fitchburg, exhibited proof of
his having raised on one acre, and one tenth part of an acre,
five hundred and thirty-five bushels of Potatoes, produced
partly from the round white sort, of which he planted the

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON. 31

seed ends only on one half of the land ; on the remainder
he used the Ions; red, or South American Potatoe.

Stephen Williams, Esq. of Northborough, in the County
of Worcester ; Mr. Nathaniel Bond of Watertown, in the
County of Middlesex; and Thomas Shepherd, E>q. of
Northampton, in the County of Hampshire ; as competiiors
for the premium offereil for the best crop of Ru(a Bags.
David Little, Esq., of Newbury, in the County of Essex ;
and Mr. William Hutchins of Roxbury, in the County of
Norfolk ; for the premium for the best crop of Carrots.
Lewis Bigelow, Esq., of Petersham, in the County of Wor-
cester, for the premium for the best crop of Potatoes. And
Daviil Little, E^q., for the premium for the best crop of
Beets, caused their names to be duly entered, but did not
furnish the Cotnmittee with the evidence prescribed by the
Rules of the Society.

No claims for premiums were exhibited to the Commit-
tee, for introducing a Grass, superior to any now cultivated
—for soiling of Cattle — for turning in green crops as a ma-
nure, and proving its utility and cheapness o\er any other
manure, nor for proving by actual experiment, the best
season and mode for laying down lands to grass, whether
spring summer or fall, seeding be preferable, and with or
without grain, on difterent soils. The e;nligbtened farmers
of Massachusetts have without doubt attended to these ob-
jecls ; and the Committee would have been much gratified
had they been enabled to communicate the result. Our ge-
nial summers having revisited us, it will perhaps be advisable
to give some attention to Agricultural experiments, that we
may be better prepared for any unpropifious change of
seasons. The Committee are unwilling to close their re-
port without noticing some experiments, made by several
members of the Board of Trustees, to raise in this climate
the Sweet Potatoe; but more particularly those by the
President and the Corresponding Secretary, the latter has

^ WHEAT.

succeeded fhe (wo past seasons much beyond his expecta-
tions, in raising this polaloe on his grounds in Roxbury.
The President cause*) to be exhibited at the Show in
Brighton, some very fine potatoes produced on his farm in
Chelsea, from cuttings of the vine brought in May last from
Charleston; one of the potatoes exhibited, weighed seven
pounds, and in all respects, excepting the absence, in some
small deiiree, of the saccharine quality, they resembled the
potatoe of the Carolinas.

By order of the Commiilee.

THOMAS L. VVINTHROP, Chairman.
BostOQ, Deceml)er 1, 1819.

Fitchhurg, November 12, 1819.

[To the Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society.]
GENTLEMEN,

In becoming a candidate for your premium on Wheat the
present season, I feel a diflSdence ; as to me it appears al-
most certain, I shall (in quantity at least) fall far behind my
more successful compeliiors. This consideration, however,
shall not deter me from what 1 deem my duty.

The land on which (he wheat was sown, was in 1818
planted witti Potatoes (for one acre of which I obtained your
premium) which after harvesting was ploughed a short time
before the setting in of winter. In tlie spring of 1819 as
soon as practicable, (after spreading on six loads of ferment-
ed manure it was a^ain cross ploughed — •26lh April sowed
on the furrows two bushels of what is known by the name
of the Gilman Wheat, (which I procured of the Hon. P.
C Brooks, of Boston,) on one acre and twenty square rods,
and cross-harrowed the same, followinor fhe harrow at the
same time will) the clover seed, which in turn was cross-
harrowed in. The wheat before sowing was washed in

WHEAT. 33

water until perfectly clean, then immersed in a liquor, or
Ije, made in the proportion of four pints of water to every
pound of wood ashes, then add one pound of unslacked
lime to every bushel of seed ; as recommended by M. Du
Hamel, (see Massachusetts Agricultural Repository and
Journal, No. 2. of Vol. 5. for 1818.) When the wheat
plant was out of ground two inches, I sowed on a part
of the field, Plaster of Paris, at the rate of ten bushels to
the acre, which I never have been able to discover has
had the least effect, (I had the like ill success in the use
of a ton, on various parts of the farm.) The amount of
wheat by actual measure, was twenty-eight bushels and
thirty quarts. It may here not be improper to state, that
on the most close examination, I could not discover one
kernel of smutty grain in the whole crop, and had it not
been for the ravages of the grasshopper in this 6eld (in
many parts of which they cut off one fourth part of the
heads, which of course were lost,) there would probably
have been thirty-four bushels. I esteem this kind of rvheatf
a valuable acquisition to this part of the country. The
grain weighing sixty-two pounds to the bushel, and
yielding at the mills in this quarter, forty-five pounds of
flour, in quality equal, I think, to the best Baltimore.

PAYSON WILLIAMS, Owner.

AARON BIXB^, Assistant.

Worcester ss. November 16, 1819.

Personally appeared, Payson Williams, and Aaron
Bixby, and made oath that the above statement by them
subscribed, contains the truth and nothing but the truth,

Before me,

CALVrN WILLARD, Justice Peace.

Vol. VL 5

34 POTATOES.

Fitchbnrg, September 11, 1819.

This is to certify, that I Philip F. Cowdin, sworn sur-
veyor of the town of Fitchbnrg, have this day measured a
certain plot of land, which was sown with wheat, and owned
by Payson Williams, of said Fitchburg, in the County of
Worcester, and 6nd it to contain one acre and twenty rods,
and no more.

PHILIP F. COWDIN.

Deerfield, October 4, 1819.

I, John C. Hoyt, surveyor, have measured a tract of
land in Deerfield, belonging to Maj. Dennis Stebbins,
bounded West on the meadow road, and North East and
South on land of said Stebbins, and hereby certify the
same contains one acre and no more.

JOHN C. HOYT.

Franklin, ss. October 7, 1819. Then John C. Hoyt,
made oath to the truth of the above certificate, before me,

PLINY ARMS, Justice Peace.

Deerfield, October 13, 1819.

The above tract of land lies in ihe North Meadow in
Deerfield, and is of a heavy rich loam. In the summer of
1818, there was raised upon it broom-corn, and no manure
applied, and it has been appropriated for the last eight or
ten years alternately, to the raising of corn and potatoes,
except one year a crop of hemp. The years, in which
corn was raised, there was applied about five loads of ma-
nure. May 15, 1819, the above land was planted in drills

POTATOES. 35

or rows, the rows three feet apart, and the seed dropped in,
about one foot asunder — there was applied twenty loads of
manure, a small shovel full under each potatoe, which were
cut into three pieces. The land was first ploughed and
then drilled or furrowed out for the reception of the seed,
with a small plough and one horse, the seed was then cover-
ed with a hoe — thirtj-three bushels was the quantity of
seed used, and they were a long red kind, known here by
the name oi merino. June 1 llh, just as the tops began to
make their appearance, with a single horse there was turned
two furrows on to each row, which nearly covered all the
tops, and by the application of a hoe, they were completely
covered. June 23d, there was turned two light furrows
upon each row, for the purpose of destroying the weeds,
not intending to increase the hills or ridges, and the few
weeds that remained were subdued by hoeing. July 6th,
the few scattering weeds that appeared were pulled up by
hand. They were dug with the hoe, and finished October
13th, and the produce was six hundred and twelve
bushels.

DENNIS STEBBINS.

JOHN STEWARD.

Deerjield, October 13, 1819.

We, John Steward and George Washburn, do certify
that we assisted in digging all the potatoes on the above
land, and by careful and actual admeasurement, there was
six hundred and twelve bushels.

JOHN STEWARD.

GEORGE WASHBURN.

Franklin, ss. October 13, 1819. Then Dennis Steb-
bins, John Steward and George Washburn, made oath

►V

36 SWEDISH TURNIP.

to the truth of the facts contained in the certificates by
Ihem respectively signed, before me,

PLINY ARMS, Justice Peace.

[To the Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society.]
GENTLEMEN,

XnE following are the circumstances relative to the acre
of land cultivated, with lluta Baga, or Swedish Turnips,
for which I put in my claim for a premium.

The situafion of the land is such as to form a gentle
declivity from the north, giving it a southern exposure.
The soil is a light loam, in some parts sandy, and much
disposed to suffer by drought. It is occupied by forty-
nine apple trees, the most of which are of thirteen years
growth. It had for several years been in grass, yielding
about one ton and a half of hay annually. In 1818 it re-
ceived about twenty tons of manure, and produced an ordi-
nary crop of corn and potatoes. In April 1819, it was
ploughed, and in May and June, it was twice ploughed and
harrowed by a single horse, and thoroughly pulverized
preparatory to seeding. From the 22d, to the 28!h of
June, the ruta baga seed was planted in the following man-
ner. Deep furrows were made about four feet asunder, in
which was laid a quantity of manure, two furrows were
ploughed on each side which covered the manure, and the
whole formed a ridge of four furrows ; upon this ridge
directly over the manure, the seed was immediately plant-
ed, and the earth smoothed and pressed down with a hoe.
Soon after the seedlings appeared, they were thinned out
Jo ten or twelve inches apart, and the weeds were destroy-
ed. In July, and in August, we ploughed twice between

SWEDISH TURNIP. 37

Ihe rows, carrying the plough within four inches of the
plants and throwing the earth into a ridge, in the intervals,
after which it was ploughed back against the plants and
the ridges were hand-hoed. July 27th to 291h, we trans-
planted about fifteen hundred plants on a part of the acre
reserved for that purpose in rows without ridges, two and a
half feet apart, and one foot distance in the rows, and
transplanted to fill vacant places on the ridges, leaving
each plant ten or twelve inches asuiuler throughout the
whole. In the first week in September, the earth was
loosened round the roots with a narrow hoe. The quanti-
ty of manure on the acre was ninety horse loads, or about
thirty tons, it consisted of stable manure with sea weed,
street dirt and various vegetable substances. The quanti-
ty of seed was one pound, but half a pound would have
been amply sufficient. I planted some seed on the 16lh
July and transplanted to fill some vacant places as late as
the 20th August, and these attained a tolerable size, but
all that were transplanted, proved greatly inferior to those
which remained on the seeded ground. The crop was
harvested from the 4th to the 10th of November and
being accurately measured, the amount was four hundred
and twenty-eight bushels.

EXPENCES.

Thirty tons manure, .....

Three ploughings, and harrowing

Ploughing twice between the rows

The whole of the labour, planting, hoeing, and trans

planting 26 days, for one man at 75 cents
One pound of seed, .....

Harvesting the crop, eleven days

$45

00

8

00

8

00

s-
19

50

1

50

8

25

90

25

38

SWEDISH TURNIP.

By 428 bushels ruta baga at 40 cents . . $171 20
Ruta baga tops equal to one ton English hay . 15 00

186 20

We the subscribers certify that the foregoing is a true
statement, according to the best of our knowledge, except
that Henry J. Douglass does not vouch for the harvesting
and measuring the crop.

JAMES THACHER.

HENRY JAMES DOUGLASS, Laborer.

Plymouth, ss. November 25, 1819.

Then personally appeared, James Thacher, and Henry
James Douglass, and made oalh to the truth of the forego-
ing statement by them subscribed, before me,

BEZA HAYWARD, Justice Peace.

These certify, that I have measured a piece of land con-
taining one acre on which Dr. James Thacher obtained the
above mentioned crop of ruta baga.

ROSSETER COTTON, Surveyor.

Plymouth, ss. December 1, 1819.

Then personally appeared, Rosseter Cotton, Esq., and
made oath that on measuring the acre mentioned in (he
foregoing certificate by him subscribed — he discharged his
duty as surveyor faithfully and impartially, before me,
BEZA HAYWARD, Justice Peace.

We the subscribers certify that we harvested and mea-
sured the crop of ruta baga, produced on the acre measur-

SWEDISH TURNIP. 39

ed by Rosseter Cotton, Esq. as above, and that the whole
number of bushels was four hundred and twentj-eight.

THOMAS NELSON.

JAMES COLLINGS.

Pltmoutw, ss. November 30, 1819.

Then personally appeared, the above named Thomas
Nelson, and James Collings, and made oath that in measur-
ing the crop of ruta baga mentioned in the foregoing cer-
tificate, by them subscribed, they performed the same,
faithfully and impartially, before me,

BEZA HAY WARD, Justice Peace.

The ruta baga may be considered as an important acqui-
sition to our agricultural productions, affording an excellent
fresh forage for horses, cattle, sheep and swine throughout
the year. Having devoted much attention to the culture,
the past season, I take the liberty to recommend to the
attention of farmers, who may be unacquainted with this
valuable article the following particulars. 1st. Deep plough-
ing and plentiful manuring. 2d. Pulverizing the earth in
the most effectual manner. 3d. Planting the seed and
transplanting the plants as speedily as possible, after ma-
nuring and ploughing thai the germs and roots may receive
all the advantage of a fresh fermentation, which is a point
1 believe, not sufficiently appreciated by agriculturalists ;
another point of importance, is to roll or press down the
earth after sowing, else in a dry soil the small seeds not
coming in immediate contact with the earth, cannot vegetate.
4th. Beep ploughing between the rows by which the mould
is exposed to the influence of the air, and those chemical
changes facilitated, on which the growth of vegetables essen-
tially depend. The result of my experiment shews deci-
dedly, that ridging on land naturally light and dry, is inju-

40 SWEOI3H TURNIP.

rious to the crop, and that had the intervals between the
rows been two and a half or three feet, instead of four feet
wide, the product would have been considerably more
abundant. Mr. Cobbett asserts, that the amount of the
crop is always greatest when transplanted, but his position
is not confirmed by my experiment. I should prefer re-
seeding in vacant places, at several different periods, and
the superabundant plants will be in readiness for trans-
planting if required. It is, nevertheless, an important con-
sideration, that a crop of ruta baga by means of transplant-
ing, may be obtained after taking off a crop of early pota-
toes, pease, oats, or any other grain harvested by the first,
or even the tenth of August. It should be observed that
the young plants while in the nursery should not be crowd-
ed nor shaded, and for transplanting should be large, the
bulbs about the size of a man's finger. I am of opinion
that ruta baga affords a more profitable crop than any other
vegetable, unless carrots be an exception. Judging from
the produce of the same acre the last year, and also from
the contiguous land the present season, I conclude that it
would not have yielded more than one hundred and fifty
bushels of potatoes, and I think it may be affirmed, that
land which yields forty bushels of Indian corn, will pro-
duce seven or eight hundred or more, bushels of ruta baga.
When these turnips are intended for the table, those should
be selected which were planted the latest and are of quicker
growth. Swine may be brought to eat them in a raw state,
but it is more economical to boil or steam them. It is among
the peculiar excellences of rutabaga, that if preserved from
frost, the roots will retain their soundness and good quali-
ties through the year and probably much longer. Cobbett
observes that they are not fully ripe, and fit for use, until
February. The leaves of ruta baga are eaten voraciously
by cows, but they cannot be preserved long without spoil-
ing, and they impart somewhat of an unpleasant flavour to

BEETS. 41

the milk. My store pigs are kept in a thriving condition
on the leaves without any other food.

JAMES THACHER.

I James Snow of Salem, in the County of Essex, on
solemn oath declare, that I saw Ebenezer Thrasher, take
off of one acre of land in Southfields, in said Salem, two
hundred barrels of beets, and to the best of my knowledge
and belief, fifty four barrels more, all which beets grew on
the said acre of land the season past.

JAMES SNOW.

I Jeremiah Bean of Salem, in the County of Essex, on
solemn oath declare, that I have worked for Ebenezer
Thrasher, for six months last past ; that to my knowledge,
the said Ebenezer Thrasher, raised on one acre of land,
situate in Southfields in said Salem, two hundred and fifty-
four barrels of beets, the season last past — that I assisted
the said Thrasher, in cultivating said land, and saw the
beets packed in barrels, and counted the said barrels
myself. JEREMIAH BEAN.

Essex, ss. October 25, 1819.

Then James Snow, and Jeremiah Bean, severally made
solemn oath that the within aflSdavits by them severally
subscribed, are true in every particular, before me,

JOHN PUNCHARD, Justice Peace.

I Ebenezer Thrasher of Salem, in the County of Essex,
on solemn oath declare, that in the summer of 1819, I
raised on one acre of land by exact measurinent, two hundred
and fifty-four barrels of beets — that 1 assisted in packing

Vol. VI. 6

42 BBETS.

said beefs in barrels, and counted the barrels when 61lpd.
The said land is situale in So»lhfip|d«, so called, in said
Salem. EBEiNEZER THRASHER.

Essex, ss. October 25, 1819.

Then Ebenezer Thrasher, Piibgcribed, and made solemn
oath to the truth of ihe above affidavit, before me,

JOHN PUNCHARD, Justice Peace.

This is to certify, that the land on which I raised two
hundred and fifty-four barrels of beets, in 1819, was culti-
vated as follows, viz. : 1 ploughed the land April 1 6th, and
then spread on, seven cords of manure of different kinds,
then harrowed the land over three times, April 24th. —
Ploughed the land over again, and likewise harrowed it
over twice, April 26th. Ploughed it over again and added
four cords manure, then harrowed three times, then raked
it over, then sowed five pounds of seed, the distance be-
tween the rows being two feet, and hoed through in the
course of the season three times, and wed twice, and on
the 19th October, begun to dig the above named, and end-
ed on the 23d October. They were cultivated as above
named, to the best of my knowledge.

EBEiNEZER THRASHER.

Salem, October 25, 1819.

I hereby certify, that the land set off by me, for Mr.
Ebenezer Thrasher, on which beets were growing at the
time, (October 18, 1819,) contained one acre accurate

measurement.

JAMES GALE, Surveyor.

POTATOES. 43

Fitchburgy November 12, 1819.

[To the Trustees of the Massachusetti Agricultural Society.]
GENTLEMEN,

i ORSOANT <o the object, for which one acre and fifteen
square rods, as measured by P. F. Cowdin, and entered on
your books for a premium, I take the liberty to state, that
in 18IK,8aid land was tnade use of as part of a sheep pasture.
The nature of the soil is what is generally termed by farm-
ers, warm chestnut Umd ; excellent for grain. After blow-
ing, digging and getting off a part of the rocks into a double
wall, (which enclosed (he field from the original pasture)
it was ploughed early in the autumn of 1818, for the first
time (probably) since its creation. Early in the spring fol-
lowing, it was harrowed, cross-ploughed and again harrowed,
and after furrowing four feet apart one way, had the ma-
nure (unfermented and made from neat cattle and sheep)
placed as near as could be judged, two feet distant. The
potatoes planted, '20th and 21sl May. Took of seed twen-
ty-five bushels ; one half the field planted with the seed-
ends of the round whites (I am unable to call them by any
other name, as the seed was brought to this place twenty
years ago, from Andover, Mass.) the other part with the
Rio de la Plata, or long reds, cut in the usual manner.
Were hoed for the first time I4lh June ; second and last
time 25lh same month. Were harvested the last part of Oc-
tober, and by actual measure were, five hundred and eighty
bushels on one acre of the above, and fifteen bushels on
the fifteen square rods, making in all five hundred and
ninety-five bushels from the field. To account for the
very great inequality in the relative number of bushels and
rods, of the acre and the fifteen square rods over, it will
be necessary to state, that from fifteen to thirty rods of the

44 POTATOES.'

north part of the piece, the crop was comparatively light
with the other part of the field, which was attributed by
those knowing to the fact, to its being bounded on that
side, by a large and thrifty growth of chestnut and other
timber, whose roots, beyond a doubt, corae in for a share of
the earths vegetative properties. As to the odds in bush-
els between the red and white the former yielded ten bush-
els more than the latter. I, however, consider my crop of
whites the most valuable.

PAYSON WILLIAMS, Owner.

AARON BIXBY, Assistant.

WoRCETER, ss. November 16, 1819.

Personally appeared Payson Williams, and Aaron Bixby,
and made oath, that the above statement, by them respec-
tively subscribed, contains the truth, and nothing but the
truth, before me,

CALVIN WILLARD, Justice Peace.

Fitchburg, November 16, 1819.

[To Ibe Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society.]
GENTLEMEN,

1 DEEM it not improper, in becoming a competitor for the
premium on potatoes, to send you minutes of the expences
attending the raising one acre and fifteen rods of that vege-
table. It will be seen that in the relative expense and
profit, in comparison with the carrot and many other roots,
it would leave a considerable amount of profit in favour of
the tap rooted vegetable ; yet we should at the same time
consider, that where the potatoe is generally cultivated,
it would be utterly impracticable to cultivate the other

POTATOES. 45

roots.* This is case of the above mentioned plat ; it being
literally a bed of rocks, which after blowing and getting otl'
the principal part into a wall and planting a crop of pota-
toes, the land is in an excellent stale for a crop of wheat,
followed by a crop of clover. The indiuenienls for at-
tempting to bring too such a piece of hard land (where it
is so cheap as twenty dollars the acre) were, its having
annually a very heavy crop of thistles (a sure indication of
its rich and excellent qualities, for the growth of other and
more valuable vegetation) together with its being but thirty
rods from the house and barn. It will likewise be remem-
bered that the enormous expense in subduing the above-
mentioned land is in a great measure attributable to its
being very rocky, which had an influence in retarding the
work in every stage, even to the taking out the potatoes in
the fall.

EXPENSE.

Breaking up the ground, four yoke of oxen and three

men one day . . . . . . ^ 7 00

Half day harrowing, oxen and man . . . 1 00

* It will likewise be recollected that the culture of the potatoe
(notwithstanding what Mr. Cobbett says to the contrary,) is a grand
promoter of the success of the crop which is immediately to follow,
particularly wheat. It will also be admitted, that this root is invaria-
bly made subservient in reclaiming rough lands. But setting aside
its peculiar advantages above stated, it will be seen aftergiving every
degree of latitude to the expense, that it is, independently, a profita-
ble crop. The expense we here find to be seventy-five dollars
sixty cents, the product five hundred and ninety-five bushels, at twen-
ty-five cents per bushel from the field in this part of the country, will
be - - - . - - - $ 118 75

Deduct for expense - - - - - 75 60

Gain from one acre and fifteen rods - - - S 73 15

And left the land in a complete state for the ensuing year. W.

46' ON THE BAD MANAGEMENT OF ORCHARDS.

Amount brought forward . . . . ^ 8 00
One day crosa ploughing, 2 yoke oxen, 2 men . 4 00
Furrowing half day, "2 men and 1 yoke oxen . 1 50
Seeded with 25 bushels potatoes at iis. (seed ends) 12 50
Twenty buck loads unfermented manure (30 bush-
els to the load) 20 00

Three men and 1 yoke oxen, 2 days planting . 8 00
First hoeing four days man, and half day horse

ploughing 4 50

Second hoeing the same . . . . . 4 50
Fifteen days in harvesting the crop (593) at 84 cts. 12 60

$75 60

Fitchburg, September 17, 1819.

This is to certify that I, Philip F. Cowdin, sworn sur-
veyor of the town of Fitchburg, have this day measured a
certain plot of land, planted with potatoes and owned by
Payson Williams of said Fitchburg, in the County of Wor-
cester, and find the same to contain one acre and fifteen
rods, and no more. PHILIP F. COWDIN.

[There being no competitors for premiums for inventions,
under circumstances, which authorized the Committee on
that subject to award any, none were adjudged.]

ON THE BAD MANAGEMENT OF ORCHARDS.

[Communicated for the Massachusetts Agricultural Repository.]

AVhy are farmers so neglectful of their orchards ? Our
farms are portioned out into orchard, mowing, tillage and
pasture. This is so common a division, that a plantation of

ON THE BAD M Alf AGEMENT OF ORCHARDS. 47

fruit trees must have been considered a useful occnpafion
of the soil. But in what a state are the trees in most parts
of the country ! Good orchards are, however, sufficiently
numerous to shew thai good managetritnt in this branch of
husbandry is as profitable as in any other.

If some districts are well stocked with trees, others exhi-
bit only a few, scattered along on the road side, old and in
a decrepid stale, the remnants of fine orchards of belter
days.

But, in respectable farming towns, in all parts of the
Commonweallb, one may see, in the fields, apple and other
fruit trees, bristled all over, from root to lop, wilh branches
like whip sticks; hide bound, cankered and covered with
moss. All the sap which, in this slate of the trees, the
roots can supply, is little, if any, more than enough lo feed
(he years growth of wood. At best, the produce is but a
small quantity of half grown degenerate fruit.

Many farmers think no attention necessary to young trees
after planting, unless it be to keep the ground open round
the roots for a year or two. The slocks are then left en-
tirely to their own instinct of self preservation and natural
tendency to grow and fructify. The innate vigor of the
plant is all ils dependence. Its self renovating power, its
only means of recovery from injuries inflicted by insects.
If a tree survives early neglect, the unlamed luxuriance of
its top, seems to reproach the farmer for his want of care,
as its redundancy of wood, is incompatible wilh the produc-
tion of fruit.

Bad cyder is as common as poor orchards. Whether
the great consumption of ardent spirits is the cause, or the
effect, of the inditFerent quality of the cyder made in this
State, the use of them is at least countenanced by it.
Not a tavern keeper, or inn holder, thinks that the credit of
his house is in any degree affected by the quality of the
cyder he may offer to his guests, ho^vever poor it may be.

48 ON THE BAD MANAOKMENT Ot ORCHARDS.

It is apology enoi:gb, Uiat any better flian his is rarely found
in private houses. There are but two stales in which this
liquor is commonly seen. It is cilher syrup, or verjuice. A
farmer's family will gorge Ihemseh es with the first for about
six weeks after the cytler comes from the press, a:ncl then
drink the latter all the rest of the year, unless indeed^ its
corrosive asperity should render a recourse to rum or
brandy necessary. '■

Perhaps not many of the tables of our farmers, me-
chanics, and laborers, are regiulaily supplied at meals
with ardent spirits, as a family beverage. But the
heads of families and hired men drink but sparingly
of sour cyder, knowing that such an indulgence as would
satisfy their craving for liquid, would be attended with
severe colic and other unpleasant effects. The comple-
ment of drink for workmen is commonly, therefore, made
up with ardcn? spirits, taken a! other times during the day.
It would be ffoing too far, to assert, that the farmers, as a
class, are intemperate in the use of ardent spirits. It is,
however, a subject of regret, that the practice is not more
disreputable, and that young men in their fidl health and
vigor, should so often require of their employers, an allow-
ance of a half o pint of spirit per day, as a necessary of
life. Sound cyder would invigorate more without impairing
the tone of the stomach. But how few farmers have it in
their power to offer the alternative. A good method of
making, in the first place, and then of preserving, cyder, is
so rarely practised, that farmers are themselves to blame
that they are at so nnich expense for rum, when there can be
little doubt, that their hired men and they themselves would
give a preference to cyder, not sour. They have but to
cherish their orchards, and to pursue well knon-n methods
in manufacturing and curing the liquor, to be relieved from
a vexatious expense, and the still more vexatious evils of
occasional, or habitual, intemperance.

OS THE BAD MANAGEMENT OK ORCHARDS. 49

Fruit is not a staff of life, but it h an innocent and re-
freshing luxury. Its medicinal uses give it also, no incon-
siderable value. Taken in all the variety which our cli-
mate admits of, it may be made to contribute largely to
health, comfort and enjoyment. As it is not a principal
article for the sustenance of life, neither is it one which
requires any great or constant labor to secure. Compared
with bread stuffs and culinary vegetables, and considering
the labor bestowed on these, it is almost a free gift of Pro-

ividence. Fruit trees may be grown in fields in which
grain and vegetable crops are cultivated, not only without
interfering, while young, with the processes which these
latter require, but so as to derive benefit from them with-
out diminishing the ground crops. And when the trees
have attained to their full size, the soil occupied by their
roots, and the space shaded by their tops, if lost for tillage,
will pay a greater profit from the trees, if well pruned and
kept clean, than it would, employed in any other culture.
The labor in keeping the trees *in order, is very trifling, if
bestowed seasonably. Most of what is required, should be
done in the spring, before the frost leaves the ground, and

.other business is pressing.

It is well known that fruit trees may be cultivated with
advantage in ground too rocky for tillage, without losing the
use of it as pasture, provided stakes are set to keep off the
cattle. The soil must, however, be kept open about the
young trees, to obtain a free growth. It is, unnecessary to
say that manure may be applied with advantage, and that
the value of it will not be lost when so applied. The de-
clivities on the south sides of hills, which are too steep, or
too rough, for the plough, afford fine situations for fruit
trees. So that on many farms, extensive orchards of vari-
ous kinds of fruit may be had, without interfering with, or
diminishing the amount of other crops.
Vol. VI. 7

so ON THE BAD MANAGEMENT OP ORCHARDS.

\

The apple, pear and cherry, are certain enough as bear-
ers to justify a reliance upon them for profit. The peach
and plum are delicious fruits, and this character would
seem to entitle Ihem to a (rial on every farm. They should
be planted near (o the buildings — the former on the south
side for greater warmth, the latter on the north side for
the advantage of the shade, which the plum requires.

The varieties of the several species of fruit which may
be brought to perfection in this Commonwealth, are nume-
rous, and are cultivated with success near the coast, but
are little known in the interior. They are, however, com-
mon enough to furnish scions for every county, in the state.
Our farmers have only to decide, that they will turn their
attention to the raising of fruit, and they will have no diffi-
culty and little or no expense in obtaining scions of the
best. But it ought, at the same time, to be recollected,
that as the improved and most delicious fruits have come
of careful cultivation, and are derived from originals of very
ordinary character, so if the trees are treated with neglect,
these fruits will degenerate and in a short time be no longer
cognizable as the same.

It may not be wiiversaHy known, that by taking off a
^|ib"rtion of the fruit from a healthy tree, at an early stage,
what remains will become larger and be finer than if the
whole were suffered to remain — because more sap is at
liberty to be expended upon them. Keep the earth loose
about the roots, and manuring produces the same effect —
enlivening the roots and encouraging them to put forth
more fibres, and in consequence, a greater quantity of nu-
trition is absorbed, of which the fruit will get its proportion.

Whatever promotes a free circulation of the sap, as
cleansing the bark from scales and scraping it to make it
tender and yielding, and whatever helps to perfect the
maturation of the sap in the leaves of the tree, by giving them
a full exposure to the sun and air, as by cutting out the

ON THE BAD MANAGEMENT OF OBCHAUD8. 51

central branches when the head is too bushy, and giving it
ao expanded form, promotes the growth, general health,
and productiveness of the tree.

It would require little time to satisfy any rational mind,
that the caterpillar, the canker worm and the slug, by de-
vouring the leaves, destroy a part of the machinery neces-
sary to the work of vegetation and fructification. The
tree must therefore decline if they are permitted to invade
it, and to keep possession year after year.

A large stock of fruit trees may be raised with very
little trouble by fencing in a few rods of good ground as a
nursery, and sowing pomace on part, and reserving part fo<;
the seeds or stones of other fruit. There should be space
enough within the enclosure to admit of transplanting the
shoots the second year. The following year they will be
in a state for budding or for grafting. In the mean time,
the farmer may learn by a little inquiry where the buds and
scions may be obtained when wanted.

This nursery will not only supply his new plantations,
but afford fine thrifty trees, to take the places of such as
decay in the orchard. He will thus avoid the effects of
the ignorance, or deceit, of nursery men, whose trees not
seldom prove not to be of the kinds, for which they are
sold. This is true in many instances of trees which have
been ordered from New York.

We have before adverted to the number of fruit trees
which may be seen scattered over the face of the country
in the more populous districts. But from the languishing
state in which they are, they seem to have been thought
worth merely the trouble of planting.

If, indeed, they are not worth the little additional car*
of pruning and cleaning, they are but cumberers of the
ground. And both for appearance and use the soil had
better be converted to some other purpose. For what ia
more unsightly than a neglected orchard ! and as to profit,

52 ON THE BAD MANAGEMENT OF ORCHARDS.

one might as well keep a flock of scabby sheep, which can
never corae in contact with bush, or briar, or splintered rail,
without leaving wool by the ounce behind them. A lean
ox with a broken limb, fit neither for work, nor slaughter, is
another emblem of neglected fruit trees.

The cultivation of fruit for the market is a minor object
in parts remote from large towns. But in districts where
good fruit would command a ready market and good price,
there prevails an unaccountable inattention and indifference.
On some farms, in a condition otherwise respectable, and
with orchards of from one to two hundred trees, all that is
obtained is about twenty barrels of cyder, a few barrels of
eating apples, a bushel or two of pears, and a small quantity
of the stone fruils. Again, on a few other farms with or-
chards of the same number of trees of equal age, the harvest
yields ten times as much. Not that in the latter case the
years wages paid out amount to a larger sum, or that more
hands are employed. — But what hands there are, are better
directed. The care of trees is considered by the proprie-
tor an important branch of husbandry, and as such is attend-
ed to as systematically as any other branch. In truth the
whole difference in the result of the year proceeds from
this, that the farmer in the one case inspects his orchards
carefully in the spring and puts them in order, while the
farmer in the other throws away the same time in idle
conversation or listless inaction, waiting for the frost to be
gone and reserving all his strength for-the plough.

The length of time required to bring fruit trees info a
bearing state — the accidents to which they are liable — the
uncertainty of the harvest — and the smallness of profit at
the best, — these are thought, by many, sufficient objections
to the cultivation of orchards, at least with any great degree
of care.

The first objection may be answered by a direct appeal
to the farmer's sense of interest. What, sir, will it cost

ON THE BAD MANAGEMENT OF ORCHARDS. 53

you to purchase and (o set out your hundred young trees
and to take proper care of them the first year? Will not
your farm be worth the second, third, and fourth year and
so on, as much more to sell, or to keep for yourself, or your
children, as it will have cost you, in the mean time, to take
good cartj of your young orchard ? And when if shall have
come into full bearing, at twelve or fourteen years, will
you not be indemnified by the increased value of your
farm, which a productive orchard will give to it ? Will not
your profit be fifty fold in proportion to your expense?

But, you say, your trees are liable to premature decay
and to accidents? A thriving nursery, which costs little,
will supply losses which care could not prevent.

Then comes the uncertainty of the harvest. — But what
harvests are not uncertain? You toil and waste your strength
in the corn field, and yet your harvest is uncertain. A bad
fruit year comes, and a few days labor in pruning and cleans-
ing your trees is all you, can have lost. — Even this is not
lost, for the quantity of fruit, even in a bad year, v-ill more
than pay you. Besides, commonly, the succeeding year is
very abundant in fruit.

But there is the fourth objection — the smallness of profit.
The word profit is a relative term. He, who gains ten
cents on one dollar, makes a greater profit than he who
gains five per cent, on one hundred dollars. Calculate what
it has cost you to raise your orchard, and to make your
cyder — to gather and barrel your fruit for the market, and
if your cyder will bring but nine shillings the barrel and
your fruit but two dollars, the absolute gain may be twenty
per cent., taking the rent of the land employed into the ac-
count, although the whole amount received may not be a
tenth part of the income of the farm. The probability is,
however, that fiom a large stock of trees of various kinds
of fruit, the profit may amount to a considerable sum, and
thus from a very small original cost, the sales of fruit, may

54 0» THE BAD MANAGEMENT OF ORCHARDS.

come to be (he principal income of a farm, in other respects
in good condition.

In any part of the Commonwealth a fruit harvest from a
good orchard, will pay a profit for t:onsuniption at home, if
no sale can be made of it. The early windfalls, if not ripe
enough for cyder and not used to make vinegar, will not be
lost if thrown into the hog pen. The great tendency to
heat in swine makes the acid of fruit grateful to the animal
and useful to the carcase. If there is more fruit than the
farmer can consume in his family, it will give him an op-
portunity to make a nicer selection for the cyder press,
and thus to obtain cyder of a better quality. For in keep-
ing the apples late, in order to mature them more perfectly
before taking them to the mill, he need not be scrupulous
in throwing out from the heap, for his hogs, all that are in
the least decayed, as the cyder will not be so likely to have
a flat taste, or be so liable to the acetous fermentation.

Besides the advantage of a wholesome and refreshing be-
verage which is yielded by the apple, it may, as an article of
food, be made to form an agreeable and no unimportant part
of the diet of a family. Other fruits in their season are en-
titled to the like recommendation.

It is as obvious, as striking, how much more moral, hap-
py and prosperous our Commonwealth would be, were a
general and simultaneous attention now given to the restor-
ing of our old orchards and the planting of new ones on
every farm where they are wanting ! The debasing and
wasteful habit of ricm drinking would rapidly disappear
with the increase of (he crops, and proper exertions on the
part of our Country Agricultural Societies, to diffuse the
knowledge of the best methods of making and preserving
cyder.

A full treatise on the subject of making and curing cyder
may be found in a late number of this Repository.*

* Volurae iv. page 170.

ON THE M&IfAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES. 55

Also, In an earlier Number, the names and character of
the best fruits of every kind cultivated in New-England.

ON THE MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES.

[The following directions for the management of Fruit Trees, in every
stage of their growth, will be found satisfactory. — They are from
Marshall's Rural Economv.]

A Seed bed and nursery ground should be kept per-
fectly clean, and be double dug, from a foot to eighteen
inches deep. The seedling plants ought to be sorted agree-
ably to the strength of their roots, that they may rise
evenly together. In transplanting, the tap or bottom root
should be taken off, and, at the same time, the longer side
rootlets should be shortened. The young plants should
then be set, in rows, three feet apart, and from fifteen to
eighteen inches asunder in the rows ; care being taken not
to cramp the roots, but to bed them evenly and horizontally
among the mould. In strictness of management they
ought, two years previous to their being transferred to the
orchard, to be retransplanted into unmanured double-dug
ground, four feet every way apart, in order that the feed-
ing fibres may be brought so near the stem, that they may
be removed with it into the orchard, instead of being as
they generally are left behind in the nursery. Hence in
this second transplantation, as in the first, the branches of
the root should not be left too long ; but ought to be short-
ened, in such a manner, as to induce them to form a regular
globular root; sufficiently small to be removed with their
plant ; yet suflSciently large to give it firmness and vigor in
the plantation.

If the raising or improving of varieties be the object in
view, the nursery-ground should be naturally deep and

S6 on THi: MANAGEMENT Of FUUIT TREES.

well soiled, and highly manured ; and the plants repealed-
ly moved at every second, third, or fourth year, that they
may Itixuriate not only in rich but in fresh pasturage ;
thereby doing perhaps all that art can do, in this stage of
improvement, toward giving freedom to the sap vessels,
and sise and richness to the fruit.

The intervals raay, while the plants are small, be crop-
ped with such kitchen-garden produce as will not crowd or
over-shadow the plants ; the rows being kept perfectly
free from weeds.

In pruning the plants, the leading shoot should be parti-
cularly attended to. If it shoot double, the weaker of the
contending branches should be taken off. If the leader be
lost and not easily recoverable, the plant should be cut
down to within a hand's breadth of the soil, and a fresh
stem trained. Next to the leader, the stem boughs require
attention. The undermost boughs should be taken ofTby
degrees ; going over the plants every winter ; always cau-
tiously preserving sufficient heads to draw up the sap ;
thereby giving strength to the stems and vigor to the roofs
and branches: not trimming them up to naked stems as in
the common practice ; thereby drawing them up prema-
turely tall and feeble in the lower part of the stems. The
thickness of the stem ought to be in proportion tojts height,
a tall stock therefore requires to remain longer in the nur-
sery than a low one.

BEST METHOD OF PLANTING IN THE ORCHARD.

Describe a circle about five or six feet diameter for the
hole. If the ground be in grass, remove the sward in shal-
low spits, placing the sods on one side of the hole. The
best of the loose mould placed by itself on another side ;
and the dead earth, from the bottom of the hole, in a third
heap.

ON THE MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES. 57

The depth of the holes should be regulated by the na-
ture of the 9ub-8oil. Where this is cold and retentive, the
holes should not be made much deeper than the cultivated
soil. To go lower, is to form a receptacle for water, which,
by standing among the roots, is very injurious to the plants.
On the contrary, in a dry light soil, the holes should be
made considerably deeper ; as well to obtain a degree of
coolness and moisture, as to be able to establish the plants
firmly in the soil. In soils of a middle quality, the hole
should be of such depth, that when the sods are thrown to
the bottom of it, the plant will stand at the same depth in
the orchard, as it did in the nursery. Each hole therefore,
sboulil be of a depth adapted to the particular root planted
in it. Tlie holes ought, however, for various reasons, to
be made previous (o the day of planting. \( the season of
planting be spring, and the ground and the weather be dry,
ihe holes should be watered, the evening before the day of
planting, by throwing two or three pailfuls of water into
each ; a new but eligible practice.

In planting, (he sods should be thrown to the bottom of
the hole, chopt with the spade, and covered with some of
the finest of the mould. If (he hole be so deep, that with
this advantage, the bottom will not be raised high enough
for the plant, some of (he worst of the mould should be re-
turned, before the sod be thrown down.

The bottom of the hole being raised to a proper height
and adjusted, the lowest tire of roots are to be spread upon
it ; drawing them out horizontally and spreading (hem in dif-
ferent directions, drawing out with the hand the rootlets
and fibres which severally belong to them ; spreading them
out as a feather ; pressing them evenly into the soil, and
covering them, by hand, with some of the finest of the
mould ; the other tires of roots are (hen to be spread out
and bedded in a similar manner. Great care is to be taken
to work the mould well in, by hand, that no hollowness

Vol. VJ. 8

58 ON THE WANAGKMIOIVT OF FRUIT TREES.

be left. To prevent which, the mould is to be trodden
hard with the foot. The remainder of the mould should be
raised into a hillock round the stem, for the triple use of
affording coolness, moisture, and stability to the plant. A
little dish should be made on the top of the hillock, and
from the rim of this, the slope should be gentle to the cir-
cumference of the hole, where the broken ground should
sink some tew inches below the level of the orchard. AH
this detail may be deemed unnecessary ; by those, I mean,
who have been accustomed to bury the roots of plants in
the grave digger's manner; but I can recommend every
part of it to those, who wish to ensure success, from my
own practice.

Plants which have been transplanted in the manner here
recommended, whose heads have been judiciously lessened,
and which have been planted in the manner here described,
seldom require any other stay than their own roots. If,
however, the stems be tall, and the roots (ew and short,
tijey should be supported in the usual manner with stakes,
or, rather in the following manner, which is at once simple,
strong, and most agreeable to the eye. Take a large post
and slit it with a saw, and place the parts flat way, with the
faces to the plant, one on each side of if, and two feet apart,
and nail your rails upon the edges of the posts.

There are two ways of grafting. One is upon the stock,
after two, three, or four years growth in the nursery. The
manner is — to cut the etitire head of the stock off and then
to make a cleft in the top and insert the sciorss in it, cover-
ing up the whole crown afterwards with a composition.
But this method is attended with this disadvantage, that
should one of the grafts not take (two are usually inserted,
one on each side) the cleft remains open, after the com-
position falls off ; and thus the cavity a( the top on one side,
not being filled up with new wood, becomes a receptacle
for moisture and is very apt to decay.

ON THE MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES. f)^

The olher method, and the best, is <o let fhe slock re-
main until large enough to he grafted in the boughs, naino-
]y, until the trained boughs be about an inch in diameter.

By taking a view of the natural enemies of fruit trees, we
shall be better able to judge of the art requisite to their
preservation.

The enemies of fruit trees, are, a redundancy of wood ;
moss ; spring frosts ; blights ; insects ; an excess of fruit ;
old age.

Some of them are beyond human reach ; but most of
them are within the control of art.

A redundancy of wood is the cause of numerous evils.
The roots, or rather the pasturage which supports them, is
exhausted unprofitably ; the bearing wood robbed of part
of its sustenance, and the natural life of the tree unneces-
sarily shortened ; while the superfluous wood, which is the
cause of this mischief, places the tree in perpetual danger
by giving the winds additional power over it ; and is in-
jurious to the bearing wood, by retaining the damps, and
preventing a due circulation of air.

The underhanging boughs weigh down, especially when
loaded with leaves, the fruit bearing branches they are
preying upon, giving them a drooping habit, or at least pre-
venting their taking, as they ought, and otherwise would,
an ascending direction. While those, which grow within
the head, are equally injurious in crossing and chafing the
profltable branches.

The outer surface only isi able to mature fruit properly.
Every inward and every underling branch ought therefore
to be removed. It is no uncommon sight to see two or three
tires of boughs pressing down hard, one upon another ; with
their twigs so intimately interwoven, that even when their
leaves are off, a small bird can scarcely creep in among
them. Trees thus neglected, acquire, through a want of
ventilation and exercise, a runty, stinted, habit, and the
fruit they bear, becomes of a crude inferior quality.

60 ON THE MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES.

The great object of the fruit farmer is, to produce a crop
every year ; and nothing is more likely to obtain it than
keeping the trees in perfect health, and endeavouring to
prevent their bearing beyond their strength, in a general
fruit yeaf.

Moss is chiefly, perhaps, owing to the nature of the soil,
and cannotbe altogether prevented; butitraay,in most cases,
be checked, and its evil effects in a great measure avoid-
ed. I have seen several orchards in which the trees were
almost entirely subdued by this vegetable vermin. Some
of the trees, with, perhaps^ only one bough left alive, and
others entirely killed, and yet suffered to remain an incum-
brance to the ground and a disgrace to tlie country. What
avails the number of trees, if they are not productive ? How^
absurd then to spare any reasonable expense to preserve
them in a state of health and productiveness ; or to suffer
those to encumber the soil, which are past recovery.

Spring frosts are an enemy against which, perhaps it is
most difficult to guard orchard trees. Dry frosts are ob-
served to have no other eflfect than keeping the blossoms
back ; consequently are frequently serviceable to fruit trees.
B»it wet frosts, namely, frosts after rain or a foggy air, and
before the trees have had lime to dry, are very injurious
to the buds. An instance is mentioned, in which a flying
hazy shower in the evening was succeeded by a smart frost ;
that side of the tree against which the haze drove, was en-
tirely cut off*; while that side of the tree which escaped
the moisture likewise escaped the effect of the frost.

Much however may depend on the strength of the blos-
soms. The spring of the year, 1788, had its frosts; and
ail hopes of fruit trees were more than once given up ; yet
for quantity or quality taken conjointly, there has perhaps,
seldom been so good a fruit year. But this year, the buds
formed, and the blossoms broke forth with unusual vigour,
and were enabled, by their own strength, to set common
enemies at defiance. On the contrary, in the succeeding

ON FARM-YARD MANURE. 61

spring;, the blossoms sickened in (he bud, the consequence
was, that scarcely an apple succeeded.

The assistance, therefore, required from art, in this case,
is, by keeping the trees in a healthful vigorous state, to en-
able them to throw out a strength of bud and blossom ; and
by keeping them thin of wootl, to give them an opportunity
of drying quickly, before the trost sets in.

The term blight is of vague signification. Black blight-
ing winds are talked of every where, but no de6nite idea is
any where affixed to the expression. That corn and fruit
become unproductive, without any visible cause, and that
fruit trees are liable to be infected with insects, are certain-
ly facts. But whether insects be the cause or the eflfect
of blights does not appear to be yet settled.

With respect to blights, all the assistance, which art
can render, is to keep the trees in a state of healthfulness,
and prevent as much as possible an excess of fruit. As
old age cannot be prevented, we have only to consider how
the productiveness of trees may be protracted. I have
seen healthy bearing apple trees, which now wear their
second tbp. The first tops being worn out were cut off,
and the stumps saw-grafted. Sometimes we see trees so
far gone in decay, that their productiveness no longer re-
pays their encumbrance of the soil ! How injudicious ia
such case is the conduct of the proprietor, who permits
such trees to remain year after year imbibing and wasting
the substance of his soil !

./

ABSTRACT OF AN ESSAY « ON THE ECONOMY OF FARM-
YARD MANURE." By Francis Blaikie, Publislied in Lon-
don in 1818.

ON FARM-YARD MANURE.

X ARM-TARD Manure has been aptly termed the Farmer's
Sheet-anchor. The husbanding of it is iojperfectly under-

62 ON FARM-YARD MANURE.

stood, or not sufficiently attended to. One error in manu-
facturing of Farm-yard dung, is the keeping the dung of
dilTerent species of animals in separate heaps, or depart-
ments, and applying them to the land, without intermixture
and in an improper state.

The dung of cattle fattening is richer than that of lean
ones. Hogs are of course more active in it, and turn it
over more frequently. They continue longer at work upon
it, leave of consequence more of their own manure, and it
becomes more intimately mixed, and is proportionally in-
creased in value.

The dung of store cattle is often very inferior, they being
generally kept poor. Pigs have therefore less inducement
to turn over their litter and dung. It is neither rich nor
well mixed.

Horse-dung is usually thrown out in heaps by the side
of stables. It is little spread. In such heaps it soon fer-
ments and heats to an excess. The centre of the heap is
burned or chared to a dry white substance provincially
called " tire fanged."

During this state it loses from 50 to 75 per cent, of its
value. Against this waste the diligent and attentive farmer
should guard. The remedy is easy and not expensive.
It is only not allowing this dung thus to accumulate, and
removing it from the stable door and spreading it about the
yards where the store cattle are kept. This can be done
at spare time, occasionally, in job-work.

The hog-dung ought also to be carted from feeding hog-
sties, and spread over the store cattle yard.

The best form of a farm-yard is a little hollowing, (" dish-
ing" as it is called) to the centre. Here the urine and
drippings of the farm-yard concentrate. If the quantity
be sufficient to pay for the expense, it is an excellent me-
thod, to throw it by means of a pump into water carts, and
spread it over grass land. Or, litter, scourings of ditches,

ON FAKM-VARD MANUKti. 63

and the like may be thrown info it for the purpose of ab-
sorbing the manure and wash. This forms an excellent
dressing for permanent grass hind, or for young clover lajs.
The farm-yard should be considered always as a pre-
paratory process to the dung heap. Into the farm-yard
every thing should be brought in the course of the sum-
mer, which is calculated to be converted into manure. In
it all descriptions of dung should be brought and blended
together. Horse dung, where it is to be had, should be
daily carted into the farm-yard. An abundant stock of
pigs should be kept in them. No dry straw should be allow-
ed to blow about the farm. Nettles, thistles, coarse weeds,
before they seed, should not be allowed to die and waste on
road sides and in ditches, after being cut down. Cattle
should be fed in the yards, always in winter, and as much as
possible in summer. The yard, barn, and sheds should al-
ways be kept well littered. — Soap lees of the farm-house —
saw dust — leaves of trees — road scrapings — scourings of
ditches, in short, all animal and vegetable sulistances, should
be carefully collected and thrown into the farm-yard.

OH FORMING DCNG HEAPS, OR PIES.

When it becomes necessary to empty the farm-yard,
either from the season, or want of room, or to expedite
spring work, or to employ the teams in unfavourable weather,
the following steps should be pursued.

1st, Collect large heaps of clay, marl, marsh mud, pond
mud, or the like, and lay, in the first place, a bottom for
your manure, as broad and wide as you may deem con-
venient, six or eight inches thick ; and next, lay a large
quantity of it in rows on each side of the bottoms thus laid
out.

:2d. Draw the dutig out of Siie yards and place it upon
these bottoms, driving the cails upon the boltoms and suc-
cessively upon the deposits, for at (his s/ao-e the dung

64 ON l-ARM-TARD MANURE.

ouo^ht to be compressed together, so as that all fermenta-
tion may be prevented as much as possible. In taking
the dung from (he farm-vaid, if it have not been previously
mixed in the yard, it should be so, in drawing to the heap,
by taking a few loads from one yard, or from one part of
a yard, and then from another alternately. For it offen hap-
pens that the dung is not of the same quality, nor made
with the same regularity in all parts, even of the same farm-
yard. Coal ashes, road droppings, and all other collections
of manure should also be carried to the dung heap in the
fields.

3d, One or two men (according to the number of teams
employed and distance from the yards) should remain con-
stantly at the heaps while the teams are at work, on pur-
pose to spread and level the dung regular!}', so as to ren-
der the ascent easy for the succeeding teams as they come
with their loads.

4th, When the heaps are raised as high as convenient
for the cattle to draw up, several loads should be tfpped up
at the ends of the heaps, for the purpose of making them
up to the square of the centre. The whole heaps should
then be completely covered with the clay, marl, mud, or
soil, previously collected, in rows, by the sides of the heaps.
If a sufficient quantity of tnaterials for this purpose have
not previously been collected, more shouhl be got ready,
without loss of time, so as effectually to inclose the dung
heaps in a crust, — whence in Eosland they are called pies'
The dung will be preserved in siich a pie, in a perfect
state, with little or no fermentation, deterioration, or dimi-
nution, and without loss by exhalation or evaporation.

5ih, Tiie Pies should remain in this state, until within
ten days or a fortnight of the time the Uianure will be want-
ed, when they should be turned carefully over, and the
crust, top, bottom and sides intimately mixed with the dung.
When the turning is completedj immediately plough seve-
ral furrows of the natural soil all round the heaps, and with

ON FARM-YAHD MANURE!. 65

the loose earth ploughed up, again coat the heaps all over ;
the pies will then take a gentle fermentation ; the earth in-
termixed with and covering the dung, will absorb the juices,
and gases of the dung, and the compost, come out in a state
of fine preparation.

ON PREPARATION OF MANURE LATE IN THE SPRING.

When dung is taken out of the yards late in the spring,
or only a short time before it is wanted, the preparation
should, in some degree, differ from the foregoing.

The bottoms and sides of the heaps should be provided
with earth, or mud as above directed, for the winter heaps,
hut the dung should not, now, be carted on the heaps to
compress them ; on the contrary, the dung should be thrown
up lightly with a fork upon the bottoms, and the side-heaps
of earth mixed intimately along with the dung, which answer
the double purpose of reducing the straw part of the dung
to a proper state for applying to the land, and prevents an
excess of fermentation in the centre of the heaps. When
the heaps are raised suflSciently high to cover the square of
the bottoms prepared, the natural soil of the field should
be ploughed up all round the heaps, and thrown upon them,
as above directed. The pies will then take a gentle fer-
mentation and soon be ready for use.

The time required for preparing the manure in this man-
ner must depend upon the strength of the dung and the
quantity of clay, marl, mud, or earth, thrown up along
with it. Experience will soon point out the proper quan-
tity of marl, earth, &c. to be applied and the necessary
lime for the pies to remain before used. Turf turned up
for a year preceding, on wastes, by the sides of roads,
makes excellent pie meat. Good compost heaps applied to
the land have the effect of renovating soils worn out by
arable culture and stimulating manures.
Vol. VI. 9

6j6 on the coltdre of grape vines.

[Communicated for the Massachusetts Agricultural Repository,
by A HORTICULTUUIST.]

ON THE CULTURE OF GRAPE VINES.

JNlANy Gentlemen in this neighbourhood have given con-
siderable attention to the cultivation of Grapes in the open
air upon open trellises, and some have succeeded remarkably
well, although they have had to contend with the many
difficulties, which that delicate and delicious fruit is subject
to in this climate.

Having given some personal attention to this fruit for
several years, I am satisfied that it can be raised in great
perfection, and with little trouble to the cultivator, if he
set out right in the first instance, and follow up the system
prescribed, with attention and care.

Although most men, who have any knowledge in Horti-
cullure, know more or less respecting the mode of cultiva-
ting this plant — yet there are many new beginners, who may
collect some hints from these notes, which may aid' them In
the outset ; and many gentlemen, who have been long in
the habit of raising grapes in their gardens, may obtain
some information as to the means of preserving the plants
from the destructive insect which has of late years attack-
ed the vines, and destroyed the promise of their early
growth and the fair appearance of their fruit.

The best treatises on the subject of raising grape vines,
recommend planting the cuttings in pots, — but in this country
if is entirely unnecessary, as the plants may be easily raised
in the open ground with little trouble and no expense ; and
if we can add to our collection of fine fruits, one, which in
sickness, as well as- in health, is the most refreshing and
nutritive of any that we possess, with little expense and
even with profit to the cultivator, we shall do a great good.

ON THE CULTURE OF GRAPE VINES. 67

The beat mode of raising the planls is by cuKings laken
from the vines at the Fall pruning, and preserved in earlh
till spring. These may be made either of one eye or bud,
or of four or five, attached to a small portion of (he I no
years old wood, forming a cutting in the shape of a small
mallet.

The \st year. — They maybe raised in a small nursery
bed, prepared of a good light soil — set in the ground six
inches distant from each other, with the rows wide enough
apart to permit them to be weeded with a narrow hoe ; or,
they may be put in the first instance, where they are to be
reared, and left to grow, at the distance of five, six, or
seven feet, or more according to the wishes of the cultiva-
tor. In this latter case there should be three cuttings put
into each spot six inches apart, to insure the setting of one.
When this is ascertained with certainty, the two weakest
may be withdrawn, leaving the best of the three to grow.
If the cuttings be of one eye each, they should be from fhe
last years growth, and a small piece of the branch an inch
long should be left attached to tlie bud and extending half
an inch on each side of it. — These should be planted two
inches below the surface with the bud uppermost, and a
small slake placed by the side of them that they may not
be disturbed. If the cuttings are of several eyes, (hey
should be laid in the ground sloping, leaving one eye level
with, or only just above the surface. They should be kept
moist, but not wet, as this will rot them. A spot which re-
ceives the morning sun till eleven o'clock, and not afler-
wards, is the best for a nursery bed for them, but for per-
manency they should be planted where (hey will receive the
sun longest, and in this case they should be shaded at noon
day until they have entirely put out. One bud only should
be allowed to push from the cutting the first year ; the plant
should be kept free from weeds ; the earth kept light
around it, and as soon as the shoot has attained strength
snough to produce laterals, they should be rubbed out,

68 ON THE CULTURE OF GRAPE VINES.

and the shoot tied to a small stake, by which means it will
gain firmness, and the admission of the sun and air to the
shoot will prepare it to bear the frost of the Fall, and pre-
vent its imbibing the moisture which it would otherwise be
subject to, when covered with earth in the winter. By the
1st Nov. the shoots may be cut down to two eyes, and by
the middle of the month, if it be dry weather, they may be
covered over with earth, forming a slope to cast off the wet
and prevent the rains from penetrating — as the drier the
plant is kept during the winter, in the better state it will be
in the succeeding spring.

7Vie 2d year. — The plants should not be uncovered in this
climate till the middle of April. — Those from the nursery
should now be transplanted to the places where they are to
remain; a shoot from each eye should be permitted to push,
but as soon as you have ascertained which of the two will
be the strongest and the best situated, you will preserve that,
and rub out the other. — The shoot preserved you will be
careful to tie up to a small stake as soon as it has length
enough for this purpose, to prevent its being broken by the
wind or other casualty. During the summer, the laterals
from the four or five lowest buds must be rubbed out, and
the shoot be carefully protected by being kept tied every
eight or ten inches.

The next Fall you may cut this shoot down to two buds,
(not counting the one in the crotch of the plant between the
old and new wood), and cover over as before.

The 3d year. — You will allow shoots to push from both
the eyes, and suffer them to grow, taking care of them as
recommended above ; but the bud in the crotch must be
rubbed out. This year you must rub out the laterals from
the five lowest buds, and nip in the other laterals to one
eye, so that if the plant grows luxuriantly the sap may burst
from the buds of the laterals, and not from those of the
main branch, as it would do if the vine was dressed too

I

ON THE CULTURE OF GRAPE VIXES. 69

close. Be careful to keep the branches tied up that they
may not be broken. In November, cut down the two
branches as follows : the most feeble of the two, to two buds,
(o produce wood branches the succeeding season ; and the
strongest, to three buds, for fruit branches, and cover them
as u$iua1.

Tke 4th year. — If you keep your vines properly dressed,
you may have your 6rst fruits without injury to vour plants.
After this the system to be pursued must depend on the
strength of your vines, and this will depend on the goodness
of the soil and the care you take of your plants. But as a
general rule, the following points must be attended to.

Isf, The number and length of your fruit branches must al-
ways depend on the strength of your plant ; the wood
branches are always to be cut down to two eyes.

2d, No more branches should be left on the vine than
it can nourish well, and abundantly ; this will depend on
its age, and the soil in which it grows.

3d, The branches should be cut in alternately for wood
and fruit branches, observing to cut for wood branches as
low down on the plant as possible, so as to renew your wood
near the bottom annually. No shoots should be permitted
to grow from the old wood, unless wanted for this purpose.

4tb, No more shoots should be permitted to grow than
can be laid in clear, and handsome, and without confusion
on the trellis, and so as to admit the sun and air freely
among the branches.

5th, The laterals should be rubbed out of the wood
branches six or eight eyes high, and those (hat are permit-
ted to remain should be pinched into one bud. The la-
terals on the fruit branches should be rubbed out trom the
insertion of the shoot to the uppermost fruit inclusive, and
the others pinched in as above. If (he shoots are very
strong, the upper laterals may be allowed to grow, to lake
up a greater portion of the sap; but this should not be

rfl> Oir THE CULTURE OP GRAPE VINES.

done unless there is danger of the eyes bursting in tbfe
main shoots. Be careful always to keep the shoots tied
up near their top.

6th, Never leave more than five good eyes on a fruit
bearing branch, unless your vine is confined to a narrow
space, and you are obliged to preserve only two or three
fruit branches ; in this case the length of the branch must
correspond to the nourishment it will receive from the plant.
Select the roundest and fairest branches for fruit, and the
lowest and most feeble for wood. The closer the buds are
together, or the shorter the joints of the branch, the better
they are for fruit ; these may in general be cut to three,
four, or five eyes according to their strength. But in vine-
ries covered with glass, where two fruit bearing branches
only are left on strong vines ; — twenty, thirty, and forty
buds are sometimes left on fruit branches.

The foregoing rules will be suflficient for any one to build
up a vineyard sufficiently large to supply himself — his
friends, and the market with grapes. But to promote and
forward their maturity and size, the following course may
be pursued.

The first of .Tuly you will be able to see (he state of
your fruit, which will be just formed. — At this time select
the highest fruit branches and those which have the finest
appearance of fruit upon them, and perform the following
operation on the two years old wood, from which these
branches proceed, taking care not to cut below any of the
wood branches.

Take a pruning knife with a smooth edge, and hawk's
bill, and pass it round the branch where the bark is clear
from knots, cutting deep enough lo reach the sap wood of
the plant ; at a quarter or 3-8ths of an inch below the first
cut make another, running parallel with the first ; then make
a perpendicular cut through this section of the bark the
same depth, and you may take out the ring of bark clear

ON THE CULTURE OF GRAPE VINES.

/

from Ihe branch. This will not prevent the sap rising in-
to the upper part of the branch, but it will prevent its des-
cendinjx below this cut, by which means it will be retained
in, and distributed throughout the upper part of the branch,
in a greater portion than it could otherwise be, and the
branch and fruit will both increase in size much more than
any of those that are not thus treated, and the maturity of
the fruit will be advanced very much.

This has been denominated Girdling. If the plant is
very vigorous and the season very favorable, the wound
will soon be closed, so that it may be necessary to open it
a second time. This process does not injure the plant, as
you only girdle the fruit bearing branches, which you would
in any case cut out at the Fall pruning, to make room for
the branches which you have been bringing forward to give
you fruit the succeeding year. This may be kept up from
year to year, and give you a succession of ripe fruit from
the Isi of Sept. to the close of the season. The fruit on
those branches which are not girdled will ripen the latest
of course, but neither these, nor those which have been
girdled, should be shortened, as is customary on vines not
thus treated.

By this practice, which was first suggested in the trans-
actions of the Horticultural Society of London a few years
since, and first brought into use in this country with suc-
cess by the corresponding secretary of your society, I
have raised grapes in the open air this year, the bunches
of which weighed from eight to twenty eight ounces; and
the berries measuring from two to three inches in circum-
ference. On one vine which 1 planted a few years since
a cuttins; in the spot where it now grows, I had seventy
branches of fine chasselas, weighing from eight to eighteen
ounces each.

But the grape vines have of late years been attacked by
a small insect which makes its appearance first in June —

■>w

ON THE CULTURE OF GRAPE VINES.

but is most abundant in August. This insect, if left to in-
crease, destroys the vegetating principle in the leaf, and
the plant languishes, the fruit mildews, and the labour and care
of the cultivator is lost. Some gentlemen have abandoned
their vines in consequence of the depredations of this in-
sect, and others with great labour, and expense of time, have
attempted, but in vain, to destroy them with alkalies and
tobacco juice. This has to be sure operated to check
thera partially, but not effectually. To remedy this evil
you have only to make a small light frame twelve or four-
teen feet long, in the form of a soldier's tent — but with
hinges of leather where the top joins so that this tent may
be shut up, or opened at Ihe bottom to any width you may
require, according to the height of your trellis. This light
frame, which should be made of slats of boards from one
to two inches broad, may be covered with an old sail, or
some cheap glazed cotton cloth which will slop the smoke,
leaving cloth enough loose at each end, to close over, and
prevent the smoke from escaping when the tent is spread
over the trellis.

A few tobacco stalks moistened and put on some coals
in a pan, Avill be sufficient to smoke the vines thoroughly;
and as the tent is easily moved along the trellis on small
wheels, one man may, in a few hours, extirpate this enemy
of the vineyard. Vines that are already attacked by this
insect to any great degree should be smoked in June, July,
and twice in August, oroflener if you find the insect is not
couipletely destroyed.

The insects are first seen on the under part of the leaf,
without wings— very active but easily destroyed if touched.
They afterwards assume the winged state, when it is very
difficult to get at them, as they fly off on the vines being
touched. They are yellow, striped with brown across the
back. The moment the smoke ascends, the winged insects
quit the leaves and fall to the ground dead or alive ; the young

ALMS-HOUSE FARM AT SALEM. 73

ones perish, but the older ones will revive if not destroyed
in their torpid state. To ett'ect this, you have only to
cover the ground under the tent with a piece of wet cloth
before you begin to smoke, to which they will adhere until
ihe tent is removed, and (hey are revived by the atmos-
pheric air; to prevent which you will roll, or twist, the cloth
each time that you remove the smoke house, or tent, and
replace it again each time before you smoke, by which
means they will be effectually destroyed. This simple and
cheap operation will keep your vines clear of this trouble-
some and destructive insect, and you may, if the season be
warm, insure a good harvest ; if otherwise, you will be sure,
if the vines be girdled, to ripen a portion of your fruit, at
least.

AL]\1S-H0USE FARM AT SALEM.

[Communicated for the Agricultural Repository.]

The subjoined official communication is a document,
which will be of use beyond the narrow circulation of this
Journal. The political economists of all civilized com-
munities will find in it a treasure. The design of it is not
to present a project to be discussed, but to give a narrative
of a project crowned with success. The inference from it
is — go and do likewise. The agriculturist may rejoice,
that his favourite pursuit promises to be the means of cor-
recting one of the most formidable evils, with which society
is afflicted. Mr. Upton, who has been, from the beginning,
the conductor of the Salem Alms-House Farm, is a man of
singular capacity and uncommon qualifications, and the cre-
dit of what has been accomplished undoubtedly belongs to
him. And we must pay him the compliment to say, that
the strongest objection to the general adoption of his plan
for the poor, seems to be the difficulty of finding such men

Vol. VI. 10

74 ALMS-HOUSE FARM AT SALEM.

to take the raana2;emenf. It ought, however, to be con-
sidered, that, in the order of provi«leiice, examples iike
him, of great usefulness, are not lost upon the world — thtt
merit of any kind naturally propagates itself. Neild, Ben-
tham,Frye, and twenty other philanthropic prison-reformers
are all children of the enterprising and benevolent Howard.
No sooner is the world visited by a new combination of in-
tellectual and moral qualities lu any individual, than the
same character is seen to develooe itself in others, and to
show itself in action. Mr. Upton will have the honor of
having shed new light upon the interests of society, but
there is capacity, disposition, and energy enough in the
civilized world, to give him a multitude of successful fellow-
labourers, in his great work of bettering the condition and
reforming the habits of the mendicant poor. The instinct
of interest, if not the power of benevolence, will be strong
enough in the public, and sufficiently active in a concern so
momentous, to bring into exercise -all its sagacity to dis-
cover Mr. Upton's kindred spirits, whom the success of
this distinguished man, and the state of society, will have
created and prepared for exertion.

We have not learnt whether Mr. Upton has as yet adopt-
ed any plan for instructing the young at the Alms-House in
school learning. But there is something so nearly resembling
his general views in the plan pursued by Mr. Fellenberg at
Berne, in Switzerland, on a farm devoted to the support and
education of mendicant children, that if may be useful to
transcribe an account of it, in the language of Mr. Brougham's
evidence before the Education Committee of the British
Parliament. We cannot but hope, that the Boston Society
for the protection of Orphan Boys, as well as the Inhabi-
tants at large of the metropolis, will have bestowed some
attention on this statement, which they may have seen in
other publications. We shoidd be extremely sorry to dis-
credit the plan of Upton or of Fellenberg, by a premature

ALMS-HOUSE FABM AT SALEM. 75

recommendation, or by urging its adoplion, where it might,
from any cause, be iinpraclicable, — but supposins; the ques-
tion of a proper provision for and management of the poor
now open, whether for Boston, or other towns, for any
part of this or any other civilized country, and we may
say, with soine confidence, that more aid will be derived
frosn Fellenberg and Upton, in tbrming the least exception-
able plan, than from all that has been thought or done by
the whole world besides.

"The branch of the establishment, however, which is
more particularly deserving of atteniion, and with which all
the others are more or less connecte«i, is the seminary for
the Poor. Mr. F. having long remarked ihe extreme pro-
fii-!,acy of the lowest orders in the Swiss towns, and the
habits of ignorance and vice in which their children were
brought up, formed, many years ago, the design of attempt-
ing their reformation, upon principles equally sound and be-
ne\olent. His leading doctrine was, that to make those
poor people better, it was necessary to make them more
comfortable ; and that this end would be best attained by
forming, in their earliest years, habits of industry, which
might contribute to their subsistence; and by joining with
them a greater degree of intellectual cultivation, than has
ever yet been extended to the labouring classes of the com-
munity, or been imagined to be compatible with their
humble pursuits. He began his experiments upon a small
number of children, which he has now increased to between
thirty and forty ; and this may be reckoned the utmost limit
upon a farm of so moderate an extent. Those children
were taken fro(n the very worst descrij)lion of society — the
most degraded of the mendicant poor in Berne and other
Swiss towns. With hardly any exception, they were sunk
in the vicious and idle habits of their parents, a class of dis-
solute vagrants, resembling the worst kind of gipsies. The
complete change that has been effected in them all, is one

76 ALMS-HOUSE FARM AT SALEM.

of the most extraordinary and affecting sights that can be
imagined. When I saw Ihem, there were some who had
been there for several years, and had grown tip towards
manhood ; but the reformation in ahnost all took place dur-
ing from one to two years, or a very little more, according
as they were taken at an earlier or a more advanced age.
The remark which I made, is that which immediately
strikes all who visit Hofwyl ; — the appearance of the child-
ren alone, Iheir countenance and manner, impresses you
with a conviction of their excellent dispositions. To des-
cribe all the steps of the process by which this reformation
has been effected, would be impossible, as much depends
on minute circumstances, and upon the great skill and judg-
ment of Vehrli, a young man, who has devoted his life, un-
der Mr. Fellenberg, to the superintendence of this part of
the establishment, and to whose extraordinary virtue and
ability its success is principally owing. But I shall en-
deavour to give the Cosnniittee some idea of the mode of
treatment pursued.

"The first principle of the system is, to shew the child-
ren gentleness and kindness, so as to win their affections,
and always to treat them as rational creatures, cultivating
their reason, and appealing to if. It is equally essential to
impress upon their minds the necessity of industrious and
virtuous conduct to their happiness, and the inevitable ef-
fects of*!he opposite behaviour, in reducing them from the
comfort in which they now live, to the state of misery from
which they were rescued. A constant and even minute
superintendence, at every instant of their lives, forms of
course part of the system ; and, as may easily be supposed,
the elder boys, who have already profited by the care of
the master, aid him in extending it to the new comers, who
for this purpose are judiciously distributed among them.
These are, I am aware, very general principles ; and upon
their judicious application to practice, in each particular in-

ALM8«HOV8B FARM AT SALEM. IT

stance, accordine; fo the diversities of individual character,
their whole virtue depends. But a somewhat more specific
notion of the plan may be formed by observing, that it is
never allowed for a moment to be absent from their thoughts,
that manual labour, in cultivating the ground, is the grand
and paramount care which must employ their whole lives,
and upon which their very existence depends. To this
every thing else is made subordinate ; but with this are ju-
diciously connected a variety of intellectual pursuits. At
their hours of relaxation, their amusements have an instruc-
tive tendency ; certain hours are set apart for the purposes
of learning ; and while at work in the fields, the conversation,
without interrupting for a moment the necessary business
of their lives, is always directed towards those branches of
knowledge, in which they are improving themselves during
the intervals of labour. Beside writing and ciphering (at
which they are very expert), they apply theoiselves to
geography and history, and to the difi'erent biauches of na-
tural history, particularly uiineralogy and botany, in which
they take a singular delight, and are considerable proficients.
The connexion of these with agriculture, renders them most
appropriate studies for those poor children ; and as their
daily labour brings them constantly into contact with the
objects of those sciences, a double relish is thus afforded at
once to the science and the labour. You may see one of
them every now and then stepping aside from the furrow
where several of them have been working, to deposite a spe-
cimen, or a plant, for his little hortus siccus, or cabinet ;
and Mr. Fellenberg rarely goes into the field where any of
them are labouring, without being called upon to decide
some controversy that has arisen upon matters relating to
mineralogy, or botany, or the parts of chemical science
which have most immediate relation to agriculture. There
is one other subject which is ever present to their minds ;
I mean \ pure and rational theology. Mr. F. is deepiv im-

78

ALMS-HOUSE FARM AT SALEM.

biied himself with the sense of religion ; and it enters into
all his schemes for the improvement of society. Regard-
ing the state of misery, in which (he poorest classes live, as
rather calculated (if I may use his own expression) to make
them believe in the agency of a devil than of a God, his
first care, upon rescuing those children from that wretched-
ness, is to inspire them with the feelings of devotion, which
he himself warmly entertains, and which he regards as na-
tural to the human heart, when misery has not chilled nor
vice hardened it. Accordingly the conversation, as well as
the habits of the poor at Hofwyl, partake largely of reli-
gious influence. The evidences of design observable in
the operations of nature, and the benevolent tendency of
those operations in the great majority of instances, form
constant topics of discourse in their studies, and during the
labours of the day ; and though no one has ever observed
the slightest appearance of fanaticism or of superstition,
against which, in truth, the course of instruction pursued is
the surest safeguard), yet ample testimony is borne by all
travellers to the prevailing piety of the place. One of
these has noted an affecting instance of it, when the harvest
once required the labourers to work for an hour or two af-
ter night-fall, and the full moon rose in extraordinary beauty
over the magnificent mountains that surround the plain of
Hofwyl. Suddenly, as if with one accord, the poor child-
ren began to chant a hymn which they had learnt among
many others, but in which the Supreme Being is adored as
having ' lighted up the great lamp of the night, and projec-
ted it in the firmament.' " Edin. Review, No. LXI p. 156
—158.

" The grand principle of this Institution is, that every
thing must be kept subordinate to the main business of cul-
tivating the ground ; that whatever else can be learnt by
the boys is so much clear gain ; but that, before every
thing, they must learn to support theraselves by the labour

ALMS-HOUSE FARM AT SALEM. i

of their hands. Of this occupalion a pleasure is made, by
the as;reeable course of amusement and instruction with
which it is combined." Edin. RevieWy No. LXl. p. 159.

Salem, 17 Ih Dec. 1819.

£. H. DERBY, ESQ.
DEAR SIR,

The following statements respecting the farm connected
with the Alms-Uouse in Salem, are communicated to you
by order of the overseers of the poor, in compliance with
your request. They have been collected from Mr. Up-
ton, to whose fidelity, ability, and prudence, as the mana-
ger of the house, and experience and skill, as a practical
farmer, the town owe any success, which may have attend-
ed this attempt, to cause the labours of ihe poor in agricul-
ture, to contribute something towards the support of an es-
tablishment, which exists for their benefit.

In the year 1815, the Work-House in Salem having
been found insufficient for the accommodation of the in-
creased number of the poor, and not well adapted for carry-
ing into effect certain improvements in the system of
management, which it was then thought expedient to adopt,
Ihe town determined to erect a more spacious building for
that purpose. Upon a tract of land, called the Neck,
about a quarter of a mile eastward of the compact settle-
ment, a suitable site was prepared for the New Aims-House,
and as the property of this land was in the town, the over-
seers of the poor were authorised to enclose a portion of it,
and manage it as a farm for the benefit of the poor. This
land had been cultivated by the first settlers of the town,
but certainly had not been broken up for more than an
hiindreii years, and was like the well known tract of land
westward of the town, waste, uneven, and rocky.

80 ALMS-MOUSE FARM AT SALEM.

The New Alms-Hoiise was completed in the Autumn
of 1816, and the poor removed into it in the winter of
the same year, during which they were employed in clear-
ing and levelling the land, adjacent to the house ; in build-
ing wall, opening roads, and other labour necessary to ren-
der the house and grounds about it convenient for the uses
of an Aims-House. But no progress was made in the ac-
tual cullivation of the soil, which remained in the same
state with other waste land. '

In the year 1817, about eighteen acres of land were brok-
en up, the produce of which was as follows :

Pork raised, 4391 lbs. of which 2000 lbs. sold for $280.
Turnips 1000 bushels.

Potatoes 2700 bushels, of which 422 bushels were
taken from 3010 Hills, planted in the usual manner.
All the Summer vegetables used in the house.
An account of the produce of the year 1818, has already
been given with sufficient accuracy in the Journal of your
Society, but to comprise all the facts relating to the sub-
ject in this paper, you may not think it amiss that it is here
repeated.

This year about seventeen acres were broken up, raak-
ing the tillage land about thirty-five acres.
1818.
Pork killed, weight 7960 lbs.
Twelve Live Pigs sold for $42.
On hand 67 Pigs.
Corn 400 bushels.
Potatoes 2250 bushels.
Turnips 900 bushels.
Three tons Squashes.
Fifty tons Pumpkins.
And all the Summer vegetables necessary for the Aims-
House.

ALMS-HOUSE FARM AT SALEM. 81

In the present year, 1819, about fourteen acres more of
land have been broken up and cultivated, and about the
satne quantity has been laid down to barley and grass ; so
that the acres of land actually in tillage have been nearly
the same this year, as they were the last.

The produce of this year is as follows :

1819.

Pork already killed 9012 lbs.

28 Hosfs to be killed this season, and will now average
over 250 lbs.

A (ew live Pigs sold when small.

73 live Pigs on hand, to be kept over, now average over
170 lbs.

Corn raised 323 bushels. Turnips raised 250 bushels.

Barley 235 do. Pumpkins 48 tons.

Potatoes 31 P8 do. Squashes 22 tons.

Onions 225 do. Broom Corn sufficient fo

make 100 dozen of Brooms.

Beets, Carrots, Cabbages, &c. sufficient for the Winter,
and all Summer vegetables in abundance.

When the farming commenced there was not a load of
manure of any kind on the place. In 1818 two hundred
cords of manure were made, and during the present year
the quantity will be very considerably greater. The farm
being situated on the sea-coast, has a great advantage over
such as are inland in regard to this important material of
husbandry, as great quantities of sea-weed, rock-weed, and
muscle-bed, can be collected in its immediate vicinity with
little trouble.

The management of the farm has been conducted on the
system of husbandry commonly adapted on the farms of
Massachusetts, and the tools used of no unusual construc-
tion. The stock kept on the farm consists of three yoke
of working cattle, two horses, and five cows.

Vol. VI. 11

82 ALMS-HOUSE FARM AT SALEM.

I know of nothing furlher of importance properly relat-
ing lo the history, management and protlucis of (he farm.
But there are some facts necessary lo be stated to enable
yon to form a correct estimate of what may be expected
from this establishment, which, though not in<luded in the
terms of your request, or essentially connected with any of
the objects of j'om- society, 1 beg your indulgence briefly
to niention. Within the last ei^hleen a)ontlis a wharf has
been buiil near the Alms House by the labour of the [>oor
supported by the town, wiih the occasional assistance of
one, and sometimes two hired men, who during this period
were employed in the service of the house and farm. This
wharf covers about an acre of ground, is of an average
depth of seven feet, has about twelve feet of water in front,
at high tide, and is constructed in the best manner of solid
granite, and gravel. The ro«k and gravel were taken frota
the town's land in the vicinity, where they are found in great
abundance, and may be made a source of considerable pro-
fit to the town. This wharf is very convenient for landing
the wood and other heavy articles purchased for the use of
the poor, anti will save the town a large bill of expense,
heretofore incurred in caiting from other wharves. The
labour bestowed upon this wharf which greatly exceeds the
calculations made at its commencement, has not a little re-
tarded the progress of cultivation upon the farm. The
past sununer, a large Piggery has al^o been built in the
Vicinity of the house, the < onstruclion and arrangement of
which have been commended by experienced agriculturists,
who have visited the place. Besides performing the ne-
cessary labour of the farm and completing the wharf, the
teams belonging to the house have earned, since harvest of
the present jear, about 900 dollars, in carting gravel and
rocks for individuals, and in working upon the highways.
Since 1817, about a n)ile of excellent road has been made
about the grounds, by (he poor.

ALMS-HOUSE FARM AT SALEM. US

In addition to (he labour of (lie farm, the inhahifants of
the Alin8-Hoiise are employed in spinning, weaving, cooper-
ing, the manufactnre of small articles of cabinet-furniture,
making the wood work of all the tools used on the farm,
corn broorns, &c. &c. ; it being always a principal object
with the overseers to give as much of an active character
to (he employments of the poor, as the age, strength, and
general habits of the persons to be employed will admit. —
The shoes worn by the tenants of the Alms-Honse have,
from the commencement of (he eslablishment, been made
there, without the purchase of a single pair. Much of (he
cloth worn is manufactured there, and all the cloths are
cut out and made in the house. The employment oi pick-
ing oakum, which is a principal occupation in many Work-
houses, is here restricted to (hose who are confined (o (heir
rooms by age and infirmity, or are otherwise actually in-
Ca[)able of hard labour.

How far the farm connected with our Alms-Honse can
be depended upon to diminish the charges of the support
of (he poor, cannot at present be determined with suiBcient
accuracy. The expenses attending the commencement
of such an establishment, particularly on land in so wild a
state, the cost of tools, extra labour, and many others,
which will readily occur to every farmer, are so consi<ler-
able, that (he ne( profi(s of (he farcning of (he pas( and pre-
sent years should by no means be taken as a fair esti(na1e of
the valueof the establishment in a pecuniary view. The pro-
ducts of succeeding years will doubtless be more valuable and
abundant, and the expenses less ; so that a materia! reduc-
tion of the town expenses for the support of the poor may
reasonably be expected from this source.

It is well known that a principal embarrassment in the
management of (he poor, arises from (he difficnltj' of pro-
viding sui(able employments for them; and this is espe-
cially (rue of (hose establishments, in which, as in cbost of

84 ON THE CULTURE OP MANGEL WURTZEL.

the Work-houses in Massachusetts, the Alms-House and
the Bridewell are united. If our farm should be found ia
a great measure to remove this difficulty, hy furnishing, ia
its various details of labour, employments suited to all
classes, ages, and sexes of the poor, and rendering them
more industrious, contented, healthful, and happy, than
they can be made in the usual employments of such houses,
then certainly the labour and expense if has required, could
not have been better bestowed. When enlarged, as it may
be, to embrace all the operations of husbandry, the poor
may be made to depend principally on their own labour in
a salutary and honourable occupation for their support.-^
Let it be once settled, that all who are admitted into this
Alais-House will be required to work with constancy and
diligence, and few of the idle, or dissolute will incline to be-
come its inhabitants. Thus the common sfock of labour
and industry will be increased, and our institutions for the
support of the poor, instead of being the means, as many
political economists have supposed, of promoting indigence
and idleness, will have a direct and, certain tendency to
suppress them.

In behalf of the Overseers of the Poor,

I am, respectfully, your most obedient servant,

J. G. KING, Secretary of the Board,

Jamaica Plain, 17 th Dec. 1819,

[To tjie Corresponding Secretary of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society.]

DEAR SIR,— I was induced two years since to raise a
small plat of Mangel JVurtzel, in consequence of having
read in the 5th vol. of the Bath Society's Papers, and 3d

ON THE CULTURE OF MANGEL WURTZEL. 85

vol. of the Memoirs of the Philadelphia Society, such flat-
tering accounts of its produce. The seed I procured in
1818, was from two sources, and produced two kinils, one
nearly round like the lurni[) and yielded a very small crop —
the oiher was long like the beet, and grew much out of ihe
ground, and did not attain much size, and were almost as
red as the common beet (probably the roots from which
the seed was raised, had been planted near beets and caused
a mixture.)

1 was not deterred, however, from again trying it this
season ; and planted about one quarter of an acre, with seeds
raised by myself, in 1818, from selected roots given me by
a neighbour, the produce of them very much resentbled
the common beet, the leaves of many being a very deep
red ; the land was cultivated the year before with potatoes,
and in April last was well ploughed and harrowed, then
furrowed with a double mould board plough, 24 to 27 inch-
es apart — and old rotten manure spread in the furrow, and
the soil returned by the same plough — Ihe top of the ridge
was then flattened and the seeds drilled singly at 9 to 12
inches apart ; the produce of this spot was about 120 bush-
els, many were marketed from them in thinning out and
thought as good as yoimg beetSy and were double their size
early in the season. — Produce near 500 bushels per acre.

Adjoining this piece, six rows (about one seventh part
of an acre and with the same cultivation,) were plant-
ed with seeds of Mangel Wurlzel, just then received by
me from Holland, the plants of Ihe same were all handsome,
leaves light coloured, and roots more than double size ; on
the average, produce about 110 bushels, making near 800
bushels per acre — the same care and attention was paid to
both, and I attribute the whole difference to the purity of
the seed.

This plant is not subject to injury from insects — requires
very litlle labour after first weeding and thinning out extra
plants, except what was done with the plough — three times

86 OSr THE CULTURE OF MANGEL WURTZEL.

during the season — Ihe leaves soon cover Ihe ground and
prevent the growth of weeds — the outside leaves may be
frequently hroken off and given to Cows and Hogs, they
are very fond of them, and excellent to produce milk, — and
will abundantly, } think, pay for Ihe labour of cultivation
during the Summer and leave the roots clear.

They should be planted aa early as the land can be well
prepared to receive the seed. I intend to increase the cul-
tivation of them the next year, having sent Jo Holland for a
supply o( pure seed, — and have selected several bushels of
the best raised by me this season ; to any gentleman wishing
to raise the seed next year, 1 will give the roots with great
pleasure.

1 also intend to cultivate the Ruia Baga more largely
than I have yet done, all animals are fond of and thrive up-
on if, the roots keep better than any other vegetable (ex-
cept the potatoe,) and I do not find the milk of cows, fed
with if, taste so unpleasantly, as when fed with the common
turnip. Joseph Marshall in his Agricultural Tour through
Sweden, &c. in 1770, says. Professor hinnneus told him,
it was not injured if left in the ground all VV inter, even in
that climate, when the earth was frozen three iee\ deepi
It did not with me this year, however, yield more than half
as much as Mangel Wurzel per a«re. — This root deserves,
however, to be extensively cultivated, its pioduce may
generally be calculated double to the potatoe — no more
labour in cultivation, and much less in harvesting the crop;
the time of sowing is after all other planting is done — and if
the plants are raised, will do well to transplant on groi'nd
that has produced early pease. — -This tratisplar.ting, how-
ever, slfould be done as soon as possible after ploughing
or ridging the earlh, in rows, about two and a half feet apart,
and about one foot from plant to plant — having some good
old manure under the furrows. 1 am, Dear Sir,

Respectfully yours,

JOHN PRINCE.

ONT DAIRY STOCK. 78

Brighton, 29th Dec. 1819.

ON DAIRY STOCK.

Drar Sir, — The delerioiafion of the dairy stock of
our country having; become apparent to many, the subject
may be deemed o( siitiicieni consequence lo merit investi-
gation. A resiilence of twenty-fiie years in the vicinity of
(he great Cattle Marl of New-England, has furnished me
with opportunities of frequent observations, and also, of col-
lecting the opinions of intelligent Drovers and Graziers,
from almost every section of the country, who attend the
weekly fairs ; where it is estimated, forty thousand bead of
neat cattle, and one hundred thousand sheep are annually
vended, — and the result is, a confirmation of the position —
but proof of a more plenary character may be adduced;
and that is the enhaiiced price of this species of stock, when
it is considered that (he causes which have heretofore opera-
led to increase the price of working and beef cattle, could
have bnt litlle eiTect on cows suitable for the dairy, — for
when a good Milch Com will sell for as much as a good
Fat Ox", of weight, exceeding that of the Cow when fat-
tened, which has been the case for a number of years
past, it may be presumed that ievi are slaughtered ; and it
will he shewn in another place, that an ample supply of
heifers are raised, did they possess the requisite physical
properties. The question will naturally arise, and which
mMs^( be familiar lo those who have frequented the Brighton
Fairs of late years, "what is the cause that there are
sp ien good Milch Cows in the country ?" Before
we offer a theory on the subject, to shew the causes
which may have produced this deterioration, we may be
allowed to observe, that Cows, in their wild state, afford no
more milk than is necessary to nourish the calf, with the
assistance which he soon liegins lo derive from the herbage.
Amt that a stock valuable for the dairy, is tlie effect of long
habits of domestication, of plenty of succulent food, of com-

88 ON DAIRV STOCK.

fortable shelter in cold climates, and of great care to pre-
vent a mixture of other breeds. The present race of cattle
can be traced, with few exceptions, to the original stock in-
troduced by our ancestors at a verv early period of our
history ; and it is said I hey came principally from Devon-
shire, wherR, at this day, is a breed celebrated in Great
Britain, for beauty of form, and as valuable for the yoke ; and
it is probable that in the selection, properties for the dairy
were not much considered — but the peculiar circumstances
under which the country was settled have led to a system of
management, and which has continued to the present time, by
no means frtvourable to the increase of dairy stock. Cattle
have constituted the priticiple staple of the new settlements,
and as these extended, and the population of the old towns
increased, the profit of consigning the calVes to the butch-
er, and purchasing heifers, has been too tempting to be re-
sisted, and the practice has increased in some sections of
the country, so as to become very general. What is the
system of manasement in the new settlements, and which
may possibly be continued in some of the old? The young
cattle are, with few exceptions, without any kind of shelter
during the whole of our severe winters. They are fodder-
ed with poor hay, straw and husks, and suffered to browse
in the woods, — and in the spring, beccMiie so feeble that
they can barely crawl up the hills, to crop the honey-
suckle clover, this luxuriant herbage soon restores them.
They are brought from the pastures in fine condition, hav-
ing obtained good size, and many of them beautiful forms,
but they are to undergo another pinching winter ! Better
enabled, however, to struggle through the snow drifts, by
an increase of bone and muscle, nature has furnished. —
But this is all she can do, — neither is ir necessary for her
purpose, to expatid the milk vessels I Can it be expected,
under such a course of treatment, of the race, for nearly
two centuries, but that the organs for the secretion of milk,

ON DAIRir STOCK. 89

will become diminutive ? and it is well known, that when that
is the case, any excess of feeding will add very little to the
quantity of milk, though it may fatten the animal, — yet it
is fro;u such a stock, that we in a great measure depend,
for a supply of Milch Cows. — But another cause may be
assigned, and which will be considered, perhaps, by those
acquainted with the physiology of animals, as having much
greater influence than people are generally aware of, and
that Is, in the selection of Bulls, most farmers confine (heir
attention to form and colour only, instead of tracing their
descent from a valuable dairi/ stock. It has been observ-
ed by Linnaeus, that those properties of animals which re-
late to the vessels, or, in scientific terms, "the cortical sub-
stance or vascular system, are derived from the 7/jrt/c," and
among other examples tending to ronfiriii this opinion, he
states, *'that a cross from the male Angora Goat, with the
common female Goat, produces that fine woo!, or substance,
called Ca)nel\s hair ;'^ but that the progeny from the male
common Goat with the female Angora, is productive of
nothing but the same worthless hair of the sire."f Should
the committee view the subject as deserving attention,
they will, I trust, require from the claimants for pre-
miums on imported stock, very particular and well authen-
ticated evidence, of their descent from a pure dairy race.

The system of management, that has been detailed, in
its consequences, extends to another object, which may
be deemed of importance, arid that is, the premature slaugh-
ter of vast numbers of heifers, that are turned off by the
farmers as affording no promise for the dairy ; many thou-

* Gorham Parsons, Esq. lias a stock of Goats produced by the male
Goat of Angora, from the female common Goat, that uniformly afiTord
Camel's hair, which is allowed by the luanuraclnrers to be equal,
if not superior, to that imported from Smyrna. Such a stock must be
highly valuable in the southern and western States.

t See dissertations on the Sexes of Plants, by Linnaeus.

Vol. VI. J2

90 ON UAJRY STOCK.

sands of them being sold every autumn at the fairs, and if
the inspection laws are not evaded, are packed and sold for
beef of a very inferior quality, whereby the reputation of
that staple is injured in foreign markets. To provide a re-
medy in some measure for this loss of capital to the state,
and of pro6t to the farmer, would it not be expedient to
offer premiums for spayed heiters? and also for a practi-
cal treatise on the mode of operation? The English
writers on the subject, whom I have had an opportunity to
consult, observe, " that (here can be no doubt, but the
notion of injury being done by the operaMon, is wholly er-
roneous, or without any foundation from correct observa-
tion ; that the chief reason why a practice so beneficiid to
the interest and advantage of the farmer has been so little
attended to, is the difficulty of procuring expert and proper
persons to perform the operation, which is, in itself, sim-
ple ;" they also observe, " that less food is required to keep
or fatten them than oxen, and that the quality of the beef is
fully equal." Mr. Marshall in his "Rural Economy of York-
shire," remarks " that it is a fact well established in the
common practice of that district, that spayed heifers work
better and have more wind than oxen." — And I have been
informed by an English farmer, who used thenj in the state
of New-York, that they bear the heat of the climate much
better than oxen, — and on the farm or road, are as active as
a horse-team. Could they be substituted for horses, in those
employments, what an immense saving of capital !
I remain.

Dear Sir,

With respect, very cordially yours,

S. W. POMEROY.

Hon. Josiah Qitincy,
Chairman of the Committee on Premiums.

ON THE MANAOEMEJNT 0¥ ORCHARDS. 91

ON THE MANAGEMENT OF ORCHARDS.

(To the Corresponding Secretary of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society.]

The zeal which has of hile been manifested in effecfing
m«)re beneficial ujodes of cnilure of onr annual crops of
grain and olher vegetables, the science and economy so
u>*efii!ly inculcated and observed in preserving, and in ap-
plying the multiplied discoveries of the means of stimula-
ting vegetable growth and increase, as well as the spirit of
improvement in the general implements of agriculture, can-
not fail to advance the interests of the country, and afford a
lively gratification to the agriculturalist.

There is an object of culture, however, the advantage
of which, if not so immediate, or even necessary, yet adds
much to the comfort, happiness, and wealth of the farmer,
and may be considered his proper pride and luxury — the
apple tree.

There ^ a moral consideration, which should induce an
attention to this subject, in the opinion held by many, that
cyder should supersede, and is the best substitute for
spirituous liquors.

Taken as a luxury of our table, as furnishing an excellent
drink, as it were the wine of our country, or as an article
of export ; the apple stands foremost in the fruits of New-
England. It shoidd not be forgotten, that of late, in addi-
tion to the usual markets, a very great export has taken
place to Europe, and that the flavour of our apple is high-
ly estimated there.

It may be useful to inquire what is the condition of our
orchards ? are they not in a state of decline? what are the
causes? and how to be obviated? But most of all, it will
be of great importance, if more attention can be excited to
this subject, so as to encourage communications from the
experience of our intelligent farmers ; or if any hint should
be suggested lierein, by which, those disposed to add a

92 ON THE MANAGEMENT OP ORCHARDS.

fruitful orchard to their farms may find aid or encourage-
ment.

As to the state of our orchards, it is believed from a
careful inquiry, that in those parts of the Commonwealth
longest settled, ihey are on the decline. Among the causes
that have induced this, besides the natural decay of
old orchards, and the neglect to set out and bring on new
ones, may be mentioned — the desolating canker worm, the
caterpillar, and the boring worm, at the root. The blow-
ing down of a va^t number in Norfolk and Bristol, parti-
cularly in the September gale, in 1815, and the great in-
jury done some years since, by the formation of ice upon
trees, whereby they have been overburthened and broken
down; all these causes have conspired to diminish the
number, more than is al present apprehended.

From experience and observation, it will, it is believed,
result, that even though there may be some life and vigour
in those trees which were hoi?ited and propped up; yet
they will give but little fruit, and pass into premature de-
cay. The breaking off the great lateral roots is generally
a decisive injury to the tree, besides exposing it to blow
over, whenever its props become weak, insecure or dis-
placed.

In obviating the evils which b^set our trees, the modes
are various, and require great labour and application. They
are too often abandoned to the canker worm and caterpillar,
to the total loss of fruit and foliage. Thus the tree being
exhausted by putting forth its leaves twice a year in an an-
nual recurrence, becomes exhausted, unhealthy, and is of-
ten totally destroyed.

Many preventatives to the ravages of the canker worm
have been practised. The use of tar is most frequent and
effectual. — But as it injures the tree by its heating and
binding nature, it would be very desirable for the fertility
and vigour of the orchard, if some more easy and less in-

ON THE MANAGEMENT OF ORCHARDS. 93

jurioiis mode could be suggested. As to the caterpillar,
whenever the tree is bare of leaves, and the eggs can be
discovered and destroyed, which is practicable upon low
and small frees, i» is most ttTectual. A flapper is used by
some, dipped in fish oil and applied to the nests, b«it the
removal of them by hand, though slow, has, when the cater-
pillar is in the nest, been of necessity the prevailing prac-
tice. It is, to be sure, slow, and it is to be wished a bet-
ter mode might be suggested. The injury done by the
woruf, which perforates and bores its way into the centre
of young apple trees, threatens great injury, and one of
our Trustees (Mr. Prince), has practised a mode of des-
troying it in the tree, by the insertion of a wire, as describ-
ed in the last number of this Repository. But it is to be
hoped that some application at the rim of the tree, near the
root, may be found out, which may prove obnoxious to the
insect which deposits the egg, and remove the apprehen-
sion and alarm excited by this last enemy. The decay
and other injuries mentioned, whether natural or accidental,
are such as cannot be guarded against in any considerable
degree. The prudence and good management of our far-
mers will always effect something. If then, our orchards
are on the decline from age and other circuuistances, and
we have been inattentive to bring forward a new growth,
would it not be useful to turn our attention to Ibis subject.
The value of the fruit should induce the culture of the
tree.

The situation for an orchard is well understood by our
farmers, it flourishes best in a moist and strong stony soil,
where it is not exposed to the wind. It cannot be attempt-
ed with success to bring forward an orchard in an old field,
a green sward, or an exposed state, to be rubbed against by
cattle.

It is, however, more easy than is generally supposed, to
overcome many natural disadvantages, an«l an orchard may

^4 ON THE MANAGEMENT OF ORCHARDS.

be brought forward, and made productive In a few years,
in a sif nation (when wished) not so favourable. To shew
this, two cases will be mentioned which have been attend-
ed with good succesg.

Im the one, a low piece of strong stony land was taken.
As it was rather flat, it was ploughed in strips, or dug in
spaces about four feet square. As it was necessary to
plough a furrow between each row, the mode of ploughing
in strips was found the best, as by turning the furrow to-
wards the tree, the land was better drained. Besides rais-
ing the ground a lidle from the surrounding soil, half a
buckload of loom was added to raise the ground on which
the tree was set. After this was done, the strips or squares,
as the case miglit be, were appropriated to the culture of
potatoes and garden vegetables. In a few places only, the
trees failed from the insufficiency of the drain. But by
opening the drain and raising the ground, by half a buck-
load of loom, i found on setting out a new tree, it flourished
equally with the rest. This orchard, now in eight years, is
a most valuable one, and most of the trees would give half
a barrel of apples.

From this and other circumstances which have fallen
within my observation, it appears that low land, if strong soil
and well drained, will give a fine orchard, and probably
sooner than any other.

The next effort was made under totally opposite circum-
stances. The object was, to have an orchard on a parti-
cidar spot, where the soil was thin and light upon a plain
or flat. The holes were dug four feet over. The two up-
per strata of black and yellow loom were placed aside the
tree. After this, about ten inches in depth of the gravelly
or poorer earth was taken out and carted off", and a horse-
cart load of stones upset into the hole ; upon these, a part
of the upper stratum, or some dirt from the side of the
road was scattered so as to fill up the interstices, since

ON THE MANAGEMENT OF ORCHARDS. 95

which (he spots near the trees have been cultivateil, by
planting four hills of potatoes round each tvee. The result
has been tolerably favourable with all. But the trees hav-
ing the stones placed at the roots have exceedingly out-
stripped the others.*

From the result it is to be hoped, that in this easy mode,
disadvantages may be counteracted, and (he benefit of a
deep soil had for the growth of an orchard near our dwell-
ings, or wherever wished. As to the distance, I incline fo
less than is general. The best orchards F have seen have
been from 25 to 30 feet distance. This is the more im-
portant, as the land if fed at all, should only be occasionally
cropped a little by horses. Horned cattle, if freely ad-
mitted, will soon disappoint all expectation. It will be per-
ceived in the difficulty of raising an orchard, an old and
long improved soil is alluded to. In a nevv soil where the
apple tree is introduced, in clearing off the forest, in this
part of the country, as well as [Tpper Cana<la, they set
out a tree which they often defend by upsetting a stump,
so as to enclose it between roots, and they have fruit very
soon indeed.

The profit of a fine orchard is familiar to our farmers. —
The fact is well known in tiiis neighbourhood, that 160 bar-
rels of apples were gathered a few years since, from less

* The dimensions of the Trees in the first experiment — a rich
low, black, stony, sdil, drained, were at the txpiratiou of eight years
15 to 17 inches circtunference, one toot from the ground. This may
be considered (the tree being small when set out) as a growth of about
two inches a year. The growth in the second experiment for six
years, was, 12 to 14 inches in the holes, in which the stones were put
one foot from the ground. WTiere no stones were put, 9 imlies was
the growth. It will thus be pfrceived, that the ve«;etation was most
powerful under circumstances Ijy nature least favourable. If then,
thus much can be done to counteract such disadvantages it surely
oflfers much encouragement to our efforts, and lea<Is us to hop<', that
not only in this, but in other objects, they may be beneficially extended.

96 PREMIUMS.

than two acres, in the town of Dorchester. This with the
cjtler made from the refuse apples, and grass, gave about
$300 per acre ; an income rarely exceeded in the im-
provement of soil. I have been minute and particular, from
a wish, that others better informed, may be induced to con-
tribute the advantages of their experience. A fine or-
chard is not only a source of emolument to a farmer, but
one of the most beautiful and gratifying objects that can
adorn a country. I am yours,

JOHN WELLES.

Dorchester, Oct. 31st, 1819.

CATTLE SHOW, EXHIBITION OF MANUFACTURES.PLOUGH-
ING MATCH, AlVD PUBLIC SALE OF AMMAlS AND MA-
NUFACTIJUES, AT BRIGHTON— Oii Tdesday and Wednes-
day, ttie 17th and S 8th of October, 1820. — To commeuce at Nine
o'clock, A. M. on each day.

Xhe Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for the pro-
motion of Agriculture, encouraged by the patronage of the
Legislature of this State, intend to offer in Premiums, not
only the sum granted by the Governtnent for that purpose,
but also the whole amount of the income of their own funds.
They, therefore, announce to the public, their wish to have
a Cattle Show, and Exhibition of Manufactures, &c. &c.,
at Brighton, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the ]7fh and
18th of October, 1820 ; and they offer the following Pre-
miums :—

FOR STOCK.

For the best Bull, raised in Massachusetts, above one

year old, - - - - - ^40

For the next best do. do. ... 25

PREMIUMS. 117

For llie best Bull Calf, from 5 to 12 months old, - $\6

For the next best do. do. - - - - 8

For (he best Cow, not less than 3 years old, - - 40

For the next best do. do. - - - - 30

For the next best do. do. - - - - 20

For the best Heifer, from 1 to 3 years old, with or

without Calf, - - - - - 15

For the next best do. do. - - - - 10

For the best Ox, fitted for slaughter ; regard to be had

to the mode and expense of fattening, - - 50

For the next best do. do. - - - - 40

For the next best do. <lo. - - - 30

For the best pair of Working Cattle, - - - 30

For the next best do. do. - - - 25

For the next best pair do. do. - - - 20

For (he next best do. do. - - - 15

For the next best do. do. - - - - 10

For (he beat pair of Spayed Heifers, not less than one

year old, - - - - - 25

For the best Spayed Sows, not less than four in num-
ber, and not less than 5 months old, - - 20
The claimant to be entitled to either of these two last
premiums, must state the mode of operation and treatment,
in a manner satisfactory to the Trustees.
For the best Merino Wethers, not less than six in

number, having respect to form and fleece, - 20
For (he next best do, do. do. - - - 10
For the best native Wethers, not less than six in num-
ber, do. - - - - - - 10

For the best do. do. do. - - - - 5

For the best Merino Ram, do. - - - 20

For the next best do. - - - - 10

For the best Merino Ewes, not less than five in num-
ber, do. - - - - - - 30

For the next best do. do. do. - - - 15
Vol. VI. 13

98 PKEMIDMS.

For the best Boar, not exceeding two years old, do. ^10
For the next best do. do. do. - . - 5

For the best Sow, not more than four, and not less than

one year old, - - - - - 10

For the next best do. do. do, - . - 5

For the best Pigs, not less than two in number, nor

less than four jnonthsold, nor more than eight, - 10

For the next best do. do. - - - 5

None of the above animals will be entitled to premiums,
unless they are wholly bred in the Slate 6f Massachusetts.

No animal, for which to any owner one premium shall
have been awarded, shall be considered a subject for any
future premium of (he Society, except it be for qualities
different from those for which' the former premium was
awarded.

Any of the above Stock, when raised, and still owned at
the time of exhibition, by the person who raised Ihem, will
entitle the claimant to an allowance of ten per cent, in ad-
dition. But Sheep, to be entitled to any of the above pre-
miums, must be raised by the person entering them.

FOR AGRICULTPRAL EXPERIMENTS.

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity of
Wheat on an acre, - . - . ^30

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantify of
Indian Corn on an acre, not less than 70 bushels, 30

To the person who shall make the most satisfactory
experiment, to ascertain the best mode of raising In-
dian Corn, in hills, in rows, or in ridges ; not less
than half an acre being employed in each mode, in
the same field, the quantity and quality both of land
and manure to be equal and uniform in each mode ;
all to receire a cultivation requisite to produce a
good crop, ..... 30

PREMIUMS.

99

To the person who shall raise (he greatest quantity of
Carrots on an acre, not less than 600 bushels, - ^20

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity of
Potatoes on an acre, not less than 500 bushels, - 20

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity of
Parsnips, on an acre, not less than 400 bushels, - 20

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity of
common Beets, on an acre, not less than 600 bushels, 20

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity of
Mangel VVurlzel, on an acre, not less than 600 bushels, 20

To the person who shall raiise the greatest quantity of
Ruta Baga, on an acre, not less ttiau 600 bushels, 20

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantify of
common Turnips, on an acre, not less than 600

• bushels, - - - - - 20

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity of
Onions, on an acre, not less than 600 bushels, - 20

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity of
Cabbages, on an acre, not less than 25 tons weight, 20

To the person who shall introduce any Grass, not be-
fore cultivated in this State, and prove, by actual ex-
periment, and produce satisfactory evidence of its
superiority to any now cultivated, - - 30

To the person who shall give satisfactory evidence on
" Soiling Cattle," not less than six in number, and
through the whole season, together with a particular
account of the food given, and how cultivated, - 30

To the person who shall niake the experiment of turn-
ing in green crops as a Manure, on a tract not less
than one acre, and prove its utility and cheapness
over any other manure, giving a particular account
of the process, and its result, - - 30

To the person who shall, by actual experiment, prove
the best season and modes of laying down lands to
grass, whether spring, summer, or fall seeding be
preferable, and with or without grain on different soils, 30

fOO PREMIUMS.

To entitle himself fo either of (he Premiums, under this
head of Agricultural Experiments, the person claiming,
must cultivate a tract of at least one acre in one piece, with
the plant or production for which he claims a premium ;
and must state, in writing, under oath of the owner, and of
one other person, (accompanied by a certificate of the
measurement of the land, by some sworn surveyor,) the
following particulars :

1. The state and quality of the land, in the spring of 1820.

2. The product and general state of cultivation and quan-
tify of manure, employed on it the year preceding.

3. The quantity of manure used the present year.

4. The Q,uanlif\' of seed used, and of Potatoes the Sort.

5. The limes and manner of sowing, weeding, and harvest-
ing the crop, and the amount of the product ascertain-
ed, by actual measurement, of the whole produce, for
which a premium is claimed, and the entire expense of
cultivation.

And in relation to all vegetables, except Potatoes, Onions
and common Turnips, the fair average weight of at least twenty
bushels must be attested ; and if hay scales be in the (own,
in which raised, not less (ban three averaged cart loads must
be weighed.

The claim under (his head, together wiih evidences of
(he actual product, must be delivered, free of postage, to
Benjamin Guild, Esq. Assistant Recording Secretary of
this Society, on or before the first day of December next.
The Trustees not intendins;; to decide upon claims under
the head of Agricultural Experiments, un(il their meeting
in December.

FOR INVENTIONS.

To the person who shall invent the best, simplest, and
least expensive Machine for Threshing Wheat, or
any small Grains, mown ^s well as reaped, - ^75

K

PREMIUMS. 101

To the person who shall use the Drill Plough, or Ma-
chine, and apply it most gncressively to the cultiva-
tion of any small Grains or Seeds, on a scale not less
than one acre, - - - - - $20

To the person who shall invent the best Machine, for
pnlverisingf and f^rinding plaster to the fineness of
twenty five bushel per ton, and which shall require
no more power than a pair of Oxen or a Horse, to
turn out two tons per day, and so portable that it
can be removed from one farm to another without
inconvenience, - - - - - 30

To the person who shall produce, at the show, any
other Agricultural Implement of his own invention,
which shall, in the opinion of the Trustees, deserve
a reward, ----- 20

In all cases, proof must be given of the work done by the

Machine, before it is exhibited ; and of its having been used

and approved by some practical farmer.

FOR FOREST TREES.

For the best Plantation of White Oak Trees, not leas
than one acre, nor fewer than one thousand trees
per acre, to be raised from the acorn, and which
trees shall be in the best thriving state on the first
of September, 1823, - - - - 106

For the best Plantations of White Ash, and of Larch
Trees, each of not less than one acre, nor fewer
than one thousand trees per acre, to be raised from
the seeds, and which trees shall be in the best thriv-
ing state on the first of September, 1823, - 50

For (he best Live Hedge, made of either the White
or Cockspur Thorn, planted in 1820, not less than
one hundred rods, and which shall be in the best
state in 1823, - - - - .50

102 PREMIUMS.

FOR DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES.

To the person or corporation who shall produce the heat
specimen of fine BroHilclolh, ool less than 1 5-8ths
yards wide, exclusive of the list, 40 yards in quanti-
ty, and dyed in the wool, . . _ ^30
For the second be^l do. do. do. - - - 20
For the best superfine Cassiniere, not less than 3-4

yards wide, nor less than 40 yards in quantity, - 15

For the second best do. do. do. - - - 10

For the best sifperfine Satinet, 3-4 yards wide, not

less than .50 yards, - - - - 10

For the second best do. do. do. - - . 6

To the person or corporation, who shall produce the
best specimen of Col Ion Cloth, manufactured in this
Slate, not less than 50 pieces, - - 20

To the person who shall produce the best specimen of
any other fabrics of Cotton, manufactured in this
State, in public factories, not less than 50 pieces, 20
In private families, not less than 5 pieces, - - 20

FOR HOUSEHOLD MANUFACTURES.

For the best Woollen Cloth, 3-4 wide, not less than

20 yards in quantif}', - - - - 12

For the second best do. do. - - - - 8
For Ihe best double milled Kersey, 3-4 yard wide,

not less than 20 yards in quantity, - - 12

For .the second best do. do. - - - - 8
For the best Coating, 3-4 yard wide, and not less than

20 yards in quantity, - - - - 8

For the second best do. do. - - - - 6
For the best Flannel, 7-o yard wide, not less (han 45

yards in quantity, - - - - 10

For the second best do. do. - - - - 7

t

PREMIUMS. ~ 103

For the best do. 4-4 yard wide Carpeting, not less

than 30 yards in quantity, ... ^15

For the second best do. do. - - - - 7

For the best 5-8 yard wide Stair Carpeting, not less

than 30 yards in quantity, - - - 10

For the second best do. do - - - - 7

For the best pair of Blankets, not less than 8-4 wide

and 10-4 long, . - ... 6

For the second best do. do. - - . . 4

For the best VV oollen Knii Hose, not less than 12 pair

in nunjber, ----- 5

For the second best do. do. - - - - 3*

For the best Worsted Hose, not less than 12 pair in

number, - - - - - 5

For the second best do. do. - - - - 3

For the best Men's Half Hose, (woollen) not less than

12 pair in number, - - - - 4

For the second best do. do. - - - - 2

For the best Men's Woollen Gloves, not less than 12

pair in number, ----- 5
For the second best do. do. - - - - 3

For the best Linen Diaper, 5-8 yard wide, and not

less than 30 yards in quantity, - - - 5

For the second best do. do. - - - - 3

For the best 4-4 yard Diaper, (for table linen) not less

than 30 yards in quantity, - - - 10

For the second best do. do. - - - - 5

For the best specimen of Sewing Silk, raised and spun

in this State, of good fast colors, not less than one

pound, ...--- 5

For the second best do. do. - - - - 3

For the best Linen Cloth, (for shirting or sheeting)

one yard wide, and 25 yards long, - - 8

For the second best do. do. - - - - 4

104 PREMIUMS.

For the best Butter, not less than two tubs, nor less /

than 50 pounds. .... ^10

For the second best do. do. - - . . 5

For the best Cheese, not less in quantity than 100 lbs. 10
For the second best do. do. ... 5

For the best Sole Leather, not less than five sides, 10

For the second best do. do. - - - 5

For the best dressed Calf Skins, not less than twelve

in number, , . . - - 10

For the second best do. do. - - - - 5

For the best ten Reams of Quarto Post Letter Paper, 10
For the best fen Reams of Foolscap Writing Paper, 10
For the best five Barrels of superfine Flour, manufac-
tured in the Siale of Massachusetts, from Wheat,
raised in this S.'ate, - - - - 25

All the above manufactures, except when of Cotton,
must be of Ihe growth and manufacture of the State of
Massachusetts. And all Manufactures, when presented,
jansl have a private mark, and any public or known mark
ninst be completely concealed, so as not to be seen, or
kfioivn by the Committee, nor must the Proprietors be pre-
sent when they are examined ; in default of either of which
requisitions, the articles will not be deemed entitled to
consideration or premium.

Animals, Maniifactures, or Articles, may be offered for
Premium at Brighlon, notwithstanding they may have re-
ceived a Premium from a County Agricultural Society.

It is understood, that whenever, merely from a want of
competition, any of the claimants might be considered en-
titled to the Premium, under a literal construcrion, yet if,
in the opinion of the Judges, the object so offered is not
deserving of any reward, the Judges shall have a right to
reject such claims. Persons to whom Pceniiurus shall be
awarded, may, at their option, have an article of Plate, with
suitable inscriptions, in lieu of money. Premiums will be
paid within ten days after they shall be awarded.

PREMIUMS. 105

The Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for promot-
ing Agriculture, hereby give notice, that they intend, on
the second day of the Cattle Show, viz. : on the eighteenth
day of October next, to give Premiums to the Owners and
Ploughmen of the three Ploughs, which shall be adjudged,
by a competent Committee, to have performed the best
work, with least expense of labour, not exceeding half an
acre to each Plough, and of such depth as the Committee
shall direct. The team used, to be always such as is or-
dinarily used on his farm, for breaking up land, by the
competitor, and to be an ox team.

First Plough, . . ^20
Ploughman, ... 10

Second Plough, . . $\2
Ploughman, ... 6
Driver, 3

Driver, .... 5

Third Plough, . . ^8

Ploughman, ... 4

Driver, .... 2

In each case, if there be no Driver, both sums to be
awarded to the Ploughman.

The persons engaging in the Ploughing Match, must own
their respective Ploughs and Cattle ; and the Ploughman,
(if he be not the owner,) must be a man employed on the
owner's farm.

The persons intending to contend for these Prizes, must
give notice, in writing, to S. W. Pomeroy, or Gorham
Parsons, Esquires, of SWo-/ifon, on or before the tenth
day of October, so that proper arrangements may be made
for the purpose. No person will, on any consideration, be
admitted without such notice. The competitors will also
be considered as agreeing to follow such rules and regula-
tions as may be adopted by the Committee, on the subject.
The Ploughs to be ready to start at 9 o'clock, a. m.

The result of the last Ploughing Matches at Brighton,
and the satisfaction expressed by so many of their agri-
cultural brethren, will induce the Society to continue these

Vol. VI. 14

106 PREMIUMS. '

Premiums annuallj, in connexion with the Cattle Show ; as
an efficacious means for exciting emulation an<i improvement
in »he use and construction of the mosi important instru-
ment of Agriculture.

Persons intending to offer any species of Stock, or any
Article, whatever, for Premium, are requested to give notice
thereof, either by letter, (post paid) staling the Article, or
to make personal application to Mr. Jonathan Winship,
at Brighton, on or before the sixteenth day of October,
and requesting hira to enter such notice or application ; so
that tickets may be ready at 9 o'clock of the seventeenth.
No person will be considered as a competitor, who shall
not have given such notice, or made such application for
entry, on or before the time above specified.

The applicants will be held to a rigid compliance with
this rule relative to entries, as well as to the other rules
prescribed.

The examination of every species of Stock, (except
Working Oxen,) and of Domestic and Household Manu>
factures, will take place on the seventeenth ; and the trial
of Working Oxen, examination of Inventions, and Ploughing
Match, on the eighteenth of October.

The Trustees also propose to appropriate, on the second
day of the Cattle Show, their Pens, for the public sale of
any Animals, that have been offered for Premiums, and also
of any others, that are considered by them, as possessing fine
qiialities ; and their Halls for the public sale of Manufac-
tures. Both sales to take place at half-past eleven o'clock,
precisely. And for all Animals or Manufactures, that are
intended to be sold, notice must be given to the Secretary,
before ten o'clock of the eighteenth. Auctioneers will be
provided by the Trustees.

By order of the Trustees.

JOSIAH QUINCY,
Chairman of the Committee of Premiums,
January, 1020.

LIST OF MEMBERS.

107

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY FOR 1820.

Aakont Dexter, M.D. President.

Samuel W. Pomeroy, Esq. 1st Vice-President.

Thomas L. Winthrop, Esq. 2d Vice-President.

John Prince, Esq. Treasurer.

John Lowell, Esq. Corresponding Secretary.

Hon. Richard Sullivan, Recording Secretary.

Benjamin Guild, Esq. Assistant Recording Secretary.

TRUSTEES.

Hon. P. C. Brooks,
Hon. John Welles,
Hon. Josiah Quincj,

S. G. Perkins, Esq.
Gorbam Parsons, Esq.
E. Hersey Derby, Esq.

LIST OF MEMBERS, ADMITTED SINCE JULY, 1818.

Aspinwall, Augustus, Mr.
Appleton, Samuel, Esq.
Allen, Samuel C, Esq.
Amory, Nathaniel, Esq.
Alden, Cyrus, Esq.
Adams, Nathan, Mr.
Bigelow, Timothy, Hon.
Binney, Amos, Esq.
Bemis, Nathaniel, Mr.
Bemis, Luke, Esq.
Bemis, Seth, Esq.
Beal, John, Mr.
Bainbridge, William, Esq.
Benjamin, Asher, Mr.
Bartlett, John, Dr.

Boston.

Do.
Northjield.
Boston.

Do.
Medford.

Do.
Boston.
Watertown.

Do.

Do.
Hingham.
Boston.
Dorchester.
Roxbury.

108

LIST OF MEMBERS.

Bird, Geor2;e, Mr.

Bradlee, Joseph P., Mr.

Baldwin, Benjamin F., Esq.

Biickminster, Lavvson, Mr.

Benfley, William, Rev.

Champney, John, Esq.

Cranston, Joel, Mr.

Cook, John, Mr.

Clark, Simpson, Mr.

Cashing, Edmond, Esq.

Clap, Isaac, Mr.

Cochran, William, Mr.

Crehore, Thomas, Mr.

Clap, Mather T., Mr.

Clap, Piinj, Mr.

Chapman, Effingham L., Mr.

Crowningshield, Benjamin, Hon.

Coolidge, Joseph Jr., Esq.

Dwight, Henry W., Esq.

Downie, Samuel, Mr.

Dorr, John, Esq.

Duncan, Samuel, Mr.

Davis, Samuel, Mr.

Fayerweather, John, Esq.

Fuller, Benjamin, Esq.

Gay, Luther, Mr.

Gardner, Henry D., Mr.

Gibbs, Alexander H., Mr.

Gay, Willard, Esq.

Greene, Charles W., Esq.

Gales, Silas, Mr.

Gay, Jotham, Esq.

Hey wood, Abiel, Esq.

Hill, Aaron, Esq.

Hale, Nathan, Esq.

Walpole.

Boston.

Wobiirn.

Framingham,

Salem.

Roxbury.

Marlborough.

Cambridgeport

Boston.

Lunenburg.

Dorchester.

Boston.

Dorchester.

Boston.

Do.
Uxbridge.
Salem.
Boston.
Stockbridge.
Roxbury.
Boston.
Haverhill.
Boston.
Westborongh.
Dorchester.
Cambridgeport.
Dorchester.
Roxbury.
Dedham.
Roxbury.
Marlborough.
Dedham.
Concord.
Boston.

Do.

LIST OF MEMBERS.

109

Haskins, Ralph, Esq.
Howard, Edward, Mr.
Hamijiat, Wm., Major,
Howard, Jonathan, Mr.
Hale, David, Jr. Mr.
Hallet, George, Esq.
Hatch, Nymphas, Esq.
Jones, Samuel, Mr.
Jones, Oliver, Mr.
Jackson, Wra., Esq.
Jackson, Patrick T., Esq.
Jarvis, Deming, Mr.
Lincoln, Martin, Esq.
Llojd, James, Hon.
Loring, Eliphalet, Mr.
Lumbard, Daniel, Mr.
Lovell, James, Dr.
Lawrence, Abbot, Mr.
Lee, Thomas, Esq.
Lemist, John, Mr.
M'Lellan, Isaac, Esq.
Munroe, Edmund, Mr.
Murdoch, George, Mr.
Munson, Israel, Esq.
Pickman, Benjamin, Jr. Esq.
Perrj, John, Mr.
Pomeroy, Asahel, Esq.
Putnam, Jesse, Esq.
Parker, Luther, Mr.
Parker, Leonard M., Hon.
Putnam, Daniel, Esq.
Parker, Nathan, Deacon
Richardson, John, Esq.
Robbing, Peter>G., Esq.
Rice, Benjamin, Esq.

Boston.
Oxford.
Scitiiate.
Boston.

Do.

Do.
Westford.
Northampton.
Dracnt.
Plymouth.
Boston.

Do.
Hingham.
Boston.
Hingham.
W. Springfield.
Weymouth.
Boston.
Cambridge.
Roxbury.
Boston.

Do.

Do.

Do.
Salem.
Bostoji.
Northampton.
Boston.

Do.
Charlestown.
hnnenburcr •
Boston.
Newton.
Roxbury.
Marlborough.

110

LIST OF MEMBERS.

Rusaell, Nathaniel P., Esq.
Shepherd, James, Mr.
Stackpole, William, Esq.
Stearns, Asahel, Esq.
Skinner, Jno., Esq.
Shed, George, Mr,
Stearns, Thomas, Esq.
Salisbury, Samuel Jr., Esq.
Story, Joseph, Hon.
Silsbee, Nathaniel, Hon.
Stearns, Luther, Mr.
Stevens, Isaac, Mr.
Swift, Benjamin, Mr.
Tappan, Jno., Esq.
Touro, Abraham, Esq.
Thaxter, Levi, Esq.
Tarbell, Grosvenor, Dr.
Tilden, Bryant P., Esq.
Tileeton, Wra., Mr.
Tenney, David, Major
Tucker, Nath., Esq.
Tyler, John Stale, Mr.
Tufts, Joseph, Esq.
Tuckerman, Henry H., Esq.
Valentine, John T., Esq.
Vose, Isaac D., Esq,
Varnum, James, Esq.
Walker, Timothy, Mr.
Williams, Nehemiah D., Mr.
Wright, Edmund, Mr.
W^hite, Francis, Mr.
Wales, Thos. B., Mr.
W^elles, George, Mr.
Williams, Stephen Capt.,
Williams, John D., Esq.
Weld, Daniel, Esq.

Boston.

Northampton.

Boston.

Cambridge.

Charlestorvn.

Boston.

Lunenburg.

Boston,

Salem,

Do,
Medford,
Boston.
Charlestown,
Boston.
Medford.
Watertown.
Lincoln.
Boston.

Do.
Sutton.
Newton,
Boston.
Charlestown,
Boston.

Do.
Dorchester.
Dracut.
Charlestown,
Roxbury.
Boston.
Watertown.
Boston.

Do.
Roxbury.
Boston.

Do.

HOIfORART MEMBCRB.

Ill

Winiams, Shippen, Esq. Northborongh.
Waterhouse, Daniel Oliver, Esq. Cambridge.

White Joiia., Esq. Watertorvn.

Ward, Samuel, Esq. Roxbnry.
Williams, Stedman, Esq. Do,

Williams, Aaron, D. Esq. Do.

Wales, Eben. Esq. Dorchester,

HONORARY MEMBERS.

Bowdoin, Jaraes Temple, Esq.
Botsford, William, Esq.
Chipman, Ward, Jr. Esq.
Dabney, John B., Esq.
Dampier, John, Rev.
Greene, Jno. B., Esq.
Gibbes Morgan, Esq.
Hammond, Abijab, Esq.
King, Samuel, Jr. Esq.
Moody, Stephen, Hon.
Phillips, William, Hon.
Rogers, Moses, Esq.
Young, John, Esq.

Boston.

St. John, N. B.
St. John, W. B.
U. S. Consul, Azores.
Near Havre, France.

Do.
Charleston, S. C.
New- York.
East-Greenwich, R. I.
Gilmantown, N. H.
Boston.
New- York.
Halifax.

END OF NUMBER I. — TOLUME Vr.

MASSACHUSETTS
AGBTCULTURAL JOURNAL.

Vol. V^I.] JULY, ld20. [i\o [I.

REMARKS ON SOILING.

[Communicated by the Hon. Josiah Qnincy.]

The practice of "soiling caltle," as if is called, or keep-
ing Ihem, all ihe jear round, in (heir slables, with only a
daily and short liberty of a yard, having been a frequent
subject of the attention, and an object of a proffered pre-
mium,by the board of Trustees of the Massachusetts Socie-
ty for promoting Agriculture, 1 shall, in conformity with
their request, communicate my own practice and experi-
ence, on that mode of managing stock.

Previously, however, to stating any observations, upon
the results of my own experience, I think it may be useful
to abstract and digest into a regular form, some of the
principal facts and reasonings of transatlantic farmers.
These may tend to attract the attention of our practical
husbandmen more forcibly to the subject, and enable those,
whose farms and capital are in a condition that authorizes
the adopting of this mode, to do it with moce facility and
success.

There are six distinct advantages, which those, who ad-
vocate soiling, propose to themselves by the practice, and
on which they establish the preference of this mode to the
common one of pasturing cattle during the summer,

Isf. The saving of land.

;

Vol. VJ. ^r, ^

114 REMARKS OW SOlLIIffl.

2d. The saving of fencing.

3d. The econonf)izing of food.

4th. The belter condition and greater comfort of the cattle.

5th. The greater product of milk.

6th. The allaininent of manure.

The only offset to all these advantages is the labour of
raising and cutting the food, and feeding and taking care of
the slock.

1st. The saving of land. In relation to this fact, there
can be no question. All European writers assert it. They
differ only as to the degiee of saving which results. Some
assert that it is as one lo three. Others, as one lo seven.
Others assert the saving to be yet greater. That is, one
acre kept for soiling mill go as far as three or seven
kept for pastiire, in the support of stock. It is not import-
ant lo analyze this point farther. For every practical pur-
pose,the evidence is sufficient, to satisfy every mind, that a
very great saving of land results from this practice, and that
on farms, where the whole soil is capable of being plough-
cd, the econouiy of soiling is great; and on all such farms
may profitably be adopted, provided that the expenses, inci-
dent to the mode, do not counterbalance these advantages.

It may be, however, useful to observe that the reason of
the diversity of statement, in relation to the degree of
saving, among European writers, results from the different
ways, in which the land, used for soiling, is cultivated for
the purpose of raising food. Souie satisfy themselves with
enriching the former pasture and cutting the grass it produ-
ces, for the soiling use. Others plough up the pasture,
raise cabbages or other succulent food, on which Ihey sup-
port their stock. Now it is plain the result of a comparison
of saving of land made between an acre of enriched pasture,
and an acre, appropriated to the latter of these modes of
husbandry, must be very different.

In either case, the economy is suiEcientIv great, an<l, if
nothing else be an offset foi the advantage, this must be de-
cisive.

REMARKS Oir BOILIIfG. 115

2d. Saving of fencing. Here also is a great and decid-
ed ecoiiodiy. It includes not only the saving of the male-
rial used for fencing; (lie labour of making the fence; and of
keeping it in repair; but also of the land occupied by the
fences; and of all the headlands, which are necessarily left
on each side the fence ; and which are usually an apology
for slovenliness and a refuge for vermin. I have seen no
precise estimate of this economy. Nor does it seem to be
practicable, to be made, upon any principle, applicable to
farms in general. It will be obviously greater, or less, ac-
cording to the previous condition of the fences, and the or-
dinary necessity of erecting such as are usually deemed re
quisiteon each particular farm. Here also the greatness of
the economy is, everywhere, so obvious as to render any
particular calculations unimportant. The general effect of
soiling cattle \s, to render all interior fences absolutely use-
less ; excepting those, which surround the bniliiings, and
lead from these to the hiafhwav. A farm thus relieved from
interior fences, not only enjoys all the exemptions from
great actual and great annual expenditures, but also there
are other facilities, in its management, resulting from this
absence of interior fences, which are obvious and considera-
ble. There is no waste land. The whole may be divided
into cultivation, with precise reference to the stale of soil.
When the plough runs, the length of the furrow is deter-
mined only by the judgment of the proprietor. It pre-
sents to the eye a scene of cultivation ; neat, orderly and
beautiful.

3d. The economy of food. There are six ways by which
beasts destroy the article destined for their food. 1. By
eating. 2. By walking. 3. By dunging. 4. By staline- 5.
By lying down. 6. By breathing on it. Of these six, the
first only is useful. All the others are wasteful.

By pasturing, the five last modes are exercised without
any check, or compensation. By keeping in the house,
they may be all prevented totally by great care ; and al-
most totally, by rery general and common attention.

116 REMARKS ON SOILINft.

It is on the savin», resulfing from this prevenfion of waste
thaf much of (he economy of this mode of keeping; beasts
depends. In pastures, whatever is trod upon, or is affect-
ed by their dung, or their urine, is lain upon, or even long
S);ealhed upon, is lost. And this waste is always in pro-
portion to the richness and the productive power of the
pasture; for just in that proportion is the quantity of food
injured by all the five modes of destruction above stated.
Whereas the same being cut and delivered to them spar-
ingly, in point of time, but ^uflScien'ijf. in point of quantity,
will every particle of it be consumed. Besides, it is found
by experience, that, in this mode of feeding, beasts will eat
many products of the earth, in the stall, v/hich they will ab-
solutely reject in the pasture.

4th. The belter condition and greater comfort of the
cattle.

The condition of cattle will always depend chiefly upon
the quantify and the quality of the food and regularity of
theirsupply. In all these respects, feedingin the stall has the
advantage of pastiuing, because in stall feeding, all are un-
der the guidance of intelligence and discretion ; and no-
thing is left to accidfciit, whereas, in pasturing, the beasts
are led to their own care. When the pastures are good, and
there is a great surplus of food upon them, the difference
is r»ot, in this respect, great ; but as soon as the pastures
become " pinched" as it is called, by drowth, the differ-
ence is always perceptible. Farmers, who pasture their
cattle, seldom, if ever, provide a supply of succulent food,
to be in readiness in case of any accidental deficiency of
pasture. The consequence is that, on the pasturing sys-
tem, the summer condition of cattle always depends whol-
ly on the state of the pastures. Now as every farmer,
where he is able, does, and ouabt to stock his pastures up
to their full pasture power, it follows, that even a small
drought will affect the condition of the animal something;
and a severe one, very sensibly ; a fact, of which every

RRMARKS ON SOILIWe. 117

man may convince himself by observing catfle, at paslure,
in dry season;?. Now one great benefit, resulting from
stall leeiling, is that if makes the cortdiiion of cattle, in as
great a degree as possible iiulepemlent of variations of the
season ; and although an absolute independence is impossi-
ble, yet it is always much greater in stall feeding than it can
be in any mode of pasturing.

The want of sufficient exercise, which is inseparable
from this mode of feeding in stalls, is a popular, and when
not tested by fact, is deemed an unanswerable objection.
Yet all those who have made the experiment and whose
opinions I have seen expressed upon the subject, are unan-
imous in declaring that no ill effect results from this circum-
stance. One writer asserts that he has kept a large herd
for several years, in this way, and during the whole time,
'*he never had an animal essentially sick, had never one die,
and had never one miscarry."

It is to be observed that stall feeding of cattle, does not
imply keeping cattle in stalls, or in the house the whole
time. It only intends, always feeding then) there, and
keeping them there the chief of the time. On the contra-
ry, it is an essentia! part of the systeuj, to let them loose in
yards, well shaded either artificially, or by trees, at least
two hours in the forenoon and as many in the afternoon.
Here they lay themselves at their ease, in tiie best rumina-
ting attitudes, or move round taking some exercise in that
act, or in rubbing themselves against posts provided for the
purpose. If any person will observe the slowness, with
which cattle usually walk inlheir pastures, that while in feed-
ing they do little more than stand ; and when ftdl, that they
almost invariably lie down, he will hardly believe that the
difference between the exercise thus attained and that
which they get by having four hours in the day exclusively
devoted^o that object, can scarcely materially affect their
health. When to this is added the consideration, that when
fed in the stall, they are wholly protected from eating any

I

lis REMARKS ON SOILING.

noxious vegetables; from drinking bad wafer; from all injury,
from being worried by dogs, or one another; (hat ihey are
kept tbrougb (he heat of the day, in the cool shades ; un-
der cover ; |)ro(ec(edfroai flies; it cannot be a question but
that (his mode is far more conduci\e to (he health of the
animal than pasturing possibly can be. Experience is also
decisive upon the subject. If (he condition of (he an-
imal be, as is here shown, better, it follows that (bis s(a!e
must be more comfortable ; for the one is dependant on the
other.

5th. Greater product of milk. Although it is general-
ly stated (liat this is (he case, yet I do not recollect hav-
ing met with any precise cotnparison upon (he sub-
ject. The general apprehension among farmers, seems
to be, that although (he condition of the animal may
be be((er, yet (hat (he tendency of the food to milk is not
so great as when (hey are permitted to range in pastures.
The truth, however, upon this point can easily be explained,
and in a manner perfectly conformable to my own experi-
ence. During the flush of (eail, that is, for perhaps the
jBrst month after cattle are turned to pas(ure, (here is little
difference, so far as respects the milk product, between
pasturing and stall feeding. At that time there is generally
a grea( supply of food, (he ca(tle are eager after it. They
have great opportunity to select. They feed quietly, and
take only the most nutritious and palatable. After (his
month, if (he stall feeder will, this equality will gradually
cease ; and in his favour. The pasture food almost always
grows more or less scarce, according to the particular charac-
lerof (he season. Whereas by taking care to provide a re-
gular succession of succulent crops,he who feeds his beasts
in stalls may keep the milk product unatfected by the state
of (he season, to (he end of the autumn.

6lh. The attainment of manures. This is a great and
charac(eristic benefit, resulting from soiling ; or stall feed-
ing of cattle through the year. In pasturing, the sum-

REMARKS ON SOILING. 119

mer manure is almost wholly lost. It falls upon rocka,
amone; bushes, in watercourses, on ihesid^sof hills. It is
evaporaled by the sun. It is washed away by the rain.
Insecis desfroy a part. The residuum, a dry hard cake,
lies souieliines a year upon the ground; oflen itnpeding
vegetation, and never enriching the earth, in any thing like
the proportion it would do, if it had been deposited under
cover and kept free from the action of the sun, in appropri-
ate and covered receptacles, to be carted out annually in
the proper season, and ploughed at once under the surface.

The gain by this saving of the summer manure of beasts,
although staled by European writers, yet it is generally
loosely done, and often in measures of quantity, orcapacity,
not easily reducible to those, which prevail in our country.
It is, however, unequivocall}' very great and important, and
well worthy the solicitude of every fanner. As the great ob-
jecf of every farmerought to be, to increase his quantity of
manures, there can be no mode preferable to the one here
suggested. For suitable receptacles, or recipients being
provided, every thing of the nature of excjemenlitious
matter is preserved and deposited in the soil, at the leisure
and at the discretion of the farmer.

It was the convict ion, resulting from the preceding facts and
statements, which led me to adopt, two or three years since,
the idea of putting ray farm into this mode of management.
The particular situation of it, seemed to point it out as pre-
cisel > suited to such a mode of conduct. It is a level
plain, constituted of alluvion upon clay, occasionally inter-
mixed with lighter quality of soil. It had no fences but
post and rails, so that by adopting this mode, it n)ight be
wholly relieved from interior fences, the expense of which
had always been a heavy item in my farm accounts. For
the three years past, I have been, in this practice. Dur-
ing the two former years with some occasional deviations.
During the last, regularly, and systematically, without any
deviation. The result has been all that i anticipated, in

120 REMARKS oy soiLiiro.

every respecf. Infleed il has been so satisfactory, that I V
think no considerations would induce me to adopt a differ-
ent nioile in the management of ray stocjj.

The result of my experience has been perfectly conform-
able to the statements made by European writers.

My stock has been unifoiinly healthy ; in a condition
generaitj superior to tny neighbours' ; all of whom pastur-
ed their cattle. In point of milk, during the flush of feed
in June, the product was not inferior to any, according to
the number of my cows, with which I had an opportur>ity
to compare. In July and Aui^ust, in my vicinity the
drowth was severe, and the nnhh cows in my neighbour-
hood fell off in their milk, nearly, and some, quite, a half.
Mine were kept during the whole season, witl.out any
sensible diminution, which could be attributed to tJie want
of food, or its quality. The cows thro^ e and showed no
marks of discontent. None were materially sick. I lost
none.

With respect to stock, the practice upon my farm had
been from almost time immemorial to keep from ten to fif-
teen head of cattle. For the support of these, about fif-
ty acres of land were appropriated during the summer
months. Besides which they were permitted to range in
the autumn over the mowmg. The result was, that in
good seasons, the slock thro\eand were kept well. When
the seasons were dry, they fared badly. \\ hen the diowth
was severe, they were shut up and fed upon corn stalks of
bay. This was the usual coisrse. And the practice and
the result is at this day very similar, in all my vicinity.

My practice, and the result of the past year were the fol-
lowing :

My stock, consisting at an average of twenty cows, were
kept in their stalls through the whjile year. The practice
was to feed them about six tiiises in the 'ay, and to perftiit
them to range in a yard about eighty feet square, two hours
io the forenoon and two in the afternoon. They were kept

REMARKS ON SOILING. 121

well liffered and well curried, while tliey were out of, llie
stable, (he atlendanl took that opportunity to clean the
■tails, and to supply fresh litter. During winter, they were
fed, as is usual, with salt and fresh hay and vegetables. —
From June to November, inclusive, raay be considered,
strictly speaking, the soiling season ; by which is under-
stood, that, in which (hey are fed with green food in the
house. As this is the critical period, I shall be minute in
the account of my prepsrations and proceedings.

In the autumn preceding I had caused rye to be sown
upon an inverted sward, very thick, on about three acres.
Early in April I prepared and sowed, in manner as shall be
stated afterwards, aboui three acres and one quarter of land
with Indian corn in drills. I also sowed about three acres
of oats and buckwheat, bioadcast, at the rate of three bush-
els to the acre, about the latter end of the month. The
whole quantity of land I thus prepared to be used in soil-
ing, in aid of my grass, did but little exceed nine acres. Of
these, that which I sowed with rye, turned out so poorly, that I
never soiled from it more than five days, so that in fac« the
land thus prepared did, in efficiency, but little exceed six
acres.

About the first of June, cattle in general were this sea-
son turned out to pasture. On the 30lb of May, my far-
mer began to cut the sides of the road leading to my house
from the highway and orchard. He continued to soil
from this and from grass growing in my orchard until
the seventh. On this day he abandoned cutting the grass
for soiling, and began to cut from the winter rye. This was
found too tough, and it was quitted and my farmer returned
to soiling upon grass. Having cut over all the refuse of
ray grass, by the •24th of June, he then went into the poor-
est of my mowing land, and afterwards into my clover.
From this he conliiined to soil, until ihe 6th of July. By
this time, he had gone over not much short of three acres
of mowing land. On the 6lh of July, he began to soil

Vol. VI. 16

122 REMARKS ON SOILING.

from my oats. He continued to soil from these until the
21st of July. On the 21st of July, he began to soil on
Indian corn, on which he continued until the '26[h, when
he began to cut about two acres of late and light barley.
On this he continued until the 30lh of July, when he re-
coiumet)ced soiling on corn fodder, and continued upon it
imtil the 31st day of August. On this day began to cut
over the road sides, which had been first cut early in June.
This was continued only to the 2nd of September, when he
began (o cut the second crop of Indian corn, growing upon
the three and one fourth acres of Indian corn, which had
now shot up in great luxuriance, froai the roots of that,
which had been cut over between the 21st and 26th of July.
On this soiling, continued until the 8th of September.

On the 9th and lOtb, he soiled upon about a fourth of an
acre of millet and buckwheat. On the lltb, soiled on a se-
cond crop of clover. From the 12th to the 15th, inclu-
sive, on corn stalks of about an acre of sweet corn, and on
the 16tli on a patch of millet and oats. This was continued
to the 20tli, when he begsn on two acres of Indian corn sown
in drills, on the fiisl of August, on land from which a crop
of peas had been previously taken. Soiling was continued
on this corn, until the 3d of October. From this time un-
til the 15ih of October, the soiling was wholly from second
crop e;i'ass taken from various parts of my mowing land.

From the l.'ith of October, to about the 20th of Novem-
ber, they were kept wholly upon carrot and turnip tops
arising from the topping of about twelve acres of both ; be-
ing allowed always one foddering of salt hay. This fin-
ished the summer feeding. Fiom this time they are kept
wholly upon salt and English hay. The result then of this
experiment, so far as relates lo land, is the following :

The twenty bead consiiaied the product of

2h acres, roadsides and orchard.

3 do. mowiriii land.

21 do. Indian corn, cut as fodder.

81 Carried over.

REMARKS OX SOILING. 123

81 Brougbt over.

2 do. late and light barley.

3 do. oafs.

2 do. late sown Indian corn after a pea crop.

i do. Buckwheat.
1 do. millet, buckwheat and oats.

17 Acres.

This is the whole land which was cut over for soiling ;
with the exception of the after feed on the mowing land and
(he tops of carrots and turnips. In comparing this result
with the former practice of my farm, I apprehend the fol-
lowing statement to be just.

I offset the keeping from the 11th of September to the
20th of November, against the old manner of letting the cat-
tle run at large during the autumn months, on the mowing
land, to its great injury, by poaching and close feeding. —
If this should not be deemed sufficient, I then make no es-
timate of the difference between keeping fifteen head of
cattle, the old stock, and twenty head of cattle, ray present
stock. After these allowances and offsetts, which no man
can doubt are sufficiently liberal, then I state, that my ex-
periment has resulted in relation to land, in this, that I have
kept the same amount of stock,hy soiling on seventeenacres
of land, which had always previously required fifly
acres. The result is, in ray opinion, even in this respect
greater than what is here slated. This, howeVer, is sufficient
to exhibit the greatness of the economy of this mode, so
far as relates to land.

With respect to saving of fencing, the previous condi-
tion of my farm was this. I had at the lowest estimate five
miles of interior fence, eqiial to sixteen hundred rods,
which at one dollar the rod was equal, in original cost, to
sixteen hundred dollars. And annually, for repairs and refit-
ting, cost sixty dollars. / have now not one rod of interior
fence. Of course this saving is great, distinct, and unde-
niable.

124 REMARKS ON SOILING.

In relation to manures, the effect of soiling is not less ap-
parent and unquestionable. The exact amount of summer
product I have not attempted lo ascertain, but lam satisfied
that, every thing considered, it is not less than one buck
load per month per head, or on twenty head of cattle, one
hundred and twenty load for the six soiling months. In
this estimate, I take into consideration the advantage re-
sulting from the urine saved, by means of loam, sand, or
some imbibing recipient, prepared lo absorb it.

It retnains to show that the cost of raising the food, cut-
ting it, and distributing it to ihe cattle, is compensated by
these savings. Upon this point, my own experience has
satisfied me that the value of the manure alone, is an am-
ple compensation for all this expence. Leaving the saving
of land, of food, and of fencing stuff, as well as the better
condition of the cattle, as a clear gain from the sysiem. —
As an evidence of this, I slate my expences for labour in
conducting the soiling process.

During the month of June, I hired a man to do every
thing appertaining to the soiling proi^ess, that is, cutting the
food, delivering it, taking care of the rattle in the day time,
for fifteen dollars the month, he finding himself. In this ar-
rangement, it was estimated, that I availed myself of half
his hbour. At the end of the month, 1 had the manure
measured, and I found that the manure collected in ray re-
cpptacle, which was a cellar, under the barn, and not inclu-
ding that which had been made during the four hours each
day, in the yard, amounted to fifteen load. A quanti-
ty of manure, which I rould not have placed on my farm,
for thirty dollars ; and which I could have sold there, for
twenty dollars, upon the condition it should be carried away.
It cost me as above slated, fifteen dollars, in the labour of
the attendant.

During the remaining five months, [ added another man,
because i found that a great economy in vegetable food,
would result from cutting it into pieces by a cutting knife,
and mixing with it about one third of cut salt hay, or straw.

ON SALT AS A MANURE. V26

Tins was done, ami I kept an accurafe account of all the
labour of cutting the food, in the field, bringing it into the
barn, cutting it up there, culling salt hay or straw, to mix
with if, mixing this food, and delivering it to the cattle,
and found tiiat it amounted to one hundred and fort^ -eight
days' labour. This estimated at a dollar the day, is one
hundred and forty eight dollars, to which adding (ifleen dol-
lars paid for labour, in the month of June, the whole ex-
pense was one hundred and sixty three dollars.

The manure at the end of the soiling season, certainlj
equalled one hundred and twenty loauH, and could not have
been bought, and brought there, lor three hundred dollars. Let
it be estimated at only two hundred dollars in value. No man
can question, 1 think, the correctness of my assertion, that
the value of the manure obtained, is a clear compensation for
this amount of labour ; and this including all the expense of
labour, connected with soiling.

It remains to be shown, in what manner the whole pro-
cess ought to he conilucled, by any one, who may original-
ly attempt it, and also how far it is applicable to the farming
condition of New England, and what species of farmers
would find their account in attempting if.

(To be continued in our next.) /

OF SALT AS A MANURE.

[In England, considerable attention has been attracted of
late, to the use of salt as a manure. The following extracts
from a work, recently published in London, entitled " A
Letter to the Farmers and Graziers of Great-Britain on the
advantages of using Salt, in the various branches of agricul-
ture and in feeding all kinds of farming stock, by Samuel
Parkes," will present to the farmers of Massachusetts, the
leading facts and considerations connected with the topic of
salt as a manure.]

126 ON SALT AS A MANDRE.

" In some parts of Great-Britain, particularly in the neigh-
bourhood of the Salt Works, the value of Common Salt, as
a manure, is well kno^n and acknowledged ; and it has lately
been given in evidence before the select commiltee of the
House of Commons, by a gentleman of the highest credit,
that the farmers in Cornwall are so convinced of (he value
of Salt as a manure, that whenever the waste Salt that has
been employed in curing fish is on sale, there is a violent
contention among the occupiers of the land who shall obtain
the largest share. The same gentleman informed the coin-
mittee, that where wheat or barley has followed turnips, on
land which had been salted, the ensuing crop has invaria-
bly escaped the mildew, although that disease had affected
all the corn upon the lands immediately adjoining, on which
Salt had not been used.

"There is also a practice in Cornwall of manuring the
lands with sea sand for the sake of the Salt that it contains ;
and so very efficacious is this found to be, that a writer, nine-
ty years ago, computed the money laid out in that and the ad-
joining county for sea-sand to amount to thirty-two thou-
sand pounds per annum ; and so much has this practice in-
creased of late years, that Dr. Paris considers " the ex-
pense of land carriage for sand used as a manure in Corn-
wall alone as now amonnling at least to thirty thousand
pounds annually.

*' The efficacy of Salt in destroying noxious weeds,
grubs, worms, flies, and insects, is well known in many dis-
tricts, and those v.he are incredulous may very easily satisfy
themselves by direct experiment. For instance, if a few
comtnon earth worms be taken out of the ground, and sprink-
led with a little Salt, they will be seen to writhe for a few min-
utes, and then expire. Thus Salt does, as it were, perform
two operations at once, for, by destroying the worms and the
weeds, while the land lies fallow, it prepares the ground most
eiFectually for the reception of the corn or the plants, be-
fore it can possibly take any effect upon the crop itself. And

ON SALT AS A MANURE. ISf

besides this peculiar advantage, the extreme luxuriance and
verdure wtiich common Salt gives to grass lands, when
properly applied, would be so satisfactory to such farmers
who would make use of it, and so convincing to all the
neighbouring agriculturists of every description, that if
only one or two gentlemen in each district were to employ
it in a few instances, I am certain this mode of top-dressing
would very soon engage the attention of every person in the
empire, who had even but a garden to manage and cultivate.

" 1 think it necessary to remark, that where Salt is used as
a top dressing for grass-land, the quantity employed ought to
be much less than is commonly used for ground, that is to be
afterwards ploughed for a crop of grain. Six bushels, or
three hundred and thirty-six pounds of Rock Salt, ground
vert/Jine, and regularly sown upon the grass, would be a
proper quantity for an acre of pasture-land ; whereas six-
teen or twenty bushels may be used upon fallows for clean-
ing the ground preparatory to the putting in the grain.
For meadow-land, two or three bushels of crushed Rock
Salt may be carefully sown upon each acre, immediately
after the hay is got in, with great advantage, especially in
hot and dry summers.

" From the evidence which has already been collected
upon this subject, it is obvious that a great portion of the
land in this kingdom might, by the proper use of Salt, be
made to produce nearly double the amount of the present
crops of grass as well as corn. How greatly this would
serve the manufacturing, and indeed all other interests of
the country, I need not attempt to explain to you. More-
over, by forcing the land with a sufficient portion of Salt,
our crops would be brought to rwaturity much sooner than
they now are, a matter of considerable importance in the
northern parts of this island, where much of the corn is fre-
quently spoiled by the autumnal rains before it can be suf-
ficiently dried l»y the sun and wind to stack with safety.
And in the hay harvest, should the farmer be induced.

128 OK SALT AS A MAltURE.

from the uncertainty of the w^eather, to carry his bay too
soon, a small quantity of Salt sprinkleil fipon earh layer of
the rick will prevent the hay from becoming rurw burned,
as it is called ; and when hay which h.is been luus treated
ia presented to horses and cattle, it will be preferred by
them to that which has been put together in a more favour-
able season, and not treated with Salt.

"The late Dr. Darwin, in treating on Salt as a manure,
remarks, that " as it is a stiraulus^which excites the vege-
table absorbent vessels into greater action than usual, it
may, in a certain quantity, increase their growth, by ena-
bling them to take up more nourishment in a given time,
and perform their circulations and secretions with greater
energy."

" The cleanliness of Rock Salt as a manure is likewise an-
other considerable advantage. In many cases this circum-
stance will be found to be very important, particular!} in the
grazing districts. It has repeatedly been observed, that if
land be manured with dung after the hay has been carried
off, the neat cattle will refuse to eat the eddish which grows
upon such land. On the contrary, if a field be dressed with
about two bushels of fine Salt per acre instead of dung, soon
after the hay is cut, this inconvenience and loss will be
avoided, and a large crop of after-grass will be obtained,
possessing such peculiar sweetness, thai all kinds of cattle,
as well as horses, will eat it witii the utmost avidity.

" The farmers, in some districts, are accustomed to steep
their seed-corn in lime-water, and Muhtless the practice U of-
ten useful ; but I atn decidedly of opinion that a stronj, brine,
made by the solution ol Rock Salt in water, will bt infiriiiely
more efficacious. Crops of wheal are oiien reduced one
half in value by a disease to which this kind of grain is very
liable, called the smvt or rust; but when the seed has been
properly prepared with Salt, this misfortune can never hap-
pen. It has also been proved by some pubhc spirited in-
dividuals, who have made the necessary experiments, that

ON lALT AS A MAirnRE. 129

Jbe scab h never found upon polatoes which have grown
upon land that has bad a proper dressing of Co/iiraon Salt.
" In many parts of Flanders, but more particularly at
Lisle, it is the practice to preserve the urine of those callle
that eat Common Salt with their food. This is preserved
in appropriate reservoirs, and when the farmers apply it to
a certain description of land, which experience has taught
them to select, the effect, even without any other manure, is
not only advantageous, but it is truly astonishing."

I

Extracts from old ivriters of credit on the employment of
Common Salt in Agriculture.

Gervase Markham, a learned writer in the reigns of
James the 1st and Charles the 1st, who was equally noted
for his skill in many foreign languages, and for bis knowl-
edge of the various branches of agriculture, published a
great variefj-^ of treatises on the management of land, and
closed his agricultural labours by the publication of a work
entitled *^ Markham^ s Farewell to Husbandry,^' in which
the following passages occur. " If you be neer unto any
part of the sea-coast, thence fetch great store of the salt
sand, and with it cover your ground which halh beene for-
merly plowed and hackt, allowing unto every acre of ground
threescore or fourscore full bushels of sand, which is a very
good and competent proportion ; and this sand thus laid
shall be very well spread and mixed among the other broken
earth. And herein is to be noted that not any other sand
but the Salt is good or available for this purpose, because
itis the brine and saltnesse of the same which breedeth this
fertility and fruitfulnesse in the earth, choaking the growth
of all weeds, and giving strength, vigor, and comfort, to all
kind of grain or pulse, or any fruit of better nature.'*
Page 5.

"Now methinks I hear it objected, what if the ground
do lye so farre within the land, that there is no salt-sand

Vol. VI. 17

130 OK SALT AS A MANURE.

within many score miles of if, how then shall I make good
my barren earth ? To this I answer, that albeit this salt-
sea sand be of infinite good and necessary use, inriching
groimds wonderfully much; but if your ground lye much
within land, and farre from the sea, then to every acre of
land you shall take two bushels of very dry bay-salt, and in
such manner as you sow your wheat you shall sow this salt
upon the ground ; then immediately after the sowing of the
salt you shall sow your wheat, which wheat wouUI be thus
prepared before you sow it. The day before you are to
sow your grain, you shall iake bay-salt and water, and mix-
ing them together, make a brine so strong that it will bear
an egsre ; then put the wheat you are tosovr into that brine,
and let it steep therein till the next da> ; then drain it from
the brine and so sow it ; and no doubt but you shall find a
marveilous great increase thereby. Neither is the thing it-
self without good and strong probability of much increase,
and strength for the bettering of all manner of arable grounds ;
for there is nothing which killeth weeds, qiiicks, and other
offences of the ground, so much as salluess." Page 12.

In the chapter respecting the treatment of land over-run
with weeds, he directs such land to be covered with a cer-
tain black plant growing on the sea-shore, which is to be
plowed in, and the ground harrowed ; it is then to be sowu
with pigeons' and pullens' dung mixed together, allowing to
every acre two or three bushels thereof, and he adds, " but
in case you can neither get Salt, sea-sand, nor sea-weeds,
then you shall by no means omit the steeping of your seed,
neither shall you fail before you sow your seed, to mixe
with your pidgeons' and pullens' dung a full equal part of
bay-salt well dried and broke, and so sown with the dung up-
on the land, and then the seed after it." Page 17.

In chapter V. entitled " of the ordering of ail barren
clays that are over-run with ling or heath," alter giving di-
rections how to make and dress the land, he adds, " And if
the ground have been sanded (with salt sea-sand) you may

ON SALT AS A MA;^URE. 131

%ow your seed-wheat simply of itself, without any doubt of
tbeplentifull increase thereof; but if it have not been sanded,
then you shall not only steep your seed in brine, but also
you shall mixe your seed with bay-salt, and so sow it into
the ground." Page 27.

In the chapter which treats of the method of recovering
such laud as had been rendered slerile by the overflow of
sea-water, Mr. Markham writes thus:

" In all my former relations, touching the bettering of
ground, I do apply, as one of ray chiefest ingredients, salt-
sand, salt-weeds, salt-water, salt-brine, ashes, and many oth-.
er things of salt nature, as indeed all the manures and marles
whatsoever must either have a salt quality iu them, or they
cannot produce fruitfuinesse ; so that it might be argued, if
Salt be the occasion of fruitfuinesse and increase, then there
cannot be much hurt done by, these overflowes of the salt-
water, that it should rather adde a fattening and enriching
to the ground, than any way to impoverish it. But experi-
ence shews us the contrary ; and that there is nothing more
noisome and pestilent to the earth than the superabundance
and too great excess of saltnesse, &c." Page 60.

" In the chapter on enriching of barren grounds for the
growth of hemp and flax, he directs first to plough it, " then
with the salt sea-sand, you shall sand it very plentifully, but
if that be not to be gotten, and you be very well assured of
the natural richness of the earth, you shall then sand it with
the best red sand you can find near unto you, and upon every
acre of ground you thus sand with fresh sand, you shall sow
three bushels of bay-salt, and then plough up again the
earth, sand and salt together, which should be done about
the latter end of the yeare, as after Michaelmas, and so let
the ground rest till seed-time, at which lime you shall bring
seaweeds to your hemp-land, and cover it all over with the
same, and theu you shall plough it again, burying the weeds
within the earth. As for the weeding of this ground, you

132 ON SALT AS A MANURR.

shall not respect it at all, for it will put up no ivced.^*
Pages 67 and 69.

Id the chapter on %erruin, Mr. Markhaoi says. " The
next great devourers of grain are pismires or ants, which al-
though it be but a little creature, yet it is so laboursome,
that the grain which they carry away or destroy, amount-
eth to a great quantity. If you manure your corn lands
with ashes or salt sand, you shall be well assured it will
never breed pismires." Page 75.

*' The great Lord Bacon, who flourished early in the
seventeenth century, having noticed the advantages which
the farmers of Cornwall, Devon, and other maritime coun-
ties, derived from the free use of sea-sand, which upon those
coasts chiefly consists of broken shells impregnated with
salt-water, declares that the best manure next to marie is sea-
sand, which no doubt, (says bis Lordship) obtaineth a spe-
cial virtue by the salt-water, and concludes by afiirming
that salt is the first rudiment of life." — Nat. Hist. Cent. 6.
Exp. 596.

In the Philosophical Transactions, is a memoir by the
Archbishop of Dublin on the manuring of lands in the
counties of Londonderry and Donnegall, in Ireland, with
sand and shells from the sea-shore, from which I extract
the following passages. Treating of boggy land, he says :
— "The turf is nothing but the product of vegetables, which
rotting, there remains only the earthy parts ; now shells be-
ing chiefly salt, the salt incorporates with the sulphur of the
plants, and renders them fit for the vegetation of new plants,
which further appears from this, viz. — that those shells
which have been under the salt-water, are much better than
such as lie dry on the strands. Some thousands of acres
have been improved by these shells, and what formerly was
not worth a groat per acre is now worth four shillings. Some
years ago they made lime of the shells, and manured their
lands with if, but a poor man, who, from laziness or poverty,
had not provided to make lime, threw the shells unburnt on

Olf SALT AS A MANURE. 133

Lis land, and his crop proved as good as his neighbours,
and the second and third crop better ; and all took the hint,
and have used them so ever since. Where shells are not
to be procured, sea-wrack or sea-sand supply the want." —
Phil. Trans. No. 314.

Soon after the formation of the Royal Society, Dr.
Bury delivered a memoir, containing an account of the ma-
nurin'' of land in Devonshire with sea-sand, which is much
to our purpose. " Salt," says he, " quickens dead land,
and is used in the south-west part of that county, which
would otherwise be the barrenest, but is now the richest
part thereof. The inhabitants go as far as the sea will permit
them at lowest ebb, take the sand in bags, and carry it on
horseback fourteen miles into the country, and spread it on
the land, thereby improving it both for corn and grass.
Crude Salt alone, if strewed upon the ground, does not im-
prove but corrode it.'

))

Extracts from more modern writers on the nse of Salt in

Agriculture.

" I am well assured from a Scotch gentleman, that thej
have long used Salt in that part of Great-Britain, always
sowing ten or twelve bushels by hand of their coarse Salt
on an acre of young green wheat, sometime in November,
December, January, or February, it being, from the seve-
ral accounts which 1 have had of it, very eiFectual in the
killing of tender weeds amongst corn, yet at Ihe same time
cherishing the corn ; and though it does not add altogether
to the bulk or height of the straw, yet it does much to the
goodness and plumpness of the grain. And whoever has
been curious in their remarks abroad, will dnd that it is the
usual practice of the Milanese to sow Salt on their pastures,
as I have been informed by one who has sold great quanti-
ties for that purpose ; as also by a merchant of Liverpool,
who is well acquainted with that trade, who affirms that the
finest crops they have of hemp and flax amongst th« Dant-

134 ON SALT A8 A MANURE.

zickers and others, who raise tliose commodities in those
countries, are from lands on which salt is strewed." The
Practical Husbandman, 8vo. London, 1733, vol. i. p. 48.

" S^\i certainly sweetens the grass much; and it may on
all such occasions be mixed with a proper quantity of dung,
which is more sulphureous than Salt, and will make grass
shoot away much faster than any other manure. Lime in
its own naUue makes gra^s sour, but when mixed with Salt,
that acidity will be taken away." Practical Husband'
man, vol. i. page 57.

" As to the proportion of Salt to be used on land, it
ought to be according to the nature of it; cold, wet, clayey
land requiring more, and loose soft sand though it be poor
requiring less. Again, the proportion of Salt ought to be
either more or less, according to the crops of grass or grain
you would improve. For cold, wet, and spewy land, ten
loads of dung, six of earth, and eight bushels of Salt, per acre.

For lean, hungry, sandy land, fourteen loads of pond
earth, six loads of dung, and six bushels of Salt per acre
when employed for corn and grazing.

For meadow land, fourteen or fifteen loads of dung,
five bushels of Salt, and four of pond earth, the quantity of
each to be altered according to the quality of the ground.'*
Practical Husbandman, London, If 38, page 59.

" On watering meadows with a solution of salt, we are di-
rected to make a large pit about twenty or thirty feet
square, and five or six feet deep, more or less, as there will
be occasion, in the method tan or salt pits are made, and
put therein ten or twelve bushels of salt, and as much of
lime, soot, or any other ingredient of that kind, and, having
a pump near at hand, or some conduit or spring of water,
fill the pit up by degrees, at first to three or four feet high,
letting the ingredients dissolve in the water, by being there
twenty-four hours at least, stirring them sometimes about,
and after that, by dipping in of the finger it will be found
whether the water is salt enough (as near as you can to the

\ 0

ON SALT AE A MAKURE. 135

strength of sea-water) : if it is not sufficient, then may be ad-
ded a reasonable quantity more of the above mentioned mate-
rials ; but if it be too salt, then more water may be poured
in till it is just right and fit for use ; and being {jossesised of a
moving pump or a skip, pump the water into a hogshead,
with a leather pipe, and a watering roae at the end of it,
just as is practised in watering the streets in London, and
so (having the hogshead placed on a roll) nvdy both mea-
dows and corn land be watered to a good advantage." —
Practical Husbandman, vol. i. page 74.

" To shew an acquaintance of mine the effects and ad-
vantages of Salt properly applied to vegetables, I made the
following experiment, in an extreme dry summer, upon a
bare piece of pasture land, out of which the cattle were all
taken for want of gra-^s : I marked four places with stakes,
each of which I watered nine nights successively, in the
following manner: — the first with spring water alone, to the
quantity of a gallon ; the second with the same quantity of
water, adding an ounce of common salt ; the third and
fourth with the same quantity, mixing the water in the third
place with two ounces of salt ; and that in the fourth with
three ounces, which produced the following different effects.

" The grass in the second place grew more and of a dark-
er green than that in the first ; in the third, it only grew by
spots, for a part of it was killed where the greatest quantify
of water fell, and the fourth was quite brown for a greater
compass than the third ; by which it appeared that an
ounce of salt in a gallon of water had a belter effect than the
water had alone ; and that three ounces of Salt, mixed with
a gallon of water, was more than the grass could immedi-
ately receive ; but the fourth place in the ensuing spring
was the most fertile of them all." — Treatise of Fruit TreeSy
by Thos. Hitf, 8vo. third edition, Londo>i, 1768, page 17.

" Having tried Salt upon a small scale on a sandy soil, I
can assert sixteen bushels to be a proper quantity fur one
acre. It gradually advanced in its effects to sixteen, and as

186 Ojr SALT AB A MANURE.

gradually diminished (o forty bushels, when vegetation was
destroyed. Twice only have I had an opportunity of buy-
ing a few tons of foul Salt, and used it both limes on a
barley tilth, lowing the salt immediately after the barley.
The event was perfectly satisfactory. The verdure of the
spring exceeded any thing of the kind I ever saw ; and the
ripened appearance was whiter by many shades than I ever
beheld. N. B. Salt is noxious both to weeds and vermin.'*
R. Legrand, Esq. on Manures, in the Annals of Agricul-
ture, vol. V. page 149.

" Salt," says Mr. Holiinshead, " will be found to be the
cheapest, best, and most durable manure ever yet made
use of."

" When Salt is used upon pasture-lands, it may either
be sown upon them in its simple neat state, after the rate of
sixteen bushels the acre, or mixed with compost, mud, or
loamy earth ; sixteen bushels of Salt to twenty loads of
earth, and turned in the heap two or three times to incor-
porate it properly; this compost should be laid on and
spread in the autua)n." — Page 13 — 18.

" For meadow-lands, we would advise the farmer to sow
six bushels of Salt per acre, immediately after the hay is
got in. This would be found peculiarly beneficial in hot
and dry suuimers, and upon lime-stone and sandy soils ;
which, after they are mown, are often so much parched by
the heat of the sun, that not only the eddish is destroyed,
but also the crop of the ensuing year is very materially in-
jured; but by sowing it with Salt, moisture would be at-
tracted and retained, sufficient to assist vegetation so pow-
erfully, as in a short time again to cover the face of the
ground with grass, and by that means eiFectually to screen
the roots, which would otherwise be loo much exposed to
the direct ravs of the sun.

It may, indeed, be said, that dung will answer the same
purpose: in some degree it might, but dung cannot always

• N SALT AS A MANURE. 137

be had, never in sufficient quantities : besides if it could,
this objeclion lies against it, that neat cattle will not eat the
eddiflb after dung, consequently one valuable crop is lost to
the farmer, which, if Salt were used, would be both produc-
tive and wholesome. Also, the hay, when put into the
mow or slack, should besprinkled with salt on every layer.
When hay is housed soft, this should never be omitted, as
it would prevent what the farmers call the mowbvrn, and
make the hay far more pleasant and nutritious for the cattle
in winter. " — Page 18.

" Mr. Beck, gardener in Chorley, has constantly made
use of Salt in his garden for upwards of thirty years, prin-
cipally upon his onions; and he has invariably found the
Salt to exceed every other kind of manure wliich he coidd
have used for the like purpose ; his method is, to sow the
Salt immediately after the seed is covered in. But as he
never had any thought of communicating his observations
and experiments to the public, he took no care to ascertain
the exact quantity necessary to be sown on an acre, and
proportionably upon any smaller quantity of grounrl : yet
he thinks, if he might hazard a conjecture, that he has not
sown less, and probable more, (of waste Salt) than sixteen
bushels per acre. One year, by way of trial, he sowed the
usual quantify of Salt upon a plot of onions, after they had
begun to shew themselves above ground, and the crop,
so far from being irwproved, was entirely spoiled ; from this
he infers, that the experimental gardener, who may be incli-
ned to make use of Salt, will do well to throw it on as soon
as possible after the seed is sown." — Page 20.

" A farmer at Glasson, near Lancaster, has for some
time been in the habit of carting Saii-water to put upon his
dung whilst in the heap in the yard, before if was taken to
be spread upon the ground, which he has found by experi-
ence very much enriches the dung, and makes it better ma-
nure. A great advantage might also be derived to the far-

Vol. VI. 1»

1K8 ON SALT AS A MANURE.

mer from spreading sea-sand under and amongst the dung,
whilst it is in collecting, during the winter, and also in the
cow-house, stable, and yard, not only on account of the
particles of the Salt contained in it, but likewise by its re-
taining and absorbing the urine of the cattle, which is it-
self a very excellent manure."

" A fanner in the county of Sussex, some years ago, had
a field, one part of which was very wet and rushy, and the
grass produced upon it was of so sour and unpleasant a kind,
that the cattle would not graze upon it ; he tried several
methods to improve it, but to little purpose; at last, hav-
ing heard of the benefits of Salt as a manure, he determin-
ed to try that; for which purpose he procured a quantity
of Rock-Salt, which in a random way, without any regard
to the precise quantity, he threw upon this rushy ground,
fencing it off from the other part of the field ; the first ef-
fect of which was a total disappearance of every kind of
vegetation. In a short time after, however, it produced
the largest quantity of mushrooms ever seen upon an equal
space of ground in that county. These in the spring fol-
lowing were succeeded by a most plentiful and luxuriant
crop of grass, far exceeding the other part of the field in
the richness of its verdure and the quickness of its growth :
the cattle were remarkably fond of it; and though the Salt
was laid on it upwards of twenty years ago, this part is still
far superiour to the rest of the ^elti.""— Appendix to Mr.
Hollinskead^s pamphlet^ page 33 — 35.

" Salt is the mother of all manures, as every kind of ma-
nure is higher or lower in value according to the Salt it pro-
duces ; and every kind of manure is portioned out to the
land according to the quantity of Salt or nitre it is thought
to have in it. Formerly, Salt was thought to be an impov-
erisher of land, but experience has taught us wisdom : it is
now found to be otherwise, provided it is duly proportioned
to the state the land is in, and mixed to mollify it as follows :

ON SALT AS A MAIiORE. 139

fake ten bushel* of Salt, and six buahels of dry ashes, and
mix all together ; then spread them on the land, and harrow
them in with the seed : this is a sufficient dressing for an
English aere, as it is better to repeat the dressing than to
lay too much on at once. By being thus mixed, one parti-
cle incorporafes and mollifies the other. Salt itself is rather
too severe and harsh in its nature, and if laid too thick on,
might prove of bad consequence; but if conveyed inio the
earth by a soapy, smooth method, will prove the real en-
richer the earth wants to send forth vegetation ; this dress-
ing will last for three crops. Sea-weed, shells, fish, sea-
water, sea-sand, have in them a proportion of salts or nitre,
and, therefore, must be esteemed a manure." — From C Var-
ley, Esq. coynmunicaled to the Chester Chronicle by the
Rev. B. Dacre of Mosely near Manchester.

*' The following curious anecdote may be related as serv-
ing to illustrate the effect of Salt : Mr. Seckler made a lit-
tle heap of earth in the midst of a field, on the top of which
a cart load of refuse Salt was thrown ; the earth in the heap
itself, and (after its removal) the earth under it, for upwards
of two feet deep to the clay; was rendered so perfectly bar-
ren, that the most common weeds would not vegetate in it.
This barren earth, however, furnished the richest dressing
for the remainder of the field. Mr. Seckler found Salt (he
best preservative against the mildew in wheat. When the
wheat followed turnips with Salt, it escaped the mildew
which attacked other fields which were not salted ; and
this he finds to hold universally good, as far as his experi-
ence goes. The improvement of bad hay, by Salt applied
in the proportion of about onehundred weight to three tons,
and sprinkled between the layers, is very striking, prevent-
ing mildew, and rendering it more grateful and beneficial to
cattle, especially if the hay is bad : and even in good hay it
is very greatly ameliorated. A testimony in favour of the
benefit of Salt h furnished by the striking fertility of the

140 ore SALT AS A MANURE.

land in the neighbourhood of the sea-shore in Cornwall ;
more especially in those sifuations which are favourable to
the general clisfiibufion of the saline spray, as is exemplified
in (he parish of Fennor."

" An interesting detail from the Rev. E. Cartwrlght will
be found in the fourth volume of communicalions to (he
Board of Agriculture, which is conclusive, as to the appli-
cation of Salt as a manure for potatoes. It appears from
this communication, that the experiment could not have
been tried on a soil better adapted to give impartial results.
Of ten difTerent manures which were resorted to, most of
them of known and acknowledged efBcaoy, one only except-
ed, Salt was superior to them all. Its effects, when com-
bined with soot, were extraordinary, yielding in a row two
hundred and forty potatoes, whilst one hundred and fifty
only were produced from the row manured with li.jie. It
was observable also, where Salt was applied, whether by it-
self or in combination, the roots were free from that scabbj-
ness which offen infects potatoes, and from which none of
the other beds (and there were in the field near forty more
than made part of (he experiments) were aUogether exempt."

" Sea-sand is very generally used in the county of Corn-
wall for manure, and the quantity which is every season
carried away from different parts of the coast for (he pur-
pose of manure almost exceeds belief. From Bnde, in (he
parish of Stra(ton, it has been ascertained (hat in one day
as manv as four (housand horse-loads have been (aken ; and
from the harbour of Padstow, it has been computed, that
fifty-four thousand cart loads are annually carried. The
expense of land carriage for sand, used in the county, has
been considered as amounting at least to thirty thousand
pounds annually.

" That the beneficial operation of this sand depends up-
on the presence of calcareous matter, there cannot be any
doubt, but, at the same time, we are borne out by unequivo-

ON SALT AS A MANURE.

141

cal facts, in believing; that Ihe Sea-salt, with which it is im-
pregnated, confribiitea materially to its fertilizing pow-
ers."— Dr. Paris' Memoir in the Transactions of the Roy-
al Geological Society of Cornwall, vol. i. 8vo. London,
1818, page 193.

Extracts from Papers published by the Right Hononrahle
Sir John Sinclair, Baronet, on the Uses of Salt for
AgricuUaral Purposes.

" Salt, if employed in large quantities, in its natural
state, is hostile to vegetation, yet it operates advantageous-
ly, in various ways, when judiciously applied to arable land.
In large quantities it has a tendency, like every oiher ex-
cessive stimulant, to disorganize and destroy the vegetable
substances with which it comes in contact ; but mmoderale
quantities it promotes the groalh of vegetables.

" It has been proved by Pringle, and Macbride, that
though Salt will, in large qiiaotilies, prevent putref'fir.tion,
owing to its antisceptic pro[)erties, yet that it Las an evi-
dent tendency to promote the process, when used iu small
quantities. Hence the advantage of mixing it in moderate
quantities with farm-yard dung, and other animal and vege-
table substances.

" An experiment was tried in Cheshire, of mixing grass
roots and other rubbish harrowed off the land, with foul
Salt ; it was then incojporated with other manures ; and the
effects of this compost, on a crop of barley aitd grass seeds,
is said greatly to have exceeded tiie most sangiiiue expec-
tations that had been formed of it.

" A farmer mixed up a quantity of refuse Salt with the
earth taken out of water furrows, and another portion of the
same earth with lime. Of the two, the vegetation of that
part of the field which had the salt compost laid upon it,
was by far the healthiest and most vigorous.

142 ON THE rREFKRENCE OF OXEN TO HORSES.

" Vermin. Salt destroys vermin in the ground, bj mak-
ing them void the contents of their bodies, such evacuations
being too powerful for thera to withstand. It has this addi-
ditional advantage, that the vermin thus become food for
those very plants, which otherwise they would have de-
stroyed.

Turnips. *• Equal quantities of salt, and of turnip seed,
were tried on a small plot of a garden, by the author of this
paper ; and the produce was more abundant than from the
same quantity of turnip-seed sown without Salt. The effi-
cacy of Salt, as a destroyer of the turnip fly, or beetle,
ought to be ascertained."

ON THE ADVANTAGES OF OXEN IN PREFERENCE TO

HORSES.

Brighton, lOth Feb. 1820.

DEAR SIR,

The decision of the Committee on the last ploughing
match, caused some animadversion, in consequence of (heir
rejecting the performance of Mr. Derby's plough on ac-
count of his horse team. It has also led to inquiries, as to
the relative merits of oxen and horses for road teams ; and
as you will observe, that the Trustees have excluded horses
from competition at the next ploughing match. It is de-
sirable to collect all the experience possible, of the advan-
tage of oxen in preference to horses for the road ; and I be-
lieve, sir, no person can afford more practical information
on the subject than yourself, from the important use of ox
teams in the war of the revolution, particularly while you
was quarter-Diaster-general. Though a stripling at that peri-
od, I can well recollect, that the principal transit of stores and
provisions for the array, from New-England, was performed
by ox-teams. This fact was confirmed by Dr. Eustis in a

ON THE PREFERENCE OF OXEN TO HORSES. 143

late conversation relative to the present object of inquiry,
Wiio at (he same time retiiarked, that the heavj ordnance in-
tended for the siege of York-Town, could not, without
great delay and difficulty, have been brought up, had not
the quurter-niHSler-general had \he foresight to order oxen
froQi Nevv-Ens;!and for that service. These facts are, in
my opinion, of importance to the Agricultural interests of
the nation, and should be promulgated.

Will you have the goodness, sir, to communicate such
information on the premises, as may occur to your recollec-
tion.

With particular esteem,

I am respectfully, yours,

S. W. POMEROY.
Hon. TiMOTHT Pickering.

Wenhanij Feb. 29, 1820.

DEAR SIR —

It was not till yesterday that your letter of the 10th
instant came to my hands. With pleasure I comply with
your request, by communicating what knowledge and infor-
mation I possess, of the use and value of oxen for the road,
and for all the labours of husbandry.

You particularly mention the employment of ox-teams, iu
the public service, in the war of our Revolution. The
considerable destruction of horses in the operations of the
war, and the great expense of procuring and supporting
them, induced me, in the winter of ITSO — 81, (at which
time I held the office of quarter-master-general,) to cause
ox-teams to be provided for the campaign of 1781. These
Avere obtained, of course, in New-England, where alone
they could be furnished: and they fully answered my ex-
pectations. /

144

ox THE PREFEREKCE OF OXEX TO HORSES.

l?1

When in August, ITSI, disappointed in the expected co-
operation of a French fleet, against the enemy in New-
Yoik, the com'nandei-in chief decided on the expedition
against the British arrnj under lord CorxNwali.i;^, in Vir-
ginia, I received his orders to provide for moving the troops
destined for that service. The ox teanis effectually per-
formed the transportation of b:i2gai;e and stores, to the
points where they were relieved by water-conveyances.
From the head of Eik, in Maryland (sixieen railes eastward
ef the Susquehannah,) to James' river in Virginia, the ox-
learas, (without loads,) travelled expediliously. The heavy
artillery, shot, sheila, &c. brought from the bead of E;k,
by water, were landed on the shore of Juiues' River, I
think at or near James' Town, wben< e they were transport-
ed by the ox-teams, to our camp before Yorklown, a dis-
tance, I believe, of about fourteen railes. In the perform-
ance of this service, those teams were of essential impor-
tance.

The late Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth, of Connecticut,
(one of the most judicious and efficient men in business that
I ever knew,) was then the contractor for supplying the
French army with provisions, teams, carriages ; in a word,
with every thing necessary for it, in the quarter-master's
and commissary's departments. I introduce his name, be-
cause he had provided a great number of ox-teams and
waggons, for the use of the French array during the same
campaign ; and these also travelled to Virginia.

I always understood that the great transportation of pro-
visions and stores, from Massachusetts and Connecticut,
to the troops on Hudson's river, was almost whoily perform-
ed by ox-teams, during the war.

Just at the close of the war, in the summer of 1783, I re-
collect being at the house of an Agricultural gentleman of
Princeton, in New-Jersey, where Congress was then sitting ;
and that Charles Thompson, the Secretary, was present.

ON THE PREFERENCE OF OXEN TO HORSES. ]46

One of Arthur Young's Agricultural Tours, in England,
lay on the table, and gave rise to a conversation on Die use
of oxen for the draught, particularly when geared with col-
lars, hames, and traces, like horses; and Mr. Thompson,
related the following fact, now, for substance, perfect 1} in
my recollection. Travelling in that part of Chester county,
in Pennsylvania, which lay between Lancaster, in that stale,
and Newport on Christiana (yreek, IVlr. Thompson fell in
with a team of a novel character in that country, being com-
posed of one pair of horses and one pair of oxen ; and the
latier were accoutred with harness like /^or.st^s, only with
the collars turned upside down. His curiosity being excit-
ed, he slopped, and made sofne inquiries; and rec^^ved
from the driver an account as follows; that he and a nei^gh-
boiir, each having a horse-team and wagji:,on, had entered in-
to a contract to transport a quantity of flour, (I think in a
given time,) to Newport : that in the midst of the work, one
or two of his horses failed, (fell sick or died,) afid he was
not in circumstances conveniently to procure others ; but
he had a pair of oxen, and he concluded to try whether they
would supply the place of his horses ; that he made .the ex-
periment and succeeded. He told Mr. Thompsoi;, liiat
the oxen were more useful to him than horses; loi; after
some fall rains, when the roads had become miry, he.con-
linued to carry his full complement of barrels of ilour,
while his neighbour's horse-team frequently getting stalled,
(the familiar term in Pennsylvania, when a team gets set fast
in a slough) compelled him to lessen his loads. But htcadd-
ed, that in returning from Newport with their waggons emp-
ty, his neighbour had the advantage in speed ; although
none in the actual performance of the contract.

Horse-teams for the road are universal in Pennsylvania ;
at least, in the many years I resided there, I do not recol-
lect observing any other. But I have noticed some of their

Vol. VI. 19

146 ON THE PREFERENCE OF OXEN TO HORSES.

teams of large horsjies travelling at as slow a rate as an/
loaiied ox-teains in New-England.

I have been inclined lo entertain the opinion (perhaps an
erroneous one) that oxen mishl be trained (beginning with
their first acquaintance with the yoke) to a greater quickness
of movement than is coinraon ; and that this might be ren-
dered habitual. I have seen a pair of oxen in a plough
keep pace with another plough drawn by a pair of horses.
And Sir John Sinclair, in his account of the Improved
Scottish Husbandry, mentions two distinguished farmers,
of the name of Walker, who, contrary to the general prac-
tice of (heir neighbours, persisted in the use of ox-teams, as
profitable on their farms. Two oxen, harnessed like hor-
ses, in a plough, performed the same labour, without losing
a turn. After the experience of twenty years, these far-
mers pronounced oxen fit for every agricultural labour,
travelling on hard turnpike ronris excepted.

It would seem that horse harness is generally, if not uni-
vcrsally used for oxen in Scotland, the collars being rever-
sed. Sir John Sinclair says '• the principal objection
to the use of oxen is the diffirnlty of shoeing them." The
facile mode of shoeing oxen in New-England, would remove
that objection : and I take the liberty of suggesting the pro-
priety of (he Trustees of oiir State Society of Agriculture,
communicating to Sir John, a drawing and description of
our simple frame and apparatus for shoeinsc oxen, for the in-
formation of British Agriculturists, to whom we are so much
iude rted for instruction and examples in the most approved
practices in Husbandry.

I subjoin, from Sir John Sinclair's book, his statement
of the expense of supporting oneplovgh, in Scotland.

Mr. Brown of Markle keeps twenty work horses.

The food of each, in 1812, was £35 0 10

Interest of money, wear and tear, 7 10 0

£42 10 10

ON THE PREFERENCE OP OXEN TO IIOHSES. \4l

Amount brought over - £42 10 10

The same for Ihe second horse, - 42 10 JO

Horse tax, smith's account, and
keeping in use harness and im-
plements, - - - - - 12

Total expense for one pair of horsea, - j£37 1 8
The Ploughman, including all emolutnents, 3S

Total expensiC of one plough, in Sterling

monej', £135 1 8

In dollars, 599 72; 28 ceaJs only short of $600. For
the horses alone £97 1 8, equal to $431. Does the sup-
port of a pair of good working oxen cost a New-England
farmer more than a fourth part the latter sum ? It is true,
that the open weather of a British winter enables the far-
mers to plough and do other farm work during a good, per-
haps the greater, part of that season ; and couse(juentl_y their
horses require good feeding then, as well as in other seasons.
The Walkers break their steers for work at three and a
half years old, and work them till they are six and a half,
when they are f ittened. " The ox improves, (Sir John
remarks) until six or seven years old ; and is (hen easily fed
and brought to market, at a greatly increased weight and
value." Another Scotch farmer breaks his steers at two
years old, giving them only light work so a* not to prevent
their growth. At that early age they will be more docile.
Such, and for the same reason, I suppose, is the common
practice of New-England farmers. Besides that an ox
ceases to gain in size after he is six or seven yeajs old, he
perhaps begins to abate somewhat in his activity ; and both
these reasons may operate with the Walkers then to fatten
them.

I am pleased that the Trustees of the Slate Society,
" have excluded horses from competition at the next plough-

148 ON THE PREFEnENCE OP OXEN TO HORSES.

ing match." We liave done Ihe same for our first essay in
Essex : because we would not encourage the substitution of
horses for oxen, in the great labour of a farm.

I am, dear sir, with great esteem,

Your obedient servant,

TIMOTHY PICKERING.

S. W. PoMEHoy, Esq.

First Vice President of the Massachusetts
Society for promoting Agriculture.

Wenhamt April 22, 1820.

DEAR SIR —

Since the perusal of your letter of the 3d instant, in
reply lo mine on 1he subject of ox-teams, there has occur-
red to my recollection a paper, to the same point, in the
first volume of the Memoirs of the Philadelphia Society,
for promoting Acricullure : it is a letter from William Ash-
ford, to Joiin Vaughan, Esq. Mr. Ashford, says — "There
is another thing in which I was wrong in not taking your
advice, viz. not keeping oxen instead of horses : this spring
all my horses became sick, and I was forced to buy a pair
of oxen. I supposed 5 should be tired of them ; but on
the contrary,! am tired of horses ; as I find that with my*
two oxen, I can do more work than I could with four
horses, and wUh half the expense. I have worked horses
for forty years, and if I had used oxen in their place, they
would have put five hundred pounds in my pocket. My
oxen go to the lime kiln once a week, twenty-one miles, in
the moining, and return the next day in the forenoon:
after resting t«vo hours, they go to work — horses cannot do
this."

This testimony of an experienced farmer of Pennsyl-
vania, whose prejudices were o[iposed to the use of J

INDIAN CORN AND ITS CULTURE. 14ii

oxen for labour, and wb«re horses, wilh very few
exceptions, constitute the farmers teams, is peculiarly
valuable.

I aai, dear sif, with great esteem.

Your obedient servant,

TIMOTHY PICKERING.

S. W. PoMEROY, Esq.

ON INDIAN CORN AND ITS CULTURE.

Brighton, 29th Dec. 1819.

. [To the Corresponding Secretary.]

DEAR SIR,

In an article published in the 4th n>imber of the last volume
of the Agricultural Journal, entitled "Remarks on the
Agriculture of Massachusetts," the author, who very ably and
satisfactorily points out the advantages of a regular rotation
of Crops, observes, that "no system is likely to be easily
made popular in Massachusetts from which Indian corn is
absolutely excluded." — May not strong reasons be offered,
why any system to be generally practised, must embrace
that grain as a prominent item of the course ? It forms the
basis of our bread stuff, and gives deserved reputation to
two great staples. Beef and Pork; without corn you gel
none of the latter ; — and a farmer who has no pork in his
tubs, may be considered as fairly on the road to ruin, as a
Bank with its vaults destitute ot specie, lor it is well known
Ihat ruta baga, potatoes or carrots alone, will not ^dtten
such pork as our farmers or fishernjen have been accus-
tomed to, or that will be found profitable for coasumplion.

150 INDIAX CORN AND ITS CITLTURE.

A Virginian, in a Treatise* which I have lately pe-
rused, remarks, that "even a nation which has lived with
Indian corn and almost upon it for two hundred years, so
far from correctly estiraatina; its value, have only learned to
eat it, but not to avail themselves of half its properties."
And I trust it will not be deemed superfluous to portray
the advantages resulting froai its cullure, to NewEnglaud
men; when it is considered that the prejudice again>it it,
and which will exist against any crop that requires such
diligence to obtain, has been fostered, and increased by the
few unfavourjible seasons preceding the two last — besides,
some influential gentlemen, with views highly laudable, have
advanced theories, founded on isolated facts, or opinions,
tending to discourage the extensive cultivation of this planf.

It is admitted, that on most farms near sea ports, where
corn and manure can be purchased, the system of potatoe
and root culture, to the exclusion of corn, may be found
profitable; nor would 1 be understood other than an advo-
cate for such a system, in a regular rotafion, upon an ex-
ten>*ive scale ; but I wish at the same time to hold up to
view, the Golden Flkecb found by our Pilgrim Falhers
on their first landing ; and which, had it not existed, or con-
tinued with their descendants nearly a century after, the
fair inheritance we now possess, in the opinion of many
sound pulilical economists, could not have been transmitted
to us.

Unfortunately we have no precise data, to test a crop
of corn with other productions ; and in considering its value,
must have recourse to general reasonings — to the effects of

* A series of Agricultural essays entitled Arator, by Col. Jolin Taylor
of Caroline County, Virginia. — Thougli adapted to tlie agriculture of
that, and the adjoining states, will be found to contain valuable prac-
tical and useful information to the New-Eoglaud Farmer.

INDIAir CORN AND ITS CULTURE. 15!

i(s extended culture since the seHlemenl of the counfrj,
and particularly since ihe inlroduction of its pretended rival
and valuable auxiliary the potatoe.

Let us inquire in the first place, what corn-bosbandrj
returns from an acre of land, as usually managed. On suit-
able soils well tilled and manured, an avecage crop may be
estimated -M forty bushels^ weighing 2400 lbs. of the most
nutritious substance to be found in the vejretable kingdom,
north of the I itude of the svgar-cayie — and which can be
preserved with ease, for a number of years, — you have the
fodder, if seasonably and well cured, is, in the opinion of
judicious farmers, equal to half a ton of good km/ — then
comes three or four tons of pvmjikitis, should the season
favour, fifty or an hundred bushels of fwr«?/)s — and, not un-
frequently, a coaifoi table supply of white beans! — No
wonder that plenty of the necessaries of life, are as sure to
follow large crops of corn, as effect succeeds cause in any
department of physics !

I am aware that it is the general opinion that corn is a
very exhausting crop, — much more so than potatoes ; but
is it correct ? has there ever been exhibited the result of a
solitary experiment to confirm this opinion ? no process in
farming admits of greater facility to test a question of this
kind — fev; farmers but have at times, corn and potatoes
under similar culture in the same field — has the wljeat or
barley, the clover or grasses that followed, been more pro-
ductive on the part occupied by the potatoes, than that by
the corn ? Experience demonstiates that the larger the
crop of corn, the better the succeeding crop ; this was as-
serted by Dr. Eliot, the father of New-England husbandry,
in his Essays on Field husbandry published in 1747; at
which period it appeals, that oats usually succeeded corn,
and possibly, in some districts, such a murderous course
has continued ; and it is probable thai corn, after support-

152

INDIAN CORN AND ITS CULTURE.

ing its allies, the pumpkins, the beans and (he turnips, from
the provisions chargetl lo its account, has to answer for the
deteriorating efTects of oats ; the luost inimical lo grass of
any plant that ran be named. Moreover, it will be recol-
lected (hat formerlj, the rich alluvial bottoms or intervals
were planted wilh corn, without a particle of manure, for a
number of years in succession, (ill the product was consid-
erably reduced ; — wo(dd potatoes or any root crop, with
such management, have continued more productive ? and
hence, has not the reputation of corn materially suffered?

We will next inquire, what return does corn make to the
SOIL ? I cannot answer so well, as by quoting from Aralor,
the treatise before alluded to. " Indian corn may be cor-
rectly called meal, meadow and manure ; it produces more
food for man, beast and the eai th, than any other farinaceous
plant. If the food it produces for the (wo first was wasted,
and men and beasts should (hence become poor and perish,
ought their poverty or death to be ascribed to the plant
which produced (he food, or (o (hose who was(ed it? Is
Indian corn justly chargeable with the impoverishment of
the earth, if the food it provides for that is not applied?

"If the theory which supposes that plants extract most
or all of their matter from the atmosphere, and that the
whole of this matter is manure, be true, then that plant
which produces most vegetable offal must be (he most im-
proving crop, and it will hardly be denied that Indian corn
is entitled to this pre-eminence.*'

•' Let us compare it with wheat. Suppose that the same
.land will produce as much grain of the one as of the other,
which in its use will make equal returns to the earth. Here
the equality ends, if indeed it exists even in this point.
The corn stalks infinitely exceed the wheat straw in bulk,
weiglit, and a capacity for making food for the earth. If
any attentive man who converts both his stalks and straw
into manure, will compare their product in April, when he

INDIAN COKN AND ITS CULTDRE. 153

may distinguish one from the other, he will find in the for-
mer a vast superiority in quantity. The English fanners
consider wheat straw as their most abundant resource for
manure, and corn stalks are far more abundant ; corn there-
fore is a less inpoverishing, because a more compensating
crop to the earti), credited only for its slalks, than any in
England. In comparing crops, to ascertain their relative
product, and operation on the earth, we tnust contrast fari-
naceous crops with each other; and consider the liiler or
oflfdl they produce, not as wasted, but as judiciously ap-
plied to the compensation of the land. At the threshold of
the comparison, corn exhibits a return from the same land
of more offal, or litter, in its stalks alone, than wheat does al-
together. Bui to the slalks of corn, its blades, lops, hu>k3
and cobs, remain to be added, each of which will nearly ba-
lance the litter bestowed on the land by wheat." The au-
thor concludes his encomium upon Indian corn, with ob-
serving, that "as a fallow crop, it is unrivalled, if as fallow
crops ought constantly to do, it receives the manure."

Arthur Young who has given .such an impetus lo rural
economy^ and to roof culture particularly, in Great Britain ;
in his travels through France in 1789, makes the following
remarks respecting Indian corn. " The line of maize
(corn) may be said to be the division between the good hus-
bandry of the south and the bad husbandry of the north of
the kingdom, till you meet with maize very rich soils are
fallowed, but never after ; perhaps it is the most important
plant that can be introduced into the agriculture of any
country, whose climate will suit it. The only good hus-
bandry in the kingdom, (some small rich districts excepted)
arises from the possession and management of Ibis plant.
For the inhabitants of a country to live upon that plant,
which is the preparation for wheat, and at the same lime
keep their cattle fat upon the leaves of it, is to possess a
treasure, for which they are indebted to their climate."

Vol. VI. 20

154 INDIAN CORN AND ITS CULTURE.

" Planted in squares or rows so far asunder, that all imagi-
nable tillajje may be given between them; and the ground
thus cleaned and prepared at the will of the farmer, is aa
invaluable circumstance ; and finally it is succeeded by-
wheat. Thus a country, whose soil and climate a<lmit the
course of — 1st. maize, 2d. wheat, is under a culMvatioa
that, perhaps, yields the most food for man and beast, that
is possible to be drawn froin the land."

This celebrated agriculturist, a few years after his return
from his travels, met with a native ot Connecticut w Lon-
don, and on being informed of the face of the soil and popu-
lation of that state to a square mile, observed, "they must
consume all, or more than they raise!" but when told that
a large surplus was exported, expressed his astonishment ;
and eagerly inquired " what is their principal culture ?"
the reply was, •* Indian corn.^* He immediately remark-
ed " that accounts for the wonder." The culture of corn
still enters largely into the agricultural system of Connecti-
cut,— and what is the consequence? Let one of her most
revered* poets answer. — •

" Fell Famine sickens at the o'erflowing good
" And, hissing, flies the native laud of food." —

A general failure of the crops of corn in New-England,
cannot be traced to more than four seasons since its first
settlement, and those, occasioned principally by autumnal
frosts, and owing in some measure, perhaps, by an improper
choice of soils. The last failure (1816) might in a great
degree have been prevented, had proper attention been
paid to this circumstance; and also to the selection oi early
varieties for seed, as it is a fact, that there are very pro-
ductive varieties in the country, which, if planted the first
of June, will be secure from frost the first of September!

* The late President Dwight.

INDIAN CORN AND ITS CULTURE. 155

The Diode of culture generally in Massachiiselfa does not
differ essentially, from that taught our ancestors by the
aborigines ; warm soils were chosen — an alewife or some
other^i/t, was put into the ground with the seed, and as the
Squaws had no other implement than a clam-shell, hills
were formed with the earth that could be most easily ob-
tained ; and hills have been the order to the present time.
Is it not probable that, unincumbered with stumps and rocks
as a great portion of the arable iartds of the state now are,
and with the vast acquisition of iaiplements, that a differ-
ent process would produce much greater crops, with less
labour ? We have seen by publications, under the sanc-
tion of respectable societies in the western parts of the state
of New York, that on ridires or in rows, more than one
hundred and twenty bushels of corn have been obtained
from an acre ! three times the quantity we estimate as an
average crop! It is true that our soils cannot boast the
fertility of that new region ; but it is also as true, that our
farmer* will not yield to any for entei prize and perseve-
rance.

The introduction of that magic substance, gypsum or Plas-
ter, which exhibits such astonishing, effects upon corn, and is
obtained almost as cheap as sand from the sea beach, has be-
gun to form a new era in the husbandry of the slate ; may we
not presume, that by the aid of this substance mixed with ma-
nures, in their raw state, and also applied as top dressings
of the plants at every time of hoeing, till six or eight bushels
are expended to an acre, instead of one or two, as is usual,
that the most encouraging results may be expecteil? The
utility of plaster,,has been tested in almost every town in
the state, situated 15 or 20 miles from the sea board. The
invention of machines for its more easy pulverization, and so
cheap, as to be within the reach of any considerable farmer,
is a desideratum.

156 INDIAN CORN AND ITS CULTURE.

The perfect culture and copious manuring demanded by
corn, may be said to be the principal objection to its more
extensive cultivation ; ought not this to be the very feature
which should recommend it ? Has not the Drill husbandry
been the means of exalting British Agriculture beyond
that of any other country ? and what is a well managed field
of Indian corn, but a most complete drill system ? The
depth the roots will penetrate, if encouraged, and from the
structure, and volume of the stalk and foliage presented to
the atmosphere, it seems peculiarly adapted to resist the
severe droughts of our climate ; — its superiority in this re-
spect over any other crop we cultivate, 1 believe will not
be questioned. And, if the agriculture of New-England
has heretotbre been entitled to any pre-eminence, compared
with that of other sections of the union, the cause may be
attributed partly, perhaps, to the more general use of ox-
tenmSf but principally to this thorough tillage required by
our soil and climate, — and for which the most grateful re-
turns are made.

On the whole, the conclusion, to my mind, is irresisti-
ble, that should Indian corn be made the basis of an exten-
sive rotation system, with a pointed attention to the manures,
which it has the capacity to increase in a compound ratio,
Ihe agriciiilure of Massachusetts may not only approximate
to that of Great Britain, but with the energies such a sys-
tem might be expected to elicit, equal it.

The eulogist of Indian corn, whose method of cultivation
differs from that of his neighbours, may be expected to sub-
mit sotne account of it ; and I feel less reluctant to the
task, since 1 find a mode very similar, and with correspond-
ing views, has been practised and recommended by such
an accomplished cultivator, and physiologist, as Col. Tay-
lor, the author of the treatise before referred to. It may
be proper to state, that I was induced to adopt this method
from the following occurrence. Having a large bed of

INDIAN CORN AND ITS CULTTTRE. 167

Beets planted in narrow rows or drills, in the usual way,
anit a severe drought ensuing, llie leaves were observed, in
the middle of the day, to wilt and fall down, in all but the
out-side rows, which remained erect and flourishing; and
when the crop was taken up, were nearly double the size of
those from the centre of the bed ! That a greater exposure
to the atmosphere, was the principal cause could not be
doubted ; and the idea immediately presented, that if they
had been cultivated on ridges so far apart as to permit a
plough to pass, it would in effect, be making Ihe whole crop
out-side-rorvs : and for upwards of fifteen years since, all
the arable crops upon my farm have been cullivated on
ridges with manifest advantage, — as to product, labour, and
the unquestionable improvement of the soil. The ridges
of beets, carrots, parsnips, turnips and rufabaga, are about
two feet, cabbages four, and corn and polafoes five feet and
an half apart. The particular mode of cultivating carrots
was communicated lo Hon. Mr. Qiiincy in 18] I, and inclu-
ded in an article on the Jield culture of carrots, furnished
by bira and published in No. 1. of the 4th Vol. of the
Massachusetts Agricultural Journal, a mode practised by
that gentleman with such success, that his neighbours who
have large milk establishments, ha\e been induced to
adopt the extensive culture of this root, so valuable for their
cows, and which, some of them have informed me, they
should have been deterred from aitem[)ling in the common
method, from the expense and uncertainty.

But to return to the culture of corn ; in describing which,
that of potatoes must necessarily be embraced; as I deem
it a species oiheresy for two crops to succeed each other
when it can well be avoided ; nevertheless, as potatoes
should be employed as Xhe pioneers of a farm, and it is fre-
quently the case that cold, moist, or rough soils, not suitable
for corn, are found, suflScient to be occupied by as many
potatoes as the farmer can well manage, or may want, under

158 INDIAN CORN AND ITS CULTURE.

such circumstance, the perinifting two crops of corn fo fol-
low, on ridges, may be jtislifiable ; whereas in the common
method it should be <:onsidered as unpardonable.

If we begin the systetn wiih sward land, it is broken up
in the autunin ; harrowed fine in the spring, and light fur-
rows run out five feet and an half apart : into these furrows,
potatoes are dropped from six to eight inches asunder, ac-
cording to size, the carts follow and cover them with ma-
nure; a furrow is then turned from each side so as to meet
over the manure, a little labour with the hoe may be re-
quired, to make all level and complete the planting; other
furrows are turned up, and at the first hoeing the baulk is
cleared and the ridge completed. In the subsequent cul-
ture the plough approaches only the sides of the ridges, and
continues deepening the furrow between them. The follow-
ing spring, the ridges are reversed and placed directly over
those deep furrows. The manure is turned in while the
ridges are forming ; or by opening a furrow on the lop, to
receive it, with a pair of oxen walking on each side, covered
with hoes and the corn planted. If the land is in good
heart, and manure abundant, the kernels may be six inches
apart, or as many dropped together as to insure four stalks
to remain two feet apart, in which case the manure is de-
posited conformably ; either method will give the same
number of plants to the acre; I think four stalks together
afford support to each other against winds, and are not so
apt to send up suckers as when single, and there may be
some advantage by concentrating the manure, in forwarding
the young plants during the cold seasons which we fre-
quently have in Jime; still I have not had sufficient ex-
perience to determine which method is preferable ; if the
land is sto7iy, the last will be found most convenient. As
soon as the plants appear, the earth is stirred about them
with the band, and ashes at the same time strewed on, in
the proportion of a handful to four plants, {my land being

JNTDIAN CORN AND ITS CULTURE. 159

near the sea, piaster has no effect,) (he cultivation proceeds
siurilar to that described for the potatoes — the ploughing
continues as often and as long as you please, without dis-
lurbing the roots of the corn, or breaking it down, deepen-
ing the soil and turning up the dead earth to the sides of
the ridges, which checks the growth of weeds greatly ; and
if the crop is at first thoroughly hand weeded, they will give
but little trouble afterwards.

It has not been in my power to make a comparison with a
crop cultivated in the common method, but I have had se-
veral foremen since ridging has been practised on the farm,
who were at first prejudiced against it, but were soon con-
vinced of its utility ; and none of them have estimated the
increase of product, with the same quantity of manirre, at
less than one fifth, and the saving of labour full as much.

It is probable that on rich soils with plenty of manure,
larger crops may be obtained by making the ridges much
nearer, but the labour will be more, and the advantage of
uncommon deep culture, without extra expense, must be
abandoned; the importance of such culture to the succeed-
ing crops, may be illustrated by the following relation.

About fifteen months since, I was applied to, severally, by
two respectable farmers, from an adjoining town, who are
considered as judicious and as thrifty, as any in the county
of Norfolk, to be informed how I had managed a piece of
land, the former state of which they had well known, to
make it produce such a second crop of clover, in such a sea-
son of drought, that theirs was dried up, and on land natu-
rally more moist, which tbey considered stronger, and had
been well cultivated and highly manured? They were told
in reply, that "the land was under the sixth course of a
rotation. — viz. 1. potatoes, 2. corn, 3. carrots and beets,
4. corn, 5. spring-wheat, of which it carried thirty bushels
of 59 lb. 6. clover, first crop two tons and an half, second
the same season, and which had attracted their notice,
about one ton to the acre." That it bad from 16 to 20 lb. of

160 INDIAN CORN AND ITS CULTURE.

clover and half a bushel of herds-grass seed (o an acre ; one
half ploughed in with Ihe wheat, and the remainder sown on
the furrow, harrowed in and well rolled : and further, that
no slock were suffered to graze upon if." It should also be
stated, that a heavy crop of herds-grass was produced the
last season, and that it gives promise of another ; — that the
soil is a deep sandy loam, known to many farmers by the
name oifox coloured earth, and wljich some of them are
too fearful of turning up ; that when first cultivated, in the
common method, which was some years previous to the
present rotation, it did not shew two inches of brown soil
or vegetable mould, and had been considered as poor pas-
ture. And 1 would observe, that had the land been longer
under previous cultivation, the 3d and 4th courses might
have been omitted, and the rotation thereby shortened two
years.

I will close this communication, now much longer than
was intended, by mentioning that I have found the follow-
ing preparation of Seed-Corn, effectual in protecting it
against squirrels, and other vermin. Take equal parts
of tar and train oil, simmer them together and turn
over the corn ; then sift on ashes, lime, or piaster, stirring
it, till each kernel has taken up as much as will permit its
being conveniently handled. /

It is probable that walnuts, acorns, chesiiuts, Sec. thus
prepared, would be protected ; the destruction of which
by squirrels, has very much retarded plantations of those
valuable trees.

I remain dear sir,

respectfully and cordially, yours,

S. VV. POMEROY.

John Lowell, Esq..

Corresponding Secretary of the Massachusetts
Soiieti/ for promoting Agriculture.

REVIEW OF A TREATISE OS AGRICULTURE. 161

REVIEW OF A "TREATISE ON AGRICULTUUE, COMPRISING
A CONCISE HI^TORY OF ITS ORIGIN AND PROGRESS—
THE PRESENT CONDII'ION OF THE ART, ABROAD
AND AT IKJME; AND THE THEORY AND PRACTICE
OF HUSBANDRY, WHICH HAVE ARISEN OUT OF THE
PRESENT STATE OF PHILOSOPHICAL ATTAINMENTS IN
EUROPE. BY A PRACTICAL FARMER." Albauy : printed
by J. Buel, 1820.

1 HERE is no deparfDient of knowledge, (we have not the
teineriJy as yet to call it science) to which the attention of
the peuj)le of Europe, and of the United Stales, has been
of late more assiduously turned, than to (hat of Agriculture.
Of its importance, compared to thai of any oiher art or
science, there cannot be any division of sentiment ; it being,
unquestionably the most important, and the source of the
prosperity and success of all olher arts and sciences.

Yet it has so hap[»erie(l, probably because its professors
and cultivators are less instructed and informed, generally,
than those, wlio are employed in the olher departments of
human knowledge, that it has hitherto been in low estima-
tion ; and it has been taken for granted, that this, of all
other arts the most important, can be brought to perfection
by unassisted experience, and that science cannot, as it ha3
in all others, contribute to its amelioration and perfection.
It would be difficult to assign the reasons for this general
prejudice against the application of principles of sound
reason and j)hitosophy to this important art. Perhaps they
may be found in the unsuccessful praciical exertions of
men, who have cultivated it theoretically. They have
generally lost money by their experiments ; and the prac-
tical, but less informed cultivator, who has been a greater
gainer upon the amount of labour and capital laid out on bis
farm, has been disposed to ridicule Ihe expensive experi*
dents of his better informed neighbour, which, owing to

Vol. VI. 21

162 REVIEW or A TREATTBE ON AGRICULTtTRB.

his want of practical skill, have been more expensive than
profitable to him.

Yet if this rjile were applied to the other arts which con-
tribute to the wealth and prosperity of a nation, it would be
perceived, that the ingenious artists, who are the inventors
of machines for the abridgement of human labour, or for
perfecting of the various processes of manufacturing
industrj, are generally victitus to their own ingenuity
and zeal, and that if is, after all, only the practical man, un-
acquainted with the principles on which the improvements
were effected, who has derived any solid benefit from the ^^ri
discovery or improvement. The truth is, that the pioneers
in all the arts, are generally destined to die in a poor house,
while those who avail themselves of their discoveries a2)d
hints, often (nake for themselves and families an abundant
and noble establishment.

In this country, though more decidedly agricultural than
almost any other in the world, there have been fewer and
more feeble attempts to reduce the art to a science, than in
any other country ancient or modern. Till within a few
years, our farmers could trust only to the uncertain tradi-
tion of their ancestors, and each man followed the practices
of his father, or of his neighbour, without knowing what
improvements had been made, in other countries, since the
emigration of our ancestors. The art must necessarily
have degenerated with us, because the mode of culture re-
quired in clearing up new lands, must have been essentially
different from that, which was applicable, and indeed indis'
pensible to lands which had been long cultivated, and the
vegetative powers of which had been in some very conside-
rable degree exhausted. It was only after our lands had
been generally cultivaledj and worn out by a negligent and
careless course of husbandry, that we could expect any
effort to supply the defect, which exhausted nature re-
quired.

REVIKIF OF A TREATISE ON AGRICDLTURK. 163

Within a tew years our alteiilion has been awakened to
the subject, and the effect of this attention can be known
only by attending to results. It is believed that only
twenty years since, there can scarcely.be produced a case
in which three hundred bushels of potatoes, or seventy-
five bushels of corn, were ever produred on an acre of land.

We formerly read with astonishment and doubt, the ac-
counts of the enormous products occasionally raised on
well conducted farms, in Europe. Now we have seen, that
jiartly by an attention to a spirited cultivation, to an in-
crease of the quantity of manure, and by the emulation ex-
cited by the rewards offered by agricultural societies, there
have been produced crops, which will bear a comparison at
least with the average produce of the best cultivated dis-
tricts of Europe.

The periodical Journals of the various agricultural socie-
ties in the United Slates have been rapidly increasing in
their number and interest, and men of science and agricul-
tural experience have also, occasionally, by their publica-
tions, done much to awaken an attention to this subject; to
enlighten, inform, correct, and iaiprove our modes and pro-
cesses in agriculture.

Among these efforts, the work mentioned at the head of
this article deserves a very prominent place.

It is no undeserved compliment to the author (entirely
unknown to us,) to say, that be has enjoyed the rare ad-
vantage of an extensive acquaintance with the works of all
the nations of Europe, ancient and modern ; that bis library
must have been well furnished — his knowledge of ancient
and modern languages much greater than commonly falls
to the lot of a " practical farmer." With all these advan-
tages, his work might have been a confused, iucoherent and
useless display of learning; but it is not such. His ar-
rangement is lucid, and well digested. liii selections judi-
cious ; and the whole conipendium (for it is but a compen-
dium) uncommonly comprehensive and well adapted for the

164 RETIEW OF A TREATISE ON AGRICULTURE,

higher class of cultivators. We use Ibis term, (offensive
as if may seem in our republican country), in a very inno-
cent and inoffensive sense. We mean, that his work is
rather calculated for the readings than the practical part
of society; for those who think, rather than those who
labour, ft ought to be compared with the works of Kirwan
and Sir Humphrey Dav^, rather than with those of Arthur
Young, of Mr. Taylor of Virginia, or of Dr. Deane. Still
we hail it as a great acquisition to our stock of works on
agriculture. If agriculture is ever destined to become a
science, and like that of architectuie and shipbuilding, io
extend its beneficial influence through society, it must
commence its operations by amusing, instructing, and ex-
citing the reading and thinking part of the community.
Through ihem, thoughts and suggestions, which are of value
and importance will be disseminated through the whole
community. If experience shall prove them to be useful,
like the invention of the quadrant and compass, they will be
adopted and used by thousands, who know nothing of the
principles on which they were proposed or invented; if
otherwise, they will fall like many other efforts of genius
and talent, to be heard of no more.

The general divisions of this work, and it is but a brief
one, are —

Section I. Of the rise and progress of agriculture.

II. Of the actual state of agriculture in Europe.
HI. Theory of vegetation.
IV. Of the analysis of soils, and the agricultural
relations between soils and plants.
V. Of practical agriculture and its necessary
implements.
VI. Of manures ; their management and appli-
cation.
Vll. Of tillage, and the principles on which it
is founded.

REVIEW OF A TREATISE OH AGRICULTURE. 165

VIII. Of a rotation of crops aud the principles
on which it is foundetl.
IX. Of the plants recommended for a course of

crops and their culture.
X. Of other plants useful in a rotation of crops,

and adapted to our climate.
XI. Of meadows.
Xn. Of orchards.

XIII. Of Farm cattle.

XIV. Of the Dairy.

Every intelligent agriculturist will perceive, that this
synopsis embraces almost every topic interesting to a
farmer, and he would expect to find one or more volumes
of several hundred pages each ; and he would think it im-
possible to discuss all of them, as this writer has done, in
the short space of 16B pages. No doubt much more might
have been said, and the work would have been invaluable
had the same talent, and knowledge, and industry been
employed in giving us a full display on these several to-
pics; but short as it is, it may be safely affirmed, that
very few works have ever appeared in this, or any other
country, which have given so much condensed and impor-
tant information in so small a compass.

We do not mean to say, that we concur in all the opi-
nions of the writer ; we differ from him in many of tbt^m ;
but we think, that thos^ who have not access to an exten-
sive library on agricultural subjects, will find a mass of in-
formation, with regard to the state of agriculture in e\ery
part of Europe, which they will find extremely entertaining
and useful.

We now propose to give some sketch of the various sub-
jects discussed by the author.

The first section contains a very brief, and rather meagre
account, of the history of agriculture among the ancient
nations of Europe and Africa.

166 REVIEW OF A TREATISE ON AGRICULTDRE.

The second section professes to give the actual state of
the agriculture of Europe.

After speaking, with just contempt, of the culture of the
Campania of Rome, where formerly twenty-three cities
flourished in a territory, in which the modern traveller is
astonished and depressed at the silence and desolation
around him, he proceeds lo Tuscany, where the soil, though
less fertile than that of the Campania of Rome, is covered
with vines — with grain — and with cattle. The Tuscans
have adopted the system of a rotation of crops, which con-
sist of either three or four years, in the following order:

1st year. Wheat, and after wheat, lupins.

2d year. Wheat, and after wheat, turnips.

3d year. Indian corn or uiillet.

In the four year rotation

1st year. Wheat, and after wheat, beans.

2d year. Wheat, and after wheat, lupins.

3d year. Wheat, and after wheat, lupinella, or annual
clover.

4th year, Indian corn or millet.

It is observable that such a course would only suit a
* country, whose season is so long, and mild, as that of Tus-
cany.

The Piedmont and Milanese agriculture is next noticed,
and the opinion of Arthur Young is quoted, in which he
states that these territories are the most rich and flourishing
of any in Europe. The soil in this favoured country yields
annually and uniformly, two crops of grain or three of
grass. These effects are the produce of irrigation.

France, this writer considers as uniting the great deside-
rata of an extended and profitable agriculture, fertility of
soil, mildness of climate, a dense population, an enlightened
government, and facility of exportation, beyond that of any
other European state.

This praise, almost without qualification, has induced us
to believe that something more than the partiality produced

REVIEW OP A TREATISE ON AGRICULTURE. 167

by a dispassionate examination of the relative state of agri-
cullnral improvement in the various countries of Europe,
has influenced the opinions of the writer. His intimate
acquaintance with French writers ; his ample references to
them, as authorities, had led us to believe that he was,
(though an American practical farmer), a Frenchman by
birth and education. Still the merits of his work aie in no
degree affected by ti^is circumstance, though it may influ-
ence his opinions, and materially affect his judgment. It
otight therefore to induce us to examine more cautiously
his sentiments in relation to the actual state of agriculture
in other nations.

The same preference for the agriculture of France has
induced the author, when considering the state of English
agriculture, to speak rather conlempluously of it. His
impartiality is poorly vinilicated by admitting some faults
in the French system of fallows, and some other more un-
essential points. For ourselves, we are persuaded from
personal observation, that the culture of Great Britain is far
superior to that of France.

It certainly is so, as to neatness, and freedom from
weeds and noxious plants. You do not see the fields of
wheat brilliant with the scarlet poppy, and other flowery
plants, which show off the wheat fields of France to so
much advantage. You do not see the peasantry so misera-
bly clothed, nor loitering along the highways, watching
two or three half-starved cows and sheep, and with the aid
of a sagacious shepherd's dog, preventing these animals
from making more than half a rod's inroad into the wheat
field. We were astonished to hear Great Britain censured
for the indifferent management of her cattle.

To be sure the author quotes certain British writers in
proof of his assertions; but in our humble opinion, these
sentiments were thrown out rather to stimulate the English
farmers to greater exertions. It would, indeed, be extra-
ordinary, if the French or any other nation should surpass

168 REVIEW OF A TREATISE ON AGRICULTURE.

the English in atfenfion to their animals, since the capital
bestowed on such subjects, the institutions in favour of
agriculture — the rewarfis, fen times exceeding those award-
ed on the continent, ought to produce, (if encouragement
and honour can produce any effect,) a greater attention to
the itnproveraent of their domestic animals, than could be
expected from the meagre and scanty efforts made in the
rest of Europe.

In fact, no person who has travelled in Great Britain and
on the continent of Europe can doubt, that the races of do-
mestic animals, the horse, the ox, and the sheep, are in a
higher state of improvement in England generally than in
any European nation. Perhaps we may except the sheep
of a small part of Germany (Saxony,) but it is much to be
doubted, whether, regard being had to the carcase and
fleece, and to the varied uses to which British wool is ap-
plied, even the sheep of any part of Europe are superior
to those of Great Britain.

The author has given some calculations to shew the low
state of agricultural produce and profit in Great Britain.
But the Edinburgh reviewers, who cannot be taxed with a
disposition to overrate their own country in a comparison
with any other, in the 64t!i number of their review, in a
comparison of the state of French and English skill and
industry, have seemed at least to make the English agricul-
ture and its relative produce far superior to that of France.
Nor is it very easy to perceive, in what the fallacy of their
statements consists. By this comparison it would seem to
result, that, although the surface of the British Isles is only
as G4h millions of acres to 130 millions in France; and
although there are more uncultivated lands in proportion in
England than in France ; although it is admitted by our
author, and by every person wjio is acquaintetl with tbe
subject, that the climate of France is superior, yet the actual
value of the whole produce of the land in England (the
■quantity of which is less than one half) is to thai of France

REVIEW OF A TIIKATISE ON AGRrCULTURE. 169

as 21 to 19. We confess, after many years acquaintance
with both countries, we were prepared for sucli a result.
"We have thought the general system of agricullure in
Great Britain better; the people employed in agriculture
are stouter, more vigorous, better clothed, mucii better
fed; the animals employed in agriculture far superior ; the
implements of agricullure beller made, and better adapted
to the purpose incomparably than those of France. The
system of living in villages, and riding or walkmg several
miles to begin their work, is disad\antageous to the French
cultivator. Their want of fences and hedges must cost the
nation annually an immense sum. On the whole, therefore,
we must at present beg leave to dissent from the opinion of
this ingenious writer in his comparison between French
and British culture. This opinion arises from no national
prejudices; but if these examples are set forth either for
our information or imitation, it is important that we should
have a correct view of them.

There is one fact, which is very important in estimating
the comparative state of British and French agricullure,
and that is, the price of the fee-sia>ple of land and of rents.
The taxes are lower in France than in England. Yet it is
true, we believe, that while the price of land in England is
from 25 to 28 years purchase, or (to explain it to our cili-
;?ens who are not accustomed to this mode of estimation)
while land in England, which rents for £4 sterling, or \7
dollars iQ cents, is worth £)00, or $414 44, that of
France is not worth more than from 13 to 20 years pur-
chase, or would not sell at the same rent for more than 350
dollars per acre. Besides which, the rents of land in
Franc^ generally, are from 25 to 50 per cent, lower than
those of equal quality in Great Britain.

The sftction on the theory of vegetation is, though not
new, yet an ingenious and lucid display of the doctrines at
present received on this subject; and as its tendency will
probably be to promote an attention (o the nature of our

Vol. VI. 22

/

irO REVIEW OF A TREATISE OM AGRICULTURE.

soils, and to adapt our manures and our cultivation to the
character and qualities of our land, we are pleased to see
the subject brought forward in a country, in which science
has never till lately been brought to lend its aid in the pro-
motion of this art.

The same general remarks may be applied to the section
on the analysis of soils. We do not enter into a detailed
account of these two sections, because if would lead us into
too wide a field for the object we had in view, which was
to recommend this work to the attention of our theoretical
cultivators.

The next section considers the subject of the instruments
of agriculture. After giving a short history of the plough
in its various stages of improvement, from the remotest
times to the present day, the author makes some very brief
description of the various parts of that valuable instrument,
and of its most approved construction. He adds a table,
by which it would seem, that M. Gctillaurae's (French)
plough when compared to Small's (English) Rotheraia
plough, as tested by the Dynanonieter, was two to one in
favour of the French plough. We hope this bint will in-
duce the Agricultural Society of Massachusetts, where
means are the most ample of any in the United States, to
introduce one of these French ploughs ; but we were rather
surprised to find no notice whatever of Freeborn's plough,
especially in a work written in New York.

So far as our short experience has gone, we were dis-
posed to believe that this plough of New York invention,
or at least introduced from that stale among us, had pro-
perties, which enlifled it to a preference over any plough
of foreign or domestic fabrication we have yet seen.

We agree wilh the Writer as to the English threshing
machine, that it is both too complicated and too expensive
for common use ; but we think that there have been one or
two inventions with us to abridge the labour of threshing, of
a simple and cheap construction, which deserve great

REVIEW OF A TREATISE BS AGRICULTURE. 171

encouragement, and wbich promise fo produce an impor-
tant saving of labour. Mr. Holchkiss', of Vermont, is
among (he number — and one invented in London<lerry,
in New Hampshire. If the merit of that of Mr. M'Keen,
of Poughkeepsie, is any thing like equal to the san-
guine description of its inventor, (we mean no disre-
spect to him in expressing this doubt, but we know that
inventors are sometimes deceived) it will probably super-
sede fhem all, and we should be happy to hear further re-
specting it, and to see it in operation. Our premiums on
this subject, are still continued ; but the instruments here-
tofore submitted, have been and will be continued to be ex-
amined, with a caution and prudence at once liberal and dis-
criminating, as far as our judgment will permit.

The lands of this state are not generally devoted to the
smaller grains, and such a machine is of less value to us
than it is to the wheat-growing states; but still we should
be very desirous of encouraging any labour-saving machine,
as it would liberate our farmers from a work which is only
a tax on their produce, and by which they would be ena-
bled to devote more time to the essential improvement of
their farms.

In the 6th section the author enters upon the subject of
Manures. In this he discusses the interesting questions,
whether long or short dung, or whether rotted, or dung not
rotten, is to be preferred? Whether dung used superfi-
cially, or ploughed deep into the soil, is most beneficial?
Whether extraneous matters introduced into the dungheap
are useful or pernicious? Whether stable manures are best
applied directly or indirectly to wheat crops? At what
time manures are best applied, and in what quantities?

As to the first question of rotten, or unferraented dung,
the writer says, that careful experiments have proved the
correctness of theoretical writers. Those parts of the field,
to which rotten dung was applied, gave the best crops the
first year ; but those in which long dung, or unfermented

/

172 REVIEW OF A TREATISE OW AGRICULTURE.

man»re was applied, gave (he best crops ihe second and
third years. So Ihat he draws the inference, that where
we wish !o obtain a great crop for one year, rotten dung
should be chosen ; but where we wish for permanent im-
provement, we should prefer unfermented manure.

With respect to the question of laying the manure on the
surface, or ploughing it in very deep, he is opposed to both
inetho<ls; to the first, because the rains dissolve and carry
away many of its pieces; to the second, because it is laid
too deep to undergo the requisite decomposition, to pro-
duce which, air and heat and water are indispensible.

He is decidedly in favour of making the compost bed,
or- manure heap of various materials, both of animal and
vegetable origin.

He opposes the direct application of manures to wheat
crops, in which we fully concur, not only for the reason
assigned by him, that it is apt to produce an abundance of
weeds, but because It forces the plants to a preternatural
growth; subjects them to the very serious evil of being
lodged by rains at the season of maturity ; procrastinates
that season ; and on (he whole the prop is more liable to
blight, than if such forcing had not been applied.

As to the question of the quantity of manure to be ap-
plied, he is not very definite, nor indeed can any generaj
rule be Nadopted, so much depending on the nature of the
soil and its previous state. He remarks justly, that land
may have loo much, as well as too Ullle manure. The
former tending to produce too much stalk and leaf, and in-
jiuing the flavour of the vegetable ; and the latter not giving
as much force to the plant, nor enriching (he soil for future
culture, as would be useful and profitable.

Lime, he thinks, should be principally used in composts,
and when applied directly (o the land should be moderately
employed on account of its causticity. He is opposed to
the system of paring and burning on dry and gravelly lands,
and thinks it is applicable only to marshy, boggy soils,
where there is a superabundance of vegetable matter.

.t

REVIEW OF A TREATISE ON AGRICULTURE. 173

He is much disposed lo favour the system of ploughing
in green crops for manure ; and he places buck-wheat at
the head of the plants lo be used for this purpose. He
however quotes the practice of Spain, and (we may add) the
Western Islands in favour of the white Lupin. We wish
this experiment may be fairly tried in our state, not that
we believe that in the vicinity of the great towns where
other and richer manure can be obtained in such abundance,
the system of ploughing in green crops will ever prevail
extensively ; but in the interior, where farms are under-
stocked, and where no foreign manure, not produced on the
farm, can be procured, we believe this process may be suc-
cessfuliy used. If one fair experiment could be made on
the white lupin on an extended scale, and it should be
found, as in Spain, to be a valuable manure, the seed could
be annually imported and might form a valuable article of
commerce and agriculture.

In his rth section, on Tillage, he states that the scien-
tific opinion is in favour of fall ploughing, because to the
action of air and moisture it adds the power of frost, whose
septic or dividing power is second only to that of the
plough ; and because one ploughing at this season is equal
lo two in the spring, when labour is so much more valuable.
But in this mode of culture he reminds us that we ought to
ridge, as well as plough, so as to carry off the surplus
water. Our own experience is strongly in favour of fall
ploughing, for both of the reasons assigned ; and we are
happy to find this practice gaining ground in New England.

He thinks the practice in English husbandry, of frequent
ploughings, has been carried too far, though he admits it
was the favourite doctrine of the Roman farmers. He
seems to sneer at it as the conceit of the Dilettanti, or
Gentlemen farmers, and not applicable to profitable culture
generally.

We are grieved to see this suggestion, because we be-
lieve there is no danger of our erring on this side, and that

w

174 REVIEW OF A TREATISE ON AGRICULTURE.

much good would be obtained by stimnladng our cultiva-
tors (o a much more liberal use of the plough, than any to
which the most industrious of them have been arcusfomed.
After all, they cannot do too much to produce a perfect
division of the soil, and they are in no danger of running
into ruinous expense on account of any theoretical opinions.
They follow the theoretical farmers at an awful distance;
and if they could unite their own oeconomy and experience
to the results of theoretical experiraenl, they might be
gainers ; and if they should find they were not so, there is
no danger of their continuing to follow unprofitable guides.
The evil is, that they are too apt to reject practices, be-
cause they are new.

As lo the depth of ploughings, he considers it ought to
be governed by circumstances; by the character of the
soil, whether shallow or deep ; and by the plants you pro-
pose to raise, whether top-rooted or fibrous. This is in
general true; and it is equally true, that the deeper you
plough, the greater quantity of manure will be required;
but it ought not to be questioned in this age, that deep
ploughing, even if it brings up a portion of the subsoil, is
permanently beneficial to the land. There is no land
which is not benefited by trenching, and no ploughing can
equal the effect of the spade in trenching. To be sure,
you will require more manure for a year or two, but your
land will afterwards repay you ten fold for this first labour.
We have tried the experiment on shallow soils, the subsoil
sand or gravel. We do not bring the subsoil to the sur-
face, but we loosen it by the plough ; and we contend that
even the graniferous plants, and especially all the perennial
ones, trees in particular, are essentially benefited by deep
ploughing.

As to the question, whether level or ridge ploughing is
to be preferred, he thinks the former is to be used on light
and dry soils, and the latter in clayey or wet ones. We
should rather say, that in all soils, ridge ploughing is to be

I

I

REVIEW OF A TREATISE OW AGRICULTURE. 175

preferred, as exposing the land more perfectly to the action
of frost, unless on declivities, where perhaps a light, loose
soil, thrown up in ridges, would be exposed to be carried
off entirely, or very considerably, by heavy rains.

The writer of ihe article untler review, seems to have
reserved all his energy for the section upon the rotation of
crops, of which we shall give a more ample account, not
only because we concur in his opinions generally, but be-
cause we believe it is a subject less understood, seldom
judiciously practiced, and more important than any other,
to which our attention, in New England, could be directed.

Indeed we know nothing among us, which deserves the
name of a succession of crops, except it be the fashion of
breaking up our grass lands, when they cease to be pro-
ductfve; and after two or three years culture of potatoes,
and Indian corn, laying them down again to grass with bar-
ley, rye, or wheat. It may be, that our course of husban-
dry is the best adapted to our soil and climate; but we are
not as yet fully satisfied of this fact, and we should like to
see extensive experiments as to the effects of a succession
of crops of different plants. The author of this review
divides the subject into two distinct heads. The practice
of Europe, and the rotation best adapted to our own soil,
meridian, and markets. He begins by stating, that it has
long since been discovered, that (he soil when left to itself
was never either exhausted, tired, or idle, " but that, how-
ever, impoverished by men or animals, it hastens to cover
itself with plants of a different, and often opposite charac-
ter." This fact is notorious and undeniable. This re-
mark, made by observing men, led to the adoption of a
succession of crops, conforming as far as their limited means
would admit, to the spontaneous productions of nature.
"It led, in short, to the system of a succession of crops;
and wherever it has been introduced, beneficial effects have
followed; and, wherever it has been neglected, agriculture
has been either stationary or retrograde." Yet he re

lire REVIEW OF A TREATISE ON AGRICULTURE.

marks, that in the very face of these obvious truths, farmers
continue to resist this cheap and obvious mode of amelio-
rating their lands.

" On the rotation system, the whole arable part of a farm
is divided into four, six, or eight fields, and subjected to a
course of crops, denominated according to these respective
divisions, into the short, the medium, or the long course.
In constructing these courses, attention is paid to the nature
of the soil, viz. in soils more wet than dry, more compact
than porous, more hard than friable, the course is made up
from the following plants — wheat, oats, buck-wheat, the
gramineal grasses, beans, vetchlings, clover, cabbages, and
chiccory." "In soils of an opposite character (dry, po-
rous or friable), the plants from which to choose are rye,
spelts, barley, potatoes, turnips, lupins, Indian corn, clover,
sainfoin, and many of the pasture grasses." His general
rule is, " never to select for a crop, plants not adapted to
the soil, nor to permit two crops of the same species or
kind to follow each other.'^

We would simply remark that we believe this rule rather
too rigorous; for, admitting (what is not as yet sufficiently
established,) that there is a solid ground for the opinion of
modern theorists, that the earth can only furnish a certain
quantum of food adapted to a particular plant, though it
may abound in other food /fitted most perfectly for other
plants; yet no experience has yet proved, that the earth
will not bear for several years in succession the same plant
to advantage, nor that a change before the pabulum of such
a plant has been exhausted, would be profitable. We
know that the -opinion has been entertained, and experience
would seem to confirm if, that onions are rather improved
in point of quality and productiveness, by being raised
many years in succession on the same land ; and we are
not sure that on an extensive scale, it would not be best
for two or three years to raise potatoes, or," in short,'
any other plants, till we find the crop begins to lessen.

REVIEW OF A TREATISE OV AGRICULTURE. 177

WoiiUl not this afler all he a wiser rule for general adop-
tion, not to change the plant unfil it shall appear to delerio-
rate either as to quantify or quality ? VVe have a full belief
in the general doctrine, that there U a necessity of changing
the culture and the plants to be raised, but we doubt whe-
ther it be necessary or even profitable to subject this rota-
tion to invariable rules.

His second section, on the rotation of crops, is limited to
that which is best adapted to our own soil, meridian, and
markets.

It should be kept in mind that the pamphlet under re-
view is the production of a Western New York farmer^
and therefore to be received with some qualification, in
Massachusetts.

He commences this part of his subject with the work of
Mr. Strickland, a gentleman well known to many of us ; one
of the most respectable and impartial English cultivators,
who have as yet visited our country. After remarking that
New England was no* a corn country, (by which an Eng-
lishman means a wheat growing country) and had little to
do with the plough, and that New York was then, and
would continue to be, the granary of America, he proceeds
to divert his British readers with sundry details as to our
stale of culture in 1801, when he was here. Before giving
these details, we stop merely to say that though New
England is not a wheat growing country, yet he was mis-
taken in supposing that even at that time we had little to
do with the plough. If is to be doubted, whether, even at
that period, New England did not keep as many ploughs in
action as any part of the United States, in proportion to its
extent; and although its staple growth, that of Indian corn
might appear to an English farmer who had not visited the
continent, as an inferior product, yet Arthur Young and
the Baron Humboldt might now fell him, that it is at least
to be doubted, whether it is not the mo-*t valuable of all fhe
grains raised for the food of man or inferior animals.

Vol. Vf. 23

\
irS REVIEW OF A TREATISE ON AGRICULTURE.

We proceed lo his details : — " The usual course of
crops in N^w York is, first year, Indian corn ; second, rye
or wheat; third, flax or oats; and then a repetition of the
same as long as the land will bear any thing; after which
it is laid by to rest — (we presume he means by this, fhat
is left as fallow.) A Dutchman's course on the Mohawk is, ii
Grst year, wheat; second and third years, pasture without
seed; fourth, oats or flax; and fifth, Indian corn.

He classes New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and
Mar/land together, from a resemblance in soil, climate, and
culture. There they raise, first year, Indian corn; se-
cond, wheat ; third and fourth, rubbish pasture, (or we
suppose fallow.) Clover is however beginning to be intro-
duced in these states. Two exceptions are however noted
by Mr. Strickland. " In the German settlements of Penn-
sylvania, where, from more attention or skill, the wheat
crop averages from eighteen to twenty-five bushels per
acre — and the peninsula of Delaware and Maryland, where
the rotation of Indian corn, wheat, and rubbish pasture,
(or fallow) has reduced the average produce to six bushels
per acre; in some instances to two, and much is so bad as
to be ploughed up again."

We are surprised that Mr. Strickland should not have
paid more attention to the culture in New England, where
thirty bushels of Indian corn may be fairly assumed as an
average crop; and although we have no systematic course
of succession, yet we have always avoided the negligent
and destructive course of fallows. Suppose the labour
applied to be equal on the lands of the middle states
and those of Massachusetts, we are persuaded that the
actual amount of profit is much superior in New Eng-
land to that wliich is obtained in those states, if the facts
stated by Mr. Strickland and others, which have been
stated to us in regard to these slates, may be relied upon.
There is one thing which is calculated to deceive both
European travellers and our own citizens, who visit the

ON OXEN AND HORSES IN AGRICULTURE. 179

various parts of the United States. The farms even in the
Middle slaJes, are large, in (he Southern, very large. The
establishments are on a great scale. The culture is very
extended for each individual, the whole produce of each
cullivator appears enormous to one accustomed to our limit-
ed mode of cultivation, but when either expense or product
be accurately examined, it will be found ihat the less fertile
lands of the North furnish more food for man and animals,
and yield a greater profit than those of much more favoured
slates. We shall conclude this review in our next num-
ber, having devoted as much of the present as was proper,
and enough to recommend this work to all our readers.

[To be continued in our next.]

ON THE COMPARATIVE VALUE OF THE OX AND THE HORSE
IN AGRUJUkTURE ; AND AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION,
SOMETIMES ASKVD, WHY THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICUL-
TURAL SOCIETY HAVE NEVER OFFERED PREMIUMS FOR
THE RAISING OF THE FINEST HORSES ?

1 HIS subject we propose to discuss, and we are indebted
for the greater part of the suggestions, to one of the trus-
tees of this society, who has sent us his reflections on the
subject, under the signature of " A Middlesex Fariner."
In his opinions, facts, and reasonings we fully agree. This
has long been a contested point in Great Britain, and it is
well known, that many of the ablest, and most scientific cul-
tivators in that country have contended, that the prevalent
practice of the farmers of Great Britain, in preferring the
horse to the ox, was injurious, expensive, and the effect of
long established prejudices. Perhaps this long perseve-
rance in an unprofitable practice, in a country, in other re-
spects so well instructed in agriculture, as Great Britain,
may be accounted for by fhe great attachment of the opulent
gentry to the pleasures of the Chase, and of the Course —

180 ON OXEN AND HORSES IN AGRICULTURE.

and to the gambling spirit produced by (he last. So iioi-
versal an attachment io this noble animal (so useful where-
ever despatch is required) has probably led ihe Brifish
farmer to prefer the horse to the os in agri< ulfiire. As
much pride has been exciled, in having the slouiest horse
for the draft, as in having the swiflest horse for the course.
It should not moreover be forgotten, that where so many
hunters, and coach, and carriage, and other pleasure horses
are raised, as are necessary to supply the luxurious people
of England, (a country vrhich is literall_y studded wilh Gen-
tlemen's seats,) many must be occasionally injured, and
would be utterly useless if not condemned to agricultural
labour. Still we are sensible that the horses generally em-
ployed in agriculture in that coimlry, are not broken down
hunters, or coursers, but are expressly raised for the plough
and the cart. They are infinitely superior to any Ameri-
can horses for this purpose, having greater weight, more
bone and muscJe, adapted to slow draft, and almost as pa*
tient when obstacles are encountered, as Ibe ox.

Had we this breed, or the Norman horse, it would be
more difficult to persuade our farmers (hat the ox was the
preferable animal. Our country horses are strong, tough,
capable of enduring hardship, yet sufficiently fleet for other
purposes on the road in lighter carriages ; in short, they
' are pjecisely adapted to our wants — they answer for the
plough, the saddle and the chaise.

It ought not to be presuojed that for nearly 30 years, the
trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society have
either been inattentive, or indifferent to this important ques-
tion in agriculture. It has been often discussed, and the
discussion has invariably resulted in the decision, that it is
not important to this stale to encourage (he breed of horses.
A/iiong other reasons, one alone would be sufficient, which
is, that although we can raise (hem, yet there are neighbour-
ing s(a(es which can raise them better, and can furnish us
better horses for pleasure, for the carriage and the saddle,

ON OXEN AND HORSE* IN AGRICOLTrRH. 181

than we can raise ourselves. We are, in short, on the ex-
treme northern verge in which the horse can be raised to
any advantage.

The horse raised in the highlands of Scotland, becomes a
mere poney — fit only for children, or old decrepit men, used
only for the saddle. The noble Norcnan horse which moun-
ted the Cuirassieurs or heavy cavalry of Bonaparte, and
which as a horse of draft is the most powerful in the world,
in the eternal winter of Canada, is only a short, tough, bony,
but inferior animal, capable of great endurance, and but little
execution.

These are some of the general reasons which probably
led our ancestors, and have induced their descendants,
simply to raise a race of horses suited to light draft, and at
the same time adapted to the saddle, the light cart, or wag-
gon, and the chaise ; and for these purposes, it is to be
doubled whether a better race can be found than Massa-
chusetts can boast. For the chace, for swift carriages, for
excellent coach horses, we must be compelled to travel from
Vermont to New-Jersey, o;!- even Virginia.

It ia to be doubled whether the Massachusetts Agricul-
tural Society, considering the interests of the state which
they are bound to consult, ought to encourage the raising of
pleasure horses^ they are mere articles of luxury. Wealth
will always command them in what quarter soever they
may be raised, but if the raising them in Massachusetts
would not be a profitable occupation, or employment, they
ought not to encourage it. If, on the other hand, they had
offered a premium for the best draft horses, it would have
seemed to decide the question, that the horse was prefera-
ble to the ox for agriculture, and this too, at the very mo-
ment, when intelligent men in Great Britain began to doubt
of their own preference for horses. It was precisely in this
state of the controversy, that the general society of this
state began to offer premiums, and after much discussion,
they thought that they ought not to throw their weight into

/
182 ON OXEN AND HORSES IN AGRICULTURE.

the scale in favour of the horse, when such enlightened men
as Arthur Young and others, were quoting the example of
the New Enu;land states in favour of the use of the ox.
The following statement comprises some among many other
reasons, for the preference given to the ox over the horse
in agriculture.

1. A young horse of b years old commonly costs (if
a good animal) as much as a pair of young oxen or steers,
and no one will pretend that he will do as much work, or
(while young) half as much. j

2. The horse will consume more than half as much as
the two steers ; or in other words, to keep a good horse in
equally good working order, he will consume more than a
steer or ox of his own age.

3. The horse is more delicate in his food. He cannot
retain his flesh or strength o« food, on which an ox will con-
tinue to work well and long.

4. The money you pay for a young ox is like money
at interest, the longer he lives, the more he grows, and he
becomes more valuable. Indeed he increases in value
almost at compound interest. T)ie exact reverse is the
case with the horse. He attains his maximum of value at
r or 8 years, and every year afterwards diminishes his
value. His bulk is of no use to you because his carcase
is worthless.

5. An ox, owing to the thickness and toughness of his
skin, and to the length and closeness of his hair, or in other
words, owing to his being probably a native of a colder cli-
raafe, or being originally designed for a greater variety of
climates, can endure our cold and stormy weather much
better than the horse. The horse is an exofick of a warmer
region, a transplanted plant, capable indeed of living and
thriving, but often suffering under the severities of our sea-
sons. The ox seems calculated for aLI climates. In Eng-
land and the southern states, the horse may indeed endure,
and even improve in vigour, but in Massachusetts he will

ON OXEN AND HORSE'S IN AGRICULTURE. 18S

deteriorate, unless treated with more tetulerness than farm-
ers usually feel or employ towards their animals.

6. But the most important reason of all is, that the horse
though subject to more diseases, and infinitely more tender
than the ox, becomes utterly useless when he is so lame as
lobe incapable of work, or so old as to be of liitle use in
labour, while the ox is often from such accidents more valu-
able. He has a fine appetite, soon fattens, with much more
readiness than the horse, and his carcase sells for as much,
or more money, than the animal would have brought in his
best state.

r. Compare the harness of the ox with that of the horse,
and it will be perceived that the difference is very great in
favour of the former. The ox requires only a yoke which
with its apparatus may cost about 3 dollars.- It rarely
needs repair, and when repaired, it costs little. But the
harness of the horse, owing to the tenderness of his skin, and
his more violent motions, must be of leather, lis first cost
is much greater, we may say four times as great. It wears
out sooner, and costs much more to keep it in repair while
it is capable of being repaired. To this item, may be ad-
ded the expense of shoes, the horse wearing his out ranch
faster, and requiring them on all his feet the year round,
while the ox needs shoes only on his fore feet duriisg sum-
mer.

8. We will now compare the animals dead, whether oc-
casioned by accident, or design. We cannot at present
recollect any use to which any part of a dead horse in this
country can be applied, except his hide, which is used for
a few very liaiited puiposes.

In England indeed his flesh sells for something for the
food of hounds, and we are thankful that we have no such
use for them here. We have no game laws, and but little
game, and we are not therefore obliged to encounter such
an useless expense, as supporting a pack of hounds on any
of our estates.

184 ON OXEN AND HORSES IN AGRICULTURE.

The ox furnishes probably more, and a greater number of
valuable articles for the supply, not of the luxuries, but the
wants of mankind, than any animal in existence. His hair
is necessary, and indispensibl^ so, to the mason in the
composition of his mortar for ceilings. His bide is
equally necessary for our shoes and boots, without which
we could not be kept dry or well shod ; and for many
other purposes in manufactures. His flesh not only
furnishes us with the most wholesome and best food we en-
joy, but it is an article not to be dispensed with in com-
merce in the form of salted beef. His tallow furnishes our
candles, and hard and soft soap. His hoofs afford glue.
Even the tips of his horns are converted into the handles
of knives, and the entire horn is also applied to some uses.
When we shall have become greater economists in agricul-
ture, the bones of this noble animal will be broken in mills
and as in England, restored again to the soil where they
will make an ample return as manure, for what the animal
may have taken from it during his life.

With some general reflections we shall close this article.
We are aware, that in England a preference is given to
horses; so it is generally on the continent of Europe. Ex-
ceptions and important exceptions there are however, to this
practice, and the earliest cultivators of which classick wri-
ters speak, always considered the ox the proper animal for
the plough. The Jewish, Greek, and Roman farmers cer-
tainly thought the ox the preferable animal for the cultiva-
tion of land. In our own country, the Dutch, and German
farmers have a preference forhorses. It is indeed surprising
that the English farmer can afford to raise the ox solely (dt
the table,andkeephimidle til! the butcher selectshira for his
victim. If it were a fact that his flesh was invariably finer,
luxury, and epicureans might find an apology for it, though
the farmer could then hardly find an excuse for such a sacri-
fice, but the fact is not so. The beef of Great Britain is
not finer, fatter, more lender, more juicy, better flavoured

ON OXEN AND HORSES IN AGRICULTURE. 185

th.in that of this country generally. Their oxen are not
so large as ours on the whole, ihowgh il must be admilted
the breed is more beautiful, better formed, and more pro-
iitable, having more flesh and less ofial, but in this respect
we shall soon be their rivals.

It is difficult to say why th'is preference has so long ex*
isted in Giea) Biitain. It may be because the horse is so
much more easily raised in their mild and equal climate ; or
because they ha\e no extensive woods and rough pastures
as we have in which our young horned cattle range at plea-
sure, in which they live by browsing in places, where the
Lorse would starve; or because their lands are more free
from rocks and stumps, and therefore they do not need so
patient an animal as the ox ; but we are inclined above all to
account for it by the great predilection of that whole nation
for the horse, as the animal whose feats they witness on the
race course, whose courage, docility, and strength they ex-
perience in war, whose vigour and activity they enjoy in
the chase, whose beauty and fleetness they daily witness
in the saddle, the gig, and the coach. It is certain that in-
dependent of agriculture there is greater use made of the
horse in England, than in any country in the world. It is
an Englishman's pride and pleasure to be well moun'ed.
They almost realize the fable of the Centaurs. Thrfy are
almost united to their horses.

That the same taste should descend to the lower orders,
and that the renters of farms, and the peasants who work
them should be so attached to them aa to be unwilling to
give them up for the slow and patient and useful ox, is not
surprising; but for us, let us adhere to the usage of our an-
cestors.

Vol. VI. 24

186 THE SCIENCE OP HORTICULTURE.

NOTICE OF A LATE WORK, ENTITLED, "THE SCIENCE OF HOR-
TICULIURE, INCLUDING A PRACTICAL SYSTEM FOU THE
MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREKS, ARRANGED ON DEMON-
STRATIVE PHYSIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES, ILLUSTRATED BY
SKETCHES IN TWELVE PLATES, WITH A COMMENTARY OK
THE WORKS OF BRADl,EE, HITT, MILLER FORSYTH, KNIGHT,
KERVVAN, SIR HUMPHREY DAVY, AND MRS. IBBOTSON.'' BY
JOSEPH HAYWARD, GENT. London, 1818.

1 HIS tide is to be sure an imposing one, and has the air
of some degree o[ self-assurance ; nor will this impression
be lessened by the perusal of the work itseH". Mr. Haj-
ward certainly has as little respect for the opinions of
those who have gone before him in the science of horticul-
ture, as could be wished. He treats all his rivals in the
character of an arbiter — condemns one, and praises some
thoughts and suggestions of another, taking care, however,
that none should have any right on the whole, to pride
themselves on what they had done or written. Generally
speaking, this arrogant spirit is most discovered by those
who have the least pretensions — but it is noJ precisely so
with Mr. Hayward. His work certainly has considerable
Dierit. It has the merit of great perspicuity — ^energy — or-
derly arrangement, and some novelty. His high tone
rather seems to proceed from a bold and fearless disregard,
of names and authority, rather than vanity, or contempt for
others. It seems to arise from a habit of saying and writ-
ing boldly, and frankly, what the author thought, whether
the effect should be to depreciate the established reputa-
tion, or adopted, and received opinions of others or not.

The book is dedicated to the president and members of
the Horticultural Society of London, a body justly enti-
tled to the highest respect, both for the respectability of its
members — its objects, and the many curious, learned, and
useful articles which it has given to the world.

It would appear by this dedication, that Mr. Hayward
has received the most ample testimonies of the respect

THE SCIENCE OP HORTICnLTURB. 187

and confidence of this learned society. — " Possibly it may
appear to some," says he, "that from the very flattering
attention which your societ}* have been pleased to bestow
on such papers as I have occasionally taken the liberty of
submitting to your inspection at various times during the
past eight or ten years — your offer of publishing Ihera
among your transactions — and your professed desire of
making extracts for your publick readings, ought not to
have been resisted."

The reason he assigns for not having complied with this
very flattering solicitation, is, that by so doing, the author,
by the rules of the society, loses all further exclusive right
lo his papers, so submitted.

This, then, in addition to the opinion we had otherwise
formed of its merits, has induced us to bring this book
before the Agricultural and Horticultural community in
thist State.

We shall not adopt the modern, and in many cases the
absurd practice of reviewers, to put a title page at the
head of, and merely as an apology for an essay, in which
all the learning of the author is pompously displayed, but
in which we hear nothing of the work under review. —
Such a practice is very well where the work pretended to
be reviewed is of no value — but it is very tantalizing when
the topick is very interesting, and the author, whose work
ougnt to be the subject of the review, is either celebrated
— or we think he has had better opportunities than the re-
viewer, of becoming acquainted with it. In such cases, we
prefer to see something of the writer himself, and to hear
him speak in his own behalf.

It is peculiarly necessary in this case, because we are as
yet infants in Horticultural science. — We have not yet
brought into use, all the common culinary vegetables — we
cultivate Kone of them with a skill to be compared with
that of the Dutch and English gardeners. In fruits, and
their cultivation — in the management of trees and grapes,

188 THE SCIENCE OF HORTICULTURE.'

we are half a century behind them. — We ought, therefore,
to bring ourselves acquainted with the progress of the
science, (for it is truly a science in Europe,) and we can
only do that by reading the works of their writers. To
enable our readers to judge, whether Mr. Hay ward's work
ought to make a part of their libraries, or at least, of their
reading — and also to give those who may never have the
opportunity of seeing it, some idea of its merit — and to
enable them to derive some advantage from the talents of
the authon we shall give a full account of the work, and
make, with regard to several of his topicks, very copious
extracts, which was the old fashioned, and very good
fashioned mode of reviewing new works of merit.

After some general introductory observations and com-
ments, Mr. Hay ward proceeds to discuss the following sub-
jects, in the order below staled. — The nature and habits of
the roots of trees — On the food of plants — Chemiral prin-
ciples, applied to plants, and practical deductions from
them — Observations and comments on the composition of
soils, and the agency of earths in vegetation — On the sap
of trees, its rise, and circulation — On the office and use
of the leaves of plants — On the art of pruning — Methods
of HitI, Forsyth and Knight, considered — Deduction, ex-
planation, and application of the laws of nature, for the
government of fruit trees — Comments on the general mode
of n:anagement of fruit trees, by nurserymen — Instructions
for the management of trees in a nursery — Observations on
soils, and the preparation of beds and borders for fruit
trees. — [We shall oiuit any notice of his ample directions
for the training of wall and espalier fruit trees, as not gene-
rally appiii able here, and those who have expensive wall
fruit, s'an well afford to get the book.] On the management
of old standard fruit trees — currants and gooseberries —
On blight and diseases of trees, and remarks on Forsyth's
and Knight's plans for their restoration.

THE SCIENCE OF HOHTICULTURE. 189

If will be perceived that the topicks me well chosen,
iinporJant, and judiciously arranged. It will be now seen
in what manner he has (leated (hem.

OF THE ROOTS OF PLANTS.

After speaking of the manner in which roots force them- \
selves into the ground, their relative importance, that they
form and determine the growth of the plant or tree, and its
constilntion, our author proceeds,

" From hence it must be concluded, that in planting
trees, two essential objects present themselves for conside-
ration. First, to ascertain the soil best adapted to afford
a sufficient and accofnraodaling body, bed, or space for the
roots to repose and range in freely, and to produce and
support such habits as are most desired — and next^ that
the soil contains, or will admit the application of a supply
of food, of a proper quality, and in due quantity. And to
determine this, due attention must also be paid to the situa-
tion and elevation of the roots in relation to the surface of
the soil, in a deep, tenacious soil, or clay, roots can only
find a free passage in clefts and fissures which are formed
by its contraction ; and as these openings are not close to-
gether, or numerous, the roots do not divide much, or be-
come fibrous ; but those which strike into the fissures,
range wide and deep, and getting below the influence ot
the air, and sun, collect their food from a source ill adapted
to fructification ; and accordingly such trees are generally
found to be of a cold, aqueous, and unprolific nature."

** On the contrary, when the soil is light, porous, and
shallow, the roots meeting no obstruction, divide and form a
great number of fibrils, which, ranging horizontally, and
more exposed to the effect of the sun, and air, incline a
tree more to become fruitful than to an increase of wood, and
an extension of branches ; and in such a situation, the

190 THE SCIENCE OF HORTICULTURE.

greatest supply of food being appropriated to the production
of fruit, the tree grows but little in size."

He then quotes the opinions of the celebrated Hitt,
Knight and Miller, in support of the same sentiments, and in
favour of shallow planting. We shall not insert these
" quotations," because those books are to be found in
every large library. We cannot resist, however, giving a
short paragraph from the truly respectable Philip Miller,
one of the best practical cultivators that ever liv ed. '* Some
authors (says Miller) who treat of the qualities of the earth,
say it ought to be of the same quality, three or four feet
down, for trees, which, (if they have not that depth,) will
languish and decay after they have been planted six years.
But this is not true in fact: for most trees will thrive very
well, if they have two feet depthof good earth, especially fruit
trees ; which produce the most generous fruits, when their
roots spread near the surface of the earth." We were
tempted to cite this passage, not only from Mr. Miller's
high character and deserved weight, but because we are
persuaded, that the prevailing error witii us is to plant too
deeply ; and we think that we remedy the evil by filling
up the whole deep cavity with good soil. Such a hole is a
perfect prison lo the young tree, from which it can never,
or with difficulty, escape. We have scarcely a tree on our
own place which was not planted loo deep — more recent
experience has convinced us of this fact.

He then proceeds to state a theory of Mrs. Ibbolson, in
opposition to these sound and practical remarks, and pro-
ceeds lo refute it, as we ihink, successfully. To those
who have not heard of this extraordinary lady, who has
pushed her inquiries to a great length into the physiology,
or structure, and economy of planls, it may be proper to
state, that she has acquired very considerable reputation,
and attracted much attention, by her investigation of the
inlernal structure of planls, which she aflfecled by the aid
of a powerful solar microscope; but Mr. Hay ward thinks

THE SCIENCE OF HORTICULTURE. 191

that in applying fhe resulls of her discoveries, and her
theory to praclice, she has made very great mistakes — a
case very far from being uncommon.

Mrs. Ibbotson advanced fhe opinion "that it was the
tap root which always forms the leading shoot of the free,
and if it is cut, it will, without doubt, spoil that part, by-
forming two middle stems lo the tree; and as the beauty of
the tree depends much on the perpendicular height of its
single pillar, fhe custom they have in most nurseries, of
curfaihng fhe tap root, is a most vicious one." She adds,
*' What is the use of fhe tap root ? By shooting down per-
pendicularly to fix the tree firmly to the ground, and keep
it straight in that position." This, as Mr. Hayward very
justly remarks is neither supported by fhe observation of
nature, nor by the principles of science. — [Indeed it may
be considered as a direct attack on one of the mosi funda«
mental and well settled principles both of planting trees,
and of transplanting all smaller plants — directly opposed to
every day's sober experience, and therefore of pernicious
tendency. The whole praclice o( transplantation, with a
view to ameliorating, would be destroyed by it, if the prin-
ciple were adopted. From the cabbage to fhe oak, fhe
regular, well-informed nurserymen have been in fhe practice
of shorten'mg fhe tap root, or almost removing it, with a
view of forcing fhe plant or free to throw out smaller fibrous
roots, nearer the surface. On this principle, frees the
most impatient of removal, the most difficult to transplant,
may be removed almost as often as you please, and almost
without the appearance of suffering by fhe change. This
opinion of Mrs. Ibbofson strikes at the root of all past ex-
perience; and we may venture to say, if adopted, would
prevent the successful transplantation of many trees, which
are now safely and easily removed. Thus the walnut of
every kind, and the cherry, are difficult to remove, if you v
suffer them to stand till they have sent a deep tap root into
the earth ; but if removed early into a new nursery, they

192 THE SCIENCE OF HORTICULTURE.

are as easily Qianaged as any other trees ; because they
will furnish such an abundance of small fibrous roofs, as
will insure their success on a second, or a third judicious
removal. In short it may be affiru)ed as a general propo-
sition, from our own experience, that the greater the num-
ber of small fibrous superficial roots — the more easy and
safe will be the transplantation — the more readily will (he
transplanted root or plant become naturalized in its new
situation — the less will it feel the effects of the reaioval, and
the more rapid and secure will be its future growth.

The analogy, from the cultivation of plants in pots or
boxes, according to the practice in green and hot houses,
will satisfy any observing man. The roots of these plants
are wholly fibrous. They are shifted or changed once or
twice a year. They may be removed from one tub or pot
to another, in summer or winter, or from a pot to a border,
without experiencing the smallest injury, or scarcely a
check. In great transplantations, or the transplanting of
larger trees, the same principle should be applied. And
where you have not a sufficient number of superficial
fibrous roots, yon should cut off not only the tap root, but
such a proportion of the large lateral and horizontal roots as
to oblige or force the plant to send out the competent num-
ber of small fibrous ones.] — Editors.

" What person," says Mr. Hayward, " possessing the
smallest knowledge o( mechanics, could ever expect that a
pole, with any substance fixed at its top, exposing a great
surface to the winds, could remain straight in its perpen-
dicular position, when set in the earth, without horizontal
fixtures ?" [or, as he might have said, braces ?J •' Indeed,
the elm," he remarks, " is seldom if ever found with a
.^tap root, but is supported in its perpendicular positioa
wholly by horizontal or lateral roofs." [If he had known
the noble drooping elm of America, which will not thrive in
England, he might have said, that this noble and most
beautiful forest tree seldom sends its roots one foot below

/

THE SCIENCE OF HORTICULTDRE. 193

the surface, and not unfreciiienlly merely skims the surface,
just below (he grass sward. Yet who ever knew an
elm overthrown? Jt survives, unhurt, all our furious tor-
nadoes.]— Editors.

[Mrs. Ibbotson proceeds in her theory, to suppose that
trees require some sorts of (bod or nutriment, which tlie
suiface does not afford — that probably minerals are want-
ed to form (he juices of the bark — that tiierefore (he des-
cent of the tap root is necessary to the health and vigoin'of
the tree. She asserts (hat the loss of the tap root can never
be remedied; and of course it follows, that no transplanted
tree can ever be equal to one suffered to stand where it
was planted : an assertion contradicted by the experience
of *2000 years. She also recommends throwing a great
quantity of water into (he hole, into wliich a tree is (rans-
plan(ed, or in (he language of gardeners, " j»«iddling it," and
also a large barrow of good mould. Now i( is well ascer-
tained (hat (he practice of profusely watering plants on
their removal, is rather hurtful than beneficial ; a fine divi-
sion of the soil, and treading it rirmly round the transplant-
ed plant, being much preferred.] — Editors.

Mr. Hay ward with a great fund of good sense, replies to
these remarks: *' That a tap root or any other root is pe-
culiarly adapted to supply any particular branch of a tree,
(such as Mrs. Ibbotson had stated its effect to be on the
leading shoot,) I very much doubt — but at any rate if is
not an invariable law. Whenever any particular root is
taken off, it does not alter or affect any particular branch,
but the whole of the branches are equally affected by the
privation or loss." " A great quantity of water poured
in(o (he pit, on transplanting a tree, will often cement or
encrust the earth, and render it so close and adhesive, that
it will obstruct the emission of fresh radicals, or the progress
of old ones, and the plant will be in consequence much
injured." [Here again we must recur to the analogy of
the cultivatioa^of smaller green-house plants, because if a

Vol. VI. 25

194 THE SCIENCE OF HORTICULTURE.

thorough drenching of water, on their reraoval, as is well
known, either destroys them, or checks their growth, by
preventing the free passage of small fibrous roots, we can-
not perceive why the same effect should not follow in the
coarser and less scientifick and artificial cultivation of trees.
It is an undoubted fact, that gardeners employed in culti-
vating fender plants, make the earth as fine as possible,
throw it on lightly, water with great care and moderation,
and if they deluge the plant with water, (though in a pot or
tub, it has the advantage of much easier access of sun and
air,) it will grow sickly and perish, owing to the diflSculty
of pushing its tender fibrous roots through the encrusted
solid earth, forcibly compressed by the water. We do
not see why the analogy does not bold, and our expe-
rience, and very successful experience, in the transplanta-
tion of trees, fuily supports the inference which reason and
analogy would make from the above data.] — Editors.

"Water," says Mr. Hay ward, "should be applied little
and often. This will afford sufficient moisture, and keep
the soil loose."

" Mould may be a good thing thrown into the pit at the
time of digging, in the quantity mentioned by Mrs. Bbbot-
son [a wheelbarrow for each tree] for forest trees, but it
must be improper for fruit trees, for by retaining a large
portion of moisture, it will oppose fructification, and en-
danger their health, or by affording a luxuriant supply of
food, the roots may be made to increase in size, but form
few in number. A few large roots, spreading wide, and
running deep, may be of importance in producing large
timber trees, but it would be prejudicial to a fruit tree, for
as before observed, those trees are always more prolific
when kept near the surface of the soil, and when they are
much divided, or fibrous."

This first article is a good specimen of the work, and
proves, that the author unitea practical knowledge to
science.

THE SCIENCE OF HORTICULTURE. 195

His next subject is

THE FOOD OF PLANTS.

This is more exclusively scientific, and it must be ac-
knowledged, that this department of natural history is less
understood, and probably will continue for many years,
perhaps forever, to be more imperfectly treated than any
other. Sir Humphrey Davy's work was among the first
attempts to apply the improvements in chemical knowledge
to the cultivation of plants. Kirwan had entered the ca-
reer before him, but much remains to be done. Mr. Hay-
ward, in this chapter, does little more than to quote from
preceding writers, the opinions and theories often fanciful,
and in all cases loose, and not subject to rigorous demon-
stration.

That some, and very great aid, will finally be derived
from the application of chemistry to agriculture, may rea-
sonably be hoped. Its success, when applied to the me-
chanick arts, gives us reasonable ground to entertain this
expectation.

We shall merely give a short synopsis of this chapter, in
which so little is original.

"Vegetables, like animals," says Mr. Hay ward, "vary
n their nature and habits, and like them, have their pecu-
liar food, for although the food of plants *may generally be
composed of the same materials or elements, it varies in
the proportion of its composition, and thereby becomes
adapted to different purposes. Thus we find a soil which
will furnish only food enough to support one vegetable of a
peculiar kind, will at the same time turnish sufficient to sus-
tain many others of different species."

[This general proposition is unquestionably true, and it
is almost the only one we know of, that has been reduced to
certainty. That some plants will thrive only in a particu-
lar soil — that they will perish when removed from it— that

•\

196 THE SCIENCE OF HORTICCLTtTRE.

plants will grow for a given lime on a soil, and will then
cease to be supported by it, though other plants will flou-
rish abundantly in the same spot, which refuses sustenance
to the others, are facts settled beyond doubt. It would
therefore seem that we have to seek a little farther than
into the general question, what is the food of plants !'
because each plant may require a different species of food ;
and the inquiry ought rather to be, what is the particular
species of food required by any given plant ? There how-
ever have been incessant attempts for two thousand years
to settle the question, in what does the food of plants con-
sist ; sometimes it has been supposed to be water only —
at other times salts — at others carbonaceous matter — and
the strange anomaly of the operation of the plaster of Paris,
or gypsum, has put all philosophy at fault. No man has
been able to account for its undoubted effects, unless the
theory of Sir H. Davy, the most plausible, be admitted,
that gypsum is a constituent part of all plants which appear
to be benefitted by its application, and therefore it operates
directly as upabiikifn for such plants as require it, for their
perfection, and developement, and in such soils only where
there is a defect, either entire, or partial of this substance.
This theory must stand till we have a better — and if if be
the true one, it overthrows all the former doctrines on this
subject, for it shews that some of the earths, and perhaps
all of them must enter into the food of plants, in addition (o
(he saline substances, gases and water. Hotv they so en-
ter, is as yet imknown — whether they are so minutely dis-
solved as to enter the plant in a slate of solution, or whe-
ther the vessels of the plant are capable of taking up a
portion of the earth itself, does not seem to be satisfacto-
rily settled.] — Editors.

We shall merely give a short sketch of the various opi-
nions of the writers on the subject of the food of plants, as
cited by Mr. Hayward.

/^

THE SCIENCE OF HORTICULTURE.

197

Bradlee, an early Eni^lish writer on agriciiUnre, and the
physiology of plants, co;npares trees and vegetables gene-
rail?/, to animals, and as some of the latter live only on
land, and othert^ in the water, some in fresh, and others in
salt water, and as the same is found to be the case with
vegetables, he infers, (and we think unanswerably,) that
they each require a different species of food peculiar to
themselves, (and therefore all attempts to find out certain
common elements for all of them, will be vain. — The only
study should be to find out the species of food adapted to
each valuable platit.

Bradlee, Hitt and Miller, considered salts of various
kinds, to be the specific food of plants, which evjery spe-
cies of earth conJains witjiin itself. This to be sure was
loose enough, and was only an easy way, often adopted by
theorists of explaining a thing which they did not under-
stand. To this doctrine Mr. Hayward objects, and very
justly, because the fact had not been as it ought to be suf-
ficiently ascertained. He made many, experiments with
sea salt, nitre, soda, barilla, &c., and he concUuled that
salts were not in anjj degree essential to the food of plants.
[But we are not satisfied with his conclusion — he has stat-
ed it too broadly, though they may not be essential. We
know that ail these substances are in certain proportions
extremely, nay, vastly proinolive of vegetation. They
will often produce greater effects than rotten dung of ani-
mals, which is supposed to contain a great quantity of car-
bonaceous matter. To socne plants they are almost a
specific remedy for disease, and a stimulus. Thus to the
asparagus, (a plant produced on the sea shore,) common
salt, (muriate of soda,) is a very excellent application.] —
Editors.

Kirwan and Sir Humphrey Davy appear to have made
some nearer approaches to the probable truth, in relation to
this hidden part of the processes of nature. Mr. Kirwan
observes that " the first requisite to a fertile soil is, that it

198 THE SCIENCE OF HORTICULTURE.

contain sufficient of the three or four simple earths, and of
the soluble carbonaceous principle : the other requisites
are, that the proportion of each, and general texture of the
soil be such as to admit, and to retain as much water as is
necessary to vegetation, and no more."

In other words, that soil, which is roost capable of re-
taining a moderate degree of moisture, without holding it
in too great abundance, is the best. Garden mould pos-
sesses this property in tlie highest possible degree. It
suffers the water to pass through it freely, and yef retains
a portion of it in great droughts, much longer than any
other earth.

" SoiI§," says Sir Humphrey Davy, "in all cases con-
sist of a mixture of differently divided earthy matter, and
with animal or vegetable substances, in a state of decom-
position, and certain saline ingredients. The earthy mat-
ters are the true basis of the soil. The other parts, whe-
ther natural, or artificially introduced, operate in the same
inanner.'* , '

Kirwan observes, "that the only substances common to
growing vegetables, and the soils in which they grow, are
water, coal, different earths, and salts. These, therefore,
are the true food of vegetables."

Sir H. Davy adds, "that vegetable and animal sub-
stances, deposited in the soil, as shewn by universal expe-
rience, are consumed during the process of vegetation, and
they can only nourish the plant by affording solid matter,
capable of being dissolved by the fluids in the leaves of
vegetables."

" The great objert in the application of manures, should
be to make them afford as much soluble matter as possible
to the roots of the plant, and that in a slow and gradual
manner, so that it may be entirely consumed in forming its
sap and organized parts." [These doctrines, we have no
doubt, are true : but they are generalizations, and have re-
ceived from their authors no specific application.]

THE SCIENCE OP HORTICULTORB. 199

Hazenfralz and Mr. D<ivy, both concur in ihe opinion,
tbaf coal and carbonaceous matter, make an important in-
gredient in plants. And Sir H. Davy says, that no sub-
stance is more necessary to plant:« than carbonaceous mat-
ter. Tnat this exists in a very considerable proportion, in
most fermented vegetable substances, there is no doubt :
but we do not perceive that Mr. Hay ward, or Sir Hum-
phrey Davy, or Mr. Kirwan, have as yet made many steps
towards the increase or improvement of our manures,
though they have, particularly Mr. Davy, led us to the
consideration of our soils, and to the means of supplying
their defects.

On the whole, we must consider this chapter "on the
food of plants," as having added very little to our stock,
we will not say of knowledge, (for as yet there is little
which has been written upon it, that deserves the name of
knowledge,) but to our theoretical notions on this subject.

We shall pass over his next chapter "on chemical prin-
ciples and practical deductions," because we perceive ia
it only a feeble and imperfect repetition of certain trite
chemical principles, and no practical deductions from thern
whatever. It is mere parade.

His next chapter is on the important subject of the com-
position of soils, and their agency in vegetation. The
first part of it is taken up in a loose and very trite disquisi-
tion upon the nature of soils, in which there is a mixture of
chemical principles, and bold assumption, furnishing, so far
as we can perceive, little valuable information, applicable
to practical agriculture. He concludes it with certain
aphorisms, or propositions, which, though they may, or
may not be true, afford little aid to the practical farmer.

The soundest opinions are, that the most fertile soils are
those which are so compounded as to admit of the greatest,
most minute, and perfect division, expansion and dissemina-
tion of water through them, and which contain a sufficient
proportion of the carbonaceous principle of calcareous

I

200

HINTS TO WOOL-GROWaHS.

earth, (o correct acidity and putrefaction. Perhaps this
part of our review will not produce an opinion favourable
to the author ; but the part which we shall notice in our
next number will shew his practical skill.

Soulhbridge, 20lh May, 1820.
To T. L. WiNTHROp, Esq.

SIR,

1 wish you to give the following hint to wool-growers in
your quarterly reports. Many of (he wool-growers are in the
habit of folding up their fleeces with the flesh sitle inwards,
which makes it often very difficult loo[)en the fleece; and
at the same time the small fribs, or little short pieces of
clippings, adhere to it so fast that it is difficult even to pick
them oft', as very few will shake o^. This is very detri-
mental to the spinning as it occasions the yarn to break, as
the small fribs work into a knob. I am astonished that they
should persist in winding the fleece up in that manner, as it
collects all the dust; and it is a great disadvantage to the
seller; as the wool shews to a great disadvantage, and looks
so much coarser than when the in«ide of the fleece is out-
wards, I should not have supposed this hint had been re-
quired ; but 1 find so many lots of wool done up in the man-
ner described, that you will oblige the manufacturers by in-
serting this hint in your reporls. It is so difSrult at times
to open the fleeces, that a person cannot do so much work
by one third, and even half. !n one instance, I recollect I
was not able \o sort more than from twelve to fourteen
fleeces in the course of the day.

Your humble servant,

WILLIAM BARKER.

END OF NO. n. VOL. Vi.

MASSACHUSETTS
AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL.

Vol. VI.] JANUARY, 1821. [N^lTl .

UN ADDRESS DELIVERED BEFORE THE MASSACHUSETTS
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY AT THE DUICLHTON CATTLE
SHOW, OCTOBER 17, 1820. BY R. SULLIVAN.

An eminent writer has said that a farmtr may he crushed
by the 7oeight of his own riches. The meaning of the author
is exempHfied, in the disproportion of so many of our farms
to the capital of the cultivator and to the number of his la-
bourers. In surveying the agricultural districts of our com-
monwealth, we look in vain for the evidence of that intelli-
gence and enterprise which the world has been willing to
ascribe to the character of New England men. Those of
our countrymen, who are engaged in other pursuits, appear
to have a higher claim to the distinction which these quali-
ties bestow. Not that farmers are a meaner race of men,
or that they are incapable of as great efforts as other classes
of our citizens. But they have chosen to display the ener-
gy of their character in every thing rather than in the ap-
propriate labours of husbandry. And when we are heard
to boast of the intelligence of the community of farmers in
Massachusetts, we are not to be understood, and we say it
Vol. VI. 26

202 MR. Sullivan's address.

with regret, as speaking of their proficiency in their profes-
sional art. They appear to shrink with diffidence from the
task of a scientific and thorough cultivation.

The disproportionate size of our farms is an hereditary
evil. And the errors and prejudices which have accom-
panied it, for several generations, are deep rooted. The
injurious influence of these reaches to the leading and most
obvious principles of good husbandry. How many of our
farmers, to obtain a greater produce, prefer to extend their
imperfect cultivation to a large surface rather than to culti-
vate a less surface well ! In the former case less skill is
required, and less perfection in the implements. How few
think it important whether their kine be of an improved or
of an ordinary breed ! With their extensive pastures, it is
thought, the dairy may be as cheaply supplied from a great-
er number of indifferent animals as from a smaller number of
a better quality. Then, at the close of the season, the cat-
tle are sometimes left to subsist on the old fog of the
ample fields until the snow falls, and occasionally browse
in the woods. When the storms of winter have driven
the cattle to the fold, the numerous herd are put on a
stinted allowance — not always of English hay nor of roots.
In some instances the farmer will have accomplished his
aim if the cattle survive the winter. Not to go more
into detail — it is apparent, that as his husbandry is defective
in its great principle, it must be defective throughout. His
opinions and practice are derived from his ancestors. His
own habits have given to them additional force. He may
then unaffectedly wonder, that other methods should be
thought preferable to those to which he is accustomed — and
listen with indifference and distrust, to statements, which
demonstratively shew, that his practices are erroneous and
against his true interests. He may be an eye witness of
the results of a neighbour's better directed labours — notice

MR. Sullivan's address. 203

the richer products of his improved soil — his finer breed of
animals — and be led by his curiosity to examine the various
implements employed by the scientific cultivator, and go
away with the belief, that a plain and prudent farmer has
nothing to learn, but should steadily pursue the beaten track
of his ancestors. Should his better reason suggest the pro-
bable utility of a new experiment, the momentary im-
pulse towards innovation is checked by rising fears. The
disadvantages of his present condition, whatever they may
be, have become familiar and are easily borne. The hum-
blest of our species oppressed daily by the miseries of penu-
ry, may have the same consolation. There is no species of
slavery worse than that which men impose upon themselves
in yielding wholly to the guidance of custom and the nar-
row prejudices which it engenders.

It is a fundamental principle of good and profitable hus-
bandry, that no more land should be laid out for cultivation
than the farmer can till in the most skilful and thorough
manner. Wherever there is a crowded population, the
husbandman may be compelled to seek his subsistence with-
in the limit of a few acres. The resources of art, which he
must call to his aid, are alike open to all whether they pos-
sess more or less land — and whether they inhabit districts
more or less populous — nor are these resources less valua-
ble in the one case than the other ; so far as respects the ge-
neral treatment of the soil, and the great object of increasing
its productiveness. If five acres under faithful management
can be made to yield a subsistence for a family, shall we be
permitted to say that a hundred of equal quality can do no
more 1 If it be said that a refined and thorough cultivation
involves an expense which absorbs the profit, let it be remem-
bered, that the skilful farmer often not only obtains a com-
fortable support from the produce of a few acres, but is ena-
bled from the surplus of his earnings to add progressively to
his little territory, and to become opulent. It may be ob-
jected, that a result like this cannot be expected without a

204^ MR. Sullivan's addUess.

preparatory acquisition of science — without much care and
much reflection in the choice of means. But on what other
terms is success to be expected in any other calling or pur-
suit ? It is no answer to say, that the common operations of
a rude husbandry are laborious, and that the farmer only
adds to his burdens by permitting his attention to be occu-
pied by whatever is new, that comes recommended as an im-
provement— he will learn how to make the same labour
more productive — he will have the benefit of the experience
of the most enlightened and wisest practical men, who can-
not be supposed to have toiled in vain in their endeavours
to improve the art of husbandry — nor to have had any other
aim than to ascertain the means of procuring the greatest
profit from their labour.

Farmers are over cautious in admitting innovations on their
practice, and discover too much of a jealous reluctance to
examine the documents by which the utility of these may
be fully proved. No one doubts, that all the arts which con-
tribute to the support and comfort of man in civilized life,
have had thei/ origin at different periods, and that at first
they were not as perfect as we now find them, but that they
have advanced step by step, through progressive stages.
Nor will it be questioned that improvements now known to
be valuable, have sometimes been long prepared and tender-
ed to the acceptance of mankind before their merit has been
admitted. Their authors ma}' have perished with the repu-
tation of visionary men — an ill-merited reputation, as unpro-
pitious to the interests of society, as unjust to the individuals.

Who, looking back on the past, will hesitate to agree,
that our posterity, will gather from the same fields five fold
more than the present generation ? And how is this to
be accomplished — by what means? If we look to Eu-
rope— to England especially — we find there the necessary
means in use. It is to be eftected, not so much by an in-
crease of labour, as by a more judicious application of it,
with the aid of improved implements. In whatever res-

MR. Sullivan's address. 205

pecis the husbandry of England is preferable to that of our
own country — and there can be no doubt it is so in many —
some future generation of our people, perhaps wiser than the
present, will assuredly adopt these profitable methods of the
English farmer. Why then should we now reject them?
The reason in favour of receiving them at a future period by
our posterity will be no other than may be urged for the
adoption of them now — it is — that they are the result of care-
ful and repeated experiment, and that their utility is estab-
lished.

We are a highly privileged people, in as much as with all
the rich resources of a new country, we may avail ourselves
of the science and experience of the old world. Our yeo-
manry are proprietors of estates, which, under skilful ma-
nagement, would entitle them to rank with the wealthy in
some parts of Europe. We enjoy a free intercourse with
every portion of the world, whence any useful knowledge
may be derived — and our husbandmen have not only capacity
to judge, but opportunity to gain, whatever any other country
can now offer to give variety to our culture, or improvement
to our husbandry.

Considerations like these ought to check all unreasonable
distrust of what is new. They furnish sufficient reason for
keeping the mind open to conviction — and for training it to a
habit of liberal inquiry. There is no question here of the
truth of abstract speculations. But only how far, what has
been found profitable to the inhabitants of other countries by
experiment and long use, may be beneficial to us.

A reference to the history of agriculture in the land
of our progenitors, will shew, that, as much as the farmers of
that country now excel us in the art, at a period so late as
that of the first settlement of the English in this country, our
common roots and fruits were not cultivated in England — a
small portion only of the land had been subjected to tillage,
— numerous herds and flocks overran the territory — and al-
most the whole country presented nothing to the view but an

206 MR. Sullivan's address.

alternation of pasture and forest. A Baron of the realm, at
the period alluded to, enjoyed fewer of the substantial com-
forts of life than a reputable farmer of the present day. Con-
sider for a moment the advantage, which a knowledge of the
potatoe, and the modern method of cultivating it, gives to the
farmer of our times over a person in the same class in the
reign of Henry the Eighth, of England. The produce of
one acre of this root, carefully cultivated, will sustain,
for the space of a year, ten persons. It would require but one
faithful labourer to manage with proper care ten acres with
a crop of the potatoe. Thus by his labour alone a hundred
persons might be supplied with a sufficiency of food for the
time mentioned.

If a half century ago it had been said that there remained
to be known nothing which could be turned to profitable use
in agriculture, there is no one here present that could not
bear testimony to the absurdity of the assertion; nor would he-
sitate to say, that it was presumptuous, and against reason.
Would it not be as absurd to speak thus of the future ? Sci-
ence is continually engaged in enriching this art— commerce
is ever furnishing new materials for experiment. It not only
transports the products of one country to another for con-
sumption, but for propagation. It not only brings us from
abroad vegetable productions before unknown, but the know-
ledge of their uses, and the methods of their cultivation.

For what, let me ask, are our times more distinguished,
than for the zeal and success with which all science is applied
to practical uses ? The chemist, the mineralogist, the bota-
nist and the mathematician, are fellow labourers with the prac-
tical farmer and the manufacturer. Vain and unprofitable
theories no longer engross the attention of men of science.
It can no longer be said, as formerly, that an active and fever-
ish imagination is as distinguishing a mark of a philosopher as
of a poet. Philosophers are, in our days, business men.

There are in almost all parts of Europe associations of dis-
tinguished persons, united not only for the purpose of encpu-

MR. sulmvan's address. 207

raging the researches and rewarding the useful discoveries of
genius, but for ushering such discoveries into the world under
the sanction of their patronage, and for inviting and encou-
raging the public to avail of them. Societies for the same
purposes, not inconsiderable in number, exist also in our own
country.

Cultivators of the soil may confidently anticipate an en-
largement of their resources, not only by the rapid improve-
ment of the art, but by the multiplication of their products.
New staples will find their way into New-England, as they
have done, from time to time, elsewhere. Cotton, the great
staple of the south, now worth forty millions a year to the
United States, was not a native of the country. The grape,
which yields the great staple of France, was not indigenous,
nor was the olive in the south of Europe. Massachusetts,
within a few years, has acquired an invaluable stock, in the
Merino sheep. To those who know their intrinsic worth, it
will not be thought presumptuous to say, that they will ere
long yield us our most valuable staple. Whether we consi-
der the abundance, the fineness, or the beauty of their fleece,
they are, in all these respects, a gain to our country. The
history of the prevailing prejudice against the animal, were
it not too delicate a subject to touch upon, is too recent not
to be genei'ally known. The remembrance of the Merino
mania will soon cease to bring up painful associations, and we
shall be better disposed to believe, what is demonstrably true,
that we are indebted to Spain for a great source of future
wealth. After the tulip o-mania, or rage for tulips, had sub-
sisted three years in Holland, from 1634, during which, it took
entire possession of that sober people the Dutch, and engrossed
in a single town a capital of four and a half millions of dol-
lars, it subsided, and left the tulip to be, as it has ever since
continued, the favorite flower of the Hollander. And may
we not hope that the Merino sheep, possessing so much more
substantial merit, will ere long become a universal favourite
in Massachusetts ?

208 JXR* Sullivan's address.

Discoveries and inventions, the use and benefit of which
are familiar, are not always duly valued, because we are not
always aware how different would be our condition without
them — would we bring distinctly to view, a state of society less
improved than that of our own day, and the inconveniences at-
tendant upon a less advanced stage of the useful arts, we should
be more inclined to look forward with interest upon every pros-
pect of new acquisitions to our stock of knowledge and mean?
of enjoyment. We have seen how important a rank the mo-
dern farmer of England with his skill and resources would
have held in the estimation of his countrymen, who had pre-
ceded him from two to three centuries. We must not forget
that he deserves also to be considered as in advance of the
husbandman of our own country. Were it not so, how could
he subsist and support the heavy burdens, which the peculiar
circumstances of his country have imposed upon him ? Not
less than half his income is absorbed by taxes — the great ex-
tension of the manufactures oblige him to pay dear for labour,
and the average prices of the provision markets are not so
great as those of our own. Under all these disadvantages
he maintains his independence. He is enabled to do so by
adopting improved labour-saving implements — by forcing the
soil to its full capacity of bearing — by assiduous attention to
the accumulating of manures — by proper measures to prevent
their waste — and by a judicious application of them — by rais-
ing root crops, on an extensive scale, for his cattle — and by an
admirable system of order, economy, and neatness, in every
branch of husbandry.

In no country of Europe, we have said, are the same class
of cultivators so amply endowed with lands as the husband-
men of Massachusetts. The burdens of our government are
so light, that they are scarcely more felt than the weight of
the atmosphere. The four millions of acres in Massachu-
setts would sustain a population from a million to a million
and a half — and just in proportion as our products increase,
there will rise up mouths to consume them.

MR. Sullivan's address. 209

Were the labours of the cultivators, or the large farms
in Massachusetts, confined to such portions of land as their
means would enable them to husband in a skilful and faith-
ful manner, there can be no doubt that one third part of the
land now employed in tillage would yield as great products
as are obtained from the whole. It will be perceived that
the farmer may thus increase the value of his farm three
fold. The story of a Swiss farmer to the same point, al-
though it may be thought more properly to belong to the
pages of the Almanack, than to a discourse on an occasion
like the present, I may be allowed to state in substance,
as affording a good practical lesson. The person alluded
to had portioned in succession three daughters, with a quar-
ter part of his farm to each. As his territory thus diminish-
ed, he redoubled his efTorts and employed additional art and
care in his cultivation, and thus kept up his crops to the
same aggregate amount each year, even when there remain-
ed to him only a fourth part of the land which he originally
possessed.

As an agricultural, community, our progress in improvement
cannot be great until the science of breeding and the art of
keeping cattle is better understood — until we attach a
broader signification to the word manure — that great aliment
of agriculture, extending it so as to embrace a compo-
sition of earths and every species of vegetable refuse and
animal offal, as well as the litter and dung of the stable —
nor until ploughs and other implements are adopted superior
to those now commonly used. It has been ascertained by
an accurate instrument adapted to the purpose, that there
is a difference in ploughs of the same size and weight, in
regard to the power required for the draft, amountingto from
tivo to six hundred per cent. It is doubted whether the
knowledge of such a difference, or indeed of any, is known
generally to our husbandmen or whether it has usually been
considered in the purchase of the implement. Every farmer
complains of the expense of labour. This discovery will ena-

Vol. VJ. 27

210 MR. Sullivan's address.

ble him to dispense with half or perhaps two thirds of his team
in one of the most laborious operations of the farm. It will
not be out of place here to state, that in one of the northern
counties of England, it had been the universal practice to
plough with six horses, until, on the institution of a peri-
odical ploughing match, the old ploughs were in a short
time laid aside, and new ones on an improved construction
substituted. It was soon found that two horses could accom-
plish the same work which with the ploughs before in use,
it had required six horses to perform. How important is
such a discovery to the farming interest !

At the present moment the prospect of an increase of
his crops, in future years, may not appear to the farmers
desirable. The great abundance of the harvest and the
difficulty of obtaining a vent for his produce, fill him with
despondence. But is it not true, that if he is compelled to
sell cheap, he may buy proportionably cheap whatever he
may have need of ? Besides, the tendency of plenty is to
encourage population, and manufactures, and thus to raise
the value of land and to increase the permanent de-
mand for the productions of agriculture. Besides, the farmer
has a further resource in seasons of uncommon plenty, to
prevent waste — that is, to increase his live stock.

But let us not confine ourselves to the consideration of the
progress of agriculture as it may concern alone the prospe-
rity of individuals. The individuals in a country may be rich,
and the public at the same time be poor — if having nothing
to eat may make a country poor — merchants and manufac-
turers may be opulent, but if agriculture is neglected, nei-
ther the one or the other may be able, in certain exigencies,
to procure the necessaries of life. I state an extreme case,
but it is no less true, that the substantial wealth of a coun-
try, which consists in abundance of food, depends on a
flourishing state of agriculture. In a time of scarcity, long
continued, whatever we call property would lose its value.
Agriculture is not only an indispensable resource, as a mean?

MR. Sullivan's address. 211

of preserving in being those who now exist, it is no less im-
portant as a means of increasing the population of a country.
Hitherto our growing numbers have been sustained rather by
the clearing of new lands than by any great progressive im-
provement of the old. But setting apart but a moderate
allowance of forest for the various purposes for which it is
important, we must look to a better husbandry for the support
of a much greater number of inhabitants.

We cannot be at a loss on what rest our surest hopes of public
prosperity, when we consider how independent is agriculture of
the hazards and reverses to which commerce and manufactures
are exposed. " The ordinary revolutions of war and govern-
" ment," it has been truly said, " may dry up the sources of
"the wealth which arises from these, while that which arises
"from the solid improvements of agriculture is durable.
"The troubles of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries greatly
" diminished the commerce of Lombardy and Tuscany. But
" those countries continued notwithstanding, and still con-
" tinue, among the most populous and best cultivated parts
"of Europe. The civil wars in Flanders, and the Spanish
"domination which succeeded them, chased away the great
"commerce of Ghent and Antwerp, but Flanders is still rich,
"highly productive, and well peopled."*

The wealth of the merchant may be transferred from one
country to another, but that of the land proprietor is as fixed
as the earth. It is true, the face of a country may be swept
by hostile armies, but it is only the harvest of a season which
can fall within their destructive grasp ; the productive power
of the soil still remains unimpaired. But the wealth of the
merchant may perish irretrievably by the conflagration of a
city, or be sunk in the ocean.

However individuals may be affected, whether farmers or
others, by the common vicissitudes of life, as respects the
public, the improvements in agriculture are an imperishable
and continually accumulating resource.

* Smith's Wealth of Nations. U^nk^

212 MR. Sullivan's address.

But it by no means follows that, because agriculture ought
not to be neglected, we may therefore turn away from com-
merce, as if, on the whole, the balance of its good and ill success
were equal. It has done much to enrich individuals engaged
in its pursuit, it has done more for agriculture. In those
countries to which we have just alluded, as having enjoyed a
productive commerce, which subsequently passed away, if
their agriculture was, for a long time, unrivalled in Europe,
it was that very commerce which nurtured it, and finally
gave to it all its refinement.

As agriculturists we have fresh proofs every day of the
beneficial operation of commerce on our interests. It takes
our surplus produce to its best market. And this is not all —
the surplus capital which it throws into the hands of the mer-
chants, naturally tends to the soil as its ultimate destination.
Here it finds its greatest security, and here it will be most
permanently beneficial to the country. Most of our richest
merchants are land proprietors, and to some among them,
we are indebted for recent and valuable improvements in
agriculture.

It were hardly possible at this time to allude in a pub-
lic address either to agricultural or commercial inter-
ests, much less to treat of them as leading topics, without
recalling to the mind of every one, the subject of the new
tariff, which must again soon engage the attention of Con-
gress. I refer particularly to those parts of it, which are
professedly designed for the encouragement of domestic man-
ufactures.

However often and ably the right of Congress to control
private industry, and to give it a direction into new channels
at discretion, may have been recently combated, it cannot
be too often urged, that it is an unauthorised assumption of
power. It may well be questioned whether any member of
the Convention which framed the Constitution, to whatever
extent his jealousy of the power to raise a revenue may have
carried his apprehensions, ever conceived that it would be

MR. Sullivan's address. 213

used to convert a merchant into a manufacturer, at the plea-
sure of Congress — to compel tlie farmer to abandon the pur-
suits of husbandry for tlie spindle and shuttle — to foreclose
the inclinations — the bent of genius, the temperament and
tastes of men, and to designate their employments by the
statute book. It is no answer to say, that no such power is
claimed, and that the measure complained of will produce
no such effects — the principle of the measure contemplates
such a power, and involves such effects. If government may
so burden and embarrass one branch of industry as to dis-*
courage the pursuit of it, avowing the purpose to be to build
up another branch at the expense of the first, it has power
to go on and curtail or annihilate any or all other branches.
Should the company of tallow chandlers think proper to
represent before Congress, that it would be for the interest
of the nation to prohibit the importation of whale oil, by the
imposition of a heavy duty, a concurrence of Congress in
their views would be attended with this consequence — that
not an American whale ship would be again seen on the
ocean, at least none, whose cargoes should be destined for
the supply of the home market — and the island of Nan-
tucket might soon be deserted by its seven thousand indus-
trious and thriving inhabitants. We see nothing in this case
differing in principle from that of the cotton and woollen
manufacturers, with the provisions in their favour contained in
the new tariff, connected with the views of Congress in mak-
ing these provisions.

Whatever supposition there may be of public good and na-
tional advantage in acts of legislation, by which the claim of
one class of industry to the protection of government is de-
clared subordinate to another, it must be ill founded. In
general terms, no one will question that the citizen is entitled
to the protection of government in his person and property,
and that, if such protection means any thing, it is, that each
one is to be protected in that calling, which he may elect,
JBut upon the doctrine, that government may have its fa-

214 MR. Sullivan's address.

Tourite class, whose interests it may cherish with an ex-
clusive spirit, what becomes of the right to equal protection ?
In the case we are considering — the merchant enjoys it not —
nor the farmer, nor the mechanic. Thus may we go on, and
enumerate every denomination of persons in the community,
until we come to the fearful result, that the Constitution is a
dead letter — and that we have no other security for our rights
than the discretionary forbearance of Congress to intermed-
dle with them.

The present distresses of Great Britain, growing out of a
pohcy, similar to that on which our Government has entered,
are known to all. A leading merchant of London, who ig
also a distinguished statesman,* has pointed out the course by
which this accumulation of evil has been brought upon that
country. " Whenever" says he, " the assistance of govern-
" ment is called for by any class of manufacturers or traders,
" it is usual to make the most splendid display of the import-
" ance of that particular branch to the nation at large. The
" West and East India interests, the ship owners, the manu-
" facturers, and others, have all made their representations ;
" but it should be recollected, that it is contrary to sound po-
" licy to advance one beyond its natural means, and still more
" so when that must be done at the expense of the others."

The reflection is a pleasant one, that while we are defending
the interest of the farmer, so far from opposing that of the ma-
nufacturer, we are defending that also — because, after all, his
interests will find their best security in his own enterprise,
skill, and industry. His calculations on the partiality of
government will prove fallacious. A policy, which condemns
to a subordinate rank the interests of the great mass of the
people, must be short-lived. Our manufactures are known
to be in a thriving state — the whole country is proud of
their success. The theories of mistaken political economists
apart — a doubt may exist whether the manufacturers have any
thing to urge in favour of the new duties. Their industry i?

* Alexander Baring.

MR. sulliVAin's address. 213

protected — they are honoured by the community — and the
encouragements, which we are prepared to offer on this an-
niversary to the farmers of our Commonwealth, are to be ex-
tended equally to the manufacturers.

The merchant unembarrassed by prohibitory duties will
need no stimulus but his own enterprise. The manufacturer
will exhibit to us this day ample proofs that he can thrive
without the further aid of the government. The farmer
alone declines to avail himself of the means of prosperity*
He has been too long accustomed to view himself in the light
of a day labourer rather than as the professor of an honour-
able and lucrative art. The mysteries of husbandry are
considered but as the lesson of a da^ — and every man, the
moment he becomes the occupant of a farm, is allowed to
style himself a competent farmer. " It fills me with astonish-
" ment," said Columella, the Roman, " that while those, who
" wish to become orators, always have recourse to one as a
" teacher, whom they may take as a model — and those who
" learn music, dancing, or any other of the lighter and more
" frivolous accomplishments, employ, of course, a professed
" teacher ; Agriculture, that most important of all arts, has
" neither masters to teach it, nor pupils who seek to be taught.
" Is there then nothing in it which requires to be studied ? — Is
" there nothing to reward research ? For myself," he conti-
" nues, " when I take an enlarged view of this noblest of all
" pursuits, and survey it on all sides — and consider what it
" embraces that it would be profitable to know, I fear that 1
" shall see the end of my days before I shall become a tho-
" rough master of all its mysteries !"

And how melancholy, gentlemen, are some of the conse-
quences of so great a neglect of agriculture amongst us ! Of
the sixty thousand individuals, who annually emigrate to the
south and west from New-England, in search of subsistence,
most of them may reach in safety the places of their destina-
tion. But if you follow them in imagination, into the wilder-
ness, you will soon see that its morbid dampness and the nu-

216 MR. Sullivan's address.

merous privations and hardships, to which they are unavoid-
ably exposed, soon finish the work of destruction, which a
miserable agriculture had begun. The otfspring of parents
who possess at home a redundant territory, are compelled,
for subsistence, to alienate themselves from their kindred, and
to interpose a distance of a thousand or two thousand miles
between themselves, and all they have valued from their in-
fancy.

When we learn, that in a canton in one of the highest inha-
bited regions of the Alps, where neither nature nor art can
sustain more than a small number of human beings, it has long
been the custom for the young men, on attaining to a certain
age, to enlist in the military service either of France or Spain,
for a term of years, and that all who decline, remain not only
without consideration among their countrymen, but are cover-
ed with obloquy, we acquiesce in the necessity of this harsh
policy. But we have far other impressions of a course
of things bearing a similar aspect in Massachusetts, —
when the neglect of agriculture is the only assignable cause
of no inconsiderable part of the emigration which takes place
from year to year.

Were the modern improvements, (which have been
tested,) allowed to spread themselves over the face of our
country, and to fertilize our fields, much of the emigration
would cease — manufactures would more extensively flourish,
and obtain their only sure and permanent support, an
abundant and cheap subsistence for the workmen.

But our agricultural societies are every where rising up,
like so many temples of science, inviting our citizens to come
and do homage to an art, which is prepared to open a foun-
tain of wealth to gladden our whole country. The institu-
tion of shows of industry, is admirably adapted to draw our
husbandmen away from the influence of injurious prejudices,
and still more injurious habits, and to awaken a spirit of emu-
lation and liberal inquiry. Until within a kw years the hus-

MR. Sullivan's address. 217

bandman was known only as the vender of his produce —
now, his skill and industry are expressly recognised as public
benefits. He will no longer labour in the retirement of his
fields, looking only to so humble a result of his toil, as that of
a scanty harvest. No — he will have always in remembrance
that a day is appointed, in each year, on which, in the face
of the world, he may claim to be named as a benefactor to
the public, on exhibiting proofs of uncommon diligence and
proficiency in his art. He will come here — he will meet an
assembled community, as eager to adjust his claims as he may
be to urge them. They will enter with him into the field
where the competition is held. Those, who from inexperi-
ence, or other cause, may be incompetent to weigh the me-
rits of the competitors, will seek to inform themselves by in-
quiry of those more skilled. All will be ambitious of the
honour of anticipating the decision of the judges.

The animated discussion, among the multitude, of topics
of agriculture and the useful arts, will give a new interest to
the various subjects — the zeal here inspired, and the know-
ledge obtained, will be carried home, and be soon seen in
their effects like the invigorating power of a rich compost —
and the solitude of the country will be relieved, not only by
more ardent and better directed labours, but cheered by
more exhilarating prospects.

With a power of influence such as this, what limit can we
assign to the usefulness of our agricultural societies ? The
obligation upon them to use this power to its full extent,
ought to be deeply impressed — nor should they remit their
endeavours to make themselves acquainted with the improve-
ments, which so liberal and so progressive an art may from
time to time offer, whether they originate in our own, or in
other countries. Nor is it less important, as a means of dif-
fusing these throughout the State, that the Societies should
seek to increase their funds, so that their power of be-
stowing premiums may be commensurate with the improve*
ments they may tliink it important to recommend. The

Vol. VI. 28

218 CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON.

time, we may hope, will arrive, when the smallest details of
rural economy may become subjects of reward, as well as
the leading operations of husbandry. I say the smallest de-
tails, because, in husbandry there is nothing which is unim-
portant or uninteresting. There is nothing so small as not
to have, either in a moral or economical view, an influence
on the well being of the farmer. There is nothing of so
little consequence, that, if disregarded, its neglect will not be
perceived to mar the harmony of that delightful picture — a
well ordered, neat, and polished husbandry. How soon, we
may impatiently ask, how soon shall we behold the day, when
such a picture shall gladden our eyes, whichever way we
turn them, in this land of precious privileges !

OFFICIAL RKPORTS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRI-
CULTURAL SOCIETY, UPOPJ THE SUBJECT OF THE
CATTLE SHOW, EXHIBITION OF MANUFACTURES,
PLOUGHING MATCH, AND AGRICULTURAL INVEN-
TIONS FOR THE YEAR PAST- AS ANNOUNCED AT
THEIR ANNIVERSARY HELD AT BRIGHTON ON THE
SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH DAYS OF OCTOBER.
1820.

FIRST REPORT.

XVEPORT of the committee appointed to award premiums
on every description of domestic animals included in their
list of premiums. This committee consisted of one mem-
ber of the board of Trustees, and of four other gentlemen
specially selected for their knowledge and experience in
live stock — and not connected with the board of trustees ;
viz. Mr. Harrington, of Roxbury ; Mr. White, of Water-
town ; Mr. Gates, of Dedham, and Mr. Perry, of Sher-
burne.

The chairman of this committee repeated verbally to the
board, that the duties of that committee, owing to the en

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON. 219

larged number of competitors for premiums, had been
so much increased, that it was impossible for him to draw
up a written report, but he endeavoured to state from
memory the principles which had governed them in their
decision. He would endeavour not to exaggerate the
facts, while he should deem it a duty alike to do justice to
the important influence which the society by its premiums
had produced upon our agriculture, and to the spirit and
intelligence, by which they had been seconded and sup-
ported by the intelligent cultivators of the state. It is
scarcely possible that any man could have the hardihood
to misrepresent the state of improvement as to an exhibi-
tion which is so open to all the world. Every spectator was
a self constituted judge, and would instantly condemn any
attempt at misrepresentation. The elTect of this show, on the
character and qualities of our domestic animals, was so marked
and so'unquestionable,that a man whohad viewed the exhibi-
tion initsinfancy four years since, could scarcely believe that
he was in the same society and surrounded by the same cultiva-
tors, who assembled and brought their best productions at that
peiiod. The race of hogs was so entirely changed and im-
proved, that one could with difficulty recognize a feature of
the tall, raw-boned, thick-legged race which had for so
many years been the disgrace, while they had consumed the
profits, of the farmer of Massachusetts. The same remark
applied with still greater force to the exhibition of fat cattle.
The society having announced that their premiums should
no longer be given to monstrous and overgrown animals —
that mere weight alone should cease to be the criterion, but
that adopting the rules of the inimitable Bakevvell, whose
name ought to be placed by the side of Olivier de Serres
the great farmer of France, and of Evelyn who gained so
much glory in Great Britain as a practical cultivator, they
should hereafter award their premiums to the animals which
presented the finest forms and discovered the greatest dis-

220 CATTLE snow, &C. AT BRIGHTON.

position or aptitude to acquire flesh with the smallest possi-
ble expense.

It is surely a proof, if any thing of this sort is susceptible
of proof, that the effects of this society and its shows, have
been productive of great benefit to the state ; that instead
of two or three, we had this year no less than fourteen fat
oxen, the great part of which were beautiful in their forms,
and whose average weight exceeded two thousand pounds.
The particulars we shall state when we come to the specific
awards and premiums.

The same degree and indeed a superior degree of ad-
vancement and progress in domestic animals, was observable
in the full grorvn bulls, as distinguished from bull calves.

Here we cannot but congratulate the well wishers to the
prosperity of this grazing Slate on the enterprise, patriotism
and public spirit which have introduced the improved races
a( Great Britain. There were, and there probably are yet
individuals who think the money expended by our society
for this object a joaste.

But how illiberal is this prejudice. It is not more than
half a century since the farmers of England, with immense
wealth, and not valuing the price of 5000 dollars for an ex-
traordinary bull calf, began to ameliorate their stock. There
is no doubt we had as good in our own country — but who
seeks them out ? Who arrested by a liberal price, the knife
of the butcher about to sacrifice an extraordinary animal, who
if preserved would essentially improve our breed ? No one
— until the agricultural societies turned their attention to it.
A bull in Great Britain fifty years since had a standard price
— No man would pay more for one bull than another, — But
Bakewell and Frinceps and other liberal farmers adopt-
ed the principle of amelioration, and soon they were reward-
ed not only by public distinction, but by pecuniary gain ;
and an animal that couJ4 before be bought without discrimi-
nation from any dairy fall grown at 50 dollars, often at six
months old brought from 4000 to 6000 dollars. Nor was

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTON. 331

this the effect of any ridiculous passion, like our prices
for merino rams. It sustained itself for 20 years, and yet
continues to exist in that nation — a proof and the best proof
of the soundness of the opinion on which these preferences
were founded.

It is happy for the Massachusetts farmers that the Massa-
chusetts Agricultural Society did not embark earlier in the
encouragement o( these foreign animals. We permitted the
rage to vent itself in Great Britain before we began — and
we had the advantage of knowing zvhat breed, after twenty
years trial, English farmers had found most productive. On
the whole, it seemed that the general opinion was in favour
of the short horned animals — the long horned one, (our old
native race) being too large and raw boned for profit. — The
Holderness, and the Teeswatcr, being a variety of the short-
horned breed, were preferred.

It is a great pleasure to us to announce that our premiums
and encouragement have induced Mr. Williams of Northbo-
rough to introduce a pure Teeswater bull — Mr. Parsons, a
Holderness, and Mr. Coolidge his admirable bull Ccelebs of
the same race, though he may be from a different, but most
certainly an equally good stock. Now we venture to appeal
to any persons who did the society and themselves the honour
of visiting our Show, whether the public did not in these in-
stances in every case anticipate our decision ? It was scarce-
ly possible to keep off the throng from the pens in which
these superior animals were shown. We ought not to omit the
introduction of the Flanders breed, by Col. Thorndike, a stock
which, if we can judge either from their reputation in Eu-
rope, or the present promise of the progeny here, may prove
little if any inferior for the dairy to the best races of Eng-
land. But suppose we do not succeed by these importations
— we have the satisfaction of having made great and lauda-
ble efforts, and we shall assuredly excite our farmers to strive
to equal these boasted races of foreign growth. The great-
est benefits we have ever hoped to derive were, that we
should selectj and save from indiscriminate slaughter, the

222 CATTLE SHOW, &.C. AT BRIGHTON.

finest of our ow7i stock, while we should gradually improve
it by crosses with the best animals oi foreign countries.

There can be no stronger proof of the benefits we have
already derived, than the fact, that the progeny of the for-
eign races are by the public as well as the committee,
preferred to those of our native breeds.

One remark more we beg leave to make before we
announce the prizes awarded on Stock. — It is not possi-
ble for any body of men to take more ejficiejit measures
to secure impartiality than the Trustees of this Society have
done. We have never more than one Trustee on any one
committee, and the majority are strangers. On this great
object and first design of the show, domestic animals, we
have four strangers to one Trustee, and that one was nev-
er a competitor for any prize.

The prizes awarded were as follows — we publish them at
large, because we think the just praise for successful exer-
tions, far more exciting and valuable than the prizes
themselves.

For the best Bull, to Comet, owned by Cornelius Cool-
idge, Esq. of Dorchester, the progeny of his excellent im-
ported Bull Coelebs, but raised with great care by Mr.
Jaques of Charlestown — the first prize of forty dollars.

For the next best Bull, a Native one — Payson Wilhams
of Fitchburg, 25 dollars.

For the best Bull Calf, not less than five or more than
twelve months old, to Moses Coolidge, Esq. of Watertown,
progeny of Coelebs, imported by his son, \5 dollars.

For the next best Bull Calf, to John Barker of Leom-
inster, 8 dollars.

For the best Milch Cow, not less than three years old,
to Nathan Sanderson of Waltham, which made 13i pounds
of butter per week on an average, 40 dollars.

For the next best to Asa Wheeler of East Sudbury,
30 dollars.

CATTLE SHOW, &C. AT BRIGHTO^f. 223

For the third best do. to Mr. Samuel Dudley of Brigh-
ton, 20 dollars.

For the best Ox, fitted for slaughter, to Josiah Morton,
of Hatfield, 50 dollars— weight of the Ox 2578.

For the next best do. Henry Chapin son of Col. Cha-
pin, the owner of the famous Oxen, Magnus and Maxi-
mus, 30 dollars — weight 2149.

For the next best do. Lewis Barnard, 30 dollars —
weight 2173.

For the best Merino Wether, Nathaniel Ingcrsoll, Esq.
Brookline, 20 dollars.

For the next best do. Gen. Nathaniel Austin of Charles-
town, 10 dollars.

For the best Merino Ram, Nathaniel Ingcrsoll, Es(|.
Brookline, 20 dollars.

For the next best do. Benjamin Savery, Byfield, 10 dol-
lars.

For the best Merino Ewe, Nathaniel Ingersoll, Esq. of
Brookline, 30 dollars.

For the next best do. Benjamin Savery, Byfield, 15
dollars.

For the best Boar, to Dr. Francis Moore of Brighton,
imported breed, and crossed with the Byfield, 5 dollars.

For the best Sow, to Samuel Tewksbury, Chelsea, 10

dollars.

For the next best do. Capt Orange Wright, Northampton.

5 dollars.

For the best store Pigs, to Francis Winship, Esq. of
Brighton, 10 dollars — chiefly imported breed.

For the next best do. Isaac Davenport, Esq. of Milton,
5 dollars.

For the best Heifer under 3 years, Mark Vose, Water-
town, 15 dollars.

For the next best do. Amos Russell, Deerfield.

These are all our premiums on Stock, but it must occur
to every liberal minded man, that it is impossible in this

224 CATTLE SHOW, &^C» AT BRIGHTON.

branch to do exact justice to all, where we have teyi com-
petitors for one premium.

It must be after all only an approximation to justice, and
illiberal must that man be, and small must be his regard for
the public good, who quarrels with a decision, because ano-
ther man's animal is preferred to his own. He ought rather
to rejoice because he finds himself outdone. We know this
is not human nature, because human nature is imperfect,
and for this reason we shall notice those which, though they
did not receive, yet in many states would have had a
premium, and who deserved one here had we more money
to give, or a smaller number of excellent animals entered
for premiums.

Bulls* — That of Mr. Wheeler of Framingham, from Fill
Pail, (Mr. Thorndike's Bull) was entitled to great notice,
but he had the premium last year; Mr. Prince's of Roxbury,
also from Fill Pail, was a noble animal ; Mr. Parker's of
Chelmsford, and Mr. Leland's of Sherburne, also attracted
the attention of the committee.

Of the Bull Calves. — That presented by Hervey Stone ;
from Mr. Parson's Holderness ; that of the Rev. John Cod-
man, from the same stock ; Peter Clark's of Watertown,
and Oliver Locke's of Lexington, were all of them such as
we seldom see in our country in Cattle Shows.

Of the Cows. — That of the Hon. Mr. Welles of Dorches-
ter, divided the suffrages of the committee. Indeed his
whole stock did great honour to the country and to his ex-
ertions and care. Isaac Howe of Dorchester, exhibited a
fine Cow, as did John Rand of Weston. Thomas Williams,
Esq. of Roxbury, manifested his zeal for the promotion of
our objects, by exhibiting a fine race of animals from the
stock imported by Charles Vaughan, Esq. of the same race
from which descended the great Chapin Oxen.

Fat Oxen. — John English of Newton, exhibited an Ox,
weight "2076 ; Dr. Isaac Hurd of Concord, a beautiful one,
not weighed ; Francis Richardson of Billerica, an Ox weigh-

DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES. 225

iiig 2103; John Richards, Esq. of Newton, 2 Oxen, joint
weight 4301 ; Mr. Chapin to whom the second prize was
given, 3 Oxen weighing over 2000 pounds each ; John Rich
of Sutton, a beautiful pair, weighing jointly 3964.

Heifers, — The nnost distinguished were Hervey Stone's
by Fill Pail and from a Holderness Cow, John Richardson,
Esq. by Fill Pail ; John Prince, Esq. ; a fine display of Fill
Pail's progeny by Mr. Pomeroy, and Dr. Chaplin of Cam-
bridge.

Boars, which were thought fine. — Mr. Tewksbury's and
Mr. Wright's ; both of whom obtained premiums for Sows.

Sows, — There never was so perfect an animal exhibited
at our Shows of the race of Hogs as Mr. Prince's Sow, (not
ofiered for premium,) of the most improved British race.
It must be seen that as to local feelings, we have had none,
having distributed prizes over the whole State, except the
Southern district, who never send us samples.

JOHN LOWELL, Chairman.

SECOND REPORT.

The Committee on Manufactures, viz : — Richard Sulli-
van, Chairman, Abbot Lazurence and John Lemist, adjudged
the Premiums, as follows : —

For Broadcloths — To the W^atertown Manufacturing Com-
pany, the first premium, 30 dollars.

To the Bellingham Manufacturing Company, the second
premium, 20 dollars.

For Household Woollen Cloth — To Jonas Pollard of Bol-
ton, the first premium, 12 dollars.

To Payson Williams of Fitchburg, the second premium, 8
dollars.

Cassimeres — To the Walcott Woollen Manufacturing Com-
pany, the first premium, 15 dollars.

To Richard Crowninshield, the second premium, 10
dollars

Vol. VL 29

22b DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES.

Saltinets — To the Walcott Woollen Manufacturing Com-
pany, the first premium, 10 dollars.

To Daniel Ellis & Son of Walpole, the second premium,
6 dollars.

Cotton Cloth — To the Waltham Factory, the premium of
20 dollars.

To Thomas Hart, for fine Shirting Household Manufac-
ture, a premium of 20 dollars.

For Fine Flannel — To James Howarth, Jr. &l Co. Ando-
ver, the first premium, 10 dollars paid.

For Blankets — To Lewis Glazier of Gardner, county of
Worcester, first premium, 6 dollars.

Carpeting — To Nathan Barrett of Concord, the first pre-
mium, 15 dollars.

To Sarah Livermore of Cambridgeport, the second pre-
mium, 7 dollars.

Worsted Hose — To William Phillips of Dedham, the
first premium, 5 dollars.

Quarto Post Letter Paper — To David Ames of Spring-
field, the premium of 10 dollars.

Foolscap Writing Paper — To William Parker of Pepper-
ell, the premium of 10 dollars.

Calf Skins — Francis Dana of Roxbury, the first premium,
10 dollars.

To Samuel Hobbs of Weston, the second premium, 5
dollars.

Sole Leather — To John Bartlett of Roxbury, the first pre-
mium, 10 dollars.

Cheese — To Ebenezer Tidd of New Braintree, the first
premium, 10 dollars.

To Elisha Matthews of New Braintree, the second premi-
um, 5 dollars.

Butter — To Luke Beinis of Watertown, the first premium;
10 dollars.

To Nahum Hardy of Waltham, the second premium, 6
dollars.

DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES. 227

To Mary Noyes, for Butter, 5 dollars.
Wheat Flour — To Payson Williams of Filchburg, the pre-
mium of 25 dollars.

The Trustees at former exhibitions, being aware how dif-
ficult a task it would be to anticipate in their list of premi-
ums, the multiplied forms in which the ingenuity and taste
of our manufacturers might display themselves, allowed to
the Committee on Manufactures a discretion in awarding
premiums, to a small amount, when, in their opinion, the
interest of the public might be promoted by this sort of no-
tice. The Committee, therefore, availing themselves of the
precedent of past years, recommended the following gratu-
ities : —

To Sophia M. and Sarah-Ann Tileston, of Boston, for a
superb Hearth Rug, 5 dollars.

Td Chapin Allen, for Table-Cloths, unbleached, 5 dol-
lars.

To the Boston Hat Manufacturing Company, 20 dollars.

To Israel Trask, of Beverly, for Britannia Metal Ware, 3
dollars.

For Ticking. — To James WatsOn, of Attleboro', 3 dollars.

To Ebenezer Blake, of Wrentham, for Straw Bonnets, 10
dollars.

To Johnson Mason, of Medfield, for do. 8 dollars.

To Miss Prentiss, of Petersham, for do. 5 dollars.

To Mary Rayman, of Salem, for do. 4 dQllars.

To Betsey Bennet, of Framingham, for do. 3 dollars.

To Benjamin Wheeler, for do. 5 dollars.

To Lewis Glazier, for a Counterpane, 4 dollars.

To Mrs. Aaron Willard of Roxbury for a Counterpane, 5
dollars.

To Mrs. Susan Adams of Concord for an assortment of
Plumes made of Turkey Down, 5 dollars.

To Misses Hannah, Polly and Catherine Lewis, for Bon-
nets and Tippets of Turkey Down, each 2 dollars.

228 DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES.

To Harriet Clapp of Boston, for a Down Tippet, 2 dol-
lars.

To Miss Yvonett of Boston for a Cap, 2 dollars.

The specimens of Thread Lace were superior in the opi-
!)ion of the Committee to those exhibited last year — They
were of great beauty. The manufacture is increasing and
receiving sufKcient encouragement by the demand, to pro-
gress rapidly.

A variety of articles were offered for inspection which did
great credit to the skill and ingenuity of the persons by
whom they were wrought, but the Committee have not
found sufficient time to enumerate them. An elegant Time
Piece the workmanship of Mr. Curtis of Concord, is deserv-
ing of particular mention.

The Committee were gratified in observing a great im-
provement in the Broadcloths since the exhibition of the last
year.

The Cotton goods were of a very superior quality. Those
of the Wallham Factory were thought equal to any of the
same class, which those of the Committee, conversant mtli
tliis kind of manufacture, had ever seen.

The Cotton Shirtings of Mr. Hart and those of Mr. Bene-
dick, of household manufacture were of a very fine quality
and uncommonly good ilibrick. Those of Mr, Benedick
would have been entitled to a premium had there been five
pieces — there were only four entered.

The Cassimeres of the Wolcott Woollen Factory were of
an excellent fabrick and well finished and far better than any
exhibited in former years. The Sattinets were equal to any
ever imported.

The Flannel to which a premium was awarded, was re-
marked as being of a better quality than any of American
manufacture which the Committee had ever before seen.

The Blankets for which a premium was given, were fine
and soft, and of as strong a fabric as can be made of the short
wool of the country. The committee beg leave to suggest

PLOUGHING MATCH* 229

in conclusion, that the Blankets of the honrie manufacture
can never be of a firm and durable quality, until the sheep
which yields the long staple wool is introduced from Europe.

The Committee have recommended large gratuities for
the Bonnets manufactured from the Rye Straw and from
Grass, in imitation of the Leghorn Bonnets, because this ar-
ticle always comes to us from abroad charged at very high
prices. The present exhibition has placed it beyond doubt
that Bonnets equal to the Leghorns of a medium quality,
can be manufactured in this country. There were a number
of specimens of this quality exhibited, which were made in
families, the manufacture will probably increase rapidly and
supersede the necessity of further importation.

RICHARD SULLIVAN, Chairman,

Brighton. Oct. \8th, 1820.

THIRD REPORT.

The committee on the Ploughing Match, viz. S. W,
PoMEROY, one of the Board of Trustees, Benjamin Goddard
of Brookline and Paul Upton of Salem, reported as follows.

That a green sward 28 rods in length, was divided into
sections of one quarter of an acre, which the Competitors
were directed to plough not less than live inches in depth.

That five Competitors entered and took their sections by
lot, viz : —

Lot No. 1. — Samuel Ward of Roxbury, finished in 47
minutes, furrows turned 20 — one yoke of Oxen Ploughman
and Driver.

No. 2. — Gorham Parsons of Brighton, finished in 41
rhinutes, furrows turned 20 — one yoke of Oxen no Driver.

No. 3. — Silas Dudley of Sutton, finished in 38 minutes,
furrows turned 20 — one yoke of Oxen, no Driver, himself
Ploughman.

^^^

230 PLOUGHING MATCH.

No. 4. — Luke Fisk of Waltham, finished in 46 minutes,
furrows turned 18 — one yoke of Oxen, Ploughman and
Driver.

No. 5. — Thomas Whitcombe of Lexington, finished in 38
minutes, furrows turned 20 — two yoke of Oxen, Ploughman
D. Pollard and himself Driver.

The Committee awarded as follows, viz : —
1st Premium to Gorham Parsons, Plough, $ 20
Ploughman, Hervey Stone, - 10
Do. (no Driver.) - - 5

-p5

2d Premium to Samuel Ward, Plough,

$12

Ploughman, Thomas Perkins,

- 6

Driver, Wm. Ward, (a Lad,)

- 3

3d Premium to Luke Fisk, Plough,

$z

Himself Ploughman,

4

Driver, Jonas Bemis,

2

$21

jI4— 70

Your Committee have to remark, that the Teams appear-
ed to be well trained and in fine condition, and it was grati-
fying to observe, in Mr. Dudley^ a competitor from the
County of Worcester ; who may probably attribute his failure
of success to an ordinary plough, and being less attentive to
the execution of his work, than to the display of the power
and agility of his Oxen, which were much admired. Though
" small in size,'''' compared with others on the field, they
were certainly ^^ great in value,'''' and tended to confirm the
opinion, that the county justly styled the heart of the Com-
7)ionwealth, may boast of possessing a race of Working Cattle
not surpassed in any country.

The unfavourable weather prevented the committee from
testing, by the Dy nanometer, the comparative resistance of
the several Ploughs ; and they regret that there were not in
competition any of Woods's or Freeborn'^s Cast Iron Ploughs.
which appear to be gaining celebrity.

PLOUGHING MATCH. 231

The attention of the committee was attracted by the ex-
hibition of a Plough presented to Gorham Parsons, Esq. by
the Hon. Phihp J. Schuyler of Rhinebeck, New York, and
made by Thomas Burden of Utica, in that state, resembhng
in its general form and structure, the small Scotch Plough ;
and though not entered for the Ploughing Match, yet, from
the little resistance apparently encountered in its work,
they are impelled by a sense of the important improvements
of which the main pillar of husbandry is susceptible, to
deviate from the strict line of duty assigned them, and offer
their opinion, that this Plough merits further trial and morr
particular examination.

But it is to be hoped that the Mechanicians o( Massachu-
setts, who have so clearly demonstrated their capacity to
improve upon the complicated Machines of the most cele-
brated European Artists, will direct their attention to this
long neglected simple implement ; for they must be aware,
that the inclined Plane and the Screw, with Mechanical
Science, are as applicable to the Plough, as they are de-
pendent upon it for motion and support.

S. W. POMEROY, Chairman.

Brighton, Oct. 18, 1820.

N. B. The committee recommended to the notice of
the Trustees, Henry Burrick, a Yorkshire Ploughman, for
his skill and voluntary services in the management of Bur-
den's Plough — in consideration of which, and of his com-
mendable conduct with Mr. Derby's Scotch Plough at the
last year's Ploughing Match, they granted him a further
graiuity of five dollars.

FOURTH REPORT.

The Committee on Working Oxen report : — That they
have attended to the duty of examining the strength, doci-
lity, form, match and general power of the Cattle presented
to them for premium.

232 WORKING OXEN.

The number of Cattle were nine yoke of Working Oxen,
After as attentive a comparison as your committee were
capable of, they awarded as follows : —

To Benjamin Woodbury, of Sutton, 1st pre-
mium, paid, - - ^30
To Leonard Smith, of Waltham, 2d, - - 25
To John Rich, of Sutton, 3d, paid, - - 20
To Silas Dudley, of Sutton, 4th, paid, -_ 15
To Luke Fiske of Waltham, 5th, paid, - - 10

The committee cannot fail to express their regret and
surprise that, whilst these so liberal premiums are offered by
the Society, there should yet be so few in number of well
trained cattle. It is to be hoped that more perfection in
training, particularly with a waggon, will be attained by
our farmers. — The backing is an important and indispensa-
ble qualification to form a good team. Whilst our show ex-
hibits a fine specimen of the breed and power of our cattle,
how much is it to be regretted, that the instruction and train-
ing, of which our farmers are so capable, should be omit-
ted; and thus, through mere inattention, fail in that impos-
ing and grand effect of which this noble animal is so sus-
ceptible.

Your committee feel it a duty thus to appeal to the ca-
pacity and intelligence of our husbandmen, with a confi-
dence that a substantial benefit may and will be derived
from this most desirable attention. It will not be allowed
to be said, that every thing improves as to our stock, but
our care, our training, and our estimation of its utility. Ali
which is submitted.

JOHN WELLES, Chairman, per order.

INVENTIONS. 233

FIFTH REPORT.

The Committee, on the subject of Inventions, Report:
That no machine was presented for their examination
for which any specific premium was offered by the Trustees
— so that if any be granted for any of those which have been
entered for premium, it must be under the head of " an
agricultural implement of an invention, which shall in the
opinion of the Trustees deserve a reward."

The first of this description, which came under the exa-
mination of your committee, was a hominy mill, presented
by the Hon. Nathan Read, accompanied by a certificate of
R. Manning and company, that it had been used at their
livery stable ; that it cracked corn with great facility, and
answers the purpose perfectly. It is a cylinder, with steel
teeth, moving over a concave cylinder with similar teeth —
this last being movable, so as to regulate the fineness and
coarseness of the meal. It is also provided with a feeding
roller, which regulates the quantity of corn fed. It ground
a peck of yellow Massachusetts corn in four minutes. The
meal made measured one peck and two quarts. The whole
was perfectly cracked. It appeared to your committee to be
simple in its construction, and not likely to get out of order.
The price at which it would be afforded was stated to be
thirty-five dollars. Your committee deem it an invention
likely to be usefijl to the agricultural interest, and recom-
mend a premium of twenty dollars should be granted by
the society.

A corn-sheller was entered for premium by Reuben Moore,
which was a cylinder with iron teeth, moving over a concave
semi-cyhnder, with iron teeth. It performed the work of
shelling a peck in a minute. It is in the opinion of your
committee a useful machine. But as it in no material part
differs, as far as they could perceive, from machines, used for
a similar purpose, in this vicinity for many years past, they
do not deem it entitled to any premium.

Vol. VI. 30

O'i

234 INVENTIONS.

A corn-sheller was also entered for premium by Joshua
Melville — like the last, it wsis a cylinder with iron teeth,
moving over a semicircular cylinder, also provided with iron
teeth. But it differed from the preceding in this, that the
concave cylinder was moveable, and provided with a spring,
which enabled the machine to shell equally, corn of every
size. This last your committee deem a new invention, and
of some importance to the old concave cylinder, enabling
the w ork to be done more easily and faithfully. It shelled a
peck in fifty seconds. The cost of the machine was stated
to be eighteen dollars. The application of the spring to the
concave cyhnder would entitle it to some notice from the
trustees, were it not the decided opinion of your committee
that the vertical cast iron corn-sheller which was exhibited
the last year and patented in New York, the cost of which
does not materially differ from that under consideration, and
which is now used and decidedly approved by several gentle-
men in this vicinity, is a better instrument. And although
your committee are anxious to encourage every species of
agricultural invention, yet they deem it a rule, not only that
the machine offered should be an improvement in itself, but
that upon the whole it should be better than any machine for
the same purpose, usually known and approved. On this
account they cannot recommend any premium in this case.

A straw-cutter was presented for premium by Mr. Giles
Dayton, Jr. which being patented, and the specification minute
and embracing many particulars, your committee forbear to
enumerate the particulars on which its claim as an invention
depends. Its operation in the presence of your committee
was to cut one bushel of chaff in a minute, with great regu-
larity. It is cheap, the expense being only ten dollars;
simple, and not easily put out of order. Considering all the
circumstances connected with this machine, your committee
recommend that the proprietor receive a premium of ten
dollars.

: '\ylt^f)(i-ti.

INVENTIONS. 235

A plough for paring meadows was presented for premium
by Mr. John Guild. It is the application of a triangular iron
of a breast paring hoe to a plough beam, provided with a
cutting-knife. The machine is simple, and unquestionably
useful, in removing the sward of meadows — cutting up cran-
berry vines, and producing an even surface ; of which Mr.
Guild produced a certificate of Mr. Greenough, who had seen
the machine and its effect. Considering the nature of
the invention, your committee recommend it as worthy the
notice of the Trustees, and that he receive a premium of ten
dollars.

A pistol with seven barrels, so constructed as to discharge
seven balls successively with once loading and priming, was
presented by Mr. Artemas Wheeler. Your committee saw'
its effect, which was conformable to the statement of the
inventor, and was also deemed by military gentlemen pre-
sent, an invention which would be useful in the naval service,
as a boarding pistol. Your committee do not deem them-
selves authorised, notwithstanding the ingenuity displayed in
its construction, to recommend any premium, it not being an
instrument of use in agriculture ; and having no certificate
of its having been used and approved by a practical farmer !

A machine, called a double forcing pump, was presented
for the examination of your committee, by Mr. Thomas Kil-
vert. It however not having been entered according to the
requisitions of the trustees, and no certificate of its use or
approbation by practical men being produced, your commii-
tee have not deemed it their duty to report more particularly
on its operations.

A machine called Sijlax seed separater was sent by Mr« Elihu
Hotchkiss, of Vermont, accompanied by various certificates.
But no person was present either to explain its operation, nor
had your committee any opportunity of testing by actual ex-
periment, its power. Your committee therefore waived all
decision on the subject, although their general impressions
were favourable to its utility.

236 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS.

Your committee have seen with great satisfaction an
increase in the number of inventions offered for premium.
They regret however that there has been so little attention
paid to the rules prescribed by the Trustees, and that certifi-
cates of practical operation have been so few. In distributing
the public patronage, with which the Trustees are entrusted,
it is essential in the case of inventions, that the committee
charged with that subject, to be batisfied not only that what
is offered is actually an invention, but also that it has been
approved by practical men in their common course of busi-
ness, and that it is not only an improvement, but also
that the machine offered is better than any in common use.
An attention to principles of this kind, at once so plain and
so just, will tend to impress upon the minds of inventors the
necessity of coming furnished with the proof of practical effect,
required by the trustees ; and also relieve the committee
from the painful necessity of rejecting applications for useful
improvements on the ground that better machines on the
whole, are already in the possession of the public.
By order of the committee,

JOSIAH QUINCY, Chairman.

SIXTH REPORT.

The Committee appointed to consider the claims for pre-
miums on Agricultural Experiments, report : —

That Mr. Solomon Warner, of Northampton, in the Coun-
ty of Hampshire, is entitled to the Society's premium of thirty
dollars, for a Crop of Winter Wheat, being thirty-two bush-
els and two quarts, raised on one acre of land.

That the Hon. Jonathan Hunnewell, of Boston, in the
County of Suffolk, is entitled to the Society's premium of
thirty dollars, for a Crop of Indian Corn, being two hundred
and twenty-two bushels an^ one half of a bushel, measured

AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS. 237

jn the ears, equal to one hundred and eleven bushels and one
peck of shelled corn, raised on one acre of his farm in New-
ton, in the County of Middlesex.

That the Hon. Oliver Fiske, of Worcester, in the County
of Worcester, in entitled to the Society's premium of thirty
dollars, " for the most satisfactory experiment to ascertain
the best mode of raising Indian Corn, in hills, or in rows ;"
it will be seen by the certificates accompanying this report,
that, from one half of an acre of land planted in rows, the
produce was twenty-eight and one half double bushels of
Com in the ears ; the same quantity of land planted in hills
produced only twenty-three and one half double bushels ; —
the entire produce of the acre being equal to fifty-two bush-
els of shelled corn.

That Payson Williams, Esq. of Fitchburg, in the County of
Worcester, is entitled to the Society's premium of twenty
dollars, for a crop of Potatoes, being six hundred and four-
teen bushels, raised on one acre of land.

That John Prince, Esq. of Roxbury, in the County of
Norfolk, is entitled to the Society's premium of twenty dol-
lars, for a crop of Mangel Wurtzel, being six hundred and
seventy bushels and one half bushel, raised on one acre of
land.

That Mr. Francis Winship, of Brighton, in the County of
Middlesex, is entitled to the Society's premium of twenty
dollars, for a crop of Cabbages, being thirty-two tons and
two hundred weight, raised on one acre of land.

That Mr. Ebenezer Thrasher, of Salem, in the County of
Essex, is entitled to the Society's premium of twenty dollars,
for a crop of Carrots, weighing, exclusive of their tops, twen-
ty-one tons, four hundred and one half hundred, equal to
eight hundred and forty-nine bushels of fifty-six pounds each,
raised on one acre of land. And the said Ebenezer Thrash-
er, is also entitled to the premium of twenty dollars, for a
crop of Beets, being three hundred and twenty-three barrels,
.weighing, exclusive of their tops, nineteen tons^ fifteen hun-

238 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS.

dred and eleven pounds, equal to seven hundred and ninety
bushels, of fifty-six pounds each, raised on the same quantity
of land.

The Hon. Samuel Dana, of Groton, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, as competitor for the premium offered by the Trus-
tees, for the best crop of common Turnips. Mr. Asa Steb-
bins, jun. of Deerfield, in the County of Franklin ; Mr. Na-
thaniel S. Bennett, of Framingham, in the County of Middle-
sex ; and Mr. J. S. Low, of Andover, in the County of
Essex, for the best crop of Indian Corn ; severally caused
their names to be entered, but did not furnish the Committee
with the evidence prescribed by the rules of the Trustees.

No claims for premiums w^ere exhibited to the Committee,
for introducing a Grass superior to any now cultivated in this
State — for turning in green crops as a manure, and proving
its utility and cheapness over any other manure — nor for
proving by actual experiment, the best season and mode of
laying down lands to grass, whether spring, summer, or fall
seeding be preferable, and with or without grain on different
soils.

The Committee are much gratified in having it in their
power to state to the Board the following information, which
has been communicated to them from the most unquestiona-
ble sources, to wit : That Mr. Hervey Stone raised the last
season, on one acre of the farm of Gorham Parsons, Esq. in
Brighton, twenty-two and one half bushels of spring wheat.
Ezekiel Hersey Derby, Esq. of Salem, raised on three quar-
ters of an acre, seven hundred and twenty bushels of Carrots,
exclusive of their tops, which were estimated by competent
judges to weigh five tons.

Mr. Gardiner Whiting, of Charlestown, raised on one acre
of land, on Bunker Hill, forty-eight bushels and four
quarts of Rye. Mr. Aaron Capin, of Dorchester, raised on
four acres, three quarters and twenty-six rods, fourteen tons
and sixteen hundred weight of Hay, equal to about three
tons to the acre, leaving on the same land grass sufficient, in

:A

WHEAT. 235

the opinions of several respectable Farmers, to make two
tons of Hay, " which could not be mowed on account of its
being badly lodged." Mr. Dennis Stebbins, of Deerfield,
raised five hundred and thirteen bushels of Potatoes, on one
acre of land. And Mr. Tristram Little, of Newbury, raised
on five eighths of an acre, four hundred and twenty bushels
of common Turnips.

By order of the Committee,

THOMAS L. WINTHROP, Chairman.
Boston, December 21, 102O.

f Solomon Warner, of Northampton, in the County of
Hampshire, do testify and say, that in the spring of 1819,
I cleared a piece of wood-land, about three acres, and after
the summer harvest succeeding, I ploughed it three times,
and prepared it for a wheat crop. 1 prepared the seed-
wheat by soaking it three days in a salt pickle, as strong as I
could make it. I then drained the seed and rolled it in
slacked lime. I put one and a half bushels of seed on each
acre. No manure was made use of, and no other cultivation
pursued. The labour on each acre in ploughing and getting
in the seed was three days work with two hands and one team
of a single yoke of oxen. I reaped the crop in August, and
I caused one acre of the piece to be carefully marked off
and measured by Mr. Curtis, a sworn surveyor. The crop
from that acre was harvested by itself, and put into my barn,
on a separate scaffold, where no other grain was put. In
November of the present year, the grain from the aforesaid
admeasured acre was thrashed, and carefully measured in a
half bushel. It measured thirty -two bushels and two quarts.
The land was rocky and the growth of timber, oak, chesnut,
and walnut, and was virgin land never before cultivated.
And further the deponent saith not

SOLOMON WARNER.

3,40 WHEAT.

I Joshua Curtis of Northampton, of lawful age, testify
and say, that I am a sworn surveyor of land, that I measured
the land of Mr. Solomon Warner, on which he raised his
wheat the past year, which he offers for premium. That
the plot measured precisely one acre, and lay on the North-
west corner of the field. And further saith not.

JOSHUA CURTIS.

I Abisha Williams, of Williamsburgh, of lawful age, testify
and say, that I assisted in reaping and carting the wheat rais-
ed on the acre mentioned in the preceding certificate of
Mr. Curtis, and deposited it by itself on the west scaffold of
the said Solomon's barn. And further saith not.

ABISHA WILLIAMS.

We, Paul Warner, of Williamsburgh, and David Ring, of
Chesterfield, both of lawful age, testify and say, that we
threshed and measured the wheat lying on the west scaffold
of Mr. Warner's barn, mentioned in the preceding affidavits,
and the measure was thirty-two bushels and two quarts,

PAUL WARNER.
DAVID RING.

Hampshire^ ss. 22(? Kovemher, 1 820. — Solomon Warner,
Joshua Curtis, Abisha Williams, Paul Warner, and David
King, personally appeared and severally made oath to the
truth of the foregoing affidavits, by them respectively sub-
scribed.

Before me,

JONATHAN LYMAN, Justice of the Peace.,

TORN. 241

[To tlie Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society.]

J. HE following is the statement of the production of one
acre of land cultivated by me on my farm at Newton, in the
year 1819, and also 1820. Previous to the year 1819, this
land had been used as pasture ground for nearly thirty years.
In the fall of 1818, this ground was ploughed for the first
time since my remembrance, hi the spring of 1819, it was
again well ploughed and planted with corn in hills, in the
common form, but well manured in the hill with a mixture
of horse-dung, lime, and ashes ; when the corn was tit for
weeding, it was ashed by putting about half a pint of unleached
ashes to each hill ; a part, however, was left without any
ashes. The difference was very visible between the corn,
which had ashes applied to it, from that which had none ;
and the rapidity of the growth caused an early half hilling at
this iime, as also when the corn was weeded, it had a slight
ploughing. After which a plough was not suffered amongst
it ; nor had it any more hoeing, except to destroy the worst
of the weeds, and to stir in the turnip seed which was sown
amongst it. The rapid growth and luxuriant appearance of
this piece of corn, attracted the attention of all who passed
on the road near it. In October, I measured off one acre ;
had the corn gathered, husked, and accurately measured,
and there were 156i bushels of corn in the ear; several
bushels of the ears were measured, then shelled, and mea-
sured again. The result was, two bushels in the ear turned
out more than one bushel in the kernel. I, therefore,
thought myself safe in calculating that this one acre produced
78i bushels of corn when shelled. The seed of this corn
was presented me by Samuel Blagg, Esq. of Boston, who
procured it from WilHam Jarvis, Esq. of Vermont. It is a
large yellow kernel of 12, 14 and 1 G rows to the ear. I
have counted upward of 700 kernels on a single ear. It is
said by some to be the same kind of corn as that which has
Vol. VI. 31

242 coRif.

been raised of Jate years by Gorham Parsons, Esq. of Brigh-
ton, and also by Samuel W, Pomeroy, Esq., and the same
kind which he presented to the members of the Legislature
when in session a few years since. For the present year,
1820, the same ground was ploughed last fall; again well
ploughed this spring, furrowed out at a distance of four
feet, leaving each furrow one foot wide. The furrows were
well manured with a mixture oi horse dung, lime, ashes, and
dock mud. The seed raised the last year was planted in the
drill on each furrow, making three rows to each furrow.
Care was taken to drop the corn as near six inches apart as
possible without wasting time. When the corn was fit for
weeding, care was taken to thin it out where it was too
thick •; after weeding, it was ashed by spreading unleached
ashes through each drill or furrow. It was evident this corn
felt the effects of this last years manure, as the growth was
more rapid, and called for a still earlier half hilling, which
was applied with a slight ploughing; immediately after half-
hilling, the suckers were all carefully cut off. No more
ploughing or hoeing was applied, except so much as to de-
stroy weeds and sow turnips. This corn was planted in the
latter part of May ; the stalks cut the first week in Septem-
ber, at which time much of the corn would have answered to
have been ground. It remained in the field until the 1 3th
of October, at which time it appeared as though some pains
had been taken to strip it of the husks ; but it is the nature
of this corn to husk itself as it stands in the field. It is sn
species of corn, which, in good seasons, requires but ninety
days from planting to be perfectly out of the way of frost,
and much of it will, in that time, answer to be ground. An
acre of this land planted in drills was measured, and the
corn cut up, husked, and measured, which produced 222i
bushels of corn in the ear; several bushels of the ears were
shelled, and measured in the kernel, and in every case it
was found that two bushels of ears did produce rather over
one in the kernel. Thus we fairly calculate, that we had
from one acre of ground, one hundred eleven bushels and

CORN. 243-

one peck of corn. The land improved was good with a deep
black soil, followed by a stratum of yellow loam, terminating
with a hard pan o( clayey gravel at the depth of about two
feet. It will be found by planting in this mode, of three
rows to each furrozv, there will be more than double the
stalks of corn in a rod, than in the usual way of planting in
hills. Some may object to this mode, because they can
plough only one way, and not cross plough. But it will be
found, that it takes no more time to hoe the corn in drills
than it will to do the cross plovghing, and it requires but one
weeding and one hoeing. The third time of ploughing and
hoeing is saved.

The foregoing is very respectfully submitted by the Com-
mittee's very humble servant.

JON. HUNNEWELL.

1 hereby certify, that 1 have surveyed a piece of land on
the farm of Jon. Hunnewell, Esq. of Newton, estimated by-
Mr. Thompson, his foreman, for an acre, and find that it does
not exceed one acre.

ROBERT MURDOCK, Surveyor,

Newton, Nov, 18, 1820.

^ I hereby certify, that the above named piece of land is the
same, and all the land which I estimated for an acre, and
from which I and other named in a certificate given for that
purpose, certified we gathered one hundred and eleven
bushels of corn from. JOSEPH THOMPSON.

Newton, Nov. 18, 1820.

Middlesex, ss. November 10, 1820. Personally appeared
Joseph Thompson, and made oath that the foregoing certifi=
cate by him subscribed is true. Before me,

TYLER BIGELOW. Justice Peace.

244 CORN.

Boston, Jvbr. 22, 1820.
Sir — I am happy to have it in my power to offer to the
honourable committee that sort of evidence which is required
of the production of one acre of land cultivated by me this
year on my farm at Newton. Inclosed are the certiticates,
as also the statement of the kind of soil and manner of culti-
vation. Which is respectfully submitted by your humble
servant. J. HUNNEWELL.

Mzvton, October 20, 1820.
We, the subscribers, hereby certify, that we planted a
piece of corn for Jon. Hunnewell, Esq. on his ground lying
in Brighton ; that we have cultivated and taken care of the
same for him during the season, and did, on Saturday the
14th day of October, measure off very accurately one acre
of said corn, gathered the same acre and husked it, and with
great care measured the same, and kept an exact account of
the number of bushels of ears it afforded, which was two
hundred and twenty-two bushels and one half; and we are
satisfied there is one hundred and eleven bushels of corn,
which was raised on one acie of ground.

JOSEPH THOMPSON;
ABEL BAKER,
EZRA BAKER,
DAVID SPAULDING.
Further testimony shall be given, if required, as also the
mode of culture, by yours respectfully.

JON. HUNNEWELL.

Worcester, Oct, lAth, 1820.

[To the Corouiittce of Agiictiltuial Improvrmeuls, of the Massachusetts Agricultu'

ral Society.]
GENTLEMEN,

1 HE following is the result of an experiment made upon an
acre of land, planted, one half in hills, and the other, in rows

CORN. 245

The above parcels of land comprised a field of uniform
quality, bordered with three rows of potatoes, which was
ploughed late in the summer of 1817, after taking off a crop
of hay, and sowed upon the furrow with winter rye. It pro-
duced twenty-live bushels. The stubble was then ploughed
in, and the ground sowed with turnip seed. The seasen be-
ing indifferent, it produced but about sixty bushels, with a
profusion of verdure from the scattered grain. Late in the
autumn I carried on about one hundred loads of rich earth
from about my yard and barn, part of which had in a suc-
cession of years, been washed from my field, and a part from
an excavation of ground, on which 1 was preparing to re-
move my barn. This was spread and ploughed in. In 1819
I sowed it with wheat, which produced an abundant crop of
straw, with only fifteen bushels of shrivelled grain. I turned
in the stubble, and again sowed it with turnip seed. The
season being more-favourable, I raised from it one hundred
and sixty bushels. Intending to plant it with corn the next
year, I carried on to the margin of the field about forty loads
of compost manure. Early in May last, I gave it a deep
ploughing, and cross furrowed it for planting, at intervals of
four feet. The furrows were made six inches in depth. Be-
ing confident that the drill method of planting was the best, I
had determined to have planted the whole field in this man-
ner — but the man I had employed, mistaking my direction,
had dropped a few loads in the mode for planting in hills, be-
fore I went to the field. As it would occasion additional la-
bour to repair the error, I directed him to finish one half the
field in this manner, and to spread the manure in the rows in
the other half. 1 could then ascertain which was the best
mode of planting. This accident. Gentlemen, brought me
within the scope of one of your items for an experiment in
agriculture, which then I had not noticed. I had two men
at my cart, and employed one in covering the corn, which I
principally placed myself, five kernels in a hill, placing four in
a square, six inches apart, and the fifth in the centre, pressing

246 CORN.

them into the manure. The hill when finished was nearly
level with the ground. A row of hills contained two hun-
dred and ten kernels. The planting was performed as near
to the manuring as possible to prevent the drying and evapo-
ration of the manure.

As nearly the same amount as could be judged, was spread
in the rows, and the corn planted on the surface in a zig-zag
course, crossing from side to side of a straight line, about
three inches and at ten inches apart. When this was cover-
ed, there was a depression upon the surface of the furrow of
about two inches, as the manure was more shallow in the
rows than in the hills. Both parcels were planted on the 8th of
May. At the time of planting, the ground was uncommonly
dry and dusty for the season — but before the corn had time
to vegetate, there was a succession of cold, heavy rains, which
retarded its progress, and gave it an unpromising appearance,
especially in the rows where the seed was more exposed to
the wet, and less to the sun. Many stalks were missing.
Making no calculation for accidents in the part which I per-
sonly planted, my crop in the rows, would have been much
lessened, had not a small boy, who dropped the corn in a few
rows in my absence, furnished me with the means of supply-
ing the defect. From his nursery, I carefully transplanted
with a trowell, a sufficient quantity to make the rows com-
plete— amounting to at least two hundred plants. For some
time after the first leaves had expanded, the corn throughout
the whole field appeared almost stationary ; but there was a
perceptible difference in favour of that in the hill. Before
weeding, I dressed it with ashes, allowing an equal quantity
to each parcel — about a gill to each hill. I back-furrowed it,
and left the rows more accessible to the sun ; and loosened
the earth between the hills, and among the rows, particularly
about the corn, raising no more earth about it than was ne-
cessary to cover the ashes. This gave it a better colour and
a more healthful appearance — still it retained its dwarfish
state. Instead of the blade pushing up, it begaa to send out

CORN. 24t

suckers, like a diseased tree, more vigorous than itself. They
were removed when they were from four to six inches high,
and so slender as to yield to slight force. In some cases, I
preferred the sucker to the stalk, and severed the latter — in
some, I pulled up both. This was the most judicious course,
where the original stalk is unpromising, as a sucker rarely
produces fruit. In about a fortnight from the first hoeing, I
gave it a second, previously putting about it the like quantity
of ashes. I laid the furrow toward the corn, hoeing as be-
fore, and raising earth about the corn, enough only to cover
the ashes; stirring the ground, and levelling the furrows to a
smooth surface, leaving the earth flat and broad about the
hill, and about four inches elevated — and in the rows, a flat
surface of a foot on each side of the blade, a little more de-
pressed than in the hills. In a few days after this process, I
applied plaster, as I had ashes, and in about the same quan-
tity. This was the last ploughing and hoeing, except a light
stirring with the hoe to loosen the earth, and destroy a few
remaining weeds. The corn in the whole field remained
short, but grew slocky^ and began to tassel at from fifteen to
eighteen inches high. Many who viewed the field, judged
that its appearance indicated a small crop — but from the
commencement of the tasselling it grew vigorously — set abun-
dantly for ears, in both hills and rows ; and attained an early
stature of six to eight feet throughout the field. The stalks
were cut after the corn had become hard, and the inner
husk a little dry. The field was measured, and the corn ga-
thered on the second day of October. The produce from the
half acre in rows was twenty eight and a half double bushels
of ears. That in hills, produced twenty-three and a half
double bushels, giving five double bushels of ears in favour
of the half acre planted in rows ; and making the whole pro-
duce of the acre fifty-two bushels of shelled corn. Differ-
ence in the expense of labour in the two parcels, not exceed-
ing seventy-five cents.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

O. FISKE.

24i{ CORN.

Expence of cultivation, viz. :— ~

Ploughing, man, oxen and plough, $1 ii5

Furrowing, horse, &c 50

Manuring, - 134

Planting, 87i

Ploughing and hoeing, - 2 75

Harvesting, 2 87i

$9 59

T Nathan Shepard, testify and say, that I have worked in
the employment of O. Fiske, Esq. from April last, and that
the facts stated by him, as having taken place since I have
been in his employ, are true. I further testify, that I assisted
in harvesting the two parcels of corn, as measured by the
Surveyor — that I carefully measured the produce of each
parcel — and that their several amount is as above stated.

NATHAN SHEPARD.

Worcester, Oct. 14, 1820.

Worcester, ss. Oct. 16, 1820. — Then the above named
Oliver Fiske and Nathan Shepard, personally appeared, and
made oath to the truth of the above certificates, as by them
severally subscribed. Before me,

WILLIAM JENISON, Justice of the Peace.

I certify, that the above named Nathan Shepard, is a man
of truth, and his certificate is entitled to credit with all per-
sons. WILLIAM JENISON.

I hereby certify that on this second day of October, 1820,
I measured a part of a field belonging to Oliver Fiske, Esq.
on which Corn grew this year, planted in rows, which part
appeared to lie at right angles, and the rows uniform ; this
part as near as I could estimate by the chain, contained eighty
rods, being half an acre. I also measured, and laid off from

CORN. 249

the adjoining section, what 1 found to be an equivalent ann-
mount, of ground on which Com grew tins year, planted in
hills. JEREMIAH ROBINSON, Surveyor.

I hereby certify, that I assisted Dr. Robinson in measuring
the above mentioned separate parcels of ground, and that I
on the same day carted the Corn from the ground as measur-
ed, and deposited each parcel by itself, in two apartments in
Dr. Fiske's barn. JAMES WILLIAMS.

Worcester, ss. October 16, 1820. — Then the above named
Jeremiah Robinson and James Williams, personally appear-
ed, and made oath to the truth of their respective certificates
as above signed, before me.

WILLIAM JENISON, Justice of the Peace.

I certify that the above named Dr. Robinson and James
Williams, are men of truth, and their affidavits are entitled
to credit with all persons.

WILLIAM JENISON.

Remarks and illustrations, as an Appendix to the within pa-
per. My seed was from an ear of corn given me by Abra-
ham Bigelow, Esq. of Cambridge, as an early kind,
with a small stalk and cob, yielding a good crop, with less
exhaustion of the land than the kind in general use. \i has
eight rows and its full length where I first received it was
about eight inches. I raised my seed first from this in
1815. In 1816, a year peculiarly disastrous to corn, I
planted half an acre from this seed, and an acre in a more
favourable aspect, with our common eight rowed kind. The
first came to maturity, the latter was cut oflf in the milk. I
gave public notice of my success and sold or exchanged the
seed at the rate of other corn. A thousand bushels would not
have supplied the demand from this and the neighbouring
states. It is now I believe generally used. It probably

Vol. VI. 32

250 CORN.

originated froiu a more northern climate. Its dimensions
are increased without materially losing its early quality.
Twelve inches is not an uncommon length.

You will perceive, gentlemen, by the within statement,
that I have not adopted the common practice of late hoeing
and hilling corn — both of which I consider as extremely
detrimental. The former disturbs and severs the roots
which are in quest of food — and the other removes the food
to a point, in the course of nature, inaccessible to them —
forming a fulcrum over which the corn will break — or into
which it will be imbedded in a conjunction of wind and
rain without the power of self erection. My field was
twice exposed to this occurrence and stood in all points ol'
elevation from a horizontal line to an angle of 45^, with
little injury to the corn, and little trouble in righting it.

The seed was soaked in strong brine 36 hours before
planting. The stinted state of the corn in its early stage,
I impute to the wet and cold which succeeded the plant-
ing. I rarely plant earlier than the 20th of May — but as
the ground was becoming very dry, 1 hastened the planting,
fearing so great a drowth as would prevent the seed from
vegetating. Having published a theory on which I practised
in the management of corn, I left four rows to the course
of nature, that I might determine whether suckering corn
was useful, as I contended, fn these four rows there were
seventeen stalks more than in four rows contiguous which
had been suckered, and the produce was half a peck less.

The whole field was more infested with smut, than any
which I have before noticed in any season, and more than
I have seen the present year in any other field. Whether
this was occasioned by a vitiated state of the fluid, arising from
the insalubrity of the early part of the season — or from its
excess in the latter, I am unable to determine — but I am
inclined to the latter opinion from the consideration, that
at the period for forming and filling the ear, the season was
uncommonly favourable to vegetation, and the process was
pressed wjlh uncommon rapidity. Hence I infer that the

POTATOES. 251

!»ap in' its crude state, flowed faster to the ear than could
be assimilated and purified into grain, and expanded ia
smut. This excess would probably be greater where vege-
tation had been checked, as in my field in the early part of
the season. If my theory be correct, the reason is ob-
vious why my corn was more smutty than that of my neigh-
bours, who planted later, and where its progress was unin-
terrupted.

Incidentally in the above experiment, I have ascertained,
that corn may be transplanted without injury. Care how-
ever ought to be taken in planting to allow for accidents,
as it is better to pull up the surplus, than to supply a de-
fect by transplanting or replanting — the latter I should
never practice, unless the field was so generally and so early
destroyed as that it would do to replant the whole — as I
never knew a field succeed well, intermixed with early and
lale planting. You will observe gentlemen, that my mode
of planting in the hill gave as much advantage to this cul-
ture as possible. I intended to have had the same number
of kernels in the rows as in the hills — but I, found they
rather fell a little short — still I think it stood as thick as
would be profitable, as 1 observed those stalks produced the

best, which had the most space.

O. FISKE.

[To the Trustees of the Mas3achii3elts Agricultural Society.]

Gentlemen. — In entering the lists of competition for
your premiums on agricultural products, I deem it necessa-
ry to state that the land in which one acre of potatoes were
raised (and entered at Brighton, October 16th 1820,) the
present year, was broken up in October, 1819. The two
years previous, had been used as part of a sheep pasture,
on which the sheep were folded at night. The situation of
the land, is near the foot of a heavy swell, and is gently in-

262 POTATOES.

dining to tlie east, the soil a dark yellowish loam, such as
we call chesiiut land. In the spring of 1820, the land was
cross-ploughed and harrowed, and between the 2!st and
27th of May, the crop was put in, in the following manner.
Six furrows were cut lengthwise the piece, (as owing to the
local situation of the land, the whole manure had to be
carried across the field in various directions, which will ac-
count for six furrows at a time only.) The manure, (which
in quantity, was about 37 loads, and in quality, that made
from neat cattle and sheep, the 20 loads from sheep was
I straw, their winter litter) spread in, and the cut potatoes
planted one foot apart, the horse plough then followed,
throwing the loam on the manure and potatoes ; this again
followed by the hand hoe to dress down, or add the loam,
which completes the process in about half the time and
much better, likewise, than the same entirely performed
with the hoe.

In ten days the weeding commenced by running the horse-
plough as near the manure as possible, throwing the loam
in a ridge between the rows (which were 3 feet apart) follow-
ing with the hoe to dress the plants. About the 22d June,
the ridges were split with the horse-plough, throwing an
equal quantity of the same to each row, followed with the
hoe as above. The vines at this time were not more than
8 inches in height and not yet in the bud. From this time,
the field was not entered till harvest which commenced the
23d October and on finishing the same, had by admeas-
urement, six hundred and fourteen bushels.

The seed used, was forty bushels, part the Rio-de-la-
Plate reds, and the remainder the Fitchburg whites. The
i-eds gave a superior yield on a like quantity of land in the
proportion of six in eleven, in bushels, but the whites were
five pounds in a bushel the heaviest.

I would here observe (with much deference to the opi-
nion of more experienced farmers) that as the present sea-
son has been too hot and dry for potatoes, I think 700
bushels can be produced from the acre in this country in

I'OTATOES. 253

our best seasons, for the successful culture of this valuable
root.

The land on which I raised one acre of wheat, the present
season (as entered at Brighton, October 16th, 1820,) was in
1819, occupied with a crop of Indian corn, manured at the
rate of 20 buck loads to the acre, ploughed in. After tak-
ing off the crop in the fall, the land was coarsely ploughed.
In the spring of 1820, the land was cross-ploughed and on
the 18th of April, after the seed had been soaked in brine,
the strength of sea water, thirty-four hours, drained, and
a sufficient quantity of wood ashes, mixed with it, was
sowed at the rate of 3 bushels to the acre, (which, experi-
ence declares to be one sixth part too much,) and harrowed
in across the furrow, following with the grass seed, which
was again cross-harrowed and left in this situation till about
the middle of July, the crop then harvested and when
threshed and cleaned measured nineteen bushels.

It is perhaps unnecessary to observe, that owing to the
intense heat and drought, of the season, crops of wheat in
this part of the country have been comparatively small with
former years ; this together with the inauspicious visit of a
squall of hail, (before the grain was ripe, which broke one
half of it down) will account for the small crop above.

Expence arising from the culture of one acre of potatoes

in the year 1820.

Breaking up ^5,00

Cross-ploughing and all other labour in planting 12,00

37 buck loads manure 37,00

40 bushels potatoes, at 25 cts. - > - . i o,00

2 hoeings 8,00

harvesting the crop, 1 man 20 days at 75 cts. - 15,00

$87,00
PAYSON WILLIAMS.
AARON BIXBY.

254 MANGEL WUUTZEL.

Worcester^ ss. November, Sth, 1820. Personally appear-
ed Payson Williams, and Aaron Bixby, and made oath, that
the foregoing statement subscribed by the said Payson Wil-
liams, and the said Aaron Bixby, contains the truth,
Before me,

CALVIN WILLARD, Justice of the Peace.

This is to certify that I, Philip F. Cowdin, being sworn
surveyor of the town of Fitchburg, in the county of Wor-
cester, have this day surveyed a certain piece of potatoes,
for Payson Williams, of Fitchburg, in the town and county
aforesaid, and find the same to contain one acre and no
more. PHILIP F. COWDIN.

Fitchburg, September 28/A, 1820.

This is to certify that I, Philip F. Cowdin, being sworn sur-
veyor of the town of Fitchburg, in the county of Worces-
ter, have this day, surveyed a certain piece of ground, sown
this present season, with spring wheat, for Payson Williams,
of Fitchburg, in the town and county aforesaid, and find it
to contain one acre, and no more.

PHILIP F. COWDIN.
Fitchburg, September 28//i, 1820.

Jamaica Plain, '2,0th Nov, 1820.

[To the Cohimittee on Agricultural Experiments.]
GENTLEMEN,

H.AV1NG the last year addressed a note to the Secretary of
the Society on the subject of the culture of Mangel Wurtzel,
of which vegetable I had just been raising a small patch —
and from the high opinion I therein expressed of its value, I

MANGEL WURTZEL. 255

thought it my duty to attempt its cultivation this year on a
larger scale, having procured fresh seed from Holland. I
now beg leave to give you the result.

The land used for the purpose had been for four years
chiefly cultivated with carrots — is a deep light loam on a dry
gravel bottom, — and on the same spot are upwards of fifty
apple and pear trees, of 10 to 15 years old. This year about
24 ox-cart loads of compost manure were used ; on part of
the land it was spread and ploughed in, and on part it was
put in the furrow under the seed — the whole was thrown in
ridges with the double mould board plough, about two and
a half feet apart, then flatted a little, and Ihe seed put in,
with the fingers, at six inches apart. They were afterwards
thinned to a single plant, and after they had attained considera-
ble size, every other one was taken up and used as food for
my hogs, being boiled. They were hilled with the double
mould board plough, and hoed alternately three or four times
during the season.

I am well convinced the whole labour on them was fully
paid by the trimmings and thinnings, which my people all
estimated, including those pulled within six weeks of har-
vesting, at not less than one hundred and fifty bushels of
roots.

In the month of July the season was so dry, 1 feared 1
should almost lose my crop by drought. 1 think a soil natu-
rally more moist would have been better for them. I am,
however, well satisfied with the result. On the 12th of Oc-
tober we commenced taking them up, first cutting the tops
and carting them oflf to the oxen and cows, the roots were
then pulled, and on the 14th the whole were housed or pitted
at an expence of less than ten days works on 504 baskets —
24 of which I myself weighed, the average of which was
75 21-26 lb. net — and calculating, by the society's rule of
56 lb. per bushel the produce then gathered was 682 bushels
from 1 acre and 2 rods, as appears by the surveyor's certifi-
cate, herewith handed. There being no hay-scales within
three miles and not wishing to market any of these roots, I

A,

256 MANGEL WURTZEL.

thought the trouble too much to send them, and presumed
the Committee would be satisfied with the weight as above
expressed.

It must be observed that allowing 10 days labour in harvest-
ing, each man must have got in 63 bushels in one day's work,
four times as much as that of harvesting potatoes. All sorts of
stock are fond of them, much more so than of Ruta Baga,
and they are, I think, a more certain crop, having fewer ene-
mies to encounter. They are not, however, so easy to keep
through the winter. I last year kept (in a pit) in the field
those intended for seed, which did remarkably well, — and
this year I have pitted 200 bushels, by digging a trench 3h
feet wide and about 1 foot deep, putting a layer of straw on
the bottom and piling them about 3 feet high, and covering
them with straw five or six inches deep, and then covered 6 or
8 inches with the soil taken from the trench — observing not
to cover them too thick, till the weather becomes quite cold.

On three square rods of the above ground an average of
1800 bushels per acre was produced. The seed was plant-
ed the 28th of April.

1 am, very respectfully, yours,

JOHN PRINCE.

N. B. I have this fall procured a double mould board
plough and horse-hoe with circular cutters — the mould board
and hoes are expanding, and can be worked in rows of any
width from 18 inches to 3 feet apart, with this implement, in
a free easy soil, I think the hand hoe will not be much re-
quired.

Roxhunj, Mv. mth, 1820.

I Mather Withington, of Dorchester, a sworn surveyor,

having been requested therefor by John Prince, Esq. of said

Roxbury, hereby certify, that I have this day surveyed a

piece of ground on which, as had been stated by him, a crop

CABBAGES. 257

of Mangel Wurtzel had recently been taken, and find it to
measure one acre and two rods. I also found on the said
ground forty-nine pear and apple trees, from ten to twenty
feet in height — also within one foot, on the eastern border,
'"ighteen other trees, of apple and pear, of like height.
MATHER WrnilNGTON, Surveyor.

Roxbury, "imh Mv, 1820.
We the subscribers hereby certify and declare, that we
have worked on the farm of John Prince, Esq. during the,
whole of the past summer, that we have assisted in cultiva-
ting a piece of ground with Mangel Wurtzel, that we have
seen the statement made by Mr. Prince of the culture there-
of and the produce, and that so far as relates to the labour of
thi& year, the manure, the produce and weight of the same,
we can attest to the accuracy thereof.

EPHRAIM DOWNES.

LEONARD NEWTON.

Mrfolk,ss. Roxhury, Nov. ^Btk, 1820. Then the
above-named Ephraim Downes and Leonard Newton appear-
ed, and solemnly swore to the truth of the above by them
signed. Before me,

JOHN PARKER, Justice of the Peace.

Brighton, Mv. 8, 1820.

A.N account of the culture and produce of one acre of Cab-
bages by Francis Winship, of Brighton, in the county of Mid-
dlesex : The land on which the Cabbages grew, is the same
on which the ploughing-match took place in the year 1817,
was cultivated with corn aind potatoes in the year 1818, and
with potatoes in the year 1819. The last spring it was
Vol. VI. 33

258 CABBAGES.

ploughed once. In June it was ploughed again, and struck
into furrows from 2i to 3 feet apart. I then dropped leach-
ed ashes into the furrows, one shovel full making three or
four hills 15 or 20 inches apart, it was then mixed with the
loam and covered ; a boy followed with the seed, and pene-
trated the hill with his thumb and finger, and deposited three
or four seeds. This was performed the latter part of June.
They were afterwards weeded and thinned as convenience
suited, probably equal to three dressings. On the 8th of the
present month Mr. Tufts surveyed the land, and ascertained
that there was one acre of the same kind, he then set off' one
eighth part of an acre, pointed the same out to myself and
my man Mr. Pierce. It was taken from the centre and con-
sidered a fair average of the acre. From this eighth of an
acre we ascertained that forty of the heads had been taken
away by the market man, — we therefore selected forty cab-
bages from the neighbouring rows, and put the same to the
produce of an eighth of an acre. They were then taken
(making three loads) to the scales, and weighed, as appears by
the weighers ticket, eighty hundred and one quarter, — this
multiplied by eight makes thirty-two tons and two hundred.

FRANCIS WINSHIP.

Brighton, 9th Mv. 1820.
Three loads Cabbages, owned by Francis Winship, driven

by Mr. Peirce, weight 118 1

Tare 38 0

Nt. Wt. 80 I

SAMUEL DUDLEY, } w j
OTIS FAY, 5 weigntrs.

Brighton, Nov. 9, 1 820.
This is to certify that I have lived with Francis Winship
the summer past, and assisted in the cultivation, collection,
and weighing, and was present when Mr. Tufts surveyed and

CARROTS. 259

pointed out the above eighth part of an acre of cabbages,
and the above statement is correct and true.

HIRAM PEIRCE.

Brighton, Sth JVbr. 1820.
This will certify that I surveyed this day a piece of cab-
bages for Francis Winship, of Brighton. I first ascertained
that there was as much as one acre of the same kind of druni-
iiead cabbages. I then pointed out to him, and his man, one
eighth of an acre to be weighed.

PETER TUFTS, Jr. Stirvei^or,

Middlesex, ss. Brighton, Kov. 29, 1820. Then person-
ally appeared the above-named Francis Winship and Hiram
Peirce, and made oath that the above certificates by them
subscribed is true, before me.

EDWARD SPARHAWK, Justice Peace.

We, Ebenezer Thrasher, husbandman, Moses Cricket, and
David Trasher, all of Salem, in the county of Essex, oa oath
testify as follows, —

That sixteen tons and thirteen hundred weight, together
with one hundred and eighty three bushels more, of Carrots
were raised on an acre of the farm in said Salem, occupied
by the above named Ebenezer Thrasher, the same acre mea-
sured in our presence by Mr. Jona. P. Saunders, surveyor ;
and we know the above quantities were dug on said acre,
from time to time, from the 6th November last, to the 14th
December inst. : we all assisted in digging the same.

The weight of all said Carrots, except of the one hundred
and eighty three bushels, was ascertained by E. W. Fabens,
Town Weigher.

EBENEZER THRASHER.

DAVID TiRASHER.

MOSES CRITCHET.

360

CARROTS.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Essex, ss. December 14, 1820. Then (he aboveiiamed
Ebenezer Thrasher, Moses Critchet, and David Thrasher, sev-
erally subscribed and made oath to the truth of the above
affidavit, before

BENJAMIN MERRILL, Justice Peace.

The words " one hundred and eighty three," were inter-
hned before signing and taking the oath.

B. MERRILL, Justice Peace.

Salem, Dec. 14, 1820.
This is to certify, that I, the subscriber, have cultivated
the land on which I raised an acre of Carrots, the past sea-
son, as follows : May 1, carted three and a half cords manure
and spread the same — 10th, ploughed it — 1 1th, harrowed
it — 12th, carted on three cords manure — 13th, harrowed it
again — 17th, ploughed it — 18th, raked it over — 19th and
20th, sowed it with three pounds of carrot seed, and three
pounds radish seed — June 8th, hoed the same between each
row, the distance between the rows being seventeen inches
— 1 5th, hoed and weeded the same — 29th hoed the same
again — July 10th, hoed and weeded the same for the last
time ; the above being all the manure and labour done on the
above land during the season. EBENEZER THRASHER.

This certifies that drafts of Carrots weighed as follows,
belonging to Mr. Ebenezer Thrasher, of Salem.

Nov. 6, 1820.

GROSS

*

TARE

•

NEAT.

Horse Carl,

18

3

16

5

0

23

13

2 21

18

1

2

5

1

IG

12

3 14

19

2

16

5

1

16

14

1 0

9th,

16

0

16

5

1

16

10

3 0

Horse Waggon,

19

2

2

5

0

23

14

1 7

17

2

2

5

1

16

11

0 14

17 th,

14

3

2

5

2

2

9

1 0

24,

17

3

2

5

2

16

12

0 14

18

3

16

5

2

16

12

1 0

-«%

CARROTS.

261

GROSS

•

TARE.

NEAT.

25,

18

1

o

5

2

16

12

2

14

11

1

9

5

0

25

6

0

14

27,

16

1

16

5

0

23

11

0

21

18

1

9

5

0

23

13

0

14

17

0

23

5

2

2

11

1

21

.4,

17

3

16

5

2

16

12

1

0

6,

15

0

5

2

2

9

2

0

8,

17

0

23

4

0

23

12

0

0

17

2

16

5

2

16

12

0

0

17

2

2

5

0

23

12

1

7

%

17

2

2

5

2

16

11

3

14

12

2

2

5

2

2

7

0

0

17

3

16

5

0

23

12

2

21

16

1

2

5

I

16

10

3

14

14,

18

1

2

5

2

16

12

2

14

18

2

2

5

0

23

13

1

7

18

2

16

5

2

16

13

0

0

19

2

16

5

0

23

14

1

21

17

0

16

5

1

16

11

3

0

A true copy. Attest.
Salem, Dec. 14, 1820.

C«t. 333 0 0

E. W. FABENS, Weigher,

Salem, 6th November, 1820.
1 hereby certify, that at the request of Mri Ebenezer
Thrasher, I measured a piece of land in South Salem, and
staked off as part thereof, one acre, the same having Carrots
thereon. JONATHAN P. SAUNDERS,

Sworn Surveyor,

Salem, December 14, 1820.
This is to certify, that we have raised on the land on which
we raised an acre of beets the past season, eleven hundred
dozen of radishes, according to the best of our knowledge.
Also, on the land on which we raised an acre of Carrots,
we also raised sixteen hundred dozen of Radishes, according
to the best of our knowledge.

EBENEZER THRASHER.
DAVID THRASHER.

262 BEETS.

We, Moses Critchetand David Thrasher, resident at Salem,
in the County of Essex, husbandmen, severally on oath
testify :

That the said David wrought in the employment of Ebene-
zer Thrasher, of Salem, on the farm in Salem, occupied for
several years past by said Ebenezer, and said David was pre-
sent and assisted during the months of August, September
and October last, in digging and putting into barrels the crop
of Beets raised on one acre of his farm, the same surveyed
by Mr. Jonathan P. Saunders ; and the said David knows,
that three hundred and twenty-three barrels of Beets were
in said months raised on said acre of ground, which he assist-
ed in digging and barrelling — twenty-five barrels of the
same were dug and sold in August ; of which I informed
Critchet.

The said Critchet declares he began to work for said
Ebenezer, in September last ; that part of the Beets grow-
ing on said acre had then been dug and carried away ;
that he was informed twenty-five barrels had been dug, which
he believes to be true ; that in September and October last,
he assisted the said Ebenezer and David in digging and bar-
relling two hundred and ninety-eight barrels, the residue then
on said acre, and he has no doubt the whole must have been
three hundred and twenty-three barrels.

DAVID THRASHER.
MOSES CRITCHET.

I, Ebenezer Thrasher, of Salem aforesaid, husbandman,
on oath testify.

That I raised, dug and barrelled during the months of Sep-
tember, August and October last, on one acre of the farm
I occupy in Salem, the same acre surveyed by Jonathan P.
Saunders, three hundred and twenty-three barrels of Beets.

EBENEZER THRASHER.

.,;..W

BEETS. 263

COMMONWEALTH OP MASSACHUSKTTS.

Essex, ss. Kovcmher Q9, 1820. — Then the abovenamed
Ebcnezer Thrasher, David Thrasher, and Moses Critchet,
severally subscribed and made oath to the several aforewrit-
ten affidavits, by them respectively subscribed.

Before me,

BENJAMIN MERRILL, Justice of the Peace.

Salem, December 14, 1820.

This is to certify that T, the subscriber have cultivated the
land on which 1 raised an acre of Beets, the past season as
follows :— April 10th, I begun to cart manure on the land — I
carted and spread 4 cords. 18th, ploughed the land. 19th,
harrowed the same. 29th, carted four cords more of ma-
nure and spread the same. May 4th, ploughed it again.
5th, harrowed the same. 8th, ploughed -it over again.
9th, raked it over and sowed it with six pounds of seed (Beet)
and four pounds of Radish seed. June 1st, hoed the same
between each row, the distance between the rows, being
two feet. 9th, hoed the same again. 12th, weeded the
same. 28th, hoed through again. July 3d, hoed and
weeded again the above, being all the manure and all the
labour that was done on the above named land durinor the
season.

EBENEZER THRASHER.

Salem, August, 1820.
I hereby certify, that, at the request of Mr. Ebenezer
Thrasher 1 measured a prece of land in South Salem, and set
off therefrom one acre, having thereon Beets — growing.

JONATHAN P. SAUNDERS,

Sworn Surveyor.

■ 264 ENGLISH TURNIP.

Salem, 1 Sth December, 1S20,

DEAR SIR,

I received yours this morning, and seeing Mr. Thrasher,
he furnished me the inclosed Certificates.

It is always the practice to top both Beets and Carrots be-
fore weighing, I saw him pack and weigh the barrel of Beets,
and he assures me, they would have weighed much more
when they were first taken from the earth. Estimating a
bushel to weigh 56 lbs. a barrel contains 3lbs. short of 2 1-2
bushels. I think a bushel just dug would weigh over 60

lbs.

I am yours, with great respect,

E. HERSEY DERBY.
Thomas L. Winthrop, Esq.

1 hereby certify that I weighed one barrel of the Beets,
packed in the same manner as I packed the others, that it
weighed 156 lbs., the barrel 19 lbs. ; the neat weight of
Beets being 137 lbs. ; — and I have no doubt had 1 have
weighed all the others they would have contained an. equal
weight of Beets. DAVID THRASHER.

I hereby certify, that all the Carrots were toped before
they were sent to the town scales.

DAVID THRASHER.

[To the Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural Society.]

VXentlemen. — The following statement is made in conse-
quence of my application for your premium, on a crop of
the common English turnip ; but it is unfortunate for me,
I cannot give you the total amount of the crop. The selec-
tion of this tract for turnips was, iH part, its adjoining the
road and in full view of the public, to induce them to aban-

ENGLISH TURNIP. 266

don the practice of sowing broadcast, and sow them in rows,
as was my practice ; but upon measurement it was found to
contain one acre within the fences, which, the head-lands
not being ploughed, left not one acre actually sowed. The
situation of the land being low and flat on the clay (as we
term it) and my neglecting harvesting till the beginning of
November, the early snows and frost have prevented me
from finishing; but we have gathered and measured four
hundred and twenty bushels from one hundred rods, the re-
maining 1 must feed off with my stock when permitted. My
mode of culture is as follows ; — The middle of July 1 plough-
ed my ground, which had been mown a few days before,
and had been down to grass for ten years, and cut about
three-fourths, of a ton to the acre. Then I drew on eight
cords of manure, which was a composition of marsh mud and
manure, made by my flock of sheep, which i spread on and
harrowed in ; then 1 shallow-ploughed it in small ridges, then
with a machine I sowed two rows on a ridge, and covered
it with a light harrow. The rows were two feet apart be-
tween the ridges, and one foot on the ridge, which took half
a pound of seed. I thinned them to the distance of one foot
apart ; the first of August I ploughed and hoed them ; I
hoed them again the latter part of the same month. The
whole expense of labour of ploughing and sowing, and thin-
ning, hoeing, <Sic, do not amount to more than fourteen days
works, including harvesting.

P. S. I have stated above, that I sowed my turnips the
middle of July. There were twenty rods on one side that I
omitted sowing till August, which wer6 so late that the Sep-
tember drought injured materially. Respectfully yours,

TRISTRAM LITTLE, Owner.
HENRY TANDAY, Assistant,
Benjamin Guild, Esq.

Mivbury, Mv. 29, 1820.

Vol. VI. 34

26B ENGLISH TURNIP,

If requested, I would give you the statement of tlie crop,
and of the measure of the land, under oSth.

TRISTRAM LITTLE.

Newbury^ Dec, 25, 1820.
Mr. Thomas L. Winthrop,
Sir, — In answer to yours of the 16th instant, respecting
my turnip crop, I shall state to you that they were com-
pletely topped, as we term it, or, in other words, they were
fit for the market, as a part of them were sold in Newport
market, and a part was sold on the ground, and the purcha-
ser trimmed or topped them to his fancy, and the remainder
I put in my cellars for the use of my stock. The following
certificates are those requested. I am respectfully your
obedient servant. TRISTRAM LITTLE.

These may certify, that we assisted T. Little in harvesting
his crop of turnips, and we saw four hundred and twenty
bushels measured from a part of his ground.

HENRY LITTLE,
HENRY TANDAY.

Essex, ss. December 25, 1C20. The above named Henry
Little and Henry Tanday made oath to the truth of the
above certificate by them subscribed before me

EBEN. MARCH, Justice of the Peace,

This may certify, that 1 have measured a piece of land for
Tristram Little, from which he says he gathered four hun-
dred and twenty bushels of turnips, and it contains one hun-
dred rods, and no more ; it was a part of the ground sowed
with turnip, which he entered for your premium.

EBEN. MARCH, Jr.

Essex, Dec. 25th, 1820. Then the above named Eben-
ezer March, Jr. made oath to the truth of the above certifi-
cate by him subscribed before me

EBEN. MARCH, Jmtice of the Peace.

SWEET POTATOES. 267

This may certify, that I passed through Mr. Tristram Lit-
tle's field, at the time that he was harvesting his turnips, and
saw a cart load standing there, which was represented to
contain forty-two bushels, and gathered from a piece of
ground which I assisted in measuring at that time, which did
not exceed eight rods. I have no doubt as to the correctness
offacts above stated. DAVID LITTLE.

Boston^ Jan, 27, 1821.

[To Dr. Dexter, President of the Massacliusetts Agricultural Society.]
SIR,

Although I am sensible, that horticulture forms but a com-
paratively small branch of the duties of an Agricultural So-
ciety, and is entitled to a very inferior degree of attention,
yet it is not to be entirely overlooked. It is with these
views, that I communicate to you my experiments of the
cultivation of the sweet potatoe of Carolina, a name by
which it is more generally known, though the plant is not an
indigenous or native one of that State. The eagerness with
which it is sought when imported from the southern states,
and the high price paid for it, are sufficient proofs that it is a
valuable addition to the luxuries of our tables. The price
we pay for it ordinarily is at least equal to three times its
first cost, it being sold in the CharlestoB market from fitty
to seventy-five cents per bushel, while it ordinarily costs us
from 150 cents to two dollars.

I had heard of the successful cultivation of this plant at
Plymouth, in this State, by Mr. Davis, the father of several
of our most respectable citizens ; and I always believed, that
a little attention would enable us to naturalize it in our cli-
mate, as it is well known that it has for a long time been
successfully cultivated in the State of New Jersey.

The complete success which attended the cultivation of it
in 1819, by some of us, from your distribution of slips of the

268 TILLAGE LA^fDS.

plant received from Colonel Haskell of South Carolina, in-
duced me to import a bushel of the slips the last spring from
New Jersey, under the belief that, having been in some de-
gree accommodated to a more northern climate, it would more
readily flourish and produce perfect roots or tubers with us.*
I accordingly planted it the last spring on about a 20th
part of an acre, and it succeeded far beyond my most san-
guine hopes ; so much so, that 1 can without any hesitation
venture to assert, that 300 bushels per acre may be easily
raised. What is of more importance, I can assure the pub-
lic, that in point of quality and sweetness, the potatoes were
at least equal to the best ever imported from more southern
climates. The season was, however, unusually favourable ;
and I do not mean to intimate, that the success will always
be as great. I am inclined to think, that the plants should
always be started in hotbeds, as they require an unusual
length of time before they appear above the ground. I dare
say no more upon the credit of two successive experiments,
but after another trial I hope to be able to point out the
best mode of culture of this valuable root. Yours respect-
fully, J. LOWELL.

Salem, January 22, 1821.

{To the Corresponding Secretary.]

DEAR SIR,

Having adopted a mode of managing my tillage lands for
two years past, W'hich has been attended with considerable
success, I wish, through the medium of the society, if thought
worthy of publication, to communicate the result of it to the
agricultural community.

My farm, like most others in Massachusetts, consists mostly
of upland and swamp and meadow lands. Instead of spread-

* ] had the roots for six weeks successively on jny table, in the
highest perfection and in abundant quantities.

TILLAGE LANDS. 269

iiig gravel on the meadow lands, as has been customary, I
have drained the meadows, carted the mud from them to the
upland, spread it from four to six inches thick, and ploughed
it in. The ellect, on a gravelly knoll, which has been very
slightly manured for several years past, and on which corn
was planted in 1819 before the mud was applied, was, that
in 1820, after the mud was spread and ploughed in, but with
similar management in other respects, three times as much
corn was produced as the same land bore in 1819. On a
piece of hilly pasture land, with a gravelly soil, first broken
up about three years since, I raised, in 1820, a crop of pota-
toes, eight hills of which, on an average, in a high part of it,
where the mud had been plentifully spread and ploughed in,
produced a bushel, when, in the other parts, from twelve to
twenty hills were required for a bushel, although a small
quantity of mud and slacked lime had been ploughed into
the whole piece, and my men had deposited mud taken from
the barn yard and barn cellar in all the hills as manure ; but
this latter application appears to have had very little effect,
probably from the mud not being mixed with the other in-
gredients of the soil.

To all persons, who have attended to agriculture as a sci-
ence, it is well known, how necessary due proportions of
silex, alumine and vegetable matter, in a mixed state, are to
the existence of a vigorous vegetation. Soils thus consti-
tuted are particularly well calculated to acquire and retain
moisture from rains and " atmospheric absorption." The
properties favourable to vegetation, acquired by the land,
must be of great durability also, unless from the form of the
land, the fine particles be washed from it by rains, &c. Ano-
ther advantage is, that whether the meadow be deep or
shallow, much more arable land is produced than by the
common method. If the meadow be deep, vastly more
tillage land is obtained with the same amount of labour, as
the gravel when spread in the common mode is continually
sinking into the soil of the meadow ; and if the meadow be

270 LOCUST TREES.

shallow, by (liaining it and removing all the mud wiiich can
conveniently be taken, a sufficient quantity will still remain
to be ploughed into the gravelly sub-soil, and good tillage land
thus be produced ; and many of our swamp and meadow lands
are capable of being easily drained sufficiently for this pur-
pose.

Perhaps it is proper to state, that I have carted the mud to
the upland in the fall, that it might be hove by the frost in
winter. It is much more easily pulverized in consequence
in the spring.

I will only add an extract from a late publication on agri-
culture. " In supplying animal or vegetable manure, a tem-
porary food only is provided for plants, which is in all cases
exhausted by a certain number of crops ; but when a soil is
rendered of the best possible constitution or texture, with
regard to its earthy part^, its fertility may be considered as
permanently established. It becomes capable of attracting a
very large proportion of vegetable nourishment from the
atmosphere, and of producing its crops with comparatively
little labour and expense."

I trust it will be understood, that I have applied the mud
only in cases, where considerable gravel would be mixed with
it by ploughing. Hoping these suggestions may lead to fur-
ther experiments, I am, with great respect, your obedient
servant. WILLARD PEELE.

[The following communication from General H. A.S. Dear-
born, of Roxbury, on a subject of great importance to the
agriculture of this State, we insert with great pleasure. It
eannot be doubted that the Locust tree (Robinia Pseud-
Acacia) will flourish as well in the climate and soil of Massa-
chusetts, as in any more southern part of the United States.
Many of us recollect, that these trees forty years since, form-
ed some of the finest ornameRts of our public roads, and

LOCUST TREES. 271

often attained a size which would render them useful in naval
and civil architecture. Their failure since that period, has
been in a principal degree, owing to the destructive ins-ect
which General Dearborn has described, and of which, he
sent to the Trustees of the Massachusetts Agricultural Socie-
ty, specimens in the Larva, Chrysalis, and perfect state.
Whether the modes which he has recommended of destroy-
ing them are the best, of which he modestly expresses his
doubts, still, no man can doubt, that he is entitled to public
gratitude for the attention which he has paid to the subject,

We earnestly request the co-operation of other intelligent
gentlemen in the investigation of this question.

As the tree will flourish in our soil and climate, and can
endure our winters — as it has been seen of a height of fifty
feet, and a diameter of two feet, we think the question of its
adaptitude to our climate at rest. We request the attention
of scientific gentlemen to the following questions, and solicit
communications of their opinion upon them.

1st. Are there any causes, which favour the production of
the insect so fatal to these trees in our climate, which do not
operate in more southern regions ?

2dly. Are there any more efficacious methods than these
recommended by General Dearborn, for their extirpation ?
and if any, what are they ?

3dly. Would it be expedient to introduce the seeds of the
Locust tree from the south, and to offer premiums to those
who should exhibit the finest nurseries of them, free from the
insect which has proved so fatal to them ?

The Trustees would be happy to receive any communica-
tions on this subject. It would seem to them impolitic to
abandon the cultivation of a valuable forest tree, because for
a few years its culture had been unsuccessful. To meot, and
overcome the impediments, which nature occasionally inter-
poses to the cultivation of particular plants, seems to be the
province of intelligent agriculture. It is a law, which we
cannot disobey or despise, and seems to be one of the con-
ditions of our enjoyment of the blessings of providence.]

272 LOCUST TREES.

Brinley-place, Roxbury, January 5th, 1821,

[J. Lowell, Esq. Corresponding Secretary of the Massachusetts Agricultural So-
ciety.]
SIR,

Having a number of Locust trees on my grounds, which
liave been, annually, much injured by a worm, that perforates
the trunk and larger branches, in so many directions and so
deep, as to cause them to be easily broken down by the wind»
I have endeavoured to discover some method, of, either des-
troying those little enemies, or, of protecting one of our
most valuable timber and magnificent ornamental trees from
their ravages.

In the first number of the fifth volume of the " Massachu-
setts Agricultural Journal," is an interesting communication
on this subject ; but the insect, which has attacked my trees,
is not the same as there described, as you will perceive, from
an examination of those herewith transmitted, and the facts
I have the honour of submitting.

Before it was possible to know how to attack this devas-
tating insect with any hope of success, it was necessary to
become acquainted with its character and habits, which, af-
ter several years of careful investigation, and minute atten-
tion, I have, happily, accomplished.

In the small box, I send a number of the perfect insects,
both male and female ; — phial No. 1, contains the larva, and
No. 2, the chrysalis.

From the first to the twenty-fifth of September, the flies
are to be seen on the trunks of the trees ; — the female very
active in seeking out little interstices between the rough ex-
terior bark, in which to deposit her eggs ;~ during nearly the
whole of the time the male continues on her back, and is thus
borne about, and after each deposition, they copulate. From
four to nine eggs are deposited in each place, and often, not
more than four minutes intervene between the depositions.

LOCUST TREES. 273

I had cut out pieces of the bark, containing receptacles of
eggs, to accompany the insects, in their various stages ; but,
unfortunately, they have been lost. The eggs are snow-
white, and about the size of yellow mustard-seed. Before
the cold weather commences, the young larva appear, and
resemble a maggot; they just bury themselves in the tender
Inner bark, where lliey remain, until the first of April, some-
times later, according to the season, when they commence
boring, and soon pass into the solid wood. It can always be
ascertained, when, and where they have began their destruc-
tive labours, as the sap oozes out from the wounds they have
indicted.

By the twentieth of July the larvae have attained their full
size, and cease to bore ; those sent, were taken from a large
limb of a tree, sawed off and split open, for the purpose of
ascertaining their state and position. This I had done, at
different periods, in June, July, and August, to examine
them in their various changes. On the twenty-eighth of
July, those in phial No. 2, were taken out, and the perfect
insects were caught on the trees the third of September.

From several years observation, having obtained the pre-
ceding facts, I determined, last spring, to endeavour to res-
cue my trees from farther injury. The moment it was dis-
covered the young larvse had commencing boring, I white-
washed all the trees, as high, among the branches, as any of
them were discoverable at work ; the next morning, I was
pleased to find a vast number dead, on the outside of their
holes ; the white- washing was repeated for four or live conse-
cutive mornings, when, the trees being completely coated
with lime, I ceased, and was in hopes, that those, which the
liquid alkali had not killed, would be destroyed by the exclu-
sion of the air, which is the case with all kinds of borers •, —
but in the course of a few weeks, it was perceived, there
were many busily at work ; the saw-da?t which they made,
was pushed out from the holes, and indicated that not a few
were still alive. The holes were then stopped up with pure

Vol. Vf. 35

'^74 LOCUST TREES.

lime-mortar, and the trunks and branches of the trees imme-
diately covered with a thick coat of white-wash ; but, the
succeeding day, it was found many of the holes were opened,
and the saw dust continually falling from them, left no doubt
of the unabating industry of the worms. Presuming that the
lime-mortar was pressed out before it was dry, 1 had some made,
to which, calcined plaster of Paris was added, to facilitate the
desiccation, and render it so hard and compact as to resist the
efforts of the worms to obtain air, — and again white-washed
the trees ; — this did not produce the desired effect, and 1
concluded to give up that mode of attack, with the intention
of awaiting a more favourable period to renew hostilities.

When it was ascertained they had ceased to bore, and were
passing to the chrysalis state, and of course inactive, I had
the holes tilled up with mortar, and the trees thoroughly
white-washed to prevent the escape of the perfect insect,
when ready to fly, as the cement would, before that time, be-
come quite hard ; but in a number of places, the decayed
bark, or white-wash peeled off, and drew out with it the
mortar from the holes, so that, at the proper season the flies
appeared, but less in number, than in any preceding year ;
and they found it extremely difficult to procure suitable places
in which to deposit their eggs, as I, particularly, observed,
they avoided every spot which was covered with lime, and
eagerly sought such sites, as rendered it certain, that when
the young larvae appeared, they should be in direct contact
with the inner bark, from whence they might obtain suste-
nance ; and the peculiar formation and growth of the bark of
the Locust renders this easy, it being crooked into such fis-
sures, from the rapid increase of the wood, which necessarily
rends the external bark asunder.

Thus, I have, perhaps, failed in the complete accomplish-
ment of my object, but am still induced to believe, that by a
little attention to the trees the next spring, to succeed ; if I
do not, it will enable others, after becoming acquainted with
(he character of the enemy, and his mode of operations, to

LOCUST TREES. 275

prosecute a war against him, that shall be more successful
and fortunate in its results.

I intend, should this experiment fail, to head down ail my
locusts in the latter part of April, and burn up the wood,
which will effectually destroy all the remaining larvae on my
land; and as the trees are of rapid growth, and the stools
throw up luxuriant suckers, I shall soon have young thrifty
trees, which can be more certainly preserved from the at-
tacks of the insects, should they again visit them ; for trees,
which are so large as to have very rough bark, supply so many
fastnesses for the deposition of the eggs, and to cover the la-
bour of the worms, that it is very difficult to extirpate them.

If this course was pursued generally, and at the same sea-
son of the year, by such persons as have locust trees on their
estates, I believe the insects would be exterminated, as I do
not find that they visit any other tree, and in a few years we
should have healthy and vigorous groves of this pride of the
forest.

It is not many years since the history of the canker-worm
was promulgated, and we are indebted to Professor Peck, for
that valuable information, which has led to the discovery of
various means to prevent their ruinous assaults on the or-
chard; may it not then be sanguinely anticipated, that the
combined efforts of those, who are solicitous to advance the
best interests of the nation, will ultimately enable the owners
of woodlands and cultivated groves to bid defiance to the
noiseless dilapidations of this destructive insect.

With grateful acknowledgments for your exertions, to
foster and advance the science of agriculture, I am, sir,

Your obedient servant,

IT. A. S. DEARBORN.

276 UN THE FOE,M OF ANIMALS.

OX THE FOR.\1 OF AMMALS. BY HENHY CLIAE, Esq.

Surgeon.

[From tlie PuWicalions of tlie Board of Agriculture, England, Vol. IV'.j

1 HE form of domestic animals has been greatly improved
by selecting with much care, the best formed for breeding ;
but the theory of improvement has not been so well under-
stood, that rules could be laid down for directing the practice.
There is one point particularly, respecting which the opinions
of breeders have much varied, which is, whether cross-
ing the breed be essential to improvement.

It is the intention of this communication to ascertain in
what instances crossing is proper, and in what prejudicial ;
and the principles upon which the propriety of it depends.

It has been generally supposed that the breed of animals
is improved by the largest males. This opinion has done
considerable mischief, and would have done more injury if it
had not been counteracted by the desire of selecting animals
of the best form and proportions, which are rarely to be met
with, in those of the largest size.

Experience has proved that crossing has only succeeded
in an eminent degree, in those instances in which the females
were larger than in the usual proportion of females to
males ; and that it has generally failed when the males were
disproportionally large.

T he external form of domestic animals has been much
studied, and the proportions are well ascertained. But the
external form is an indication only of internal structure.
The principles of improving it must therefore be founded on
the knowledge of the structure and use of internal parts.

The lungs are of the first importance. It is on their size
and soundness that the health of an animal principally
depends. The power of converting food into nourishment,
is in proportion to their size. An animal with large lungs,
is capable of converting a given quantity of food into more

ON THE FORM OF ANIMALS. 277

nourishment than one with smaller lungs, and therefore has
a greater aptitude to fatten.

The Chest,

The external indication of the size of the lungs is the
form and size of the chest ; the form of which should have
the figure of a cone, having its apex situated between thfi
shoulders, and its base towards the loins.

The capacity of the chest depends upon its form more than
on the extent of its circumference ; for, where the girth is
equal in two animals, one may have much larger lungs than
the other. A deep chest therefore is not capacious unless it
is proportionally broad.

The Pelvis.

The pelvis is the cavity formed by the Junction of the
haunch bones with the bones of the rump. It is essential
that this cavity should be large in the female, that she may
be enabled to bring forth her young with less difficulty.
When this cavity is small, the life of the mother and of her
offspring is endangered.

The size of the pelvis is chiefly indicated by the width of
the hips and the breadth of the (wist, which is the space
between the thighs.

The breadth of the loins is always in proportion to that of
the chest and pelvis.

The Head.

The head should be small, by which the birth is facilitated.
Its smallness aflfords other advantages, and generally indicates
that the animal is of a good breed.

Horns are useless to domestic animals. It is not difficult
to breed animals without them. The breeders of horned
cattle and horned sheep, sustain a loss more extensive than
they may conceive ; for it is not the horns alone, but also
much more bone in the skulls of such animals to support
their horns; besides there is an additional quantity of liga-
ment and muscle in the neck which is of small value.

■/.

278 ON THE FORM OF ANIMALS.

The skull of a ram with its horns, weighed five times more
than another skull which was hornless. Both these skulls
were taken from sheep of the same age, each being four
years old. The great difference in weight depended chiefly
on the horns ; for the lower jaws were nearly equal, one
weighing seven ounces, and the other six ounces and three
quarters; which proves that the natural size of the head
was nearly the same in both, independent of the horns and
the thickness of the bone which supports them.

In a horned animal the skull is extremely thick. In a
hornless animal it is much thinner; especially in that part
where the horns usually grow.

To those who have not reflected on the subject, it may
appear of little consequence whether sheep and cattle have
horns ; but on a very moderate calculation it will be found, that
the loss in farming stock, and also in the diminution of animal
food, is very considerable, from the production of horns and
their appendages. A mode of breeding which would pre-
vent the production of these, would afford a considerable
profit in an increase of meat and wool, and other valuable
parts.

The length of the neck should be proportioned to the
height of the animal, that it may collect its food with ease.

The Muscles.

The muscles and tendons, which are their appendages,
should be large; by which an animal is enabled to travel
with greater facility.

The Bones.

The strength of an animal does not depend upon the
size of the bones, but on that of the muscles. Many
animals with large bones are weak, their muscles being small.
Animals that were imperfectly nourished during growth, have
their bones disproportionately large. If such deficiency of
nourishment originated from a constitutional defect, which is
. the most frequent cause, they remain weak during life.
Large bones, therefore, generally indicate an imperfection in
the organs of nutrition.

ON THE FORM OF AMMALS. 279

On the improvement of Form,
To obtain the most approved form, two modes of breeding
have been practised ; one, by the selection of individuals of
the same family ; called breeding in-and-in. The other by
selecting males and females from different varieties of the
same species ; which is called crossing the breed.

When a particular variety approaches perfection in form,
breeding in-and-in may be the better practice ; especially
for those not well acquainted with the principles on which
improvement depends.

When the male is much larger than the female, the off-
spring is generally of an imperfect form. If the female be
proportionally larger, the offspring is of an improved form.
For instance, if a well formed large ram be put to ewes pro-
portionally smaller, the lambs will not be so well shaped as
their parents : but if a small ram be put to larger ewes, the
Iambs will be of an improved form.

The proper method of improving the form of animals, con-
sists in selecting a well formed female, proportionally larger
than the male. The improvement depends on this 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.

The size of the foetus is generally in proportion to that
of the male parent ; and therefore, when the female parent is
disproportionately small, the quantity of nourishment is de-
ficient, and her offspring has all the disproportions of a starv-
ling. But, when the female, from her size and good consti-
tution, is more than adequate to the nourishment of a foetus of
a smaller male than herself, the growth must be proportion-
ately greater. The larger female has also a greater quantity
of milk, and her offspring is more abundantly supplied with
nourishment afterbirth.

To produce the most perfect formed animal, abundant
nourishment is necessary from the earliest period of its ex-
istence, until its growth is complete.

280 ON THE FORM OF ANIMALS.

It has been observed, in the beginning of this paper, that
the power to prepare the greatest quantity of nourishment,
from a given quantity of food, depends principally upon the
magnitude of the lungs, to which the organs of digestion are
subservient.

To obtain animals with large lungs, crossing is the most ex-
peditious method ; because well formed females may be se-
lected from a variety of a large size, to be put to a well form-
ed male of a variety that is rather smaller.

By such a method of crossing, the lungs and heart become
proportionately larger, in consequence of a peculiarity in the
circulation of the foetus, which causes a larger proportion of
the blood, under such circumstances, to be distributed to the
lungs than to the other parts of the body ; and as the shape
and size of the chest, depend upon that of the lungs, hence
arises the remarkably large chest, which is produced by cross-
ing with females that are larger than the males.

The practice according to this principle of improvement,
however, ought to be limited ; for, it may be carried to such
an extent, that the bulk of the body might be so disportioned
to the size of the limbs as to prevent the animal from mov-
ing with sufficient faciUty.

hi animals, where activity is required, this practice should
not be extended so far as in those which are required for the
food of man.

On the Character of Animals*

By character in animals is here meant, those external ap-
pearances by which the varieties of the same species are dis-
tinguished.

The characters of both parents are observed in their ofT-
spring ; but that of the male more frequently predominates.
This may be illustrated in the breeding of horned animals ;
among which there are many varieties of sheep, and some
of cattle, that are hornless.

ON THE FORM OF ANIMALS. 281

If a hornless ram be put to a horned ewe, almost all the
lambs will be hornless ; partaking of the character of the
male rather than of the female parent.

In some counties, as Norfolk, Wiltshire, and Dorsetshire,
most of the sheep have horns. In Norfolk the horns may be
got rid off by crossing with the Ryeland rams ; which would
also improve the form of the chest and the quality of the
wool. In Wiltshire and Dorsetshire, the same improvements
might be made by crossing the sheep with South Down
rams.

An offspring without horns might be obtained from the
Devonshire cattle, by crossing with hornless bulls of the Gal-
Ibway breed ; which would also improve the form of the
chest, in which, the Devonshire cattle are often deficient.

Examples of the good effects of Crossing the Breed,

The great improvement of the breed of horses in England
arose from crossing with those diminutive Stallions, Barbs,
and Arabians ; and the introduction of Flanders Mares into
this country was the source of improvement in the breed of
cart horses.

The form of the swine has also been greatly improved, by
crossing with the small Chinese boar.

Examples of the bad effects of Crossing the Breed.

When it became the fashion in London to drive large bay
horses, the farmers in Yorkshire put their mares to much
larger stallions than usual, and thus did infinite mischief to
their breed, by producing a race of small chested, long legged,
large boned, worthless animals.

A similar project was adopted in Normandy, to enlarge
the breed of horses there by the use of stallions from Hol-
stein ; and, in consequence, the best breed of horses in
France would have been spoiled, had not the farmers discov-
ered their mistake in time, by observing the offspring much
inferior in form, to that of the native stallions.

Vol. VI. 36

202 ON THE FORM OF ANIMALS.

Some graziers in the Island of Sheppey, conceived that
they could improve their sheep by large Lincolnshire rams,
the produce of which, however, was much inferior in the
shape of the carcase, and the quality of the wool ; and their
flocks were greatly injured by this attempt to improve them.

Attempts to improve the native animals of a country, by
any plan of crossing, should be made with the greatest cau-
tion ; for, by a mistaken practice extensively pursued, irre-
parable injury may be done.

In any country where a particular race of animals has con-
tinued for centuries, it may be presumed that their constitu-
tion is adapted to the food and climate.

The pliancy of the animal economy is such, as that an
animal will gradually accommodate itself to great vicissitudes
in climate and alterations in food ; and by degrees undergo
great changes in constitution ; but these changes can be af-
fected only by degrees, and may often require a great num-
ber of successive generations for their accomplishment.

It may be proper to improve the form of a native race,
but at the same time it may be very injudicious to attempt
to enlarge their size.

The size of animals is commonly adapted to the soil which
they inhabit ; where produce is nutritive and abundant, the
animals are large, having grown proportionally to the quan-
tity of food which for generations, they have been accustom-
ed to obtain. Where the produce is scanty, the animals are
small, being proportioned to the quantity of food which they
were able to procure. Of these contrasts the sheep of Lin-
colnshire and of Wales are examples. The sheep of Lincoln-
shire would starve on the mountains of Wales.

Crossing the breed of animals may be attended with bad
effects in various ways ; and that, even when adopted in the
beginning on a good principle ; for instance, suppose some
larger ewes than those of the native breed were taken to the
mountains of Whales and put to the rams of that country ; if
these foreign ewes were fed in proportion to their size, their

PRESERVATION OP FRUIT TREES, 283

lambs would be of an improved form, and larger in size than
the native animals ; but the males, produced by this cross,
though of a good form, would be disproportionate in size to the
native ewes ; and therefore, if permitted to mix with them,
would be productive of a standing ill-formed progeny. Thus
a cross which, at first, was an improvement, would, by giving
occasion to a contrary cross, ultimately prejudice the breed.

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.

The Arabian horses, are, in general, the most perfect in
the world ; which probably has arisen from great care in se-
lection, and also from being unmixed with any variety of the
same species, the males therefore have never been dispropor-
iHoncd in size to the females.

The native horses of India are small, but well proportion-
ed, and good of their kind. With the intention of increasing
their size, the India Company have adopted a plan of send-
ing large stallions to India. If these stallions should be ex-
tensively used, a disproportioned race must be the result, and
a valuable breed of horses be irretrievably spoiled.

From theory, from practice, and from extensive observa-
tion, which is more to be depended upon than either, it is
reasonable to form this conclusion, that it is wrong to enlarge
a native breed of animals ; for, in proportion to their increase
of size, they become worse in form, less hardy, and more
liable to disease.

Petersham, October 2, 1 820.
[To the Corresponding Secretary.]

SIR,

OHOULD the following communication, respecting the pre-
servation of fruit trees from decay and premature old age,
appear to be entitled to notice, you will oblige by presenting
it to the Trustees of the .Society.

284 TRESKRVATION OF FRUIT TREES,

Several years ago I owned a tan yard on the bank of a pond,
raised by a dam across a small rivulet, which passes through
my farm in Petersham. Some of the tan, after it was taken
from the vats, was occasionally thrown into the pond. I no-
ticed from time to time, that the fish, in the pond, died. I
was induced to believe, that some deleterious property in the
tan produced tlie elFect on the fish, and that it might be coij-
verted to some valuable use in agriculture.

At that time, from various causes, many of my fruit trees,
and particularly my pear, peach, and plum trees, were in a
state of decay. For the purpose of an experiment, J ap-
plied a small quantity of tan to the roots of my decayed
trees ; the result exceeded my most sanguine expectations.
The trees began to revive, and the next season I made a
similar and more extensive use of my tan about my fruit
trees ; and the result has been obvious in all, but more par-
ticularly in my pear, peach, and plum trees, which are the
most liable to decay in this section of the county.

Tan about the roots of trees, loosens the earth, and pre-
pares it to receive and communicate greater quantities of nu-
tritnent to the trunk and branches. The tree is thereby
invigorated, and acquires more strength to resist any disease,
by which it may be attacked. But the most beneficial effect of
the use of tan is to prevent the approach of all kinds of in-
sects, which prey upon the very life of the tree. My fruit
trees, which have been prepared with tan, have been wholly
free from the ravages of caterpillars, canker-worms, grubs,
and every kind of insects ; while others, which stand near
by, and which have been neglected, have been more orj less
injured by these common nuisances, too common in fruit or-
chards, through the careless neglect of the husbandman. Tan
also prevents the black gum from oozing from the trunks and
branches of fruit trees ; which is more frequently the case
in damson, plum, and peach trees, than in ^ny other, arising
from the constitutiongil we?ikness of the tree, or from some
other cause, which is preyented by the applicatio n of tan.

PRESERVATION OF FRUIT TREES. 286

This was the state of my trees, and of those of my neigh-
bours, before I made the experiment by using tan. The re-
sult is obvious and notorious to all, who examined the trees
at the different periods. My trees are healthy and flourish-
ing and vigorous, while those of my neighbours, who have
neglected the use of tan, are either dead or in the last stages
of decay. My fruit has not only been greatly increased in
size and quantity, but its flavour has been much improved
and enriched.

A remarkable instance of the wonderful effect of tan in
restoring decayed fruit trees to health and vigour is observa-
ble in a pear tree, which stands in my garden. Six or seven
years ago it was almost lifeless. It had but one or two small
green branches on it ; the rest were entirely dead and dry.
I was induced to try the effect of tan upon it, but with little
hope of success. In the course of two or three years I was
astonished to see new branches shoot out from its trunk ; and
it is now the most flourishing fruit tree on my farm. This
fact can be attested by hundreds.

It has generally been my practice to renew the tan about
the roots of my trees once in two years. It may possibly be
expedient to renew it annually, as soon as the snow has been
dissolved from the roots. 1 have usually appropriated from
half a bushel to two bushels to each tree, according to its
size. It may be carelessly placed around the trunk of the
tree ; and it will soon spread itself to a proper distance over
the roots.

I feel the most perfect conviction of the sure and certain
effect of tan in restoring decayed fruit trees to health and
preserving them to vigour. Should any one, however, en-
tertain doubts, the experiment may be easily made, with
trifling expence, particularly by those who live in the neigh-
bourhood of tan yards. Tan has been esteemed useless,
after it has been thrown aside by the tanner. Any one, who
will ask, may receive without fee or reward.

JOHN GATES.

2C6 RUTA BAGA.

Petersham, October 2, 1820.

We have seen and examined the fruit trees of Mr. Gates,
a respectable farmer of this town. We are satisfied that his
statement respecting the effect of tan, in restoring decayed
fruit trees to heaUh, and preserving them in a flourishing
state, is correct. Mr. Gates has paid great attention, in im-
proving his fruit trees, and we have no hesitation in saying,
that we have no doubt that his discovery of the good effect
of tan, will be most valuable to the community.

HUTCHINS HAPGOOD.
JARED WEED.

RUTA BAGA, OR SWEDISH TURNIP.

[We are induced to insert the following communication from the Hon.
Mr. Pickering, which first appeared in the "American Farmer," not
only because we have the highest respect for his opinions on agricul-
tural subjects, but because Mr. Cobbett's work had an extensive
circulation in this part of our country, and was calculated to pro-
duce an impression unfavourable to the culture of the potatoe. —
The unexampled boldness of assertion, not supported by facts, which
characterizes Mr. Cobbett's writings on all subjects, appears to us
to demand a thorough examination of them. His violent prepos-
session in favour of the Ruta Baga, or Swedish Turnip, led him to
undervalue the potatoe. It is not our design in inserting Col. Pick-
ering's remarks to discourage the culture of the Swedish turnip, nor
do we understand such to have been the scope of Col. Pickering's
observations. The only purpose is to preserve to the potatoe cul-
tivation, the degree of favour to which it is justly entitled. We
have struck out the introductory remarks of Col. Pickering
which were applicable only to the paper in which it was intro-
duced.]

1 HE encomiums passed on the Ruta Baga by that extraordi-
nary man William Cobbett, and his reprobation of potatoes,
are perhaps equally extravagant. If there be truth in the

RUTA BAGA. 287

analysis of these two roots by Sir Humphrey Davy, the
same weight of potatoes contains more than three times the
quantity of nutritious matter that is found in the Ruta Baga.
Yet if both be given in their raio state, to domestic animals, the
latter may be found the better root. For human food, raw pota-
toes would be intolerable, while Ruta Baga is not unpalatable.
Yet if both be equally well cooked, few can hesitate to give
a decided preference to the potatoe, as well in regard to taste
as nutrition. The potatoe, if a good and mealy kind, will
well supply the place of bread. Its value in this rcs])cct, is
satisfactorily ascertained in the British Isles, more especially
in Ireland, where the practical judgment of that class of its
population which makes the greatest use of potatoes, very
well accords with Mr. Davy's analysis of grains and roots.
He states that of a 1000 parts of wheat, ddo are nutritive ;
and of potatoes, 200 to 260 parts. Now in a report to the
English Board of Agriculture, in the year 1795, by an intel-
ligent Irish gentleman, Samuel Hayes, Esq. it is stated " That
the nourishment from one pound of good household wheat
bread, is equal to five pounds of the best sort of potatoes."
That this was first suggested to the " ingenious gentleman"
Mr. Broughall, who gave the information to Mr. Hayes,
" from a memoir on the subject by Mr. Parmentier, a French
chemist ; and has since been supported by many corroborat-
ing circumstances. Mr. Broughall having observed, that
whatever weight the shilling houaehold loaf consists of in
Dublin, five times that weight of potatoes may have been
bought at that time for the same sum ; and if by any cause
the price of potatoes should rise above that proportion with
respect to bread, tlie lower class then decline the purchase
of potatoes ; experience having taught them the cheapest
mode of support." Mr. Hayes adds, " That as in the coun-
try parts of Ireland, the fowls, pigs and dogs come in for
their share, (of potatoes) there is certainly more consumed
than Jive tunes the quantity of bread, which might be neces-
?fary ; but it is far from throxon aivay ; the family by this

288 RUTA BA«A.

means eat none but the soundest and most palatable potatoes,
whilst the refuse supply equally the wants of the other ani-
mals. We must also add, that another cause of increased
consumption arises from the universal practice of allowing
the little children of the house to roast potatoes for their
own use, as often as they please, in the turf or wood ashes.
As you ride by a cottage, you frequently see a group of
children run to the door, each one holding in his hand a
roasted potatoe ; and to this facility of procuring plenty of
7oholesome sustenance, at this stage of life, may be attributed
the robust health of our peasantry, and the great population
of our country. But according to Mr. Cobbett, the potatoe,
when analysed, contains chiefly dirt, zuater and strazv ; and see-
ing that Ruta Baga, according to Sir H. Davy's analysis, con^
tains only 64 nutritive parts (while the potatoe contains 200 to
260) in a 1000, of what do the remaining 936 parts consist?
Doubtless as truly as the potatoe, of dirt, xoater and straw.
The common opinion of the injurious if not poisonous
quality of the juice of the potatoe, is probably correct ; and
will account for the often stated fact that raw potatoes will
barely keep swine alive ; while the experience of many
farmers will incontestably prove, that when boiled (the water
in which they are boiled being thrown away) potatoes will
greatly contribute to the growth and fattening of hogs.
Even in their raw state, they are unquestionably useful in
the fattening of cattle, and for increasing the milk of cows,
while fed on hay or other dry fodder in winter. Proba-
bly, raw potatoes while full of juice, if useless or injurious
to swine may be a salutary food for cattle ; certain it is, that
the latter eat them voraciously, which is not the case with
swine. Yet even swine will not only live but thrive upon
them, when having been spread and dried until shrivelled,
they are kept till after mid-summer of the year succeeding
their growth. The juice of the root of one species of the 1
Cassada, is poisonous ; but this being expressed, wholesome
bread, much used in the West Indies, is then made of the
roots.

RUTA BAQA. 289

Some sorts of potatoes must yield more nourishment than
others ; and hence the difference in the results of Sir H.
Davy's experiments in analysing them. The mealy and
well flavoured potatoe might have that superiority over the
watery and ill-flavoured. The same remarks will apply to
other roots. Much also, as to their quantit}-^ of nutritive
matter, may depend on the nature of the soil where roots of
the same kind are raised. I once pulled a flat turnip of the
common kind, weighing two pounds, from the deep rich soil
at the foot of a hill, and another weighing only one pound
from a dry gravelly loam ; both were boiled and mashed ;
and when the watery juice of each was pressed out, the eye
could not determine of which there was the greatest quantity ;
both were well flavoured.

The potatoes of Nova Scotia and the remoter parts of the
District of Maine, (like those from England and Ireland,) are
vastly supcriour to those generally raised in Massachusetts
and the States still further south. It is the common opinion
that potatoes require a dry (and consequently a warm) soil.
This, as to the United States in general, is doubtless an error.
Ireland and the west of England are moist and cool countries ;
and from them have usually come the best potatoes. In all
but the most northern portions of the United States, it would
seem advisable to choose moist and cool grounds, with north-
ern aspects, for raising potatoes, at least for the table. Dr.
Anderson, if I mistake not, somewhere mentions a very dry
summer in Great Britain, when the potatoe crops were small
in quantity, and the roots of very ordinary quality. The
next summer was amply moist, and then the potatoes were
abundant in quantity and of excellent quality.

My own observation and experience have satisfied me,
that, generally speaking, potatoes improve in their quality
when carried from a warmer to a colder climate ; and just
the reverse happens when carried from one colder to
a warmer. In the latter case, the produce of even the
first year has generally borne hardly a resemblance to those

Vol. VI. * 37

290 KUTA BAGA.

planted-, these were mealy and finely flavoured ; their pro-
duce moist and of different flavour. The best early potatoes
I ever had, were produced from a handful of small ones
brought from Maryland. It was in the third year that they
attained their greatest excellence. They were afterwards
confounded with others and lost, for want of my personal at-
tention.

We have in Massachusetts a very productive potatoe, said
to have been brought from the river Plate. It is a long red
potatoe, which 1 have cultivated for a dozen years. 1 think
it has been constantly improving in quality ; and has now
become a good potatoe for the table, especially in the spring.
Of the same sorts of potatoes, individual roots are greatly
superiour to others. Perhaps the proportion of the latter
may be increased, (if thereby an entire crop cannot be ob-
tained.) in the following way ; select the fairest roots of a
large size, and plant them entire in hills, one potatoe in a hill.
When the produce is ripe, boil two or three from each hill,
carefully marking from what hills they were respectively ta-
ken, and save for seed the residue in the hills giving the best
samples. This process, a few times repeated, may furnish
potatoes of a uniformly good quality.

But to return to the Ruta Baga. Your correspondent " A
Friend," refers the other " A Subscriber," to Mr. Barney's
application of this root, in feeding his two fat oxen, as stated
in the first number of the American Farmer. But what is
found there ? That those extraordinary beeves were fattened
on that root ? Just the reverse. It was Indian corn meal
which improved and finished them so highly, and the Ruta
Baga was used rather as a condiment, to give the oxen a bet-
ter appetite for the meal. They were two years in fatten-
ing. The first winter they eat equal quantities of Indian
meal and of the Ruta Baga ; but as the latter contains (ac-
cording to Sir n. D.) only 64 nutritive parts in a 1000, while

RUTA BAGA. 291

Indian corn probably contains at least 900,* the meal contri-
buted fourteen times as much nourishment as the Ruta Baga.
In the second winter the difference was still greater ; the ox
Columbus then eating daily from 12 to 16 quarts of meal,
and only 3 to 12 quarts of Ruta Baga. And you mention
that Mr. Barney " gives the preference to Indian meal over
every other species of food for fattening either sheep or cat-
tle, and gives it in its dry unsifted state." It has ever been
the practice of farmers in New England, in stall-feeding cat-
tle on hay and Indian meal, to give the latter in the same
form. From American farmers, probably, Mr. Barney, an
Englishman, learned that manner of using Indian meal.

You say also, that " Mr. Barney concurs with Mr. Cobbett
in the belief, that the Ruta Baga is sweeter and far more nu-
tritious than any other root, or vegetable for feeding live-
stock." But this is mere matter of opinion. Even to the
taste, the parsnip, carrot, and every sort of beet, is mani-
festly sweeter ; and to decide practically the value of Ruta
Baga, compared with other roots, in fattening cattle, more
accurate experiments will be necessary than have been made
by either. In the mean time, we may more confidently rely
on the analysis of vegetables by so distinguished a chemist as
Sir Humphrey Davy. He states, that the red beet contains
121 parts in a 1000, of saccharine matter or sugar — the
white beet 119 such parts — parsnips 90, and carrots 95 ;

* *• In the last century, a professor of Chemistry in Italy, discover-
ed that the meal of maize, (Indian corn) like the meal of wheat, con-
tained not only starch, but a soluble mucilage or extract, and a glue
of the same nature as animal matter."

This is stated by Dr. Pearson, in his analysis of the potatoe root,
communicated to the Board of Agriculture ; which, as well as Mr.
Hayes' communication above mentioned, appear in a Report on the
Culture and Use of Potatoes, published by the board in 1795. I wish
some of our chemists would analyse the best sorts of Indian corn ; I
am inclined to think this grain contains nearly or quite as much nutri-
tive matter as wheat.

292 UUTA BAGA.

while the Ruta liaga contains no more than 51 such parts.
The mangel wurtzel, or greater beet, is in taste like the red
and white beets, and doubtless contains as much saccharine
matter ; all of them more than double the quantity of nutri-
ment that is aflforded by the Ruta Baga ; and parsnips and
carrots fifty per cent. more. On strong lands in England
the mangel wurtzel yields currently 48 tons per acre. See
Memoirs of the Philadelphia Society of Agriculture, Vol. HI.
Appendix p. 97, where the mode of culture is given, for the
regular production of such immense crops. Of carrots,
eighteen tons (upwards of 700 bushels, 66 lbs. to the bushel)
have been raised on an acre in Massachusetts ; and these,
as well as the mangel wurtzel, cattle eat with great avidity.
For cows giving milk, both are to be preferred to the Ruta
Baga, even if they gave no more nutriment. In the last
autumn, the flavour of the butter was very much injured by
my cows feeding plentifully on the neches and leaves (greens,
as Mr. Cobbett calls them,) of the Ruta Baga.*

Conclusion.

Ruta Baga sown in June will yield great crops ; the seeds
vegetate quickly, and the plants soon attain a size to admit
of easy culture. The root is hardy, will endure severe cold,
and keep till mid-summer of the year following their growth ;
and are usefully applied for food to all domestic animals,
cows giving milk probably to be excepted.

Mangel Wurtzel, cultivated in the same manner, and sown
in April or early in May, will yield crops as large as the Ru-.
ta Baga •, individual roots growing to the weight of from 5 to
10 pounds. But the roots will not bear frost like the Ruta

* A late English writer (Bounington Mowbray, Esq.) treating of the
food for milch coivs, says " Cabbages may be given moderately, but
turnips (he probably meaas the common turnips) make thin milk and
bad butter, in spite of all the nostrums which have been recommended
as preventives." I fear the Ruta Baga will not be wholly free from
the same objection.

KUTA BAGA. 293

Baga. It will be more easy to preserve them in winter, in
the middle than in the northern states. The genuine mangel
wurtze! is of a red colour : and when full grown, has more
than half its body above ground.

Carrots being of smaller growth than either of the former
roots, seem to require a different arrangement. Instead ol
one row on a ridge, I would sow two rows, ten or twelve in-
ches apart ; and thin the plants to four or five inches distance
in the row, with intervals of three feet between the double
rows, for tilling them with the plough. In this manner, I
entertain no doubt that twenty tons and upwards to the acre
may be raised.

Both carrots and mangel wurtzel, being of much softer
texture than Ruta Baga, are more easily chopped into pieces
for cattle. It is generally understood that cows giving milk
in winter, if fed plentifully with carrots, will produce yellow
butter. Mr. Jefferson's authority may be adduced for stat-
ing, that the famous Parmesan cheese of Italy, receives its
light yellow colour from the juice of carrots, mixed with the
milk or curd. The flavour of American cheese has some-
times appeared to be injured by an excessive use of annatto ;
the same colouring that has long been used in England. The
practice doubtless originated in deception, to give that colour
artificially which rich milk afforded of itsdf, a fine yellow.
The practice in both countries is now continued from fashion.
The Parmesan, according to Mr. Jefferson, is a two meal
cheese, made of the night's milk skimmed, (the cream be-
ing taken off very early the next morning for making but-
ter) and mingled with the new milk of the morning. It is
not a fat cheese, and this accounts for it.

1 am, Sir, your obedient servant,

T. PICKERING.

Jamiary 4. 1820.

i' I

294 PREMIUMS.

CATTLE SHOW, tXHIBITION OF MANUFACTURES, AKD
PLOUGHING MATCH, AND PUBLIC SALE OF ANIMALS,
AND MANUFACTURES, AT BRIGHTON, ON WEDNESDAY
AND THURSDAY, THE TENTH AND ELEVENTH OF
OCTOBER, 1821. TO COMMENCE AT NINE O'CLOCK, ON
EACH DAY.

X HE Trustees of the Massachusetts Society, for the Promo-
tion of Agriculture, encouraged by the patronage of the
Le^^islature of this State, intend to offer in Premiums, not only
the eum granted by the Government for that purpose, but
also the whole amount of the income of their own funds.
They, therefore, announce to the public, their wish to have
a Cattle Show, and Exhibition of Manufactures, &lc. &c.
at Brighton, on Wednesday and Thursday, the lOtliand 1 1th,
of October, 1821 ; and they offer the following Premiums : —

FOR STOCK.

For the best Bull, raised in Massachusetts, above on6

year old, $40

For the next best do. do. - - - - - 25

For the best Bull Calf, from five to twelve months old, 15

For the next best do. do. - - - - - 8

For the best Cow, not less than three years old, - 40

Fxwf the next best do. do. - - - - 30

For the next best do- do. - - - 20
For the best Heifer, from one to three years old,

with or without calf, - - - - - 15

For the next best do. do. - - - - - 10
For the best Ox, fitted for slaughter, regard to be had

to the mode and expense of fatting, . - - 50

For the next best do. do. 40

For the next best do. do. - - - 30

For the best pair of Working Cattle, - - 30

For the next best do. do. - - ... 25

For the next best do. do. ... - 20

For the next best do. do. - - - - 15

For the next best do. do. - - - 10

PREMIUMS. 295

For the best pair of Spayed Heifers, not less than one

year old, ...---- ^25
For the best Spayed Sows, not less than four in

number, and not less than five months old, - 20

The claimant to be entitled to either of these two last
premiums, must state the mode of operation and treat-
ment, in a manner satisfactory to the Trustees.
For the best Merino Wethers, not less than six in

number, having respect to form and fleece, - - 20
For the next best do. do. do. do. - - - - 10
For the best native Wethers, not less than six in

number, do. 10

For the next best do. do. do. ... 6

For the best Merino Ram, do. - - - - 15
For the next best do. - ... - 10

For the best Merino Ewes, not less than five in num-
ber, do. - - . - - - 20
For the next best do. do. do. - - - - 10
For the best Boar, not exceeding two years old, do. 10
For the next best do. do. do. ... '5

For the best Sow, 10

For the next best do. - - - - 5

For the best Pigs, not less than two in number, nor

less than four months old, nor more than eight, - 16
For the next best do. do. - - . - 5

None of the above animals will be entitled to premiums,
unless they are wholly bred in the State of Massachu-
setts.

No animal, for which to any owner one Premium shall
have been awarded, shall be considered a subject for any
future Premium of the Society, except it be for qualities
different from those for which the former Premium was
awarded.

Any of the above Stock, when raised and still owned
at the time of exhibition, by the person who raised them,
will entitle the claimant to an allowance of ten per

296 I'REM1UM&.

cent, in addition. But Sheep, to be entitled to any of the
above Premiums, must be raised by the person entering
them.

FOR AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS.

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity

of winter Wheat on an acre, - . . . ^30

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity
of Indian Corn on an acre, not less than seventy
bushels, ..-.-- - 30

To the person who shall make the most satisfactory
experiment, to ascertain the best mode of raising
Indian Corn, in hills, in rows, or in ridges ; not
less than half an acre being employed in each mode,
in the same field, the quantity and quality both of
land and manure to be equal and uniform in each
mode ; all to receive a cultivation requisite to pro-
duce a good crop, ------ 30

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity of
Carrots on an acre, not less than six hundred bush-
els, .--.._ 20

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity
of Potatoes on an acre, not less than five hundred
bushels, - - 20

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity of
Parsnips on an acre, not less than four hundred
bushels, - - 20

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity
of common Beets on an acre, not less than six
hundred bushels, ------ 20

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity of
Mangel Wurtzel on an acre, not less than six hun-
dred bushels, - - - - - - 20

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity of
Ruta Baga on an acre, not less than six hundred
bushels, - - - - 20

PREMIUMS. 297

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity
of common Turnips on an acre, not less than six
hundred bushels, - - " - - ^20

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity
of Onions on an acre, not less than six hundred
bushels, - - - - - 20

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity
of Cabbages on an acre, not less than twenty-five
tons weight, - - - - - 20

To the person who shall introduce any Grass, not
before cultivated in this state, and prove, by actu-
al experiment, and produce satisfactory evidence
of its superiority to any now cultivated, - - 30

To the person who shall give satisfactory evidence
on " Soiling Cattle," not less than six in number,
and through the whole season, together with a par-
ticular account of the food given, and how culti-
vated, 30

To the person who shall make the experiment of
turning in green crops as a Manure, on a tract not
less than one acre, and prove its utility and cheap-
ness over any other manure, giving a particular
account of the process, and its result, - - 30

To the person who shall, by actual experiment, prove
the best season and modes of laying down lands to
grass, whether spring, summer, or fall seeding be
preferable, and with or without grain on different
soils, 30

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity
of dry pease, on an acre, not less than thirty
bushels, ... ... - 20

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity

of dry beans, on an acre, - - - 20

To the person who shall give proof of having produ-
ced the largest quantity of dressed flax raised
on an half acre, - ----- 20

Vol. VI. 38

298 JPREMIUMS.

To the person who shall take up in the season on
his own farm the greatest quantity of good honey,
and shall at the same time, exhibit evidence of su-
perior skill in the management of bees - - ^\0
For the best cheese, not less than one year old, and

not less in quantity than 100 pounds - - 10

For the next best do. do. ----- 5

For the best cheese less than one year old, - - 10
For the next best do. do. ----- 5

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity
of vegetables, grain, peas and beans excepted, for
winter consumption of the stock on his own farm,
and not for sale, having regard to the respective
value of said vegetables as food, stating the ex-
pence of raising the same, and the best mode of
preserving the same through the winter, - - 30

To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity

of winter wheat on an acre, - . . - 30
To the person who shall raise the greatest quantity

of spring wheat, on an acre, - - - 30

To the person who shall prove to the satisfaction of

the Trustees that his mode of rearing, feeding and

fattening neat cattle is the best, - - - 20

For the best Butter, not less than 50 lbs. - - 10

For the second best do. do. ----- 5

For the best Sole Leather, not less than five sides, - 10
For the second best do. do. ----- 5

For the best dressed Calves Skins, not less than

twelve in number, - - - - - - 10

For the second best do. do. ----- 5

For the best five Barrels of superfine Flour, manu-
factured in the State of Massachusetts, from Wheat,
raised in this state, ------ '25

To entitle himself to either of the Premiums, under this
head of Agricultural Experiments, the person claiming,
must cultivate a tract of at least one acre in one piece, with

1

PREMIUMS. 299

the plant or production for which he claims a premium ; and
must state, in writing, under oath of the owner, and of one
other person, (accompanied by a certificate of the measure-
ment of the land, by some sworn surveyor,) the following
particulars :

1. The state and quality of the land, in the spring of 1 820.

2. The product and general state of cultivation and quan
tityof manure, employed on it the year preceding.

3. The quantity of manure used the present year.

4. The quantity of seed used, and of Potatoes the sort.

5. The times and manner of sowing, weeding, and har-

vesting the crop, and the amount of the product as-
certained, by actual measurement, after the whole
produce, for which a premium is claimed, and the en-
tire expense of cultivation.
And in relation to all Vegetables, except Potatoes, Onions
dud common Turnips, the fair average weight of at least
twenty bushels must be attested ; and if hay scales be in the
town, in which raised, not less than three averaged cart loads
must be weighed.

The claim under this head, together with evidences of the
actual product, must be delivered, free of postage, to Ben-
jamin Guild, Esq. Assistant Recording Secretary of this Soci-
ety, on or before the first day of December next. The
Trustees not intending to decide upon claims under the
head of Agricultural Experiments, until their meeting in
December.

FOR INVENTIONS.

To the person who shall invent the best, simplest, and
least expensive Machine for Threshing Wheat, or
any small Grains, mown as well as reaped - - ^75

To the person who shall use the Drill Plough, or Ma-
chine, and apply it most successfully to the culti-
vation of any small Grains or Seeds, on a scale not
less than one acre, 20

300 PREMIUMS.

To the person who shall invent the best Machine, for
pulverizing and grinding plaster to the fineness oi
twenty-five bushels per ton, and which shall require
no more power than a pair of Oxen or a Horse, to
turn out two tons per day, and so portable that it
can be removed from one farm to another without
inconvenience, ._..__ ^30

To the person who shall produce, at the show, any
other Agricultural Implement of his own invention,
Avhich shall, in the opinion of the Trustees, deserve
a reward, .-._--. 20

In all cases proof must be given of the work done by the
Machine, before it is exhibited ; and of its having been
used and approved by some practical farmer.

FOR FOREST TREES.

For the best Plantation of White Oak Trees, not less
than one acre, nor fewer than one thousand trees
per acre, to be raised from the acorn, and which
trees shall be in the best thriving state on the first
of September, 1823, ^100

For the best plantations of White Ash, and of Larch
Trees, each of not less than one acre, nor fewer
than one thousand trees per acre, to be raised from
the seeds, and which trees shall be in the best
thriving state on the first of September, 1823, - 50

For the best Live Hedge, made of either the White
or Cockspur Thorn, planted in 1820, not less than
one hundred rods, and which shall be in the best
state in 1823, - - 50

FOR DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES.

To the person or corporation, who shall produce the
best specimen of fine Broadcloth, not less than 1
5-8th yards wide, exclusive of the list, 40 yards in
quantity, and dyed in the wool - - - - 30

PREMIUMS. 301

For the second best do. do. do. . - - - ^20

For the best superfine Cassimere, not less than 3-4

yards wide, nor less than 40 yards in quantity, - 15

For the second best do. do. do. - - - - 10

For the best superfine Sattinet, 3-4 yards wide,' not

less than 50 yards, ------ 10

For the second best do. do. do. - - - . g

To the person or corporation, who shall produce the
best specimen of Cotton Cloth, manufactured in
this State, not less than 50 pieces - - - 20

To the person who shall produce the best specimen of
any other fabrics of cotton, manufactured in this
State, in public factories, not less than 50 pieces - 20

In private families, not less than 5 pieces - - 20

FOR HOUSEHOLD MANUFACTURES.

For the best Woollen Cloth, 3-4 wide, not less than

20 yards in quantity - ^12

For the second best do. do. ----- 8
For the best double-milled Kersey, 3-4 yard wide,

not less than 20 yards in quantity - - - 12

For the second best do do. ----- g
For the best Coating, 3-4 yard wide, and not less than

20 yards in quantity ----.. 8

For the second best do. do. ----- 6
For the best Flannel, 7-8 yard wide, not less than 45

yards in quantity 10

For the second best do. do. 7

For the best do. 4-4 yard wide Carpeting, not less

than 30 yards in quantity, - - - - - 15

For the second best do. do. 7

For the best 5-8 yard wide Stair Carpeting, not less

than 30 yards in quantity, 10

For the second best do. do. - . - - . 7
For the best pair of Blankets, not less than 8-4 wide

and 10-4 long, 6

For the second best do. do. 4

302 PREMIUMS.

For the best Woollen Knit Hose, not less than 12

pair in number, ----- - ^5

For the second best do. do. - . - - . 3

For the best Worsted Hose, not less than 12 pair in

number, -------- 5

For the second best do. do. ----- 3

For the best Men's Half Hose, (woollen) not less than

12 pair in number - 4

For the second best do. do. - - - - - 2

For the best Men's Woollen Gloves, not less than 12

pair in number, ------ 5

For the second best do. do. ----- 3

For the best Linen Diaper, 5-8 yard wide, and not

less than 30 yards in quantity, - - - - 5

For the second best do. do. ----- 3

For the best 4-4 yard Diaper, (for table linen) not

less than 30 yards in quantity, . - - - 10
For the second best do, do. ----- 5

For the best specimen of Sewing Silk, raised and spun

in this state, of good fast colours, not less than one

pound, -------- 5

For the second best do. do. ----- 3

For the best Linen Cloth, (for shirting or sheeting)

one yard wide, and 25 yards long, - - - 8

For the second best do. do. ----- 4

All the above Manufactures, except when of Cotton, must
be of the growth and manufacture of the State of Massa-
chusetts. And all Manufactures, when presented, must have
a private mark, and any public or known mark must be com-
pletely concealed, so as not to be seen, or known by the
Committee, nor must the Proprietors be present when they
are examined ; in default of either of which requisitions, the
articles will not be deemed entitled to consideration or pre-
mium.

Animals, Manufactures, or Articles, may be offered for
Premium at Brighton, notwithstanding they may have re-
ceived a premium from a County Agricultural Society.

PREMIUMS. 303

It is understood, that whenever, merely from a want of
competition, any of the claimants might be considered enti-
tled to the Premium, under a literal construction, yet if, in
the opinion of the Judges, the object so offered is not deserv-
ing of any reward, the Judges shall have a right to reject
such claims. Persons to whom Premiums shall be awarded,
may, at their option, have an article of Plate, with suitable
inscriptions, in lieu of money. Premiums will be paid with-
in ten days after they shall be awarded.

That in any case in which a pecuniary premium is offered
the Trustees may, having regard to the circumstances of the
competitor, award either one of the society's gold or silver
medals in lieu of the pecuniary premium annexed to the se-
veral articles.

That if any competitor for any of the society's premiums
shall be discovered to have used any disingenuous measures
by which the objects of the society have been defeated, such
person shall not only forfeit the premium which may have
been awarded to him, but rendered incapable of being ever
after a competitor for any of the society's premiums.

All premiums not demanded within six months after they
shall have been awarded, shall be deemed as having been ge-
nerously given to aid the funds of the Society.

The Trustees of the Massachusetts Society for promoting
Agriculture, hereby give notice, that they intend, on the se-
cond day of the Cattle Show, viz.: on the 11th day of
October next, to give Premiums to the Owners and Plough-
men of the three Ploughs, which shall be adjudged, by a
competent Committee, to have performed the best zoork, with
least expense of labonr, not exceeding half an acre to each
Plough, and of such depth as the Committee shall direct.
The team used, to be always such as is ordinarily used on his
farm, for breaking up hind, by the competitor, and to be an
ox team.

First Plough, . . $20 Second Plough, . $19
Ploughman ... 10 Ploughman ... 6
Driver 5 Driver 3

304 PREMIUMij.

Third Plough gS

Ploughman 4

Driver 2

In each case, if there be no Driver, both sums to be award-
ed to the Ploughman.

The persons engaging in the Ploughing Match, must own
their respective Ploughs and Cattle ; and the Ploughman, (if
he be not the owner,) must be a man emploj^ed on the own-
er^s farm.

The persons intending to contend for these Prizes, must
give notice, in writing, to S. W. Pomeroy, or Gorham Par-
sons, Esquires, of Brighton, on or before the third day of
October, so that proper arrangements may be made for the
purpose. No person will, on any consideration, be admit-
ted without such notice. The competitors will also be con-
sidered as agreeing to follow such rules and regulations as
may be adopted, by the Committee, on the subject. The
Ploughs to be ready to start at 9 o'clock, a. m.

The result of the last Ploughing Matches at Brighton, and
the satisfaction expressed by so many of their agricultural
brethren, will induce the Society to continue these Premi-
ums annually, in connexion with the Cattle Show ; as an effi-
cacious means for exciting emulation and improvement in
the use and construction of the most important instrument of
Agriculture.

Persons intending to offer any species of Stock for Pre-
mium, are requested to give notice thereof, either by letter,
(post paid) stating the Article, or to make personal applica-
tion to Mr. Jonathan Winship, at Brighton, on or before
the 9th day of October, and requesting him to enter such
notice or application ; so that tickets may be ready at nine
o'clock on the 10th. No person will be considered as a
competitor who shall not have given such notice, or made
such application for entry, on or before the time above
specified.

All articles of manufactures must be entered and deposit-
ed in the Society's rooms on Monday the 8th of October

I

AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE. 305

and will be examined by the Committee on Tuesday the
9th, the day before the Cattle Show, and no person but the
Trustees shall be admitted to examine them before the
show. The articles so exhibited must be left till after the
show, for the satisfaction of the public.

The applicants will be held to a rigid compliance with this
rule relative to entries, as well as to the other rules pre-
scribed.

The examination of every species of Stock, (except Work-
ing Oxen,) and nf Donarfifftin nnd Houochold Mantifactufcc,
will take place on the 10th ; and the trial of Working Oxen,
examination of Inventions, and Ploughing Match, on the
11th of October.

The Trustees also propose to appropriate, on the second
day of the Cattle Show, their Pens for the public sale of any
Animals, that have been offered for Premiums, and also of
any others, that are considered by them, as possessing fine
qualities ; and their Halls for the public sale of Manufac-
tures. Both sales to take place at half-past eleven o'clock,
precisely. And for all Animals or Manufactures, that are in-
tended to be sold, notice must be given to the Secretary, be-
fore ten o'clock of the eleventh. Auctioneers will be pro-
vided by the Trustees.

By order of the Trustees,

JOSIAH QUINCY,
Chairman of the Committee of Premiums.

January, 1021.

AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Hon. Mr. Quincy's remarks on soiling cattle have
been suspended, owing to that gentleman's engagements in
I the Convention for the revision of the Constitution of Mas-

sachusetts, and to his occupations, which immediately suc-
ceeded in consequence of his election to the office of Speak-
er of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts. They
will be resumed in our next number.

Vol. VT. 39

/

306 AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE,

The continuation of the review of a treatise on agricul-
ture, pubhshcd at Albany, (a treatise since understood to be
written bj General Armstrong, late Minister of the United
States to France) and also of the review of Mr. Hay ward's
work on horticulture, is postponed to our next number, in
consequence of the necessary insertion of Mr. Sullivan's
address, and of the proceedings at the Cattle Show and agri-
cultural experiments olFered for premium. «

It is believed, that the successful efforts made by our farm-
ers this year, together with the description of the methods
employed to bring about such results, will be of more practi-
cal utility than any speculations, or remarks upon theoretical
essays. Such instances of successful cultivation as we have
now the opportunity of recording, will produce more convic-
tion, and more powerfully excite our farmers and cultivators,
than any reasoning or arguments which we could urge.

It will be seen, that we have nearly attained in every branch
of culture, in single cases, the highest point to which the
most celebrated cultivators of Great-Britain have arrived.*

We may now safely appeal to the agricultural gentlemen
of the Southern States, and ask whether our soil and cli-
mate, hitherto held by them in great contempt, compared to
their own fertile soil and more genial temperature, are not
capable, with the aid of science and exertion, of equalling
theirs in point of profitable production. Let them put the
produce of an acre of Upland Cotton, which in most favor-
able years will produce not more than 300 lbs. valued at 16
cents per lb., or 45 dollars, against 110 bushels of Indian
Corn, worth with us, (at 75 cents per bushel,) 82 dollars 50
cents, and the cost of raising, which is estimated by one cul-
tivator at 9 dollars 50 cents, or if you please to double it,
19 dollars. — Is iAe?V cultivation cheaper? The same question
may be applied to crops of potatoes, at 500 bushels per
acre, worth 20 cents per bushel, — and to crops of 800 bush-
els of carrots, worth the same price per bushel.

We are persuaded that the premiums and the efforts of the
various agricultural societies in our State, will, in a few years,
greatly increase all our agricultural products, without enhanc-
ing the expense of cultivation, in a correspondent degree.

We are pleased to learn, that the Cattle Shows of Essex,
Worcester, Middlesex, Hampshire and Berkshire, have this

» We would not be guilty of tbe extravagance of praise too common with us
by intimating that our general state of improvement corresponds with the examples
offered for premium. They only show the advantage of great attention and ira?
proved culture.

;»t..

AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE. 307

year afforded abundant evidence of Ihe zeal of our cultiva-
tors and the innprovement of our agriculture in all its branch-
es. May they persevere successfully, without Ihc smallest
tincture of envy towards each other, but with as much emu-
lation as possible. May their intercourse be perfeclly free ;
but above all, may they all consider that to do Ihe great-
est possible good, it is not sufficient (hat they should make
successful experiments, but that they should make them
known, and our central publication offers them a conve-
nient mode of disseminating the important truths which their
experiments may have brought to light.

Donations to the Massachusetts Agricultural Society.
It gives us great pleasure to notice the several donations
received by the Society within the past year. They are
continually increasing, and demonstratively prove the great
desire of improvement which prevails throughout our State.
There is scarcely a citizen of intelligence of this State who
is abroad, or placed in circumstances favourable to the acqui-
sition of seeds or plants, which he thinks may be important,
who remains forgetful of the interests of his native State.
Many of the plants or seeds prove not to be adapted to our
soil and climate — but this furnishes no reason for neglecting
to send them. If one in a thousand shall prove useful, who
can calculate its future value ? If Sir Walter Raleigh, or
whoever else was the introducer of the potatoe into Europe,
had contented himself with saying, " This plant is very good
in its native regions but cannot flourish in Europe," what
would not the world have lost 1

April 1st, 1820, Col. Dabney, of Fayal, presented to the
Society some onion seed, of approved quality.

On the same day, Israel Thorndike, Jr. Esq. some grass
seeds, fiorina and lupinella, from Italy.

May 13, 1820, Hon. John Welles presented a variety of
garden seeds from France.

On the same day Mr. John Mackay presented to the soci-
ety a churn of a new construction.

June 10, Edward A. Newton, Esq. presented some seeds
and bulbs for the use of the Botanic Garden, imported by
him from the Cape of Good Hope.

Paunkinqua, a Chinese merchant of great distinction, pre-
sented to the Society two chests of tea.

Sept. 9, 1820. Captain Thomas Clements presented to the
Society a barrel of lupinella seeds (the sainfoin) and also
melon, onion, and caulillower seeds, all from Italy.

Jan. 23d, 1821. Gen. John Coffin, of St. John, New-
Brunswick, formerly of Massachusetts, presented to the

■ ^Oii AGRICULTURAL INTELLlGENCi;.

Trustees a fine formed beautiful and powerful stud horse,
of tlie light cart breed, imported by him from England — air
animal admirably adapted to increase the bone and strength
of our native breed of horses.

The Trustees expressed to General Coffin their grateful
sense of his valuable donation, and of the motives which in-
duced him to present the animal to the Agricultural Society
of his native State. They engaged to take the greatest pos-
sible care of it, and to endeavour to carry into effect as
far as possible the objects proposed by the donor.

They voted to him the Society's gold medal, and elected
him an honorary member of the society for life.

The following analysis of Indian Corn, by Dr. Gorham,* is
(so far as we know) entirely new, and it would have been
highly grateful to us, if it could have appeared first in our
.Tournal, to which it seems to be more appropriate, than to
the Medical work, in which it was first published. We should
have inserted Dr. Gorham's experiments at large, if we had
room for them, and we hope to be able to do it in a future
number, if his consent, and that of the editors of the New-
England Journal of Medicine and Surgery, can be obtained.

According to Dr. Gorham's analysis of Indian Corn it con-
tains the following constituent parts. The Zeine to which
he refers, and of which he found 3 parts in 100, is in his
view a substance, which " differs from all the known proxi-
mate principles of vegetables," and may be at present con-
sidered as peculiar to this plant. We refrain from saying
nnore, till we can do him full justice by inserting his experi-
ments at large.

Common State. Dry.

Water, 9-00 - 0-(KX)

Fariiia, or Starch, 77(K) - 84599

Zeine, 300 - 3-296

Albumen 2-50 - 2-747

Gummy matter 1-75 - 1-922

Saccharine matter ------ 1-45 - 1*593

Extractive matter - - - - - 0 80 - 0-879

Cuticle and Ligneous fibre . . - - 3 00 - 3-29(J

98.50
Pl)o.spl)ate, Carbonate, and probably Sulphate ? i 59 . ] g4g
of Lime, and Loss. S

100.00 - 99.976

♦ Professor of Chemistry in the Uuiveislty at Cambridge.— It is a source of great
pleasure to us to find the Professors of that seminary applying their learning to great
public and practical uses.~lt would seem that Indian Corn nearly approaches wheat
in its vahie as food for animals.

END OF NO. III. VOL. vr.

MASSACHUSETTS
AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL.

Vol. VL] JULY, 182{. [No. IV.

KS.SAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDRY. BY S. W. POIVIEROY, Esq.
First Vice-President of the Society.

ESSAY I.

'1 HE great surplus and depressed prices of our chief agri-
cultural products, render it necessary for the farmer to seek
others upon which he may calculate for more profitable re-
turns, or at least such as will constitute a division of his
risk ; with this view Flax may be presented as an item de-
serving particular consideration.

For twenty years preceding 1816, the annual export of
Flax Seed from the United States, averaged but about 250
thousand bushels ! When we were British colonies, with one
fifth of the present population, and a territory under cultiva-
tion probably much less in proportion, there was exported in
one year (1770) upwards of 312,000 bushels.* It is very
obvious, that the causes of this decrease, so disproportionate
to the increase of all other products of the soil, may be at-
tributed to the introduction of vast floods of cotton fabricks
and yarns, at prices (nominally) very low, and the unexam-
pled demand for breadstuffs and other food, during the pe-
riod referred to. The effect has been to place ^ax farming

* Pitkin's Statistical View.
Vol. VI. 40

:>y

310 ESSAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDRV.

SO far in the back ground, as scarcely to attract the attention
of agricultural societies, when engaged in promoting im-
proved methods of cultivation for other crops ; and also, it
is feared, to curtail household manufactures, the extensiou
of which, it will not be denied, is eminently conducive to the
prosperity of an agricultural people. For although prudent
farmers have usually a small patchy the object has been so
inconsiderable as not to demand any particular care in its
management, and a tolerable crop, which, in Europe is con-
sidered as certain as any they raise, is supposed in many
sections of New-England to be the effect of chance, or, as
it is termed, good luck. — We will not pretend that Flax was
at any period in this country estimated as a profitable, though
formerly a necessary crop. But it is presumed, such has
been the acquisition of knowledge, and improvements in
agriculture, and especially those branches of mechanical
science connected with it, that an entire new view may be
taken of Flax husbandry — that it may be made to enter into
the agricultural system of the country much more extensive-
ly than heretofore, and possibly be ranked as a considerable,
and not unprofitable staple. With these impressions I have
devoted some attention to the subject, and shall submit such
information as I have been enabled to collect from various
authentic sources ; together with some remarks and intima-
tions, which, should they throw no light on the question,
may promote enquiry, and induce others, possessing better
qualifications and more experience, to pursue the investi-
gation.

My attention was drawn to the present object, in conse-
quence of viewing the manufactories of sail cloth at Pater-
son, near the falls of the Passaic in New-Jersey, the last
autumn : where I was informed that 6,000 bolts of Duck
had been made for the Navy, the year preceding, of a qua-
lity superior to what I was prepared to expect, and which is
pronounced, by those experienced in nautical affairs, to be
^vorth, for service, from 30 to 50 per cent, more than can-

ESSAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDRY. 311

vas imported from Russia ! Indeed the respectable and libe-
ral proprietors of those establishments are entitled to great
credit for the perfection of this article ; it is presumed they
have conformed to the particular stipulations of their con-
tracts with the commissioners of the navy board, who in this
instance, as in others, are conspicuous for their attention to
those minute details so necessary to insure solidity and per-
manence to what pertains to that department. But the po-
litical economists, and perhaps some farmers of the United
States, will be surprised when told, that "the /ax, from
which this sail cloth was fabricated, was imported from Ire-
land and the Baltic ! that if a sullicient quantity of native
growth, could have been procured (which was doubtful) it
does not possess suflicient strength to make such canvas, as
the navy board would, or ought to have been satisfied with!"
The question occurs, What is the cause of this inferiority?
It will not be pretended, we believe, that there is any inhe-
rent defect in the soil, or that the climate is uncongenial to
its perfection. On the other hand it will be admitted that
there is nothing so peculiarly favourable, as to require less
attention and care in the cultivation, than is bestowed in
'hose countries in Europe, where it forms an important agri-
»;ultural staple, and where similar management would un-
juestionably produce the same effects : for, however plausi-
•jle the prevalent opinion may be, that the inferiority of
American flax is owing solely to the injudicious preparation by
dew rotting, and we will grant it is one very prominent cause,
still there are others, which will be noticed in the sequel,
(hat may be considered as having a very powerful influence
in deteriorating the quality, as well as lessening the product.
The common flax plant {Limim Usitatissimum) possesses
habits more peculiar than any other within the range of our
cultivation : and it may be useful in order to reconcile the
farmer and to impress on his mind the importance of attend-
ing to those habits, to trace this plant to its native soil, or
rather to the country where they were acquired by cultiva-

312 ESSAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDRY.

tion, for a vast series of ages — for it is not improbable thatj
like the small grains, its present appearance is essentially
different from that in its indigenous state ; but to which it
seems to be returning, in some parts of our country, by gra-
dations less imperceptible, than it may have originally ad»
vanced.

Linen is mentioned at a very early period of sacred histo-
ry as the production only of Egypt. The most ancient
and credible author of profane history* speaks of its remote
antiquity being peculiar to that country : and those writers,
who treat of the fabulous ages, ascribe the culture of Flax
and invention of spinning and weaving to Isis, a queen of
Egypt ; the Ceres of the Greeks, to whom they attribute
the discovery of bread corn. But if there was any question
on this point, the habits of the Flax plant denote its most
natural soil to have been on the margin of a river annually
inundated, subsiding exactly at the period of seed time, leav-
ing an entire new soil, or, by forming new combinations,
completely renovating the old, which soon becoming dry,
mellow and friable at top — retaining, or having conducted
by art, sufficient moisture at bottom, aided by copious dews
to ensure its maturity, but never any rain or storms to beat
it down ! where could it have found such a location but on
the banks of the Nile ?t It has degenerated when trans-
planted to every other country, probably in proportion to
the want of care and attention to assimilate the soil, and gra,-
tify that impatience of change, to which it has been so long
habituated. Hence it is that Flax owes the reputation of
being the most exhausting of all crops. Let us enquire to
what extent it may be well founded.

Sir Humphrey Davy remarks, in his " 8th lecture on agri-
cultural chemistry," that " it is proved by facts stated in his

* Herodotus, Euterpe, cliap. 37. 105.

t The inundation of the Nile begins to decrease about the 20th Sep-
tember. The seeds are sown and the crops perfected while the sun
is in the southern tropic.

ESSAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDRY. 3J3

?th lecture, that plants require different materials from the
soil, and that particular vegetables require peculiar princi-
ples to be supplied to the land in which they grow.'' And
" as a most remarkable instance of the power of vegetables
to exhaust the soil of certain principles," he states " that
Mushrooms are said never to rise in two successive seasons
on the same spot." — He might have cited Flax, as another
instance not less remarkable ! These facts are further sub-
stantiated by the effect produced on the soil, where old fruit
trees have grown, in retarding the progress of young trees
of the same family or species ; for instance, a young cherry
tree, planted on the spot from which an old one had been
dug up, will remain nearly stationary for a length of time
with the highest cultivation ; remove it to the spot that has
been occupied by an old pear tree, and plant a young pear
tree in its place, and both will immediately become as flou-
rishing as if no tree had ever been produced on the land. Of
this fact I have experienced (he most complete demonstra-
tion repeatedly within the last twenty years. It is, moreover,
well known to most farmers, that an Apple Orchard will not
succeed on land tliat had before been occupied by one, but
that cherry or peach trees will grow vigorously on such land.
From these premises very potent arguments might be
drawn in favour of a regular rotation of crops and against
summer fallows. — They are here introduced to shew, that
although a single crop of Flax will so exhaust the soil of
" certain principles," that a repetition cannot take place with
any prospect of success, even with large quantities of ma-
nure, under a lapse of from four to eight years, according
as " those materials" necessary to its growth may be more
or less retained, or supplied, yet it does not follow that the
soil is exhausted of ihefood necessary to promote the lux-
uriant growth of other plants ! The soundness of this
position is supported by the usual practice in Europe and
this country, of sowing clover and graSs seeds with Flax,
which is considered not more exhausting, and a better pro-

314 ESSAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDR\.

tecting crop than Oats or Barley ; and it is probable the re-
sult may be similar if we extend the enquiry, but it is unim-
portant at present, for good husbandry will ever dictate that
clover or grass should be the next course in rotation to Flax.
We necessarily look to Europe for instructions in Flax
husbandry, and first turn to Ireland, where it was introduced
in 1696, under the patronage of William the third, eight
years after he left Holland to wield the British sceptre.
" An able and impartial enquirer* computes that in less than
forty years from that period, the home consumption and ex-
portation of Linen, amounted annually to one miUion ster-
ling," which, if we allow for the difference in the value of
money, may be equal to ten millions of dollars at present,
" and this from thirty thousand acres of land ; employi-ng, in
raising and manufacture, one hundred and seventy thousand
persons." When this trade was in its infancy, the Dublin
society was instituted for its promotion, and some years after
published several tracts on the culture of Flax ; from which,
and from the tour of Arthur Young in that country, we de-
rive some important facts, yet upon the whole, less informa-
tion is obtained that is applicable to the management in this
country, than we were led to expect, owing to the minute
subdivision of the land among the cultivators, (a cotter sel-
dom occupying more than a quarter of an acre) the very
great difference of climate, and, above all, the uncommon
fertility of the soil, which Sir H. Davy, in his 4th lecture,
attributes to the proximity of the rocky strata to the soil, in
that moist climate. But Mr. Curwen, long a distinguished
statesman in the British parliament, and who, as an agricul-
turist, ranks with Mr. Coke and Sir John Sinclair, made a
tour throughout Ireland in 1813 " with views directed to its
agriculture and rural population," and to investigate the
cause of the misery and degradation of that noble spirited,
generous, but mismanaged people, remarks, that " he does
not think the causes assigned by Sir H. Davy for this supe-

* See Campbell's Political Survey.

ESSAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDRY. 315

rior fertility are at all satisfactory," that those demi-lints,
which in England distinguish lands that are exhausted, are
in Ireland almost unknown ; the verdure is everlasting and
luxuriant, arising, as he should suppose, from some inherent
quality of the soil, which keeps it in a proper state to admit
the salutary influences of the atmosphere ; that the richness
of the surface resists all the clForts of man to sterilize it,"
and he gives the Irish credit for being very persevering in
their endeavours for that purpose.* Notwithstanding this
extreme fertility, Mr. Curwen says that the Flaxseed raised
in Ireland was supposed to produce inferior plants, and that
the Linen board of the Dublin society took charge of the
importation of foreign Flaxseed for the supply of those
who could not otherwise obtain it. This information relartes
to one of the most important features in flax farming. Change
OF Seed, which will be considered in our next essay.

ESSAY II.

CHANGE OF SEED.

Notwithstanding it is an opinion well established among
experienced Flax growers in this country, that a change of
seed is advantageous, it is apprehended that they are not
aware of the extent of the benefit to be derived by selecting
seed from a soil or climate essentially different ; and it may
be owing to a want of attention in this particular that the
flax crops are so uncertain, and the quality inferiour, how-
ever perfect in other respects the system may be conducted.
Mr. Young observes, that " Foreign flaxseed was universally
used it< Ireland, when it could be obtained, otherwise they
were careful to procure seed which grew upon a soil of an
opposite quality from that which was to be sown," that
" American seed was preferred, and produced finer Flax

* Observations on the state of Ireland, by J. C. Curwen, Esq. M. P.
London, 1818.

316 ESSAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDRY.

than any other. Baltic seed produced more, but of a coarser
quality." It is well known that American seed always bears
the highest price in the Irish market.

We next look to Flanders, where flax was cultivated at a
period as early as the commencement of the christian
era.* Fortunately we are furnished with " directions for
cultivating flax after the Flanders method" published by
commissioners and trustees appointed by the British parli-
ament to promote the linen trade in Scotland, at the head of
whom was the celebrated Lord Kaims : From this high au-
Ihority we find that it was the practise " to sow seed im-
ported from Riga, if it could be obtained, otherwise the
produce of Riga seed sown in Holland, and if that could not
be had, that which Riga seed had produced in their .own
country, being careful to choose that which had grown on
soils of a ditferent texture and quality. What is the prac-
tice in Germany, where the cultivation is very extensive ?
By a respectable British publication, now before me,1 in
which an account is given of the trade of Stettin, a city of
Prussian Pomerania, situated at the mouth of the river Oder,
it appears that the extent of the linen trade is estimated by
the quantity of Flax-seed imported j and it is stated that on
an average of ten years preceding 1796, twenty-one thou-
sand, six hundred and forty-five tons of Flax-seed were an-
nually imported into that port " to be sent up the Oder and
the waters connected with it, which, at forty bushels to the
ton, amounts to upwards of eight hundred thousand bushels !
sufficient for half a million of acres at the rate it is sown in
this country ! and it is not improbable that large quantities
are imported into other ports connected with the large Ger-
man rivers.

Foreign Flax-seed was sought after even in the remote
vallies of Switzerland, as appears by the following extract
from a treatise on the culture of Flax by Mr. Tschiffeli.

* Pliny's Nat. Hist : Book 19.

t Commercial & Agri, Mag. vol. iii. 1800.

ESSAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDRV. 317

president of the economical society of Berne. " In general
the best flax seed is produced on strong soils and in cold cli^
mates. Experience has long convinced us that what is
brought from Livonia". (Riga seed) " is to be preferred to
all others, but when this cannot be procured, we must make
nse of that which grows on our own mountains, for instance
Gessenai, Jura," &ic.

A Flemish colony first settled the island of Fayal, and in-
troduced Flax. They have become amalgamated with the
Portuguese, but the culture, and manufacture of linen in fa-
milies, has continued to an extent nearly equal to the
cloathing and general consumption of a very dense pr^pula-
tion. The soil is mostly in tillage, and from its elevation
admits of a variety of aspect and temperature, and great
care is bestowed on the culture of Flax. I have been in-
formed by Mr. Dabney, the United States consul for the
Azores, who has resided fifteen years at Fayal, that in seve-
ral instances, American seed, obtained from ships bound to
Ireland, arriving in distress, has been sown ; and the pro-
duct, in Jlax and sect/, has been fifty per cent, more than from
that of native growth by the side of it ! We have no infor-
mation to this point from Russia or Italy ; but it is believed
that examples enough have been cited to shew the impor-
tance attached to this branch of the system in Europe, and
to justify the conclusion that in this country a continued, ju-
dicious change of seed will be indispensable to the success-
ful prosecution of flax husbandry ; and a further inference
may be drawn, that experiments on various soils from seed
the growth of diiferent climates, are requisite to direct the
farmer to the quarter from whence his best seed may be ob-
tained. Here opens a legitimate field for our numerous
agricultural societies to labour in ; on their exertions the
farmer must depend in the outset ; but let it once be ascer-
tained that Riga seed is best in one section, Dutch or Ger-
man in others, and mercantile interest, if not patriotism

will soon distribute them.

Vol. VI. 41

«18 ESSAYS ON FLAX IIUSBANDRV,

Should it be objected to importing seed on account of the
expense, we reply, that large quantities of linseed oil are
constantly imported, and the difference of price between
our own seed and that imported, will not much exceed what
is now paid for good clean seed for sowing or export, and
that which is sold for crushing ; but if it is fifty cents per
bushel, or more, it can be no object, compared with the ad-
vantages that may be reasonably expected to result, and the
farmer need not be told, that, " in all his operations, parsi-
nioni/ is never so ill judged, as when exercised in the selec-
tion of his seeds." It is not pretended, however, but that,
from the great variety of soil and climate in the United
States, the object in view miglit be obtained without impor-
tations ; yet, it may be important to have a good stock to
begin with, when trials could be instituted with its produce ;
at any rate it cannot be expected that individuals will em-
bark in such a course of experiments, either with foreign or
domestic seed, unless encouraged by agricultural societies or
other public bodies.

SOILS.

The subject presents a character of such national impor-
tance, that a wider range must be taken than views of mere
local interests require ; wc shall therefore first examine, un-
der the present head, the different sections of our country.
JVero soils are found most favourable to the growth of the
flax plant ; and it is scarcely necessary to mention the vast
fertile tracts on the western waters, as capable of producing
immense quantities.

The State of Maine has a soil and climate, that appears
highly congenial to flax culture. The extensive tracts of
strong carbonaceous soils, particularly those denominated
" black lands,'''' and the almost total absence of drought, will
enable that state to possess a staple in this article, not infe-
rior in value to any, except grazing, whenever the energies
of her population shall be directed to it. The rest of New
England, that part of New- York not included in the first

ESSAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDRY. 319

(description, and New-Jersey, have bodies of land suitable
for flax, quite siiflicient to be embraced in the system of
agriculture best adapted to their situation. Pennsylvania
probably grows more flax than all the other states in the
union.* The Atlantic sections of the states, south of the;
Delaware to the cotton latitude, possess considerable tracts
of alluvial soils, bordering on the numerous rivers, creeks,
bays and inlets, with which they are intersected ; a portion
of them, besides swamps, may be reclaimed without great
expense ; they have also bodies of strong clays. Should
these be too much exhausted by severe cropping, they may
soon be restored by the admirable clover system adopted b}
Col. Taylor of Virginia, and made to produce good flax ; as
it is probable, from the early period the ground may be
sown, that the crop would be seldom injured by the droughts,
to which the climate is subject.

The soils which rank tirst in this country are the fat bot-
toms, that are covered by the fall and spring floods which
subside early enough in the season to get in a crop ; those
river flats on the second banks, that have a depth of strong
alluvial soil ; the reclaimed marshes and swamps with a
black unctuous soil, not too peaty, with as much clay in the
composition as will permit its being rendered soon dry and
mellow, and not retain water on or near the surface ; if it
stands two feet below, so much the better, but must be well
guarded by ditches and dykes against sudden freshets. Such
is the soil of the province of Zealand, where more flax is
raised, and of better quality, than in any other part of Hol-
land. The next in estimation are the strong black loams on
clay or hard pan, that will retain moisture. Yellow loams,
with a holding subsoil, may be rendered suitable for flax by
proper cultivation ; and since the discovery that plaster of

* By the returns of the Marshals in 1810, there was manufactured
in the United States $800,000 worth of Linseed Oil ; $500,000 of
which was made in Pennsylvania, and $200,000 iiv New-England. — Set;
Cox's Statement.

320 ESSAVS ON FLAX HUSBANDRF.

paris is an excellent manure for it, a crop may be obtained
with much more certainty on lighter lands than formerly.
Perhaps the characteristic of best garden mould may be ap-
plied to a flax soil, viz. retaining sufficient moisture, and all
that falls, without ever being saturated; but on any soils the
surface should be completely pulverized, and never worked
when wet,

MANURES.

No dung should be applied to the land when the flax is
sown, but may be put on bountifully with the previous
crop. The objection is, that dung forces the growth so ra-
pidly that the plants draw up weak, have a thin harle, and
are more liable to lodge. Lime, marie, shells, leached
ashes, &c. do not produce such effects. Top dressings, soon
after the plants appear, of plaster, ashes, soot, &:c. are
highly beneficial, as they not only encourage the growth,
but are a protection against worms which sometimes attack
the young plants, and may be considered the only enemy
they have, except weeds.

Salt has been mentioned by the late Dr. Eliot, of Con-
necticut, as an excellent manure to plough in with flax at
the rate of five bushels to the acre ;* probably more would
be better. Plaster is now much used in Duchess county,
the best cultivated district in New- York, as a manure for
flax, on which its good effects are as apparent as on corn.

The late chancellor Livingston viewed a piece of flax on
the 20th of May, 1791, belonging to a poor tenant, very in-
judiciously sown on a dry sandy declivity, it looked so ex-
tremely sickly that the tenant thought of ploughing it up ;
the chancellor gave him three bushels of Plaster, which was
sown the next morning before the dew was off, and had the
satisfaction of seeing his tenant gather more flax from this
half acre in an uncommon dry season, than was produced
from any acre in the neighbourhood,!

* See Eliot's Essays on field husbandry,
j Transactions of Agr. Soc. New- York*

ESSAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDRY. 321

Preparation op the land. — It is not unfrequent In Ire-
land to obtain crops of flax from green sward, on which they
put lime, shells, limestone gravel, &:c. and break up in the
fall, cross ploughing and harrowing fine in the spring ; but it
most commonly succeeds a crop of potatoes which receive
the manure In Flanders, Hemp was formerly more used as
a preparation for flax than since the introduction of potatoes.
In Italy it commonly precedes flax, and although the land
gets no tillage, as the hemp is well manured it grows strong,
and is then a powerful destroyer of weeds. In England, on
some of the y*en soils of Lincolnshire, &;c. the usual course
is hemp two or three years in succession, well manured, then
flax without manure 5 a crop of turnips is often taken the
same season after the jiax, and hemp succeeds again. In
Russia it is said that extensive crops o( Jlax are drawn from
new cleared lands after burning them over, and harrowing
in the seed with the ashes. The best preparatory crops in
this country, at present, appear to be potatoes^ corn and
roots ; they will most generally repay the extra manure, and
if well managed check the production of weeds.

The following rotations may serve as an outline subject
to be varied, and hemp or other crops introduced as circum-
stances require, viz.

No. I. Low, COLD OR RECLAIMED SOILS.

1st year. Potatoes.

2d do. Flax with seeds.

3d do. Herds grass and red top or tall meadow oat
grass, to continue three years or more, and the course re-
peated.

No. II. Strong uplands,

1st year. Potatoes or Corn,

2d do. Corn or Roots,

3d do. Flax with seeds.

4th do. Clover,

5th do. Orchard Grass or Herds Grass, to continue
three years or more.

322 ESSAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDRY.

No. III. Light Lands.

1st year. Potatoes or Corn.

2d do. Corn or Roots,

3d do. Flax with clover seed.

4th do. Clover, to be mown once the after growth (o
be turned in and Rye sown thick on the furrow, which may
be soiled or fed in the spring by sheep or milch cows, and
ploughed in for

5th year. Corn.

6th do. Spring Wheat or Barley.

7th do. Clover and the course to be pursued as before,
when flax will occupy the land every seventh year. In all
cases, except when hemp is substituted, the tillage crops
should receive the dung.

If the land is ploughed into beds, or convex ridges like
turnpike roads about a rod wide, especially if low and level,
the crop will be much more secure from injury by heavy
rains, and the grass crops will be better if it remains in that
form. On any soils, fall ploughing in narrow ridges will
facilitate its early working in spring, and should not be dis-
pensed with.

ESSAY III.

Weeding is considered in Europe, and by good husband-
men in this country, as necessary to secure a good crop of
flax, which is a very tender plant when young, and more
easily checked in its progress by weeds than any other. It
is not supposed to be injured by the clover and grass sown
with it : on the contrary the Flemish farmers think them
beneficial, by protecting the tender roots from drought, and
keeping the weeds under. It should be carefully wed
when the plants are three or four inches high ; they are not
then injured by the labourer going barefooted over tham.

CHOICE OF SEED.

That of the last years growth should be obtained if pos-
sible. The usual marks of good seed are, that it be plump^

ESSAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDRY. 323

oily and heavy, of a bright brown colour, sinking readily in
water, and when thrown into the fire to crackle and blaze
quick. A very simple method of trial is to sprinkle it thin
between two pieces of wet paper, which plunge in a hot-
bed or dunghill, and in less than twenty-four hours the pro-
portion that will vegetate can be discerned, which should
be ascertained in order to regulate the

QUANTITY TO BE SOWN.

On this head no particular directions can be given, as it de-
pends on the various qualities of soil, goodness of seed, <Sic.
The rule for seeding small grains is reversed ; flax requiring
to be sown thickest on rich soil, as not more than one stalk
is wanted from a plant. In England and Scotland, never
less than two, or more than three bushels to the acre is sown.
Two and an half is the most usual portion. In Flanders
and Ireland seldom less than three bushels are sown, except
when seed is an object. Thick sowing is to obtain fine flax«
In this country it will be important, at present, to sow at
such a rate as will insure good crops of each ; and experi-
ence only can determine the exact point.

If sown very thin, too many lateral branches will be
thrown out ; each producing a boll or pod affording more
seed, but shorter and inferior flax. If sown too thick, the
plants will draw up zoeak^ with a single boll on a plant, and,
subject as our climate is to heavy showers and thunder gusts,
very liable to lodge ; one of the greatest dangers a flax crop
has to encounter. The commissioners for promoting flax
culture in Scotland, considered it as practicable, and strong-
ly recommended that the system should be so conducted, as
to obtain good flax and good seed at the same time. It is so
viewed in Ireland, among the more extensive cultivators, ex-
cept when wanted for fine linen, camhrick, lawn, &c. Dr.
Deane, in the " New-England Farmer," a work of great
merit pubhshed some thirty years since, when flax culture
was more attended to than at present, recommends from six
to seven pecks. It is probable that six pecks is the least,
and hoo bushels the extent that should be sown to obtain the

324 ESSAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDRY*

most profitable results, till the demand for seed is couside-
rablv lessened.*

SOWING.

The seed should be got in as early as it is possible to pre-
pare the ground. Dr. Deane observes that a slight frost af-
ter the plants are up will not injure them. For no crop is it
more important that the seed should be equally distributed.
Fortunately what has long been a desideratum is now attain*
ed. A machine for sowing small seeds broad cast, with per-
fect regularity, great expedition, and in any desired quanti-
ty, has lately been invented, and performs to great satis-
faction.!

PULLING.

This should be performed as soon as the leaves begin to
fall, and the stalks shew a bright yellow colour, and when
the bolls are turned a little brown. The seed will continue
to ripen afterwards. When the flax is lodged it should be
pulled immediately, many stage of its growth, or it will be
entirely lost ; great care is requisite in sorting the different
lengths and keeping them separate till after the flax is hack-
led or much waste will ensue in that process.

SAVING SEED.

As soon as the flax is dry enough to put under cover, the
bolls should be rippled, as it is termed. A comb resembling

* The demand for Linseed oil must increase with the population
i'or some time to come, as there appear no indications that the peo-
ple will forsake their household deities. Clapboards and Paint, 'till
the soil is much more denuded of its timber; even in those districts
where the roads and fields are encumbered with suitable materials for
permanent, cheaper, and more elegant buildings^

f Bennett's Machine for sowing broad cast, a description and draw-
ing of which is given in the Memoirs of the Philadelphia Agricultural
Society, vol. 4. with ample testimony of its usefulness. It is pushed
forward by a man like a wheel barrow, and will sow more than one
acre in an hour, unimpeded by wind or light rain. They are for sale
at Harrison & Earl's Repository for Agricultural Implements in the
city of New-York.

.^

ESSAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDRY. 325

the head of a rake but with teeth longer and nearer toge-
ther, made of hickory or oak, is fastened upon a block, and
the flax taken in parcels no larger than the hands can firmly
grasp, is drawn through, and the bolls rippled oflf; attention
to sorting at the same time should be continued. The bolls
are to be riddled and winnowed immediately; spread thin on
a clean floor or on sheets in the sun, and when sufficiently
dry and beginning to open, threshed. By this method the
foul seeds are completely separated with little trouble, and
good clean seed is ready for an early market, often the best,
without the use of expensive machinery to make it so.
Here the operations of the farmer ought to end ! The pro-
cess OF PREPARATION being foreign to, and unconnected
with his other pursuits ; and which has been the greatest ob-
jection to extensive flax culture. Can there be any reason
why the farmer is to prepare his Jlax more than the hides of
his catlle which he sends to the tanner ? They are both che-
mical processes ; and to dissolve the glutinous or resinous
substances by which the fibres are attached to the stem with-
out impairing their strength, is perhaps as critical and re-
quires as much care and judgment, as to extract the animal
juices from the hides, and fill the pores with tannin ! In
short, the flax groioer and flax preparer and dresser should
be distinct professions. They are said to be so in Flanders
and Holland, and were extensively so in Scotland, where
the farmer sold his flax on the ground, or 'in sheaves at his
barn or rick.

The preparation of Flax by steeping is very general in
the great flax growing countries in Europe, but it is not
quite finished in the water. It remains spread some days on
the grass, which is necessary to render it soft and give that
silvery appearance so desirable. The destructive process
of dezo rotting, is most commonly practised in this country,
and when water is resorted to, it is at an improper season,
and the process imperfect ; which is the cause of its being so
harsh and brittle. Perhaps no part of the system requires

Vol. VI. 42

326 ESSAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDRV*.

such an allowance for diirerence of climate. In the humid
atmosphere of Ireland, it is not very material when it i«
spread, but in this climate, when exposed to a July or Au-
gust sun, every drop after a shower, becomes SiMirning glass,
and literally scorches the fibres ; besides, such a highly pu-
trid fermentation as will then take place in the water, though
it separates the harle more speedily, not only injures it, but
communicates a stain that renders the process of bleaching
much more tedious and expensive.

The flax should not be put into the water till about the
first of October, and remain from 10 to 14 days, according
to the temperature of the weather, and should be taken out
before the fibres will separate freel}^ spread on the grass
when the frost will very much assist the operation, and the
flax exhibit a gloss and softness, that it is impossible to give
it otherwise. The following method of preparing hemp will
apply with great force to the point under discussion. Dur-
ing the late war an experienced ship-master in Connecticut,
and who was also a good farmer, raised a crop of Hemp.
As soon as it was dry enough to be stowed away, it was put
under cover and remained till October ; was then put into
clear soft water, till the fibres would separate with some
difficulty, when it was spread on the grass ; the frost complet-
ed the operation, and when dry it was immediately secured.
There was no putrid fermentation to deteriorate the harle,
nor was it mildewed by being exposed to the weather, and
when dressed, exhibited that fine silver green hue by which
the best Russian Hemp is distinguished ;* and when worked
up, was pronounced by the rope-makers to be equal to any
hemp ever imported ! Here is a lesson for our western bre-
thren, that is worth more to them than real mines of silver.
Clear, soft, stagnant water is preferred in Europe. A ca-
nal, forty feet long, six broad, and four deep, is said to be
sufficient for the produce of an acre of flax, at one time.

* The best Riga Hemp, supplied for the British Navy, is prepared
by steeping ; during which it is shifted three times.

ESSAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDRV. 32^

It should be formed on a clay or some holding soil, where
the water from a spring or brook can be conducted in with
convenience, the expense would not be great, and on most
farms suitable sites may be had. May not boiling or steam-
ing be found the most advantageous process of preparing
flax ? The very superior sample of thread exhibited at
Brighton in 1818, for which Mrs. Crowninshield, of Dan-
vers, received a premium, was spun from flax prepared by
boiling ! It appears by the " transactions of the Swedish
Academy," that a method was practised in Sweden, of pre-
paring flax to resemble cotton, by boiling it ten hours in salt
water, spreading on the grass, and frequently watering, by
which it becomes soft and bleached. Boiling or steaming
will not appear very formidable or expensive when we ex-
amine the subject. A box twenty (eei long, six feet wide,
and four deep, well constructed with stout plank, a boiler
from which a large tube extends into, and communicates luitk
the water in the box, will boil the produce of a quarter of
an acre in a day, that is, if we allow double the room to boil
in that is required for steeping. A steam pipe instead of the
tube, and having the top of the box well secured, would per-
mit the process of steaming to go on. It is probable that by
either method, grassing will be necessary to obtain soft flax.
The yarns of which the sailcloth is made at Paterson,are all
steamed. The navy board expressly forbid their being boil-
ed in an alkaline lye, as is usual in most manufactures of
linen. It is from this precaution that their canvas has the pli-
able, oily feeling, which so much recommends it. It should
not be lost sight of, that by boiling or steaming much time
and expense will be saved in bleaching.

We arrive at the final process. Dressing, and in this our cli-
mate gives a decided advantage over Ireland, Flanders, or the
north of Europe,where the flax is dried on hurdles, over a peat
fire in ovens orkilns,requiring great care in regulating the heat
to prevent injury. All this trouble and hazard is obviated by
our dry atmosphere and keen north-west winds. Dr. Deane

328 ESSAYb ON FLAX HtSBANDRY.

estimated the expense of dressing flax by hand at one third
the product. 1 beheve the present price does not mucii
varj from his estimate. A respectable gentleman from
Dutchess county, New- York, informed me, that mills or
machines impelled by water, have been erected there, that
break and completely dress the flax for a toll of one tenth !
It is said one or more of them are in operation in the west-
ern part of this state. These mills were invented in Scot-
land, and are now said to be brought to great perfection.
They are erected in all directions, in the principal flax dis-
tricts in Ireland, and notwithstanding the low price and limit-
ed demand for labour, are resorted to by the poorer classes
of people, the dressing by hand being mostly abandoned.
There are machines in England that dress the flax immedi-
ately from the field, without any preparation whatever. An
account of them may be found in the .5th vol. of the Massa-
chusetts Agricultural Journal. It appears, by the report of
a committee of the House of Commons that in 1817, they
were in successful operation. A man and three children
impelled the machines and dressed sixty pounds a day. We
have no information of any further improvements. Should
they be susceptible of the application of water or steam
power, in any degree proportionate, the advantages may be
incalculable, but. in the present enquiry, we place these ma-
chines, however desirable, entirely out of the question.

PRODUCT.

It is not uncommon in Great-Britain and Ireland to obtain
eight hundred pounds of flax from an acre ! Six hundred
pounds is estimated, in some districts, as an average ; but it
should be observed, that little, if any, seed is obtained. The
average crop in New-England, as far as our information ex-
tends, cannot be estimated at more than two hundred pounds,
and six or eight bushels of seed. (We do not include the
rich bottoms on the Connecticut and some other rivers.)
Dr. Deane was of opinion that four hundred pounds might
be calculated on with proper management.

ESSAYS ON FLAX HUSBANDRY. 329

We think that four hundred pounds of good clean flax, and
eight or ten bushels of seed, may fairly be assumed as a
medium crop on favourable soils, where the culture becomes
such an object as to make other farming operations subser-
vient to it, and due attention is paid to change of seed.

Those who grow flax to any extent are of opinion, that
the seed, at the price it has been for some years past, pays
for all the labour bestowed on the crop to the time the flax
is ready to be prepared or rotted.

If we are correctly informed, flax of a fair quality cannot
be imported from Ireland for less than fourteen cents per
pound. And the price of the best of Russia flax delivered
on ship board at St. Petersburg, is ten and an half cents per
pound. The quality called "twelve-headed" costs nine and
an half cents on board.

The quality of flax raised in this country varies more than
any other product ; and of course the price, which is from
six to eighteen cents. The medium about ten cents per
pound.

It must be acknowledged, that no great exertions can be
expected in the pursuits of any people, till " the prospect
of reward sweetens their labour.'''' And 1 anticipate the
question that some may be disposed to ask, before they have
finished the perusal of these essays, " Where is the farmer
to find a market, if flax is extensively cultivated ?" We will
ask where could the planter have found a market for his cot-
ton if machines had not been invented for spinning it ? And
how could he have supplied it, if the labour of two thousand
hands had been required to clean it of the seeds, that is now
performed by the Cotton Gin invented by Whitney ? We
have shown that the expence of dressing flax has been re-
duced from one third to one tenth of its value ;* and it is a
fact well established, that there are now in the country, ma-
chines for spinning/ax, that perform as well, and more ex-

* The usual toll for giunitig Cottori in Alabama, vre are informed, is
onc-twelflh.

330 ESSAVS ON FLAX HUSBANDRY.

peditiously, except for the liner threads, than those for spin-
ning cotton ! The Paterson sail cloth is fabricated entirely
from yarns spun and twisted by machinery, assisted by as
httle manual labour as Cotton machines. In those manufac-
tories are six hundred spindles. In the state of New- York
and in Pennsylvania about three hundred more are employed
for sewing thread, sheetings, hed-licks, shoe thread, twine, &;c.
The expence of labour, after the flax is hackled, in attend-
ing a machine of twenty-four spindles for spinning common
shoe thread, is thirty-three cents per day, spinning on an
average twenty-four pounds a day, or one pound a day for
each spindle ! equal, it is said, to the production of a cot-
ton spindle for five or six days !

Can any thing be wanting but the application of power
LOOMS for weaving linen, to place the manufacture nearly
upon an equality with cotton ? And is there any doubt but
they can be so applied ?

The perfection of cotton spinning machinery, and the
invention of power looms, with such improvements as are
exhibited at Waltham, it is well known are about to produce
an entire revolution in the India trade ! If they can stop the
spindle and the shuttle of the Hindoo, who is supported
upon a handful of rice a day in a climate where little is re-
quired for cloathing or shelter, what must be the effect of
machines of similar operation in the linen manufacture, upon
the Russian and <he German ? There is probably at this mo-
ment, a million tons of American shipping cloathed with
Russian canvas ! What, but the raw material of good quali-
ty, is required to elicit Capital, to manufacture in our
country sufficient for this supply immediately, and in a few
years even to compete with European nations in the linen
market ?

The exportation of linen from Germany to North and
South America has been, and is at present, of vast amount !
The single province of Silesia has sent in one year to Ham-
burgh and other ports, linens to the value of nearly five

Bennett's machine for sowing broad cast. 331

millions of dollars to be shipped, by the circuitous route of
Cadiz, to the Spanish colonies. These customers are at our
doors. The United States possess the "Golden Gates ot
this Commerce," and with exertions well directed to her
agriculture, Europe will be obliged to surrender the keys.
Brighton, ^Itk March, 1821.

UKNNETT'S MACHINE FOR SOWING BROAD CAST.

Roxburi/, oth May, 1821.

DEAR SIR,

Having for some time past thought of cultivating a patch of
flax, I was more fully determined so to do in consequence of
the essays on that subject, read by you before the board of
trustees, at their last meeting.

My friend E. H. Derby, Esq. of Salem, having recently
purchased one of Bennett's Machines for sowing broad cast,
has been so good as to lend it to me, and with which I sowed
my flaxseed, one and an half bushels on one acre and a ^evf
rods of ground, on the 25th of April, after having harrowed
in clover, herd's grass or timothy, and red top seeds, sown
also with the same machine ; the ground was again harrowed
lightly and rolled, and the flax on the 2d May (only eight
days after sowing) made its appearance, coming up very
handsomely, and I think much more regularly than it could
possibly have been sown by hand ; it is not at all in rows, as
might be presumed from the appearance of the machine, but,
by the shape of the brushes which throw out the seed, it is
completely broad cast.

1 have also, on other lands, sown ten acres of clover,
herds grass and red top seed, and clover and orchard grass,
which are making their appearance and look finely. The
quantity of seed may easily be regulated from one pound to
two bushels per acre, and can be extended. My man, with
great ease, sowed an acre in less than an hour. On the

332 POTATOES.

whole, I think this one of the most valuable implemeiild
ever introduced into this state for agricultural purposes.

The Flaxseed which the society have sent for to different
parts of Europe I hope will arrive in season for the next
year, and 1 trust will be a great acquisition.
Believe me to be, dear sir,

respectfully, and with esteem, your's,

JOHN PRINCE.
S. W. PoMEROY, Esq.

First Vice-President of the Massacliusetts Society for promoting Agriculture.

ON PRESERVING POTATOES FOR SEA STORES OR FOR-
EIGN CONSUMPTION. By Mr. Charles Whitlow, of Canada.

[From the Transactions of tiie Society of Arts. Vol.33.]

Sir,

The usual mode at present practised for endeavouring to
preserve potatoes, is to leave them, after digging, exposed
to the sun and air until they are dry. This exposure gene-
rally causes them to have a bitter taste, and it may be re-
marked, that potatoes are never so sweet to the palate as
when cooked immediately after digging. I find that when
potatoes are left in large heaps or pits in the ground, that a
fermentation takes place which destroys the sweet flavour of
the potatoes, in order to prevent that fermentation, and to
preserve them from losing the original fine and pleasant fla-
vour, my plan is (and which experience proves to me to
have the desired effect) to have them packed in casks as
they are digging from the ground, and to have the casks,
when the potatoes are piled in them, filled up with sand or
earth, taking care that it is done as speedily as possible, and
that all vacant spaces in the cask arc filled up by the earth
or sand; the cask thus packed holds as many potatoes as it
would was no earth or sand used in the packing •, and as the

POTATOES. 333

vacant spaces of the cask of potatoes so packed are filled,
the air is totally excluded and cannot act on the potatoes,
and consequently no fermentation can take place.

I sailed from New- York to St. Bartholomews, and brought
with me two hundred barrels of potatoes, packed in the
above manner.

On my arrival at the island I found, as I expected, that
the potatoes had preserved all their original sweetness of fla-
vor ; in fact, as good as when first dug, having undergone no
fermentation, nor in the slightest degree affected by the
bilge or close air of the ship. Some barrels of the potatoes
I sold there, and at the neighbouring islands, for four dollars
per bushel ; and at the same time potatoes taken out in bulk
without packing, and others that were brought there packed
in casks which had not been filled up with earth, sold only
for one dollar per bushel, they being injured in the passage
by the bilged air and fermentation, being bitter and bad,
whilst mine were as perfectly sweet and dry as when dug :
what remained I shipped from St. Bartholomews to Jamaica,
where they arrived in equal good condition, and sold at a
higher price than they had brought at the former island ;
some of these casks of potatoes were put in a coal cellar by
the purchaser at Jamaica, and on examining them when I was
leaving the island two months after, I found that they had in
a very small degree sprouted, but that all their original fla-
vour was preserved. CHARLES WHITLOW.

Londo7i, Kew-York Coffee-Rouse, Feb. 12, 1816.
To C. Taylor, M. D. Sec.

[The communication of H. B. Way, Esq. printed at page
45, of the present volume, on the preservation of carrots
during the wint^ months, is a confirmation of the plan pro-
posed by Mr ♦Vhitlow, for preserving vegetable roots a long
time fit for food.]

Vol. vr. ^?,

iSi K^KMARKS ON SOILIKO,

KKMAUKS ON SOILING.

[Conuiiuiiicaled by Hon. Josiah Quincy, and continued from page 125.]

Conformably to my promise, I proceed to state the man-
tier in which tlie soihng process ought to be conducted, by
any one, who may originally attempt it ; how far it is appli-
cable to the farming condition of New-England ; and what
species of farmers will find their account in attempting it.

As to the manner in which the soiling process ought to be
conducted, besides that general care and personal superin-
tendance, (at least occasionally and by way of oversight)
which is essential to success in this, as in every other busi-
ness in life, three general objects ought to claim the atten-
tion of every farmer, or other person, who undertakes this
process.

1. Provision against seasons of extraordinary drowth, or
deficiency of general crop, from any other natural accident.

2. Succession of succulent food, during the whole soiling
season ; and facility of its attainment.

3. Preparation relative to care of the stock, and increase
of manure ; the particular objects of the soiling process.

As to provision against seasons of extraordinary drowth, or
deficiency of general crop from any other natural accident, I
make this suggestion from respect to an obvious dictate of
prudence, rather than because such has been my own prac-
tice. In fact, I have never made any such provision. Years
of uncommon drowth, or sterility from other causes, are so
uncommon in our country, that I have, hitherto, neglected,
and without injury, this plain suggestion of prudence. As a
general rule, however, a farmer, commencing and adopting
this plan, would act wisely, to keep on hand, a month, or
six weeks stock of hay or other food ; so as to have assu-
rance that his cattle should not sutler from any untoward ac-
cident of season. A mixture of dry food, with the succu-
lent, is often very conducive to the health of the animals
soiled, and enables the feeder to check the too great loos-

REMARK? ON SOILING. 335

iiess of the bowels ; often the eflecl of high feeding upon
succulent vegetables.

Some provision of dry food, against such exigency, and
for such purposes, is wise, as a dictate of foresight. It is
also as a dictate of economy, as some mixture of dry food
with succulent, makes the latter go much farther ; and, on
very stormy days, enables the feeder to preserve the gene-
ral and desired state of the cattle, soiled, with less person-
al exposure.

As to the second general object of attention, succession
of succulent food, during the whole of the soiling season ;
and facility of its attainment. This includes

1. Nature of the crop used for soiling.

2. Time and mode of sowing and cultivation.

3. Mode of taking and applying the crop, and the rela-
tive location of the ground, used for soiling, to the place
where the cattle is soiled.

1. As to the nature of the crop used for soiling. This
must, of course, be different, in diflferent climates. The
English speak of lucerne, clover, peas, cabbages, as used
for this purpose. Of all these, clover is that, which is the
most capable, in this country, of being made useful in this
system. Unquestionably, however, any succulent vegeta-
ble, which cattle consume, may be used, according to the
discretion, which acquaintance with its nature dictates.
Without dilating generally on the applicability of all of these
vegetables, and leaving every farmer to take advantage of
these and every other, he may deem useful, and find conve-
nient, I shall state my own practice and experience.

These have led me to simplify and reduce the number of
vegetables used, for the purpose of making the cultivation
and effect of each species selected, a distinct subject of con-
sideration ; and for the enabling me to have the great sup-
ports of the system well established. This effected, it is
easy to change, and to deviate, into other vegetables, or to
introduce them in aid of those, on which any one choose-

336 REMARKS ON SOILING.

principally, to rely. In making my selection, I was guided
by the nature of the climate, and by the consideration of
the vegetables selected being the best known, and most suc-
cessfully cultivated in the neighbourhood. I use but four, —
1st, grass; 2d, oats; 3d, Indian corn ; 4th, cabbages.

1. Grass. I depend upon this for the first month of the
soiling season; beginning, in our climate, about the 20th of
May, or 1st of June, and terminating about the 1st of July.

In nriy own practice, I have contented myself with com-
mencing soiling at the time, at which cattle are in this cH-
mate usually turned out to grass. It would be wise, and, I
apprehend, easily practicable, to introduce some vegetable,
which, sown the preceding year, would enable the farmer to
commence cutting earlier, and so carry back the commence-
ment of the soiling season to the 1st of May, possibly ear-
lier. This, however, I have never attempted, partly be-
cause it required personal attentions, which, I could not
give, consistent with my other avocations ; and partly be-
cause, in the commencement of the system, I thought it
wise to limit my experiments to the period, in which cattle
are usually kept upon pasture ; leaving it to future experi-
ence to enlarge the benefits and length of the soiling season.
Fearing lest by attempting too much, 1 might be discouraged,
and by failure, in part, might put to hazard the great ob-
jects of the system, which are attained, when vegetables
taken for soiling are made a complete substitute, for vegeta-
bles fed by the cattle themselves from the pasture. For the
first month, therefore, of the soiling season, I depend
upon grass.

Concerning the quantity of land, in grass, necessary to be
applied to the support of any specific number of cattle I
have no experience sufficient to state it with accuracy. My
own practise has been to cut from the earliest grass I could
find, in small pieces and patches about my house, and by
sides of an inclosed road, of which I could not easily take an
exact measurement. Minute calculations on this point must

REMARKS ON SOILING. 337

obviously be very uncertain and unsatisfactory, as the capa-
city of every given piece of land, tg support any specified
number of cattle must depend upon its heart and state of
cultivation. It will be sufficient to say that my own experi-
ence authorizes me to state, that one acre of good clover,
or any early grass, cut for soiling, is am|)le for the support
of six head of full grown cattle, from the 20th of May to
the 20th June. As it is best, however, in all calculations
of this kind to provide against all contingencies, my rule is
to consider o?te quarter of an acre of my best grass produc-
ing land as appropriated to each head of soilii;p, cattle, fqr
its support between the 20tb May and let of July. Less
than that quantity has always been sufficient on my farm. If
it be not used for soiling, the produce is housed as hay, for
the winter.

Small farmers, who should top dress the land every day
cut over, with the water leached from the manure heap,
would reduce the extent of land required for the process of
soiling very considerably.

It is needless to give any directions relating to any parti-
cular preparation for the soiling process, for this first period.
What is required is only land in its best grass state, — good
mowing land, — to be reserved at the rate of a quarter of an
acre, for each head of cattle soiled, and for the facility of
feeding and of manuring for after feed as near the barn,
where the cattle are kept, as possible.

The preparation of oats, Indian corn, and cabbages, re-
quire somewhat more particular attention.

Preparation of soiling food in April, for July. 1st. of
Oats. These are, on my farm, made to succeed grass, and
usually afford a good cut about the first of July. As it is
important in every plan of husbandry, to simplify as much
as possible, I shall consider oats, as the food exclusively des-
tined for the month of July, although, in fact, at the latter
part of the month, Indian corn stalks may begin to be cut ;
and had often better be commenced, not only for the sake

338 REMAUKii ON SOILING.

of diversifying the feed of the stock, but because, the corn
stalks cut in the latter part of this month will be more likely
to vegetate anew with luxuriance, than if cut later.

With this explanation, I state oats, cut in the milk, to be
the food, in this climate, for the support of the soiling pro-
cess, in July. As it is important to get the cattle off of the
grass land as soon as possible, to the end that the wintei
crop of hay may be the more abundant, so the preparation
for oats ought to be as early as possible. It will be best, if
the land have been thoroughly ploughed the autumn pre-
ceding. It ought to be land in excellent heart, all ray cal-
culations being made on land in such a state. It being ob-
vious that calculations on any other must be altogether
uncertain and various ia result. It ought also to be land, which
had been cultivated and well manured the year preceding.
As soon as the frost is out of the ground it should be plough-
ed at least once, and the oats sowed broad cast, at the rate
of four bushels to the acre, at least. The land should then
be harrowed and rolled. Oats thus sowed, at the earliest
moment possible, will generally be ready for the scythe by
the first of July.

As to the quantity of land thus to be prepared, one acre,
for every four head of cattle soiled ; that ;s, one quarter of
an acre for each head, will be sufiicient. At least such has
been invariably my experience, where the land is in proper
heart and tilth. In order to test this point, I have not only
observed and compared the general extent of land cut over,
with the whole number of cattle soiled, but also have more
than once had the quantity eaten by a certain number of
head, in a certain number of days, on a measured extent,
compared. The result of my experiment is, that one square
rod of oats, in full milk, growing on land in proper {that is,
high) tilth will support one head of cattle a day. One quar-
ter of an acre, or forty square rods, for thirty days, is a fair
basis of calculation, and making a sufficiently liberal allow-
ance for accident.

REMARKS ON SOILING. 339

III the outset of attempting this system, I should recom-
mend somewhat enhiiging this quantity, that is, sowing some-
what more than a quartei- o( an acre, for every head of cat-
tle soiled.

1st. Because in farming as little should be left to chance
as possible.

2d. Because nothing is lost ; if there be an excess, it
may be cut and dried for winter food.

3d. Because the necessity for beginning to cut a little
before the oats are in full milk, and sometimes of extending
the cut a little after that period, will affect the general re-
sult of all calculations relative to the productive power of
the land.

In reference to the fact, and upon the supposition on
which we are now proceeding, that oats alone, without aid
from any other product, arc relied upon for the whole month
of July, the sowing ought to be successive, viz. one half
the destined quantity of land, as early as the seed can be
got into the land ; the other half, a fortnight later, so that
the crop may have some succession. It would be probably
better if the whole extent destined were divided into fourths,
and sowed each fourth with a week or ten days intervening.
Thus supposing the number of cattle soiled to be four; re-
quiring one acre, according to my practice ; and one quar-
ter should be sowed on the 1st of April, one quarter on
the 8th, one on the 15th and 22d. My own practice^
has not been thus subdivided. I have found one sowing
about the 10th, and one about the 15th to answer.

2d. Indian Corn. This, according to that simple plan,
of conducting the soiling process, I am describing, is to be
relied upon for food during the month of August.

The estimate made concerning the capacity of land in
oats, to support stock, may for all practical purposes be as-
sumed to be the same, when in Indian corn ; that is, a quar-
ter of an acre to support one head for the month. Some-
-what more than that quantity to be sown per head, for the

340 REMARKS ON SOILING.

same reasons as those stated in relation to oats ; the land to
be in the same heart and tilth ; to receive, at least, one
ploughing, and harrowing, about the latter end of April and
in the beginning of May ; after which light furrows should
be run three feet asunder, at the depth of three or four inches.
In these furrows corn should be sown broad cast, about the
thickness, and in the same manner, as peas are sown, in
Held culture of them. The corn may then be covered by
the plough. Although, in my experience, a harrow drawn
lengthways, and then crossways, followed by a roller, is suf-
ficient, and to be preferred for this operation.

If the farmer choose, and his fund of manure permit, the
furrows, previous to planting, may be lightly strewed with
manure, to obvious advantage. This, however, has not
been my practice. Grain of any kind, not permitted to
seed but little, exhausts the land ; but if it be repeated it
will require, of course, some provision of manure to pre-
vent its deterioration. He, however, who carries on a soil-
ing system, upon any important scale, will never want for
manure.

Corn thus sown will be ready to cut the latter end of Ju-
ly and the beginning of August. The whole month of Au-
gust, 1 have found Indian corn, cut in the stalk, the best
soiling food. If, however, the farmer prefer to give a vari-
ety he may sow a part of the land in oats, instead of corn,
and alternate through the month of August on oats and In-
dian corn.

In the middle of May, in the beginning and middle of
June, and even as late as the first of August, in our climate,
a portion of land proportionate to the number of cattle should
be sowed in like manner ; on which soiling may be continued
during the whole month of September. In this month, how-
ever, reliance may be placed upon the grass of the second
crop, from those acres from which soiling was effected in
the month of June. The grass of the second crop will
generally enable the farmer to soil to the 1 5th of October,
if his grass land be in proper tilth and heart.

REMARKS ON SOILING. 341

After the 15th of October to the beginning, or the mid-
*ile of November, the tops of his winter vegetables, such as
carrots, or turnips, and which, in every good system of
farming, should be raised in proportion to the stock kept,
should be relied upon.

After which cabbages should succeed until the time
when all cattle are housed in this climate.

Reduced to a single statement, my experience and sys-
tem, is, for the support of my soiled stock during the months
of July, August and September, to sow, in the months of
April, May, June and July, equal to three quarters of an
acre of land for each head of cattle soiled, in such succes-
sion as will give also a regular succession of succulent food,
in the three first mentioned months.

For their support from the 20th May and during the month
of June, I reserve early clover or other grass, at the rate of
one quarter of an acre for each head of cattle soiled.

For their support during the first half of October I depend
upon the second growth of the half acre, cut over in May
and June, and the second growth of the oats and corn cut
over in July.

This period, between the 20th May and the 15th October
is the only one on which 1 rely on grass, oats, and Indian
corn ; and includes a reservation and employment of land,
equal to one acre per head of cattle soiled.

My own experience has been always less than this. Ne-
ver having exceeded, as I believe, seventeen acres for twen-
ty head ; and those, never in that state of high tilth, which
in this systematic statement I recommend.

In truth, the capacity of an acre to maintain cattle, in a
soiling process, if conducted with due attention to develope
its full powers, is probably four, or five times greater than
this, but I choose to raise no extravagant expectations. In
the commencement of every new system, mistakes will be
made. Great diversities in quality or state of land must

Vol. VI. 44

342 REMARKS ON SOILING.

exist, and will, of course, occasion a diversity in result.
Besides, the soiling process, beyond all others, requires vigi-
lance, and foresight. Cattle, in this process, are not left
to range over an immeasurable extent of pasture, com-
posed of grass, heath rock, marsh, brush and briar, about
which the owner makes no calculation ; sometimes stocking
it beyond, and sometimes beneath its power ; in good sea-
sons keeping them well, in bad affording lean and scanty
fare, scarcely sufficient to support life, and wholly inade-
quate to a profitable return. In the soiling process they are
put under the care of intelligence. It must exist and must
be exercised. If this be the case, the reward from the sys-
tem, on farms suited for it, is ample. For myself, after a
trial of six years, no consideration would induce me to
change it for the old method of pasturing.

It remains to explain the soiling system during the residue
of the season, viz. from the 15th of October to the middle
or the latter end of November; at which time stock, in this
climate, usually begin upon their winter food. In my sys-
tem, I have depended upon the tops of carrots and turnips,
destined either for the market, or for the winter food of
stock. My practise has been to raise from eight to twelve
acres of vegetables. The tops of which, with a single fod-
dering of salt hay, per day, have been, according to my ex-
perience, sufficient to support, equal to twenty head of cat-
tle from the 15th of October to the middle or latter end of
November.

If, however, the farmer is not in the practice of raising a
sufficient quantity of roots, to yield a support for his stock,
for six weeks, cabbages are, in this climate, the farmer's
best dependance ; after the second cutting of the grass, and
corn, and oat fodder, fail.

The preparation for cabbages, in field culture, is so well
and universally known it needs no explanation. It is suffi-
cient to say that, in suitable soil, well manured, a thousand

REMARKS ON SOILING. 343

plants, weighing, upon an average, fifteen pounds, may easi-
ly be raised on the eiglith of an acre. These, at 200 lb.
per day, per head, or 13^ cabbages, will be sufficient for
each head of cattle seventy days, which is 'ample for the
support of each head, to the first of December.

With respect to care of the stock, and increase of ma-
nure ; the particular objects of the soiling process. All the
care of the stock, requisite, is keeping them clean, and
currying them, every day ; throwing the manure into the
proper receptacle ; seeing that the cattle are regularly and
sufficiently watered 5 and that they be permitted to be at
large in a yard, of a common barn yard size, at least two
hours, in the morning, and two in the afternoon. The yard
will be best if a part of it be shaded, or sheltered from the
direct rays of the sun.

The food is distributed in racks, under cover, or in the
barn, about six times a day, in due proportions, which the
usual practical knowledge of a farmer will easily regulate.

A cellar under the barn, or at least a covered receptacle
for the manure, clayed at the bottom, or stoned, so as to be
water-tight, to the end that the drainings of the manure
should not escape in the subsoil. The yard and floor of the
barn should, also, be so constructed, as to direct the urine
into such a covered, water-tight receptacle.

This is particularly necessary in the soiling process, inas-
much as the manure made by succulent food is rich, and
watery, and liable to be in a degree wasted by the action of
the sun's rays, in an open yard. But when under cover, it
is the vichest of all manures of like species, and is qualified
beyond all others, to impart its riches to soil, and earth
thrown into the receptacle, and mixed with this summer's
manure.

Hogs, also, should be permitted to range into it from the
hogpen, not only for the purpose of mixing the deposit to-
gether, but also on account of economy ; in all soiling, some

344 REMARKS ON SOILING.

waste of gieeii food is unavoidable, either from sometimes
cutting more than can be consumed in the day, or from its
being blown upon by the cattle. This hogs consume and
prevent loss of it.

The increase of manure in this mode exceeds all antici-
pation. It is on this account that the soiling process claims
the attention of farmers, who are always ready to say, " We
can do well enough, only give us manure. The want of
manure is our great want." This is supplied by the soiling
process, in a mode cheap, easy, within the resources of
every farmer, and leading, in its event, to the highest and
most satisfactory of all methods of conducting a farm.

I have been the more minute, in this statement, and shall
not fail, hereafter, to communicate my experience, in this
system, because I apprehend it is peculiarly suited to the
farming condition of Massachusetts ; and although it is, at
present, almost unknown, and wholly unpractised ; at
least, I have never heard that it is as yet practised, upon
any considerable scale, on any farm (except my own) yet I
am satisfied that it will gradually grow into use ; and the
sooner, it can be made to be understood, and the way
shown, the better for our commonwealth. A farmer, now-
a-days, who has but thirty or forty acres of land, feels him-
self, in some measure, straitened for want of room. He is
tempted to buy pasture ground ; to widen his surface ; per-
haps to run in debt ; and embarrass himself for Hfe, for the
sake, of what he thinks, the " one thing needfiiP'* for a
farmer — much land. When his sons come of age, if he can-
not give them more than thirty or forty acres, they must
abandon their homes, the land of their fathers, and all the
privileges of a cultivated and improved society to seek a
great farm in western wildernesses.

Now all this is mistake and want of knowledge of the pro-
ductive power of the soil, when highly cultivated. The
first step for farmers to take is to reverse their old prejudices
in this respect, and instead of calculating how much more

REMARKS ON SOILING, 3A5

land they want, let them try with how little they can do ;
and do well.

There is no proposition in nature more true, than that any
farmer may maintain upon thirly acres, of good arable land,
tzoenty head of cattle, in better condition, with more profit,
with more comfort to the animals, with less labour, less
trouble, and less cash advance, to himself, than he at pre-
sent usually expends upon a hundred acres. In addition to
which he will have the great satisfaction of seeing, in time,
every square inch of his land productive, instead of seeing,
as he does now, not more than one part in four of his farm
producing any thing ; or at least any thing that will pay the
expence of harvesting.

But how is this practice to be introduced ? I answer.
Gradually. Let farmers " feel their way" into it. If any
farmer thinks that he wants more pasture land, in order to
keep more cattle in the summer, in order to consume his
hay, or to make manure, in winter, instead of running in
debt, or laying out his money in more land, let him keep
himself free of debt, or put his money out at interest ; and
try soiling. Let him be assured he will find his account in
it. But how shall he try ? Shall he shut up all his cattle at
once ; enter upon a scheme recommended by book writers ;
and perhaps fail, either from accident, or misapprehension,
the first year. By no means. Every practical farmer, if he
be wise, will, on the one hand, never utterly slight the sug-
gestions of books and writers on the subject of his art ; and,
on the other, will never enter upon them, at once, on any
great and decisive scale. As the saying is, " he will always
feel his way." Thus, for iastance, in this case of soiling.
A farmer, ignorant of the subject, yet willing to try the ex-
periment, should commence with one or two head of cattle.
Let him set aside, at first, two acres of land for each head.
Nothing will be lost if thi^re be an excess of the oats, or
corn, sown for soiUng, beyond the consumption, the surplus

346 riEMARKS ON SOILING.

cut in season, will remain for winter^s food. Let him go
through, for one year, a course of soiling such as is sug-
gested, for one or two head of cattle. Let him oversee the
feeding himself; or by a confidential hand. A boy, if trust-
worthy, is sufficient for such an experiment, acting under
the daily directions of his father, or master. Let him pro-
vide a pit, or cellar, covered, or under the barn, or so plac-
ed in relation to the cattle soiled, as that the manure and
urine can be easily preserved ; the cellar, or receptacle, be-
ing water tight ; if this be so situated as that his hogs can
have fair play among the deposits, it is impossible but that
he will find his account in it.

One year's success will enable him, and, 1 cannot ques-
tion, will induce him, to double, if not treble, his next
year's experiment. Soon he will, if the nature of his farm
permit, shut up his whole stock ; and ultimately will arrive
at a state of conviction and feeling, such, as will never per-
mit him again, on any consideration, to allow cattle to run at
large, on any of his land, which is capable of being ploughed
and mown.

I know it will be asked what shall be done with rocky
land, and land suitable only for pastures ? My answer is, that
where a man has nothing else, but rock or pasture land, or
sand, which cannot be made subject to cultivation, a man
must manage according to his condition. Good farming is
making the most of land, according to its species. If a man
has a sand bank, on the margin of the ocean, he will best
make salt. If he have nothing but some perpendicular
mountain rocks, he will best, probably, keep goats. So of
the rest. Farming, to be good, *must always have reference
to the species and capacity of the soil.

The system I advocate has reference to arable land; to
that portion of it on every man''s farm, xvhich is capable of
being ploughed, and mowed over. Every man who wishes
to make the most of this part of his farm, will effect this the

REMARKS ON SOILING. 347

most certainly, the most economically, and the most satis-
factorily by the mode I recommend. If a man have part
pasture and part arable, he may soil for part, and pasture
for part. There is nothinj; inconsistent in this ; on the con-
trary, the soiling is a great support to the pasture; because
when the pasture fails, as in dry seasons it often will, a man,
who soils part, will always provide a surplus of his soiling
food, to meet such a contingency.

In answer to the question, what species of farmers will
find their account in attempting to soil ? I answer. Every

FARMER, WHO WANTS MANURE ; AT A CHEAP AND EASY

RATE. The greatest profit of soiling arises from the quan-
tity of manure it enables the farmer to make ; more than
doubling it upon the same stock. It may be adopted, I ap-
prehend, as an axiom, almost universal ; certainly so, except
in cases of very great proximity to a town or village, that
soiling is the cheapest of all modes of obtaining manures.
In this point of view, the saving of fence, the economy of
land, of food; the increase of milk, and the better condi-
tion of the cattle ; all of which have been shown to be the
consequence of this method, may be considered as inciden-
tal to the system, as an offset for the labour requisite ; giving
the manure made as a clear gain ; and what is more, with-
out the loss and trouble, and expense, of carting from a dis-
tance. It is not only made, but it is placed, just where it
should be, in the farmer's own stercorary — or, covered
manure heap.

The rich farmer, and the extensive land holder, ought to
avail himself of it ; if he wants manure. Such farmer, if
he have capital, may stock his pasture land up to its full
pasture power, and keep a number of head additional on the
soiling system, according to the quantity of manure, of which
he stands in need. But the conduct of a farm, upon a great
scale of this nature, depends upon so many circumstances,
that the particular mode or extent of applying this system, as

348 nEMARKS ON SOILING.

subsidiary to pasturing, cannot be prescribed by any general
rule. Calculations must have reference to a knowledge
of all the particular circumstances and relations of such a
farm, and such a capitalist farmer.

It is to small farmers, those who possess twenty, thirty, or
forty acres of land, to whom this system is peculiarly appli-
cable. Upon this they may build up a most prosperous
agriculture, with little capital, little more than ordinary
trouble, and little or no risk ; relieved from debt, which is
so frequently the farmer's ruin, under the idea of the neces-
sity of purchasing more land, and relieved, also, from the
pain and vexation of owning and superintending a vast sur-
face ; every where less productive than it ought to be, and
in a very great proportion, often not productive at all.

I have, thus, endeavoured to give, according to the re-
quest of the Trustees, an account of the mode of my con-
ducting the soiling process, and the result of my own ex-
perience. It is now six years since I commenced it, and no
consideration would induce me to abandon it. Every year
brings new conviction of its facility and its productive-
ness.

If small farmers, would be persuaded to commence the
system upon a small scale, with one or two head of cattle,
they would gradually become acquainted with it. Success
would inspire confidence. Until enlarging the number of
cattle soiled, they might, in time, easily keep one head per
year for every acre of land they possess. Far greater than
this, would be the fair, ultimate, result of the system, if wisely
conducted. Besides which, they would find other econo-
mies and advantages resulting from it, amply compensating
for all the increased labour consequent upon the process.

[ 349 ]

ON THE USE OF GREEN VITRIOL AND DILUTED SUL-
PIIURIC ACID, AS A MANURE.

[Communicated for the Agricultur.il Repository.]

To the Corresponding Secretary.

Sir,

Seeing in the last number of your Repository an article on
salt as a manure, I beg leave to offer, for the consideration
of farmers, the evidence I have been able to collect in fa-
vour of two other substances as manures, not, 1 believe, ge-
nerally known among us as such, but thought to be delete-
rious. Massachusetts, in common with some others of the
United States, abounds in the ore of copperas or green
vitriol. In some parts of the commonwealth, I liave ob-
served many of the stones in the walls on the road side
covered with an efflorescence of this salt, and the general
appearance of the rock indicating a rich one. The colour
of the stone is a dingy yellow, with here and there a blueish
TTietallic shade. It may be readily known by the common
farmer from its tendency to crumble when exposed to air
and moisture, and from the white powder sometimes seen
on its surface, and which has a sharp acid taste ; wherever
the loose stones of this species of rock abound, there pro-
bably will be found, at no great distance, ledges of the same.
This salt is composed of oxyd of iron and sulphuric acid.
The latter ingredient is supposed by some, to be the fertiliz-
ing principle of gypsum or Plaster of paris, and this opi-
nion is strengthened by the fact that diluted sulphuric acid is
known to have the effect of a manure. Others, again, con-
tend that the chemical affinity of the acid for lime is so
strong, that it cannot be decomposed by any thing it may
meet with in the soil ; but that it operates in its concrete
form as a stimulus to vegetation. This is, after all, but mat-
ter of conjecture, and neither on the one side nor the other
Vol. VI. 45

350 ON THE USE OF tsULPHURIC ACID

will the knowledge at present possessed authorize any thing
more conclusive. In some instances, when plaster applied
to the soil has been found inert, a small quantity of stable
manure, another season, on the same land, has produced an
effect not to be accounted for from the stable manure alone.
It has been supposed, that in these cases, the plaster which
before lay dormant, was decomposed by something this ma-
nure contained, and that the increased activity of vegetation
was the joint product of both. Some years ago, I saw on a
farm at Borden Town, in New-Jersey, a substance which
was there called Marl, and which had altogether the appear-
ance of the pulverized copperas ore, which I had seen at
Thetford, in Vermont. It was a blackish grey earth, and
contained a considerable quantity of pyrites in small crys-
tals. I witnessed its effect as a manure on a field of clover,
which was remarkably luxuriant, while another adjoining
part of the same field, to which it had not been applied, was
far less thrifty.

A very large stratum of earth which formed the bank of
the river (Delaware) for some distance was of this substance.
That there was a considerable portion of the sulphate of
iron or copperas in this earth, there can be no doubt ; and
that this constituted its fertilizing principle, may perhaps be
fairly inferred from the following considerations.

Dr. Pearson, as stated in his communication to the Board
of Agriculture in England [vol. 4. page 319], ascertained
by analysis, that the salt of peat, which is sometimes ob-
served on the surface of this substance, chrystalized and
very white, was pure sulphate of iron or copperas.

This salt had been discovered some years before the ana-
lysis by Dr. Pearson, to be a powerful manure, and grew
rapidly in reputation after it came into use.

Dr. Barton, of Philadelphia, in a letter to Dr. Pearson,
says, " I have for some years been engaged in an extensive
series of experiments, relative to the effects of various sti-
mulating articles, such as camphire, &c. upon vegetables,

AS A MANURE. 361

and on the absorption of certain powerful mineral substan-
ces into the organic system of vegetables. In numerous in-
stances I have subjected the stems and leaves of plants,
young and old, large and small, to the influence of the sul-
phates of iron and copper. I have found that both of these
metallic salts are very greedily absorbed by vegetables, inso-
much that I have detected the presence of iron in the ves-
sels of a branch of mulberry, at the height of tive or six
feet above the place of immersion in a solution of the sul-
phate of this metal. Sulphate of iron applied to vegetables
is a poison, like almost every thing else, only from the over-
dose. In several of my experiments, the branches of vege-
tables that were placed in vessels containing solutions of the
sulphate of iron and copper, lived longer, and exhibited
more signs of vigour, than similar branches that were placed
in equal quantities of simple water. 1 have also found that
large doses of nitre produce an appearance like genuine
gangrene, in the leaves of vegetables, and yet it is certain
that nitre, when it is judiciously dosed, may be made to as-
sist greatly the healthy vegetation of plants."

It is well known that peat ashes are much used in Eng-
land, and elsewhere, as a manure. Professor Robison,
quoted by Dr. Pearson, says, " that peat ashes always con-
tain a great proportion of iron, that he had seen three
places in Russia, where there was a superficial peat-moss,
and in all of them, the vitriol was so abundant as to efflor-
esce." All peat, however, does not contain the salt in
equal quantity, and sometimes probably it contains none.

A preparation of pyrites, or sulpkuret of iron, is used in
Flanders as a manure. Chancellor Livingston gives the fol-
lowing account, (published in the New-York Society's
Transactions, vol. 2.) " In an excursion that I lately made
into Flanders, I observed at some distance from the road,
several large beds of earth, that appeared to me to emit
smoke and flame, which two men were tending. I found
that it was pyrites, sufficiently impregnated with sulphur to

352 ON THE USE OF SULPHURIC ACID

burn when dry. This was laid into beds and fire set to it.
They endeavoured to extinguish the fire when the ashes
were red ; if it burned longer, it became black, and the
quality of it was not so good. This earth, so burned, was
easily reduced to powder by a wooden mallet, and in this
state was carried on the backs of asses, forty or fifty miles,
as manure, and was used particularly for grass, at the rate
of about six bushels to the acre. The seed grain was cover-
ed with it as with gypsum in our country. This circum-
stance induces a belief that the sulphuric acid is both in
this and in the gypsum the fertilizing principle. It is pre-
sumable, says he, that in this very slow combustion, the sul-
phuric acid is absorbed by the ashes, or rather earth, while
the inflammable matter is dissipated, and that the union of
the alkali and the acid forms a salt not unlike, in its chemi-
cal relation, to gypsum, or perhaps one that is more soluble,
more impregnated with the acid."

Perhaps it would be a more correct explanation of what
takes place in the combustion of the pyrites, as above re-
lated, to say, that the sulphur of the pyrites by an union
with the oxygen of the air, and of the moisture, disengaged
from the heaps, forms sulphuric acid and again combines
with the iron of the pyrites, forming the sulphate, which
afterwards mingling with the earthy particles of the heap,
becomes the efficient cause of vegetation as it is in the
ashes of peat. The ashes of turf, which, the chancellor
says, is supposed in Holland to contain sulphur, and which,
no doubt, contains sulphate of iron, is purchased at a high
price, and carried into Brabant and Flanders as a manure.

M. Berard, quoted by Judge Peters, vol. 2d of the Phi-
ladelphia Memoirs of Agriculture, supposes that the plaster
of paris owes its efiicacy to the sulphuric acid. " The fer-
tility of the lands abounding in volcanic matter, as in the
neighbourhood of Catania in Sicily, and near Naples, &:c.
where the soil is evidently combined with the ashes of the
volcano, or of decomposed lava, afforded a strong proof of
the vegetative virtue of sulphur."

AS A MA^URE. 353

" M. Berard caused brimstone to be pounded and sifted,
and nnixed with ashes to render the sowing easy. Having
spread this powder on clover and lucerne, on xvheat and na-
tural grass, he waited the effect. It was surprising on the
lucerne and clover, but little perceptible on the wheat and na-
tural grass. Repeated experiments gave the same results.
It was particularly remarkable that its effect was the most
prompt when after its application, a shower of rain fell."
The water no doubt facilitated the formation of the sulphuric
acid; a combination which the sulphur enters into before,
probably, it ever becomes a manure. This same writer re-
commends sulphur as an ingredient in composts for vines, and
reminds us of the fine quality of the wines produced from
soils of volcanic origin which contain sulphur.

Judge Peters remarks, " that a small infusion of oil of vi-
triol in a large portion of water, promotes vegetation, and
banishes insects from garden plants." It has been used in
the proportion of an oz. of vitriol to a gallon of water, with
advantage.

Sir H. Davy in his elements of Agricultural Chemistry,
supposes that in all the instances in which either sulphuric
acid or sulphate of iron operate as a manure, the acid first
combines with lime to form gypsum. The ground of this
opinion is that he has detected gypsum in all the plants for
which the substance was used as a pabulum. On the other
hand, Dr. Barton in the account of an experiment, before
mentioned, made with the sulphate of iron as a manure,
states that he found iron in one of the branches of the plant,
which he had subjected to an analysis. From which he would
lead us to infer that the sulphate of iron was not decompos-
ed to form gypsum.

Sir Humphrey Davy gives it as probably the reason zohy
■gypsum is not generally e-fficacious, that most cultivated soils
contain it in sujfficient quantities for the use of the grasses.
He must mean also to say, that the reason why in certain in-
stances it is not found efficacious for grain crops, is that the

354 ON THE USE OP SULPHURIC ACID

«oil already contains it in sufficient abundance. If his posi-
tion be true, it is not so much owing to the presence of gyp-
sum in any case, that such wonderful eflfects are produced on
vegetation, as it is to the presence of some other constituents
of the soil, which are wanting where it produces no effect;
else according to his supposition, vegetation, in this latter
case, would be as vigorous as in all others, in which gypsum
is applied. Now we may ask what are those other ingredi-
ents in the natural soil where gypsum is not found, which act
so forcibly when gypsum is added ? It does not become an
unscientific farmer to discard hastily the opinion of a man so
worthy of all respect as Sir Humphrey Davy, but, if he be cor-
rect, all those soils which have not naturally enough of gyp-
sum, have some constituents of great power, which are per-
ceived to exist when gypsum is added, and of which it would
be extremely desirable to know the nature, and how they
could be come at, in order that they might be employed to
fertilize such soils, as according to Sir H. Davy, have a com-
plement of gypsum.

If gypsum produces no effect on vegetation, it is because
there is already gypsum enough, and neither sulphate of iron,
nor sulphuric acid, nor peat ashes can operate as a manure,
until the acid they have combines with lime to form gyp-
sum ; then the trial of these substances in many parts of
Massachusetts would be of no avail. It may, however, turn
out on experiment that they are efficacious where gypsum is
not.

In a former number of this journal there is an article on
the use of burnt clay as a manure. The writer confines
himself to a statement of facts as far as I can remember, and
attempts no solution of the mode of its operation. The
adhesive quality in clay is the great objection to it for
vegetation where it exists in great mass. Its adhesiveness is
supposed to depend upon its union with an acid. It is said by
Mr. Crookshank, (vol.2. Trans, of the Soc. of Arts,) "That
burnt clay dissolved in sulphuric acid, recovers its ductility.

AS A MANURE. 353

There is, says he further, certainly an acid emitted from it
in burning bricks, as is evident to tlie smell, after a certain
degree of heat has been communicated to the kihi ; but of
what kind this acid may be, I cannot say, though I have seen
curriers learn to their cost, that it would stain their leather
black, if by any means it happened to get mixed in sufficient
quantities with the astringent juice of the oak bark used in
tanning." I have seen the leaves of fruit trees blighted by
the fumes from a brick kiln in mid-summer ; although at the
distance of fifty rods from the kiln ; an effect proceeding pro-
bably from the acid of the clay ; or more probably from the
sulphate of iron. — Common clay contains a considerable
portion of the oxyd of iron, from which the brick receives
its red colour. — In the process of burning, this oxyd unites
with the acid, and forms the sulphate, and hence we are to
account for the effect of the fumes of the brickkiln on leath-
er noticed by Mr. Crookshank. — The tannin decomposes the
sulphate, and the iron is precipitated, . and leaves the black
stain.

In burning clay by slow combustion for manure, in the
manner recommended in a former number of this Journal, we
may fairly presume, that green vitriol or sulphate of iron,
is formed in small quantities, and intermixed with the earthy
and pulverized mass — and that the latter, when used as a ma-
nure, derives its virtue not so much from the mechanical
division of its parts, as from the presence of this salt.

The bo y of testimony here exhibited in favour both of the
sulphuric acid and of the sulphate or copperas, as manures,
seems entitled to some consideration. But substances of
such great power ought to be used, as is obvious, in a very
diluted state, as well as the marine or other salts, which have
been erroneously held to be poisonous to vegetation. They
are injurious only when used in too great quantity. — Every
species of aliment will prove a poison both to animal and
vegetable life, if too much is administered — while on the
contrary, arsenic, as has been justly said, in connexion with

356 ON THE USE OF SULPHUUrC ACIi»

this same subject, when taken into the human system, in ex-
tremely small doses, is sometimes a useful stimulant and pow-
erful corrective.

Gravelly and sandy soils have been thought to be most
benefited by the use of sea salt and sulphate of iron and the
sulphuric acid ; and clayey land by lime. — About a gallon of
water to an ounce of vitriol or of the copperas, has been
found on experiment to be the proper degree of dilution.
But proceeding on a larger scale, seven bushels of the cop-
peras beat to a powder, may be considered a proper propor-
tion for an acre. Peat ashes, where it has been found to
contain a considerable portion of this salt, has been used
with advantage, at the rate of fifty loads to the acre, — burnt
clay at the rate of from thirty to fifty loads.

In those parts of our state which possess much of the rock
which contains sulphur and iron, in so great quantity as that
it decomposes easily when exposed to the air or to moisture,
the farmers may find it profitable to break up the stone into
small pieces, and to throw it on a platform of boards, or place
it in some other convenient situation, to catch the wash from
the mass after rain, when it shall have been a sufficiently
long time exposed to have considerably decomposed — or the
heap may be artificially watered, and the lixivium received
into a vat.

One cannot but wish that a more precise knowledge were
possessed by intelligent husbandmen, of the just value of all
substances which invigorate vegetation, and which are within
the reach of all for use as manures. — Animal dung and some
few other things are used by every one with entire confidence
in their efficacy. — But many others, and among them the dif-
ferent kinds of salts in their pure state, are held in a vague
sort of distrust as manures, not absolutely denounced as
known to be fatal in all cases to vegetation, but thought to be
of so equivocal a character as fertilizers, as to make it on the
whole inexpedient to meddle with them. It is perhaps diffi-
cult to bring the mind to realize that a small quantity of con-

AS A MANURE. 357

cenlrated salts or other active agents embodied within a
small compass, can have the same effect as great masses ot
barn yard manure. This is without doubt one cause of the
incredulity still entertained by some as to the eflicacy of plas-
ter. But chemists might shew us by analysis, that all the
vegetative virtue of a buck of dung may be resolved into a
few salts, a little earthy residuum and pure water — and the
salts be found not to fill a peck measure. — When the farmer
sees the fumes rising from a heap of stable manure, and ming-
ling with the air, perhaps it does not occur to him that this
light and pungent vapour is the life of his manure. One fact
will place this in a strong light. Sir Humphrey Davy, in or-
der to test the power of the fumes of a dung hill, tried the
following experiment. He filled a bottle with fresh stable
dung, and applied the nose to the roots of a grass sod. In a
short time the blades began to spring with new vigour, and
the grass soon far surpassed in luxuriance other grass around
it, which had not the benefit of this stimulus.

All that is absolutely necessary to make any soil fertile in
the highest degree, may exist in so concentrated a form that a
few pounds weight, brought to a diluted state, shall be suffi-
cient to give a luxuriant crop to an acre. — Perhaps a chem-
ist would say that all our active manures, which are now car-
ried about in such cumbrous loads, will hereafter be presented
to us in the form of a pure extract, and in this shape be
brought into general use. We do not mean that stable ma-
nure, for example, should be subjected to a chemical opera-
tion for this purpose, but that we may derive, to a certain ex-
tent, from other sources, the virtues which we find in that,
and command and apply to the soil the fertilizing principle
with less expense and trouble. Thus we may enjoy an ad-
vantage similar to that which is likely to attend a recent dis-
covery in regard to the Hop, viz. that " near the base of the
flower there is secreted a semi-resinous substance in the form
of minute globules, which is the seat of the whole bitterness,
for which the hops are generally prized and consumed — and

Vol. VI. 46

358 ON THE USE OF SULPHURIC ACID

in which its fragrance and essential properties reside.* Dr.
Ives, of New-York, has pointed out a vast saving, which
would take place in the expense of transportation and stor-
age, if an article containing all the strength of the hop, and
occupying but small compass, were substituted for one which
is of more than twenty times its bulk.''

Salts are a durable manure. Their effects have been
known to last fifteen years. Stable manure owes its power in
part to the extrication of much heat which is disengaged in
the fermentation it undergoes in the soil. And when after
two or three years this fermentation has ceased, the substance
of it existing in the form of salts, is too small in quantity to
produce longer any sensible effect; — as much stable manure
applied at once to the soil, as would contain a permanent base
of salts, equal to a few bushels of marine or vitriolic salts< as
a manure, would generate heat enough in the process of fer-
mentation to destroy all vegetable life. On the spot where a
heap of stable manure has been suffered to lie leeching a
few weeks, if it is a grass field or old pasture, the salts of the
manure, after the second year, having in thai time become
sufficiently diluted, begin to act as a manure, and will con-
tinue many years to produce so striking an effect on vegeta-
tion as to distinguish this spot from every other in the field.

The salts of ley, so called by the soap boilers, is now
thrown away, as of no use, and is called waste : — were this
applied to the land, reduced in strength by water or by inter-
mixture with earth, it certainly would be found in some in-
stances, at least, a powerful manure. — Salts destroy insects.
I have seen in a late newspaper, a sensible letter from a
Pennsylvania farmer, in which he states that he has used com-
mon salt, at the rate of seven bushels to the acre, for the
double purpose of destroying insects and enriching his land.
— The salt is sown very early in the spring and afterwards
ploughed in. — He says it effectually destroys insects. The
heat of stable manure is well known to be genial to various

* Bi:jelow% Bo'any, vol. 3. part 2.

AS A MANURE. 359

kinds of vermin : and in this land of insecli!, as it ha? pro-
perly been called by Professor Peck, it is highly important
all means should be employed to exterminate those of them
which which are noxious to esculents.

It is a circumstance in favour of the general use of barn
yard manures, that they contain so great a quantity of com-
ponents, as that no soil fails to derive benefit from some one
or more of them. But if it can be ascertained by experiment
with the various substances they contain, (as these have been
already discovered in part by chemical analysis) which of
thenf are best suited to particular soils and particular crops,
the components of dung may be obtained perhaps at a cheaper
rate and applied to the land more profitably from some
other source. A regular series of experiments by a number
of gentlemen on diflferent estates, which should embrace a
fair and full trial of all those substances which mav be called
uncertain manures, could not fail to give valuable results j
particularly if the experiments were pursued systemati-
cally, and the gentlemen would hold themselves responsible
to communicate faithfully their experience. Good things
are some times lost sight of amidst the multiplicity of other
cares, or because in point of interest, they are not imme-
diately important enough to be regarded by those who are
best able to ascertain their true value, and whose recommen-
dation would go far with the public.

1 beg leave to trouble you with a few remarks in relation
to the management of stable manure. An agricultural chem-
ist who should watch the progress of a heap of this manure,
as it is commonly treated, from the time it is first formed in
the yard until it is used, would perceive that it had lost from
50 to 75 per cent of its value. Suppose a large heap of car-
rots exposed in a field all winter to the frost, wilhout any
covering, and in mid winter after those on the outside and to
a considerable depth, were frozen, the farmer should go to
work and turn the heap ; turning those which were frost bit-
ten, in, and a portion of those which had not as yet suffered.

.360 COL. PICKERING ON THE LOCUST TREE.

out, to take their chance for the rest of the winter. — The
heap being very large, a few bushels would be found proba-
bly sound in the spring. — With almost as little consideration
do farmers some times manage their manure heaps. Every
farmer who would make the most of his manure, should pro-
vide before hand, a large mass of earth in his barn yard, and
intermix ^he manure as it is made with a portion of this, both
for the purpose of preventing a violent and destructive fer-
mentation, and to take the natural vapour of the dung. And
as often as the heap is turned, there should be left over it when
the work is done, a crust of earth three or four inches thick,
to keep in the fumes and promote their consolidation with
the mass. There is nothing new in this method of manage-
ing barn yard or stable manure, to the theorist and the really
good farmer. But no one can say with any propriety, that it
is not new to him, if he has not practised it.

A FARMER.

COL. PICKERING ON THE LOCUST TREE.

Salem, March 2, 1821.

DEAR SIR,

1 HAVE just now read, in the last number of the Massachu-
setts Agricultural Journal,* the remarks and questions of the
Trustees prefixed to General H. A. S. Dearborn's letter on
the Locust Tree, and the destructive worms which infest
it ; on which subject communications are requested.

To the first question I answer, that climate appears to
have no influence on the insect ; for in New-Hampshire are
locust trees uninjured, as well as in some of the southern
states. But in the latter the insect is not unknown. In the
city of Washington I have noticed the stems of young trees
full of the same bunches which distinguish those in Massa-
chusetts, infested by the worms : while in Gefixgetown (ad-

* No. 3. vol. vi.

COL. PICKERING ON THE LOCUST TREE. 361

joining the cit}) I have seen thrifty locust trees, of a larj^er
size, unmarked by a single wornn. Tlie latter had not been
tra7isplanted, (xxid so debilitafed ; and were likewise so near
together as to etFect a mutual shade.

To the second, that although white washing with lime is
unquestionably a useful, (but probably not an effectual) re-
medy, and applicable to a small number of trees, it may be
nearly impracticable to extend it to a forest. A close growth
of the trees, so close as to form a continual shade, I have
reason to think would operate beneficially, though not to the
entire exclusion of the insect. About twelve years ago I
- sowed a parcel of locust seeds in rows three or four feet
apart. They now form a small thick grove. I repeatedly
transplanted some of them, at the distance of a rod, on the
two sides of a lane. These were attacked by the insect ;
the worms perforated the stems ; and in high winds they
were easily broken off. I renewed the planting ; but the
same evil ensued ; while those remaining in the grove are
not so much infested as to prevent their growing with tole-
rable thrift.

My own practice is an answer to the third question : The
locust trees of the northern and southern states are of one
and the same species : All the seeds I have sown were ga-
thered from locust trees in the district of Columbia — chiefly
in Georgetown. There the product of seed is very abun-
dant ; and to such a degree, that I think it would be easier to
gather a peck in that district, than one quart from any trees
I have seen in Massachusetts.

Yet I believe the Locust tree to be indigenous in Massa-
chusetts and New-Hampshire : at least the latitude does not
forbid the supposition. 1 have passed through a township in
the state of New-York, above the forty-second degree of la-
titude, in which the native forest trees were locusts. The
greater part had been felled, and split into posts and tre-
nails— the latter carted across to the Delaware, and floated
on rafts of boards to the Philadelphia market. Some large
trees remained standing.

362 COL. PICKERING ON THE LOCUST TREE.

I am satisfied, that, above all other trees, the locust should
not be raised in nurseries. The seeds sown at the time of
planting early beans, soon vegetate ; and on a barely mid-
dling soil, will rise, the first year, to the height of two, three
and four feet. I have had a small number rise to the heisht
of five feet.

You may have observed, that in the annual shoots of young
locust trees, there are protuberances of an inch or more in
length, in which the twigs are of twice the size they bear on
each side of them. In every protuberance is a worm, of a
reddish colour, which lives and has its growth on the pith.
What insect is produced from it I do not know. I recollect
that professor Peck describes two species of insects that in-
fest the locust. Perhaps this may be one, and that describ-
ed by General Dearborn the other. 1 have thought that
were I to raise a considerable number of locust trees with a
view to timber, I would constantly cut off every shoot, in
which a protuberance appeared, while the worm was in it.
and burn it.

I have thought the most eligible mode of raising locust
trees in quantities for timber, would be to take a piece of
land in tillage, plough and harrow it, mark it into squares,
of three or four feet, and plant the seed at the crossings of
the lines,, three or four seeds in a spot, and after one year's
growth to pull up all but one. Perhaps, too, it may be eli-
gible, in the spring of the next year, to cut every tree down
at the ground, to produce a more vigorous growth ; as the
locust springs luxuriantly from the stump.

1 am, dear sir, very respectfully yours,

T. PICKERING.

Joho Lowell, Esq. Corresponding Secretary.

[ 363 ]

GENERAL SUMNER ON T[IE LONG AVOOLED SHEEP.

Boston, April 14, 1821.
Richard Sullivan, Esq.

DEAR SIR,

1 HAVE tlie pleasure to enclose to you, two ribs of corned
mutton, from the fore quarter of a three year old wether, of
the lorigwooled breed of sheep, of Bakewell's cross. The
sheep was raised and fatted by Aaron Clement, Esq. near
Philadelphia, and was killed in March, 1820. He was fed,
during the summer, on picked grass, with 15 or 20 others,
and for the 4 or 5 months following, with ruta baga and
corn, as much as he could eat. He weighed, in the quar-
ter, one hundred and forty-nine pounds ; and the flock was
sold at Jj20 a head to the butchers, who obtained ^3 a piece
for their skins, and as much more for their rough fat. One
of them had a caul which weighed 191b. ; and if you take
the trouble to measure, you will find the clear fat on the
small ribs of this, full three inches thick.

1 took charge of the sample which Mr. Clement presented
to me, for the purpose of showing it to the trustees of our
Agricultural Society, which I wish you to do for me at their
next meeting, as 1 am well convinced, that their patronage
is necessary to the introduction among us, of a breed of
sheep, which from the length, strength, and quantity of
their wool, as well as from their size and disposition to fat-
ten, would be a valuable acquisition to our farmers and ma-
nufacturers.

I am interested in an establishment for the manufactory of
worsted, and good combing wool is extremely difficult to be
found. One reason of this has been, that no other breed of
sheep, but the Merinos, has received much of the public
attention ; and sheep of all kinds have been permitted to
run together, so that there is not in the country, perhaps,
any but the Merino breed of sheep, which has been kept

364 , ON THE GROWTH OF WHEAT.

pure and unmixed. Another reason is, that although a con-
siderable quantity of long wool is pulled and sheared in this
part of the country, yet, all that is sheared on the same
farms, is usually packed up together, without regard to the
various uses for which it is purchased. The hatter wants
wool of one quality, the spinner of another, and the comber
of another. Hence it is apparent, that if our wool, when it
is brought to market, should be properly stapled, so that the
manufacturers should not be obliged to buy what they don't
want, in order to get that which they do, they could each
afford to pay a higher price for what they purchase, and the
farmers would, of course, turn their attention to the cultiva-
tion of that kind of wool, which is most in demand.

I am the owner of a large flock of Merino sheep, and
have sensibly felt the prejudice against them. This is now
very much weakened, so that those sheep sell for double the
price they did last year. But still there is enough of it left
to afford great encouragement to the introduction of a breed
of sheep, of totally different, and I might almost say, oppo-
site qualities. Should not even an unjust prejudice be fos-
tered, when it can be turned to so good an account ?
1 am, dear sir, with great respect,

Your friend and obedient servant,

W. H. SUMNER.

ON THE GROWTH OF WHEAT.

[To the Corresponding Secretary.]
SIR,

XlAviNG in the year 1792 seen many large fields of excel-
lent wheat, in the interior of New-York, I had a desire to
try that kind of grain on my land, believing that I could
raise my own flour. Accordingly I obtained a small quanti-
ty of spring wheat, and sowed it on good land, but although
there was much large straw, yet the wheat was smutted and

ON THE GROWTH OP WHEAT. 365

blasted. I then concluded that the season was unfavour-
able to the grain. The next year 1 sowed a part of the pre-
ceding year's crop, and the result was worse. The wheat
was more smutted and blasted than before. Not yet dis-
couraged by the last crop, I sowed the third year on rich
land. Suffice it to say, that i had large straw, but it was so
smutted and blasted, that it was disagreeable to pass near
the piece on which it was sowed, from the stench it afforded
while standing. I then relinquished all hope of raising wheat
on my farm, concluding that the soil was unfavourable to
the grain.

In the year 1812, I was surprised to see, in a neighbour-
ing town, two or three pieces of very good wheat, about fit
for the sickle. On inquiry I found that wheat had been
raised in that neighbourhood for years, that the seed was
obtained from the northward, and frequently shifted, and
also, that it was necessary to prepare the seed for sowing, to
prevent blast and smut.

In the month of April, 1813, I prepared a piece of land,
by well ploughing, for wheat. And with a view to promote
vegetation, and prevent smut, the seed was soaked in a
strong solution of soap, then limed, and immediately sown.
The wheat came from Vermont, and was of that kind which
has little or no beard. The crop was good, and without
smut or blast to injure it. The produce was at the rate of
16 bushels per acre, and weighed 55 lb. 4 oz. per bushel.

In 1814 the experiment had much the same result. The
land sowed did not produce so many bushels per acre, but
the grain was better, and yielded 37 lb. 14 oz. of good flour
per bushel.

Since which time I have raised wheat almost every year,
and with success. The preparation of the seed is of the ut-
most consequence ; I first wash it clean, then soak it in a
strong solution of soap, in which a small quantity of nitre,
(say half an ounce to a gallon of the solution), is dissolved.
I have not been very particular as to the time of soaking the
Vol. VI. ' 47

366 ON ORCHARD GRASS.

grain, but a few hours before sowing it, I have added a small
quantity of green vitriol in solution. As to the quantity of
vitriol, about the same as that of nitre. Lastly, drain off
the solution, and add slacked lime, a sufficient quantity to
prevent the grain from adhering corn to corn, and sow it
immediately.

In 1817 the produce was 20 bushels per acre. In 1819 I
sowed a small quantity of Spanish wheat, which I received
of B. Guild, Esq. It did well, notwithstanding the extreme
dry weather in July, which was an injury to it. The grain
was large, but not so white as some other kinds. In 1820 I
sowed the same kind, and with success, yielding about 16
bcshels per acre. By the politeness of R. Sullivan, Esq. I
obtained a quantity of Poland wheat : To this I paid great
attention, but only a small part sprung up, and what ap-
peared, was winter grain, and came to nothing.

It is here proper to remark, that in every instance recol-
lected, where I have sowed spring wheat, I have at the time
laid down the land to grass, and it is frequently the case
that the young clover and herd's grass overspread the ground
before the grain comes to maturity; and this is one cause
why the crops have not been more abundant.

Respectfully,

R. GREEN.

Mansfield, March 9, 1821.

ON ORCHARD GRASS.

Jamaica Plain, '2Sth May, 1821.

DEAR SIR,

iVNOwiNG your exertions and success in the Soiling System,
and having lately read the enclosed piece on the subject of
Orchard Grass, which appears so admirably calculated to as-
sist in that object, induces me io send it to you for publica-
tion in the Repository.

ON ORCHARD GRASS. 367

1 have cultivated this grabs for several years past, at the
recommendation of a respectable clergyman in Connecticut,
and have been much satislied with it, if cut for hay before
it gets too ripe, but have thought it came up very scattering,
considering the quantity of seed sown, (never less than two
bushels per acre, and of my own raising). This year, how-
ever, in reading the inclosed paper, 1 prepared the seed as
therein directed, and put two bushels on an acre, with
ten pounds red clover seed, and it has come up, as freely
and as thick as my Herds'' or Timothy grass. It was sown
on barley, with BenneWs broad cast machine, at the rate of
ene acre in less than one hour.

Very respectfully, your's,

JOHN PRINCE.

Hon, Josiah Quincy.

[From the Farmer's Magazine for August, 1815.]

In a letter from Mr. Wm. Falla, Seedsman, Newcastle, to
Sir J. Sinclair, — on Cocksfoot Grass, {Dactylis Glo-
merata), or, in America, Orchard Grass,

On the subject of Cocksfoot Grass, I beg leave to make
the following observations, which I find I cannot do so well
in the way of answers to your queries, as in the manner I
adopt. I have for many years dealt in the seed of this
grass, with which, till the year 1813, I supplied myself from
dealers in London. That year, and the season of 1814, I
purchased it, to a considerable extent, of persons who col-
lected it in this part of the country ; but not having been
able to induce many agriculturists here to make trial of it,
the greatest part of the seed has been sent into other
neighbourhoods. The results of the few trials that have
been made here, have not been favourable ; not from any
fault in the seed, nor unsuitableness of the ground it has been
sown upon ; but from its having been sown among corn, ge-
nerally wheat, and from the seed not having been properly

363 ON ORCIIAKD GRASS.

prepared previous to sowing ; without which, particulaily,
should dry weather happen after sowing, generally speaking,
it will not vegetate. It should be sown on well cleaned
naked ground, with or without clover, and if the land can be
got ready, in the month of March ; if not, any favourable
time in April will do ; previous to which, the seed should be
laid on a barn or other floor, and moistened by water out of
the nose of a watering-pot, turning it over frequently, and
increasing the moisture, if necessary, for at least 48 hours,
being careful that no heat takes place. By this time the
seed will be well swelled, and the radicle ready to strike ;
and in this state it should be sown, (the ground having been
previously harrowed with a light seed harrow), and then
brushed in by some such means as what is called a brush
harrow, which is made here by winding thorns through a
gate, and the gate laid and drawn horizontally over the land ;
and finally rolled. The quantity of seed sown per acre
has generally been two bushels ; which is quite enough, if a
few pounds of clover seed are sown with it ; but if it is sown
alone, perhaps two and a half or three bushels may be ne-
cessary ; at any rate it will be safer. I sowed an acre this
spring, which has succeeded in the most satisfactory man-
ner ; while some of my customers, with the same seed, but
sown with wheat, and without the recommended preparation,
have totally failed. I sold upwards of twenty bushels of
cocksfoot grass seed, in 1812, to George Gibson, Esq. of Stag-
shaw-house, which I presume, for want of proper manage-
ment, (although he is a very judicious and enlightened agri-
culturist) totally failed. He was, in consequence, very
much dissatisfied, supposing the seed in fault. He having
made a serious and second complaint respecting it in the
following spring, and my clerk having been so fortunate as
to find a sample that had been kept of the seed sent to Mr.
Gibson, I sowed a little of it on a single square yard of my
nursery ground ; and, though one year old, it grew most
charmingly. I am thus particular respecting this sample >

RKVIEW or A TREATISE ON AGRICULTURE. 369

yard, because I made it the means of what I think a very in-
teresting experiment. It was sown, as I recollect, in the
month of March, on ground that was light, and in tolerable
good order, but that had had ho manure put on it for several
years. The grass was not cut, nor in any way disturbed,
that year, as I hoped to have had an opportunity of showing
it to Mr. Gibson : indeed I had no intention of making any
other use of it. But in the spring of 1814, it had so abun-
dant and beautiful an appearance, that 1 was, on the 30th of
April, (a dry day,) induced to cut and weigh its produce,
which I found 16 pounds, amounting to the astonishing quan-
tity of thirty-four and an half tons per acre ! and that at a
period when any other green article, fit for soiling, was not
above two or three inches long. I cut it again the 24th June,
and obtained 8 pounds ; and again the 10th September, when
I had 10 pounds, (both dry days) ; making a total, frons the
three cuttings, of 34 pounds, equal to seventy-three tons per
acre.

I observe that wonderful accounts are given of the value
of this grass, as used in Norfolk, for sheep pasture, of the
truth of which 1 have not a doubt ; but, whatever may be
the extent of its value for that purpose, there certainly has
been no article yet recommended or used, at all comparable
to it for early soiling, the time of all others when such an
article is particularly wanted. 1 must observe, that where
cocksfoot is intended for early soiling, it should not be cut
or eaten, the autumn before, later than, I think, the 1st
September. In the year it is sown, 1 do not recommend its
being cut or eaten at all.

REVIEW OF « A TREATISE ON AGRICULTURE, iic. BY A
PRACTICAL FARMER." " Albany."
[Concluded.]

Jn our second number of the present volume we introduced
*his treatise to the notice of our readers, because we thought

370 REVIEW or A TREATISE ON AGRICULTURK.

and we still think, that it deserves a high place among out
original treatises on this subject. — We did not continue our
remarks upon it in our last number, because we make it a
rule to prefer original communications of merit, to our own
remarks, in which we cannot presume to place as much con-
fidence.

It may be recollected by those who take any interest in
our Journal, that we mentioned the author of this tract as a
man of shrewdness, of various and extensive reading, and as
possessing a more enlarged library on agricultural and physi-
ological subjects than falls to the lot of most Americans.
We even ventured to suggest, from the obvious partiality dis-
played by the writer, in favour of French philosophy and
French agriculture, that he probably was a naturalized citi-
zen, an emigrant from France. It is now pretty well
understood, that the author is a late ambassador from
the United States to France, — and if this be true, we do
not think it detracts from the correctness of our opinions
founded on internal evidence, as to the character and pre-
possessions of the writer. From such a source we should
expect all the energy, boldness and vigour, which we were
ready to allow to the author. His opportunities and his taste
led him to form an intimate acquaintance with the state of
French agriculture, to enrich his library with all the modern
French works on the subject, and if it be true, as we have
heard but dare not believe, that he omitted the fairest op-
portunity ever offered of making himself well acquainted
with British agriculture, we can account for his predi-
lection for that of France. It is a systematic plan of the
French s(javants to assume every thing as their own — to bor-
row without returning, or acknowledging the favour. — Much
of this spirit has been shown in our former notice of this
work, and the same feeling will be discovered in the parts
which we are now to notice.

We concluded our remarks on this work in our second
number of the present volume, with some strictures on
the author's observations, as to a succession of crops as ap-

REVIEW OF A TREATISE ON AORICULTURE. :j71

piicable to the United States, in which he seemed to rely
much on Mr. Strickland, who paid us a flying visit from G.
Britain and understood about as much of our agriculture, as
Weld and Birkbeck and Fearon did of our politics and man-
ners.

We shall now proceed to notice the author's remarks on the

plants recommended for a course of crops and their culture.

He commences, as every sensible man will do, with the po-
tato, the first undoubtedly of root cultivation — perhaps in the
northern states the first plant in every view except our staple,
the Indian corn. — He states the prejudices it long encounter-
ed in France, and even its proscription by the government
as a deleterious vegetable. He further states that its credit
is fully re-established even in that couiitry of prejudices.
They now call it " the manna of the poor," they place it be-
fore every vegetable but wheat, and far before cabbages, car-
rots, and turnips. We are happy to hear this testimony from
a nation who thirty years since considered the potato a poi-
son. He says, and says truly, that this is not its whole praise,
he might have said it is its least or smallest praise. " It is,
says he, of all vegetables, that which from the number, shape
and size of its roots forms the best preparation for subsequent
crops :" and he might have added, what we shall take the
liberty to add, that its tops form the most complete shelter of
the soil against the scorching and impoverishing rays of our
vertical sunbeams : and at the same time are so fatal to the
growth of all exhausting weeds, that if it had no other merit,
this alone ought to recommend it to our favour. He might
also have added, that its stalks restore to the ground a greatei
quantity of vegetable matter than any plant with which we
arc acquainted. It may indeed be considered the restorer of
exhausted nature. Another idea has been overlooked, or we
might more modestly say omitted by our author — It is the
only plant, for we will not except the carrot or parsnip,
which compels even the lazy cultivator to break open the soil,
and pulverize it, in order to procure his harvest.

la the cereal and grass bearing plants we never move the

372 REVIEW OP A TREATISE ON AGRICULTURE.

soil. In the cabbage and turnip tribes but slightly — but we
cannot, let our avarice or indolence be as great as they will,
obtain our crop of potatoes without a more complete sub-di-
vision of the soil than we can even obtain by the plough.

The potato then is one of the farmer's best friends, and we
owe more to S. America for its introduction than for all the
eold and silver which its mountains have ever furnished.*

He then informs us, that Botanists count more than sixty
varieties, and twelve species of the potato, but for agricultu-
ral purposes, he says they may be reduced to three, the red,
the white, and the quarantaine or forty days potato — or in oth-
er words the early potato, a variety produced by artificial
culture.

Who is the Botanist that will dare to limit the varieties of
the potato to sixty ? or who even pretends that of the sola-
rium tuberosum there are twelve species ? We may be mi-
staken, but we can find in no book in our possession more
than one species of the common potato. This however, is
of no greater importance than that our writers of talent and
learning should not give occasion to Europeans to smile at us.
But the other remarks are of serious practical importance.
It is true, that to agriculturists, there are no distinctions
among potatoes but into red, white and early potatoes, or as
the French call thfm quarantaine ?

What red and zvhat zvhite potatoes are intended ? Are they
the old cranberry red, long since out of culture because
unproductive ? Or are they, the River Plate long reds, so dif-
ferent from all others, as almost to merit the distinction of a
separate species ? What becomes of the real blue potato
with a rough skin ? Or the modern blue potato of a copper
colour with blue eyes, a prolific and popular variety ? Of the
white with red eyes, called the Lancashire potato? Of the
potatoes with yellow skin and yellow flesh, now the favourite

• We know that the pot;»to is popularly oiven to North America, and that Sir
Walter Raleigh is saitl lo have jnlrodiiced it from Vii^iinia. The best naturalists
consider it a plant of So(U!i Ame'-jca. and we do no; know that it was ever discover-
ed growing wild in our eo witry. — T^u;-!; and Jrachaux dd not discover it here. It
appears to us clear, that after 200 years, it would have been found in a wild state.
had it been a uative o^ Virg'ni3.

\

RKVIEW OF A TREATISE ON AGRICULTURE. 373

potaloes of the north ? Ought we on this subject to omit to
notice the asserted fact, that varieties of potato*>s run out in
the course of from twelve to fourteen years ? Who can find
one variety to which he was accustomed in early hfe ?

The long Spanish potato with a pink coloured centre —
the round blue rusticoat or rough coated potato, are entirely
extinct. They were succeeded by the cranberry or round
red potaloe which is also extinct. These have gone out in
spite of every eflbrt of art, and of all the prejudices of culti-
vators. One after another drops them and they disappear
to be seen no more. In this region of potatoes, we know
well that w^e change our seed, and that not from choice, but
necessity.

We have not made these remarks in a spirit of cavilling
or criticism, but because we think it proper our farmers and
other intelligent agriculturists should understand, that either
by sowing the seeds, or by importations they must, as they
always have done, change their seed at least every ten or
twelve years.

This writer has never seen more than 400 b'lshels raised
on one acre in our country, but our late journals exhibit in-
stances of 500 and even 550 bushels, though we doubt wheth-
er our country will ever attain to the great products some-
limes exhibited in Ireland and Great Britain, because the po-
tato loves a soil and climate more moist than any which the
United States can furnish.

On the subject of the culture of this plant, this writer fur-
nishes few new ideas, but he lends his influence and his pow-
erful and decided language in favour of the practice of plant-
ing large, well grown potatoes for seed, in preference to
small ones, or cuttings, or sprouts, in which ^e fully agree
with him. We think not only the analogy of all other plants,
but what is of more moment, the weight of experience, is on
that side of the question. We have, it is true, in the last 30
years, seen many ingenious experiments on a small scale, by
which it would seem, that on the whole, cuttings were as good

Vol. VI. 4 8

374 REVIEW or a treatise on agriculture.

as large and full grown potatoes, but on a large scale, we have
not had one experiment in support of this opinion, and our
own experience of fifteen years, and that of our best inform-
ed neighbours of far greater experience, would seem to jus-
tify the employment of the best potatoes for seed. We are
persuaded that thirteen bushels to the acre of full grown and
large potatoes, will amply reward the cultivator for the addi-
tional expense of seed.

We cannot concur with the writer in the slovenly and dan-
gerous practise of harrowing the potatoes after they are out
of the ground, in order to extirpate the weeds, still less in the
r£petition of that experiment with a narrower harrow.

The plough, and the hoe even when potatoes are cultivat-
ed on a large scale, we believe to be much more economical.

The next article of culture, mentioned by the author, is
Rye. Though inferior to wheat, there are some circumstan-
ces under which he thinks it may have a preference ; — these
are, " 1st, it may be raised in soil where wheat cannot."

2d," It bears a much greater degree of cold than wheat.'*

3d, " It goes through all ihe processes (or as the writer too
quaintly expresses it) all the phases of vegetation in a shorter
period, and of course exhausts the soil less," (a non sequitur
or false consequence as we think.)

4th, If sown early in the fall it gives a great deal of pasture
without much eventual injury to the crop, (this also requires
accurate investigation before we decide,) and 5th, " Its pro-
duce from an equal surface is one sixth greater than that of
wheat.

These circumstances render it precious to poor soils and
poor people, to mountains of great elevation, and to high
northern latitudes."

These remarks are certainly just.

Its use as food for horses, he remarks, is well known in this
country and Europe. The grain and straw chopped and mix-
ed, forms the principal horse food in Pennsylvania.

It follows potatoes in a course of crops in poor lands. —
He recommends early cutting — " cut two days too soon rather

■1' [

REVIEW or A TREATISE ON AORICULTURE. 375

ihan one day too late," is quoted as one of the precepts of
Cato, and we believe it would save many crops of wheat as
well as rye. — It seems of late to be a very fashionable doc-
trine in the wheat countries of Europe.

The next article in a succession of crops noticed by the
writer under review, is Turnips, and here we would respect-
fully suggest, that, with the exception of the yellow turnip or
ruta baga, we doubt whether in the northern and middle
states, we shall ever be able to introduce the turnip to ad-
vantage in a succession of crops. It has always appeared to
us to be one of the cases in which we have followed the Eu-
ropean cultivation, without a due attention to the dilference
of our climate. That turnips may be raised in favourable
years, in great quantities, after a cnlmiferous crop, has
been removed, we have no doubt, but as we can seldom if
ever feed them on the ground, owing to the severity of our
frosts, we doubt the economy of this culture. The common
turnip is kept with difficulty, deteriorates by keeping, and is
in all cases a very inditferent species of food.

Our author speaks of two methods of cultivation, one for
the purpose of ploughing them in as manure, the other of
raising them for food. The tirst object has never, so far as
we know, been pursued in Wew England, and we should
doubt whether in a climate so cold, we could turn them in to
any advantage, after a crop of grain had been taken from the
soil. — They would, we should fear, not be sufficiently rotted
to be of much use in that way. To protect the turnip against
the fly, its mortal enemy in its early stages, he recommends
the use of ashes, the well known and constantly employed
remedy — and he suggests, in a note, that on a small scale, the
water in which potatoes have been boiled, has been thought
a protection against this destructive little insect.

With respect to the Swedish turnip or ruta baga, the au-
thor candidly admits that his experience is limited, and we
should think so, since he quotes Mr. Cobbett's experiments as
having tended to recommend the plant, and seems to be ig~

376 REVIEW OF A TREATISE ON AGRICULTURE.

norant that we had been for several years before Mr. Cob-
bctt's experiments were pompously ainjounced, in the prac-
tice of raising this root on a pretty large scale. It is, without
question, the best of the turnip family, though like all newly
introduced plants, it has had many extravagant things said in
its favour.

It will not in general produce very heavy crops, but it is
very nutritious — a great favourite with cattle, and except
with milch cows at the time of their giving milk, on account
of its effect on the taste of the milk, a very excellent food.
It keeps better than any known vegetable, and retains its
goodness till new vegetables appear.

The next article in the succession of crops noticed by our
author is Barley. It is, as he remarks, very valuable as be-
ing adapted to the greatest variety of soil and climate, less
subject to the attacks of insects and more easily preserved.
This undoubtedly is the reason why it has been, and will long
continue to be, the favourite plant to introduce our clover and
grasses. It is, he says, a food on which cattle do well, and on
which horses arrive at the greatest possible perfection. This
fact is new to us. It is with us principally employed in the
breweries.

The author then proceeds to the consideration of clover,
our most valuable grass, and he adverts to a quality which is,
we fear, little known in our country, notwithstanding the
etforts of Colonel Taylor and other ingenious cultivators, we
mean its ameliorating effects on the soil.

He says it is but about two centuries since it first became
an object of agricultural attention as forage, or food for ani-
mals, but that its beneficial effects on the soil, owing to its pe-
culiar system of roots and leaves, were known only very re-
cently. He does not explain the manner in which it thus op-
erates, but we conceive its principal effects are to be attribut-
ed to the multiplicity and breadth of its leaves ; the density
of its foliage, which protecting the earth from our scorching
suns, and checking by its very rapid growth the progress of

t

UEVIEW OF A TREATISE ON AGRICULTURE. 377

other plants, prevents the exhaustion of the soil, and of the
manure put upon it, by evaporation. We can scarcely con-
ceive, that it operates in any other way, and it is principally
to the same cause we arc to attribute the excellent eirecls of
a potato crop.

The ideas, which this writer suggests as to the culture of
clover, which maybe thought either new, or deserving expe-
riment, are, that ten or twelve pounds of clover seed are suf-
ficient* in an acre of rich land, and if poor, doul)le (hat
quantity, and that the practice of mixing the seeds of timo-
thy (our Herd's grass) and ryegrass is a bad one, because
these grasses neither rise or ripen at the same time. An-
^ other bad practice, he says, is, to sow the clover with the
winter grain, when a large proportion of the seed inevitably
perishes.

We must own, that we have for many years doubted wheth-
er our treatment of clover was judicious. It is most certain-
ly contrary to the practice of European cultivators of the
highest intelligence. The clover is a biennial plant. It
would seem to us to be best to treat it as a separate crop;
and to follow it either by some species of grain, or potatoes,
and to sow our herd's grass and other grasses by themselves.
I know well that our system is a seven years one, or at the
least five years. That we do not relish the breaking up our
land at shorter periods. Finding the clover runs out the se-
cond or at the utmost the third year, we are tempted to mix
with it a more permanent grass ; but we do not inquire
whether both grasses are not injured by the mixture.

It is certainly true that the clover is ripe for the scythe a
fortnight before the herd's grass, and it is equally true that the
clover must injure the herd's grass — but as we are most reso-
lute not to employ the plough oftener than we are absolutely
compelled to do, we prefer the mutual injury which these
plants, so unlike each other, produce, to a system which would
give us more hay, and a more equal crop.

* M'e u'lially sow not more than six pounds.

378 REViKw oy a treatise on acriculture.

On the subject of the time of cutting clover, our author
remarks, 1st. That clover cut before it is in flower, abounds
in water, has but little nutritive matter, and is apt to pro-
duce indigestion in cattle fed upon it.

2d. Clover cut after seeding, is hard and woody, and no
longer retains its leal ; and, 3dly, all plants cut after seed-
ing exhaust the soil, and to this rule clover is not an excep-
tion.

From these rules the puthor concludes, that the short pe-
riod between the flowering and seeding of clover, is that in
which its use would be greatest, either as food or as an ame-
liorating crop.

This, we are fully persuaded, is true, without qualifica-
tion ; and we hope, and believe, that the opinion is gaining
ground. Perhaps the best rule to adopt, as a general one,
is to cut this plant when about one third of its flowers begin
to turn.

He recommends the Dutch practice, as to saving seed of
the clover where the first crop is cut before it flowers, and
the second is reserved for seed.

He states two modes of getting in, with safety, a clover
crop, the most difficult of any to make into good hay. The
one to scatter over each load, when put up, two or three
quarts of salt, the other to interpose between every two
layers of clover, one of clean straw. By the first the whole
mass is rendered acceptable to cattle. By the second the
quantity of nutritive forage is increased, and by both the
clover is effectually prevented from heating.

Of wheat, with the culture of which we should have ex-
pected the author to be extremely well acquainted, very
little is said, and of that little nothing that is new, except a
pretty strong assertion that Tillet, Tessier, and other French
philosophers have shown that smut and charbon in wheat are
produced by an intestinal parasite of the Uredo or mush-
room family. We have understood, that this question is not
yet at rest. Sir Joseph Banks, indeed, has proved that a

RETIEW OF A TREATISE ON ACniCULTl'RE. 379

parasitical fungus is found on the wheat plant, but it is whol-
ly ditferent from smut or charbon, and Ihe causes, as well as
preventive remedies, are not yet settled, though all culti-
vators recommend the washing the seed, differing exceed-
ingly, however, as to the solutions in which it should be
washed, some preferring ley from ashes, others brine, and
others a solution of various other salts. We were much dis-
appointed in this part of our author's treatise.

Of the culture of peas the writer speaks favorably ; is of
opinion that they are not an exhausting crop, but on the
other hand, by stifling weeds, and checking evaporation, and
finally, by being ploughed in, they ameliorate the soil. He
is of opinion that they may with advantage be mixed with
more erect plants, such as rye and oats. He recommends
feeding them on the ground by hogs, by which much labour
is saved. No manure is lost. What is refused by the hogs
is given back to the soil, and the rooting of these animals in
this case is beneficial.

Indian corn is next introduced. We shall notice only such
remarks of the writer as are either new, or, if not new, me-
rit to be enforced by the weight of new authority. The
seed should be taken from the finest ears of the last year's
crop, and from stalks which produced the largest number of
ears. The seed should be steeped 24 hours in a strong so-
lution of nitre (saltpetre) before it is planted. (This, we
believe, is not with us a general practice.

He says, very little difference in results is produced by the
different modes of planting in furrows, in hills, in distant
rows, with potatoes or mangel wurtzel between. The great-
est success wc have heard of has been in furrows, and culti-
vation solely by the plough. We allude to the case of the
Hon. Mr. Hunewell, to whom our highest prize was award-
ed last year. " Corn is sometimes cultivated as fodder only,
in which case it is generally sown, broad cast, at the rate of
ten bushels to the acre, and cut green. In the volcanic soils
of Italy it sometimes produces four green crops in a year."

380 REVIEW OF A TREATISE ON AGRICULTURE.

We think the writer must have been mistaken in the quan-
tity of corn sowed broad cast on an acre. We are persuad-
ed that from two to three bushels would be ample ; better
than a larger quantity. The Hon. Mr. Quincy has tried the
Indian corn as green fodder, and with success, though he was
not able to obtain more than two crops in a season. If we
shall ever adopt, extensively, the system of soiling, or feed-
ing our cattle in the barn in summer, the Indian corn will be
invaluable to us as green food. Of Beans little is said, ex-
cept some praise of the Heligoland bean, which seems to
do better every where than with us in New-England. Of
the cabbage, as one plant in a succession of crops, our
author speaks in great praise, and it will be seen by our last
journal that it is cultivated in this part of the country with
great success. We do not think, however, that the objec-
tion of the difficulty of preserving them is sufficiently obvi-
ated by the writer upon the authority of Mr. Cobbett. We
hold that authority very cheap. He was a bold and lively
writer, but one whose accuracy cannot be relied upon. In
the vicinity of the sea coast the cabbage can be well pre-
served by a covering of sea weed ; but in the interior we
fear it would be difficult to find a covering which would not
prove too expensive. On Buckwheat, which is the only
article remaining under the head of a rotation in crops,
little is said which is not well understood.

Among the plants which may be occasionally raised in a
rotation of crops our author enumerates madder, woad, the
poppy, the sun-flower, the palma christi, and flax. Of the
five first we would only remark, that they can never enter
into a general system of agriculture ; and it may well be
doubted whether we can, in the present state of our culiiva-
tion, while our intercourse with Europe is so open, raise
them to advantage. We are surprised to find the important
staple of flax placed among these rare plants which require
so much capital and time for their preparation for the mar-
ket. Flax, it seems to us, claims an eminent place among

REVIEW OF A TREATISE Ox\ AGRICULTURE. 381

our staple productions, and ought to he raised on every ex-
tensive farm which furnishes land suited to its cultivation.
Our author makes but few remarks on this invaluable plant,
but our readers will find this deficiency amply supplied by the
learned and elaborate treatise on that article, at the head of
the present number.

Some mention is made of the New Zealand flax. It is not
flax any more than it is hemp, and it bears no resemblance to
either, though applicable to the same purposes, and perhaps
more valuable than either of them.

Our author says it has been naturalized in the north of
France. If this be so, it may be raised in N. England, orat least
in the middle states. This Society will feel much indebted to
any citizen of the United States, who will introduce tlie plant
or its seeds from New Zealand or from Europe. We ought
to say, in compliment to an intelligent gentleman of Rox-
bury, Capt, Dorr, that he brouglit home from New Zealand,
beautiful specimens of the prepared flax or plant fit for spin-
ning, and also seeds, which however, owing to the length of
the voyage, did not vegetate. We would suggest to our pa-
triotic mariners, the expediency of sowing the seeds in a box
or pot, and bringing home the live plant as well as the seeds.
The seeds are best preserved in dry sand.

We had intended to go on and furnish a perfect analysis of
this work, instead of a review, as such works are commonly
conducted, because we believed that in so doing greater good
would be produced, and a greater number of persons be in-
duced to purchase and read this work. It has its imperfec-
tions, as we have attempted to show, and what work has not ?
And what original American work of so small a compass can
be found, which contains such a variety of matter, and so
complete a system ?

It is calculated, and probably was intended, principally for
the better informed class of cultivators, — to excite a spirit of
inquiry and research, rather than to give a perfect manual of
agricultural labours and duties. — As such we cordially recom-
mend it to our readers.

Vol. VI. 49

382 MR. LAAVUEiVCE ON POTATOES.

Leominster, May \0, \S2i.

My Hon. Friend — Si7\ As I have had some conversation
with you on agricultural pursuits, and knowing your laudable
ambition to encourage the same, I take the liberty to communi-
cate a few lines to you on the raising of potatoes ; and should
you think the following method of raising potatoes would be
more useful than those now generally used, and that it will
tend to subserve the interests of agriculture, you are at lib-
erty to make what use of it you please.

The value of potatoes was but little understood by our an-
cestors. My grandfather, since my remembrance, observed
that he raised, in one year, six bushels of potatoes, but found
so little use for them during the fall and winter, that he threw
away one half of them in the spring.

They are now, however, so highly esteemed, that it is not
uncommon for a farmer to raise from two to four hundred
bushels a year.

To ascertain, therefore, the best method of raising them,
as it respects both the quantity and quality, will not, it is pre-
sumed, be thought unimportant.

The method by which 1 was taught to raise them, and
which I believe is now too generally practised, was, to plough
the ground very deep, make deep furrows, so as to receive a
large shovel full of manure, then to plant them upon the ma-
nure, and to cover them very deep with earth. After they
had come up, I was taught to plough deep between the rows,
and hoe the earth round them, so as to make large and high
hilis. From the following facts and observations, I am fully
convinced the above method is wrong.

About twenty five years past, I ploughed a piece of wet-
tish land, covered with small bushes, for the purpose of sub-
duing them, owing to the roots of the bushes, I was unable to
plough deep, or make deep furrows, the manure was put on
the top of the furrows, the potatoes placed upon that, and
earth carted to cover them, whereby they were but thinly

MR. LAWRENCE ON POTATOES. -383

covered with earth. After they had come up, they were
hoed several times before they blossomed, the earth each
time loosened from the roots, and replaced by a little fresh
earth, but not so as to make the hill large. In the fall, after
the frost had bitten the tops, but killed the fibrous root?, they
were pulled with ease, not being deep in the ground, and
shook between the rows, where they remained in the sun two
or three hours, they were then carried into the cellar ; and,
not expecting them to be so good as some I had raised in the
common way, intended only for the use of the cattle, but the
family, not knowing this circumstance, used them a number
of times to eat, and finding them remarkably sweet, mealy
and palatable, led me to an inquiry into the cause : — being
unable to account for this in any other way, than their not
having been planted and covered deep in the earth, I was de-
termined next year to try the experiment, which I did in the
following manner.

A part of my potatoes were planted as usual, and a part
were planted near the top of the ground, covered but thinly,
and afterwards hoed so as not to make large or high hills.
In the fall, those potatoes planted and cultivated in the man-
ner last mentioned, were far more sweet and palatable than
the others.

Since that time I have planted and cultivated my potatoes
by the following rules : —

1st. Plough the ground but a few days before the potatoes
are planted, because otherwise it will settle and become
hard.

2d. Furrow the ground for the purpose of making a mark
where to place the manure for each hill, about four feet apart,
so as to let the rays of the sun in between.

3d. If the land be moist, the manure should be of a light
or strawy kind, if dry, it should be finer, or of a moister na-
ture,'and the furrows a little deeper.

4th. After the manure is placed, drop the potatoes on it,
covering them thinly, and taking care that no rocks or sods

384 afR. LAWRENCE ON POTATOES.

be placed on them, but place the rocks or sods near the po-
tatoes for the purpose of letting in the air.

6th. Soon after the sprouts shoot through the ground,
plough between the rows with a horse, as near the roots as
possible, clear out all the weeds from the potatoes, and add a
small quantity of fresh earth to the roots.

6th. At the last ploughing, (which should be before they
blossom, otherwise there will be anew set of sprangles, which
will cause the growth of a large number of small potatoes,)
clear out all the weeds, and placing a little fresh earth round
the roots, making the hills flattish, but not high ; in this way,
small showers, and even common dew, will afford nourish-
ment, and increase their growth, I keep the ground clear
of weeds by pulling them up whenever I see any come up
among the potatoes, so that the air and the rays of the sun
will easily penetrate to the roots and render them more sweet
and mealy.

7th. In the fall, before the roots are dead, they should be
dug, shook between the rows, and remain two or three hours
in the sun, (for potatoes should be dug in fair weather,) then
carried into the cellar, where, to prevent their becoming
strong and bitter, they should be kept as much from the air
and moisture as possible. I gave this information to my neigh-
bours and friends, and they say it is the best method of rais-
ing potatoes ; I also wrote to Dr. Adams, who pubHshed the
Medical and Agricultural Register, in Boston, in 1806.

Your friend,

BEZALEEL LAWRENCE.

Hon. Josiak Quincy,

[ 385 ]

IIVTERESTING AGRICULTURAL CORRESPONDKNCE BE-
TWEEN G. W. JEFFREYS, ESQ. OF NORTH CAROLINA,
AND COL. JOHN TAYLOR, OF CAROLINE, VIRGINIA.

[From the American Fanner.]

QUERIES ON PLASTER OF PARIS.

FROPOUNUBD BY MR. JErFREVS.

1 HE following are the queries, to which Col. Taylor has
annexed answers on plaster of Paris ; (See his letter.)

What quantity to the acre have you generally used ?

On what soils does the plaster succeed best ?

In what way is it best applied to the soil — with, or with-
out ploughing — with, or without other manure ?

Have you repeated the application of it? At what inter-
vals, and with what effect ?

To what kind of grain, succulent, and leguminous crops
can it be beneficially applied ? And in what way is it best
applied to them ?

To what kind of grasses can it be beneficially appHed ?
and in what way is it best applied to them ?

What has been the increased product per acre, of grain
and grass crops, by means of the plaster alone ?

What is the result of the experiment which you have
made of setting aside 200 acres, half to be cultivated in
corn yearly and alternately, half to lie uncultivated and un-
grazed, and the whole to receive an annual dressing of one
bushel of plaster to the acre.*

* For fear this experiment may not be understood by the question.
I will give it more fully in Col. Taylor's own words, " I have set aside
200 acres, (divided into two fields,) half to be cultivated in corn year-
ly, half to lie uncultivated andungrazed, and the whole to receive an
annual dressing of one bushel of plaster to the acre. The repetition
of the culture being too quick for a perennial plant, I use the bird-foot
clover, as we commonly call it, to raise clothing for the land, having
found that the plaster operated as powerfully on that as on red clover.
One field produces a crop of corn, and the other being enclosed, re-

386 ttUERIES AND ANSWERS ON PLASTER OF PARIS.

COL. Taylor's reply.

Port Royal, March 4, 1818.

Dear Sir — To your questions of the 4th inst. I reply —

1. I sow from three pecks to one bushel of plaster upon
an acre.

2. It succeeds upon all soils to which I have applied it ;

those requiring to be drained excepted.

3. Sown on clover in the spring, it benefits it considera-
bly. Used in any other mode, I plough it in. But I have
even discontinued the first practice, from observing, that
when plaster is sown and ploughed in with wheat in the
fall, a top dressing to the subsequent clover is of little or no
use ; and from thinking that the etFect of the plaster sooner
ceases as a top dressing than when ploughed in. The best
ways I think of using it, are in the Spring, upon the long
manure of the preceding winter, to be ploughed in with it —
upon well covered fields to be sown immediately before
they are fallowed — in rolling it very wet with seed corn
bushel to bushel, and in mixing it with seed wheat so moist
as to let the wheat divide in sowing, in such a quantity as
that the land shall receive not less than three pecks to an
acre. The latter is chiefly for the sake of the succeeding
clover. The wheat is benefited in a very small degree,
but it prevents embezzlement of the seed.

ceives a crop of ungrazed vegetable matter. — The succeeding year the
ungrazed field is taxed with the crop of corn, and the corn field fed
with the ungrazed vegetable. In one, the plaster is sown upon the
bird-foot clover in March or April, and in the other ploughed in at its
fallow. The object of the experiment is to ascertain whether an
annual bushel of plaster to an acre, combined with a biennial relin-
quishment to the soil of its natural vegetable product, will enable it to
be severely cropped (cropt) every other year without impoverishment,
or with an addition to its fertility. The first efiect would suffice to
check an evil, every where demonstrating the wretched state of our
agriculture ; the second would be a cheap and expeditious mode of
improving the soil, even where the state of agriculture is good."

G. VV. JEFFREYS.

QDERIES AXt) ANSWERS ON PLASTER OF PARIS. 387

4. I have had a small mill exclusively for grinding plas-
ter during twenty years. In that period I have used seve-
ral hundred tons, and tried a great variety of experiments,
using it every year to considerable extent. I think it a va-
luable ally of, but by no means a substitute for manure.
That there should be intervals of two, three, or four years,
between applying it broadcast to the same land. That its
effect is graduated by the quantity of vegetable matter upon
which it is sown. That upon close, grazed land, it does
but little good at first, and repeated, would become perni-
cious ; and that it must be united either with the long ma-
nure of the winter, or the ungrazed vegetable cover pro-
duced in summer.

5. Corn mixed with plaster is sometimes highly benefit-
ed, and almost unexceptionably in a degree, depending
chiefly on its alliance with vegetable matter, and occasion-
ally upon the seasons. Its effect upon wheat is before stated.
But all crops are ultimately improved by its gradual im-
provement of the land, including those upon which its ef-
fect is not immediately visible. The small crops, vegetable,
succulent, or culmiferous, are often benefited by a mixture
with plaster, when planted measure for measure.

6. I have satisfied myself that plaster ought to be used to
benefit all kinds of grasses, in the modes explained, and
that it ought not to be sown as a top dressing. By improving
the land, it benefits all kinds of grasses.

7. It is impossible to say how far the plaster, valued ex-
clusively of its vegetable ally, may have increased the
crops of grain. Used as a top dressing to clover (red) on
land never before plastered, I have often had that grass in-
creased four fold to a line, dividing it from similar land and
clover. Spaces left unplastered across large fields, when
sown in wheat, have remained visible during the whole sea-
son of rest, by the inferiority in luxuriance of a great vari-
ety of natural grasses and weeds. The 200 acres you men-
tion have never received any manure, and the corn stalks

388 ON FERTILITY.

have been taken off. Bat they have been completely se-
cured against grazing. They now produce threefold more
corn than when the experiment commenced. The rest of
my farm, having had the manure, will produce five fold
more corn than it could do twenty years ago. The casual-
ties attending wheat, render that a precarious criterion of
improvement.

T am respectfully, Sir,*

Your most obd't serv't,

JOHN TAYLOR.

ON FERTILITY.

[Prom the English Commercial and Agricultural Magazine for 1800.]

Omitting (as at present unnecessary) all disquisition about
the component principles of fertility, it seems certain, that
Fertility can be induced only by the agency of the air.
Among the wondrous modifications of this element, it would
be dangerous to assert that, m some shape, it is not the actu-
al food of vegetables : to vulgar comprehension it may be
proved, that at least it is the Carrier of fertility. — In either
case the result would not be different. — That air is an acces-
sary to fertility is evident ; because vegetable earth* dug at
a considerable depth (in sinking a well for instance) pro-
duces nothing without considerable exposure : — because, on
examining any section! of the Strata under us, though they
are seldom horizontal, and still seldomer according with the
inequalities of the surface, yet that surface, to a certain
depth, is uniformly tinged with a dark colour. If it be
urged, that this alteration of colour only results from the de-
cayed generations of vegetable matter through the revolu-
tions of ages, I answer, that roots will follow vegetable earth

* Our language furnishes a word which expresses this complex idea :
Mould.

f All cliffs on the sea-coast giye opportunity enough for this examin-
ation.

ON FERTILITY. 389

much deeper than this dusky appearance ; and that the
roots do not penetrate deeper, because the external influ-
ence of the air has not been able to endue the earth with
previous fertility beneath the accustomed hmit. Again, the
constant experience of the utiHty of fallowing land, is a
proof that reiterated exposure to the air is practically a
cause of fertility — and there are ancient experiments which
have demonstrated that the most sterile Clay may be rendered
most fertile by grinding into impalpable powder, and expos-
ing it (thinly spread) for a twelvemonth to the influence of
the atmosphere. — It is also certain, that Air and Earth mu-
tually transmit fertility, like the transmission of heat and
cold in all bodies in contact ; or at least, that there is a cer-
tain point of saturation of fertility, beyond which exposure
to the air constantly carries off the overplus. — In the case
of fresh dung, exposure soon lowers the fertility of its sur-
face down to this point of saturation ; and the process of
the transmission of some volatile substance is disagreeably
sensible to the nostrils. To use a chemical illustration, one
might compare fresh dung to warm water saturated with
salt ; as supervening cold expels all the salt, beyond the
quantity soluble in cold water ; so supervening air carries
from dung a certain quantity of fertility beyond that point
which may be compared to the cold saturation of water with
salt. — I would infer that air is an agent which continually
extracts fertility from all putrescent bodies, and as constant-
ly deposits it on its appropriate recipient, Mould. That like
all other affinities, this deposition is far more rapid and copi-
ous on Mould, which possesses little previous fertility, than
on that which possesses much. — The farther removed the
mould is from the point of the saturation of fertility, the
more greedily is fertility imbibed by it. Be it remembered,
that between Air and Mould is no transmission of fertility
where there is no contact. — That the middle of a dung heap
retains its foetid activity on opening ; and much more safely
is fertility retained by mould, which is never half-saturated.
Vol. VI. SO

390 on FERTILITY.

The beneficial operation of fallowing may therefore be
thus described : The external surface (having received an
accession of fertility from the air) is mingled with the other
mould as deep as the plou2;h goes — a surface (mostly) new
results, which in its turn is fertilized ; and thus successively
the mould is enriched according to the repetitions of plough-
ing, or other mode of admixture. — But, according to the
foregoing theory, less and less fertility is induced at each
fresh exposure, as the improving mould accedes nearer and
nearer to the limit of fertility, and if (instead of exposing a
surface already partially fertilized) it were possible to cover
the old surface with successive thin coats of sterile mould,
the first acquired fertility would remain under ground in
store, (Kny.yiAiov), while the acquisition of new fertility would
go on with the utmost possible rapidity from the unsated vo-
racity of a more hungry surface — and the oftener such sur-
face was renewed, the faster would be the accession of fer-
tility— " But such superinduction of sterile surface is impos-
sible :" it is so ; but it is not impossible to pursue the prin-
ciple to an efficient extent in practical agriculture by a very
obvious and easy expedient. This consists merely in plough-
ing to a greater depth than is usual. Suppose (for instance)
six inches, the usual depth, augmented to nine inches, the
new mould laid on the surface by the plough would rapidly
imbibe the influences * of the air ; and if the less laborious
sorts of culture, harrowing and rolling, were sedulously em-
ployed to increase the imbibing surface of this new mould
by pulverization,! it seems not doubtful that, in the course of
a summer, this new mould would imbibe much more fertility

* The effect of a change of air on the human frame is proof enough
of the powerful mutual adion ol air and mould ; for as the air is so
constantly moving, it can onJy be the immediate impression of the
contact of the last hour or two. that stamps the discriraiaation. That
contact must needs be very eflBfient.

•j- A clod of a cubic inch may be supposed to increase the surface ac-
cessible to the air tenfold by pulverization.

ON FERTILITY. 391

from the air, than would any exposure of mould alrcady<
tolerably fertile. This for the first year : afterwards no se-
paration of the old and new mould could be effected ; but
the increment of fertility would still be greater than under
the circumstance of shallow cultivation. For, if after an
exhausting crop, two fields ploughed to the different depths
of six and nine inches be left equally impoverished, the total
remaining fertility of the nine inches equal to the total fer-
tility of the six inches : it is evident that each component
part of the first must be poorer as 3 to 2 ; therefore every
surface of the first must be more attractive of fertility in that
proportion ; and, in the successive exposures of cultivation,
the same comparative ratio of improvement from the
influence of the air must result ad injinilum. On the
whole, I would argue, — that the passing air is the general
cause of fertility ; that a greater quantity of this beneficial
influence will be imbibed by the poorest mould ; and that
deeper cultivation is a very possible expedient for present-
ing sterile mould for this more rapid imbibition of fertility.*
The objection against deeper cultivation is of a temporary
nature; that it will bring into vegetation those seeds of
weeds which are every where buried in the earth ; and
though these are usually slight annual weeds, some addi-
tional labour is required for their extermination. As to the
constant additional labour of deeper ploughing, it repays it-
self as acting as an insurance against the injurious effects of
drought and rain. In a drought the lowest roots will sup-
ply more moisture than usual from their deeper situation ;
in excessive rains, the upper roots remain considerably less

* To what can the superior fertility of gardens be attributed, ex-
cept the deeper action of the spade than of the plough ? The larger
quantity of dung which is sometimes bestowed on gardens is due to
them of right; for they produce more vegetables, the immediate ori-
gin of more dung. Their superior vegetation is indeed augmented by
dung; but that very dung has been produced from their deeper culti-
vation. Every thing has a right to its own re-actions.

392 MODE OF DESTROYING INSECTS-

drenched than usual ; because, in tenacious lands, water
sinks immediately to the bottom of the ploughing, and its
detention, at nine inches from the surface, leaves a drier
situation for the upper roots than if it were detained at three
inches nearer to them.

ON A MODE OF DESTROYIIVG INSECTS.

Dorchester, April 26, 1820.

DEAR SIR,

I TAKE the liberty of indicating a method of destroying the
rose-bug, and other winged insects, which are such nuisances
in our gardens, and so destructive to the tender shrubs and
plants, which was suggested to me by the following occur-
rence. Going into my garden one summer evening, with a
lanthorn, to gather sallad, I found, on my return to the
house, that the lanthorn was covered with rose-bugs and
other insects, which had been attracted to it by the light.
This simple circumstance led me to the inference that the
propensity of moths and all zoinged insects to fly at a light,
will furnish us with the means of at least diminishing their
number by suffering them to become self-destroyers.

It is well known how troublesome they are by thronging
our rooms in the evenings, where a candle or lamp is burn-
ing ; how they fly round it, and scathe their wings in its
blaze ; and how they pelt against the windows, which we
are obliged to shut in order to exclude them. Now, I con-
ceive, that availing ourselves of this lure, we might kindle
small fires in different parts of our gardens, near the vines
particularly, which are annoyed by these voracious depre-
dators, and they zvotdd precipitate themselves into the blaze.
A kind of flambeau might be made, by winding round one
end of a stick about a foot and a half long, old rags, or
swingled tow, dipped in tar or melted brimstone. Let this
be stuck into the ground, and set on fire with a candle ; and

MODE OF DESTROYING IN3ECTS. 393

it will continue burning a considerable time, and prove the
funeral pyre to myiads. These lights might be so placed as
not to injure the adjacent plants, nor endanger surrounding
buildings, as no sparks would ily from them ; and, if any fears
are entertained, they might be waiched till they were burnt
out, and the effect would be thus ascertained, in order to justify
the repetition of the experiment.

I have often found the difficulty of freeing my plants from
the ravages of insects, especially of the coleopterous class,
because they have a kind of coat of mail covering their wings
that sheds off whatever is sprinkled over them with the pur-
pose of destroying them, and because they occupy generally
the under sides of the leaves, or frequent high branches
where they are inaccessible : but they would be tempted to
fly down to a blaze. The various kinds of moths, (parents of
most destructive broods,) and the winged aphides, those
great destroyers of the grape vine, would more certainly be
lured by a bright flame to inevitable destruction.

Perhaps a flambeau, at the end of a long pole, might be
held up near to apple trees when in bloom, and be the means
of destroying many of the small flies which deposite those
eggs in the opening blossom that form the worm generated in
the core of the fruit.

In the early summer I have observed immense swarms of
minute black flies, just at evening, around the plum trees ;
and suspect them of being the occasion of those galls, or ex-
crescences which occasion such injury to the tree. If so, the
expedient which I have suggested, may be tried to advan-
tage upon them.

These remarks are, perhaps, too trivial to be communicat-
ed to the public in the Agricultural Repository and Journal.
If, however, you think that they may serve to suggest expe-
dients to those who have leisure and opportunity to make the
trial, you will please make that use of them.
With affectionate regards,
Your friend,

THADDEUS MASON HARRIS.

[ 394 ]

MR. DERBY ON THE GROWTH OF EARLY POTATOES.

Salem, Dec. 1, 1820.

Dear Sir^

Observing the produce of a few potatoes, which I transplant-
ed the last year, to be verj good, I was induced this season to
try the experiment upon a somewhat larger scale. About the
first* of April I took some late white potatoes, after cutting
them, placed them in a hot bed, as close as they could lay,
and covered them with earth. On the 24th of April, the
plants being in fine order, some of them twelve inches high,
I took them up and separating all the shoots but one from the
parent potato ; I made drills about three feet apart with a
hoe, and filling the same with well digested manure, I trans-
planted as I should cabbage plants, the whole of the shoots
about nine inches apart in the drills. On the 3d of May, there
was a very sharp frost, which injured the tops of the plants
very considerably, they in a few days recovered, and grew
very rapidly, scarcely one of them failing. The rows were
twice hoed. On the 30th of June I commenced using new
potatoes, the size large, and very fine, equal to any taken up
in October : finished digging them on the 10th of August ;
the land measured 90 by 52 links of the chain, on which stood
one pear, and one plumb tree, and produced at the rate of
203^ bushels per acre. The rows might have been much
nearer, consequently the produce would have been greater.
I could not perceive any difference in the yielding of the
plants, between those which were separated, and the ones
which adhered to the potato. Should I try the experiment
again, I should take all the plants from the potato, and re-
j>lant it, as it appeared as fresh and sound as the day it was
Ih'st put into the ground.

E. HERSEY DERBY.

Hon. Josiah Quiiici/.

[ 395 ]

MR. JACKSON ON WHEAT.

Plymouth, Dec, 6, 18t9.

DEAR SIR,

r ROM the known interest your take in the agriculture of
the Commonwealth, and the influence your situation, as one
of the trustees of the society, so justly gives you, permit
me Sir, to suggest some reflections on the importance of
a more general attention to the culture of wheat, an ob-
ject which the society has deemed worthy its patronage,
and for which it annually bestows its bounty : but I im-
agine something more particular and personal is neces-
sary to produce the effect that is desired, and all that is prac-
ticable ; there is a prevailing prejudice, an unfounded opin»
ion, among the farmers, that it is an uncerlain crop, I think
too much pains cannot be taken to eradicate such an opinion,
without which the premium bestowed by the society, will be,
but of partial benefit ; there are some persons who always
raise this crop, and he who fortunately succeeds in raising the
best, will also obtain the premium from the society 5 but al-
most every farmer ought to raise the wheat for his family,
and not be dependent on the southern planter for his bread.
I say ought, from the conviction, from actual expeiim.ent,
that it is as certain, and the most profitable crop, he can
raise, and at the same time the least injurious to the land.
Any land which is suitable for upland mowing, is also suitable
for wheat ; and with no grain does the grass seed lake so uni-
formly well.

The land 1 cultivate is a stiff loam, not dissimilar to the
land which was ploughed at Brighton, at the ploughing exhi-
bition, but not so moist. The rotation 1 observe is (whether
on pasture land or mowing.) from the green sward, to plant
two years with potatoes, or with corn and potatoes, always
following the potatoes with wheat and grass seeds ; my crop
is from 18 to 25 bushels to the acre : the two years Vvhilc

396 MR. JACKSON ON WHEAT.

planting, I manure the ground well in the holes, say 25 tons
to an acre ; when 1 sow the wheat, and grass seeds, 1 put on
no manure, except some part of the field is very cold, in
which case I spread on a light dressing and plough it in. —
When the land is in high order I conjjtder it as injurious to
the crop of wheat, to manure it, as it forces the straw too
much, and occasions it to lodge, although it may benefit the
after growth of grass. In preparing the seed for sowing, I
adopt no precaution, more than that of soaking and liming,
which I beheve is the general practice, from the repeated no-
tices, as published in the journals of the society, and which, I
think, is an effectual security against smut, (except the seed
sown is smutty) : I have never had my wheat affected with it,
in the smallest degree ; although I have seen that which was
sowed with the same precaution, of soaking and liming, so
smutty, as not to be worth the reaping — but the seed that was
sowed, was as bad as the crop ; which was conclusive to my
mind, that although liming was a preventive against smut, it
was not a remedy, " for such as you sow so shall you reap :"
too much care cannot be taken by those who would reap
clean wheat, to procure the seed that is perfectly clean. I
will not undertake to say, that smutty seed cannot be cleans-
ed, by care, and frequent ablutions, and rubbing, but it is far
easier to procure that which is clean, and then preserve it so
by care. Through the goodness of Nath'l Oilman, Esq. of
Exeter, I obtained in the fall of 1 8 1 6, a bushel of seed wheat,
the species, he obtained from one ear, which he fortunately
obtained from a person who brought it from some port in the
Mediterranean, the grains of which are remarkably large, and
fair, each weighing down three grains of our common wheat;
it has been sowed in this country 7 or S years, and has never,
yet been affected with smut or mildew. I have sowed it two
years, the first year I had fifteen and a half bushels from three
quarters of an acre, sowed in an orchard ; the present year,
I had twenty two and a half bushels from an acre, the season
was not considered good for English grain generally, being

COMPARISON OF VEGETATION. 397

too hot and too dry ; mine suffered considerably from the
drought. I shall feel myself happy to distribute this seed
to any person who desires it, as I consider it an invaluable
acquisition to the country, and to the agricultural interest par-
ticularly.

WM. JACKSON.

P. S. My brother, from three quarters of an acre, the pre-
sent year, raised twenty six and a half bushels, being the rate
of thirty five bushels and ten quarts to the acre : he would
have applied for the premium, if he had had an acre.

COMPARISON OF THE STATE OF VEGETATION IN THE
SPRING FOR SEVERAL YEARS PAST.

We have published at different times in this Journal ac-
counts of the progress of vegetation in the early part of the
season. We have been incited so to do, partly by the ex-
ample and authority of many eminent men, such as the ce-
lebrated Linnaeus, (he Hon. Daines Barrington, and others,
and partly by the hope, that it might throw some light on
one of the most important subjects of agriculture, the pro-
per times of sowing and planting. We are aware, that no
direct and immediate inferences can be, in our present state
of knowledge, drawn from such an history of vegetation.
It may require the experience of many years, a collection
of a great variety of facts, to enable us to deduce safe con-
clusions ; and perhaps, after all, our efforts may prove to be
unavailing, and we may be compelled to trust our agricultu-
ral measures, in this important point, to chance, or to the
elements.

Still, howxver, it must be admitted, that a collection of
facts must be the only sure foundation of enlightened theory
and practice ; and it is not in our power to say, that certain
useful rules and principles may not hereafter be deduced
from such a record of facts.

Vol. VI. 51

S98 coMrAuisox op vegetation?.

It is at least a very amusing exhibition of the course of
nature, and it tends to show a great uniformity in her ope-
rations. It checks presumptuous assertions and complaints
of the inequality and irregularity of the seasons, and tends
to convince us that the author of nature governs by laws,
less variable and less capricious than disappointed or impa-
tient cultivators are apt to imagine. We shall give the
time of flowering of various trees and plants for a period of
eight years, with some few exceptions, in which our records
were imperfect. Tbe correctness of those which we have
inserted may he relied upon. The period we have fixed is
that of the first opening of any flowers, however kvf, on
the plants or trees in question. The reason of our adopting
this rule will be obvious to every intelligent observer, since
almost all the trees in question continue from day to day
opening more ar d more flowers for a period generally often
or even twelve days, and, if you should wait till the trees were
most fully in blossom, it would be very vague, and different
observers would vary at least eight or ten days in their res-
pective accounts, though if they had adopted the rule of
stating the time of the first fully expanded flowers they
might be found precisely to agree. Another remark of
some importance should be made. We not only have made
our observations on the same kind of tree, but on the same
individual tree. Every one must know that situation and
soil may make one tree more forward than another of the
same species, by at least a week.

One other observation may not be thought improper in
favour of this sort of record, that it may serve to ascertain
the precise difference of seasons in every state in the union.
For we cannot doubt, that an example so innocent, so amus-
ing, and probably useful, will be followed.

Nor is this comparative state of the seasons in the differ-
ent states of small moment. We have horticultural works
and agricultural publications from the presses of almost all
our states, and without a comparative acquaintance with the

COMPARISON OF VEGETATION. 399

different progress of vegetation in these several slates, how
can we follow, or know how to apply their rules? If any
man should sow, plant, or manage his garden, in New-
England, by the authority of M'Mahon, whose experience
was founded on the climate of Pennsylvania, he would make
most serious mistakes.

If he were to plant the sweet potatoe at the season in
which it is planted in Carolina, it would certainly never ve-
getate ; and he must allow a fortnight between even the
Jerseys and Massachusetts. Yet he ought not thence to
infer that our season is too short for the sweet potatoe, since
our vegetation is rapid and vigorous in proportion to its tardy
appearance. Thus to take this same plant : We have gone
on for 170 years under the presumption that this was a plant
not destined for us ; that it was our forbidden fruit ; but it
is well ascertained that we can produce it in perfection.

We now proceed to our comparative view.

CHERRIES

Began to open their flowers as follows :
In 1813. May 10.

1815.

May 10.

1816.

May G. The memorable cold and unfruitful

season.

1817.

May 6.

1818.

May 17.

1819.

May 6.

1820.

May 2.

1821.

May 9.

Average

time of flowering of the cherry by the above

statement,

May 8.

PEARS

Began to open their flowers :

In 1813. May 20.

1

81G. May 12.

1817. May 7.

1818. May 24.

400 COMPARISON OF VEGETATION.

1819.

May 17.

1821.

May 13.

Average time of flowering (

jf the pear, by these observa-

tions, May 15.

PLUMS

Began

:o blow :

In 1815.

May 14.

1817.

May 7.

1818.

May 21.

1819.

May 13.

1821.

May 11.

Average time

of flowering

of the plum, by

the above,

May 13.

MESPILUS CANADENSIS

, OR SNOWY MEDLAR,

A native plant, not under cultivation, began to open its

flow

ers :

In 1813.

May 11.

1815.

May 16.

1816.

May 9.

1817.

May 8.

1818.

May 18.

1819.

May 16.

1820.

Maj 3.

1821.

May 10.

Average period of opening

of the Mespilus

Canadensis,

May 11.

APPLES

Began to open

their flowers :

In 1813.

May 23.

1 16.

May 18.

1817.

May 12.

1818.

May 25.

1819.

May 20.

1820.

May 11.

1821.

May 17. Though some few

appeared 4

days before, on the Siberian crab.

f

COMPARISON OP VEGETATION. 401

Average time of first expanded flowers on the apple,
May 18.

From the above comparison it appears that the extremes
seldom, and, indeed, we may ahnostsay never, exceed fifteen
days : that is, that the earhcst period of flowering of any given
plant, does not vary from its latest period of flowering in dif-
ferent years, more than 15 days. We are authorised to draw
this conclusion, because we think that the above years proba-
bly comprize the earliest and latest seasons which have been
known for 40 years. The season of 1818 was backward be-
yond all ordinary example, and yet was fruitful. The season of
1820 was as remarkably early, and yet kw seasons ever
exceeded it in fruitfulness. Not a single tender fruit suf-
fered from the very early flowering. The cold and cala-
mitous summer of 1816 was quite an early one, and very
promising at first. We ought not, therefore, to be alarmed
or anxious either at an early, or late spring. It will be seen,
that each of the above-mentioned trees approach as to the
time of its flowering to the mean time, in much the greater
number of years. In general, they blow 2 or 3 days either
before, or after, the mean time. It may not be thought un-
interesting to add to the above account of the time of flow-
ering of sundry trees, the first appearance of ripe fruits, and
productions. It will be recollected that we have not given
an account of this sort in our Journal for several years past.

Strawberries first ripe —
In 1813. June 20.

Strawberries in considerable quantities.
This was the latest year known for
many years.

It must be interesting to perceive, that whatever the vari-
ations may be in the flowering of plants, the time of ripen-
ing is so nearly equal. Instead of the extremes varying 15
days, as in the case of flowering, we find them varying in

1815.

June 21.

1818.

June 25.

1819.

June 21.

1820.

June 20.

402 COMPARISON OF VEGETATION.

ripening, but five days. That the mean lime of ripening of
the strawberry is the 21st of June, and that in four years out
of five it ripens on that day, or only one day from it. This
again proves the folly and rashness of complaining of too
early or too backward seasons.

Cherries first ripe —
In 1813, June 26. Gathered as unripe as if designed for the
Boston market, where ripe cherries are never
seen till they become a drug.
In 1815. Unripe cherries gathered June 24th.

Ripe black hearts July 3d — The black heart is not
the earliest though not a late cherry.
In 1 8 1 6. First cherries gathered July 4th.
Black hearts ripe July 6th.
Black hearts generally ripe July 8th.
In 1 8 1 8. First early and unripe Boston market cherries gath'

ered July 2d.
In 1820. Early May cherry fit for table June 21st.
Black hearts ripe July 4th.
All cherries in perfection July 8th.
It will be seen that the cherries of various kinds differ much
from each other in the time of maturity, but to take the best,
the black heart, by whatever name it may be called, as the
rule, it may be affirmed that their mean time of ripening is
the 4th of July. By ripeness we intend a very different
thing from what our excellent and industrious neighbours who
raise for the market, mean by the same expression. We un-
derstand that state of the fruit in which it has arrived at per-
fection, which is from five to ten days later than the Boston
connoisseurs ever see it, unless they continue to purchase it
after it sinks to six cents the quart, and when it is rather a jelly
before it gets to market, than a fruit.

May we not here introduce a practical remark for the be-
nefit of our Boston friends and customers. Can they not in-
sist by proper rewards, which is the only mode, that their
strawberries shall be carried to them in pottles, that is in in-

COMPARISON OF VEGETATION. 403

verted cones of basket work ; and that the cherry should be
carried to market in some better mode than potatoes, which
are always transported in bulk ?

We respectfully suggest these ideas, because we know that
the Boston epicures pay more liberally and are worse served,
than any people in Europe, Asia or America.

Things have been mending, it is true, in this respect, but
never was a generous, luxurious people furnished with less
regard to their comfort and taste than the inhabitants of the
"head quarters of good principles."

We ought in justice to our thriving and intelligent neigh-
bours to state, that they have made, and are constantly mak-
ing great efforts, from year to year, to supply the market with
earlier vegetables, and in better condition. They have learn-
ed to raise the cabbage, and the lettuce the fall before, and
to preserve them in hot bed frames — but ought not the
opulent town of Boston to have the cauliflower always in
perfection ? and the sea kale ? and the salsafy ■* and the
Brussell's sprouts ? We think they are entitled to it ; and to
a better mode of conveying the nicer productions. This a
generous price, and a discrimination between those who take
pains to please, and those who do not, will alone effect.

Raspberries and gooseberrries (which usually ripen togeth-
er) began to ripen

In 1813. July 12th.
In 1815. July 15th.
In 1820. July 10th.

It ought to be noticed that these remarks were made on a
single estate. Other persons with more favourable situations
may have raised these fruits at earlier periods ; but we must
protest against a comparison with the periods at which they
first appear in the market, it being notorious that unripe
fruits are always sent to the Boston market in the early part
of the season.

Still our comparison may well serve as a guide to show the
relative state of each season, and of the various fruits of our
country.

Roxbury June, 5, 1821.

[ 404 J

REPORT OF A COMMITTEE TO WHOM WAS REFERRED
THE APPLICATION OF MR. E. HERSEY.

The committee appointed by the trustees of the Massachu-
setts Agncultural Society, to inquire into the facts relative to
the destruction of the worm commonly called the borer, which
has of late years been so injurious to the apple trees, in this
neighbourhood, and to ascertain whether any thing be due to
the exertions and adroitness of Mr. Ebenezer Hersey, of
Roxbury, housewright, and generally known as a successful
Grafltr, in destroying this troublesome and voracious insect,
beg leave to report : — That they find, although it be uncer-
tain whether Mr. Hersey was the first person who discovered
the easy mode now practised by him in taking the insect from
the body of the tree, yet they are satisfied that the great ad-
vantage which the public are like to derive from the extirpa-
tion of this worm, is principally owing to the exertions and
cleverness of Mr. Hersey, in this branch of his profession,
and they recommend that a premium be awarded him of
twenty-five dollars.

Your committee feel it incumbent on them to state for your
information, that Mr. Hersey has extirpated the insect in at
least a thousand apple trees on one farm in Roxbury; that he
has probably saved many thousand in other parts of that
town and its neighbourhood, either by his personal attendance
and labour, or by the information which he has given to others
on the subject; that he has restored to vigour and soundness,
many valuable peach trees that were gummy and rapidly de-
clining from the efifects produced by this or a similar worm ;
that he has traced them to the mountain ash, and saved
many of those beautiful trees from perishing : and your
committee have no doubt, if, from this example, the farmers
of this commonwealth will examine their orchards, and cu t
out these insects from their trees wherever found, they will in

ON THE DESTRUCTION OF WORMS IN TREES. 405

a short time feel the benefit of their attention in the increase
and improved quahty of their fruit.

Your committee feel it their duty also to add, that from
their own experience, they feel assured, that all those who
can command the services of Mr. Hersey, with find it more
economical to employ him to perform this work than to un-
dertake it themselves ; as his experience and original profes-
sion of housewright, acquainted with the use of tools, enables
him to do it not only more thoroughly, but very much quicker
than any one can who has not been in the practice of the art.

The seasons when this operation is performed with most ef-
fect are the spring and fall ; and if in the spring, before the
month of June, as the perfect insects escape before that time.
In apple and mountain-ash trees, the existence of the animal
in the tree may be generally known by the mossy appearance
on the bark ; and it may be traced by removing a little earth
from the body of the tree next above the insertion of the great
roots. Although the hole at which the insect enters is in
many instances very small, yet it is easily discovered by an
appearance of powdered wood or fine saw dust which is
thrown out by the worm ; here you may introduce your chis-
sel and follow his track. Cut the bark smooth, and when you
have cleansed the trees of all the insects (of which there are
sometimes as many as twenty to be found,) plaster the wounds
over with a little clay, and when it is dry restore the earth to
its place. The operation should be renewed the succeeding
season to make the work complete. In peach trees the in-
sect is traced by the gum, but as this is also produced by
bruises, it is not infallible.

SAM'L. G. PERKINS, ) ^

JOHN PRINCE, \ ^«^^^"-'

Mote, — If the frost be out of the ground, we recommend
to farmers to perform the spring cleansing as early as March
and April.

Boston, April 16.

Vol. VI. 52

[ 406 ] , ■

AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE.

Mr. Young and the Halifax Agricultural Societies,

W E have forborne to notice the extraordinary revolution
in agricultural efforts in Nova Scotia, (which has been pro-
duced, as it would seem, principally by the intelligence, learn-
ing and indefatigable exertions of a Scotch gentleman, who has
within a few years removed from Scotland to Halifax, John
Young, Esq.) not most assuredly from any spirit of rivalship
or envy, and still less from any national feelings, but simply
because we have been in constant expectation of seeing
Mr. Young's admirable essays embodied and circulated
throughout this continent. This gentleman published a series
of numbers on agricultural subjects, in one of the newspa-
pers at Hahfax, which we do not think we hazard much in as-
serting, contained more profound thoughts on the subject of
agriculture, and embodied a greater extent and variety of sci-
ence applicable to this art, than has yet appeared from the
pen of any individual in this country.

Though the essays were anonymous, they soon attracted
universal attention in that province, and excited a spirit of in-
quiry, and an ardour for improvement, which we may truly
say is without a parallel. So perfectly was the secret of the
author kept, that the essays were attributed to his Excellency
the Earl of Dalhousie, and they might well have added to the
splendour of any titled man.

The excitement produced by them was so great, that this
province, comparatively poor when put in contrast with some
of the powerful, and opulent, and more fertile states of our
confederacy, voted large sums to endow provincial and coun-
ty agricultural societies ; — sums which might well put to the
blush the more parsimonious efforts of our own republic.

A secretary of the board of agriculture in Nova Scotia was
provisionally appointed, with an understanding, that whenever

INTELLIGENCE. 407

the justly celebrated author of these essays should be known,
that office should be vacated in his favour.

Mr. Young was persuaded by his friends to quit his retire-
ment, and was with universal approbation promoted to the of-
fice of secretary and treasurer, and as far as wc can judge,
efficient manager of the institution.

It is difficult for persons at a distance to ascertain the pre-
cise value of these efforts, but so far as we can judge from the
reports of the board of agriculture of that province, we
should be disposed to believe that it had been fully equal to
the extraordinary diligence, vigour, intelligence and learning
which first excited and directed them. New systems have
been introduced with great success ; — new directions have
been given to industry. Some facts most extraordinary
with regard to the changes produced in the culture of that
province have been published by the provincial society, of
which no doubt can be entertained ; — and it would seem,
that this cold, and as we have thought, inhospitable soil, is
very likely to be a rival to ours, in the most valuable agricul-
tural productions. We do not enter further into particulars,
because we still hope to afford by a review of Mr. Young's
essays, and successful exertions, complete evidence of the
wisdom and energy of his plans.

We feel sure, that on a subject so interesting to the whole
human family, no prejudices will operate to prevent the free
circulation of his opinions, and that a disposition will be felt
to render full justice to his merits. In New England espe-
cially, we have abundant reason from the similarity of climate
to listea with impartiality to so wise a counsellor as Mr.
Young, educated in Scotland, whose climate and productions
are so analogous to our own.

Ncw'York Agricultural Publication.

We have seen a recent publication from the board of
agriculture of the state of New- York. It would be, perhaps,
little praise to a state so full of intelligent and enlightened

\

408 INTELLIGENCE.

men to say, that the work is entitled to respectful attention.
There are two essays of considerable length which occupy
tiie greater part of the volume.

One of them is avowedly written by Mr. Featherstone-
haugh, of Duanesbourgh, and the other would seem to be
the work of the same author. They are, both of them,
highly respectable, and ought to excite a spirit in Massachu-
setts to sustain the character of the state by publications of
equal merit.

We did not feel ourselves at liberty to make any extracts
from the work, because we understand, that a review of it
is expected in a publication, which has a wider circulation,
and which is entitled to more, and higher consideration,
than the very humble and unpretending Journal, which we
address to the farmers of Massachusetts.

New -Hampshire State Agricultural Society.

We have understood that this state has made provision
for, and incorporated a general state society, the members
of which are to be composed of delegates from the county
and local societies. With us we have no such establishment.
The Massachusetts Agricultural Society has nothing which
gives it either authority or pre-eminence over any county
society. Nor do we wish that any such power should be
delegated. We cannot conceive any advantage which
could be derived from any general society.

If local, with general powers, it would be the object of jea-
lousy. If composed of gentlemen from all parts of the
state, its meetings would be iew, formal, expensive, and
productive of no substantial good. All that agricultural
societies ought to wish, is a charter to enable them to ma-
nage their funds, and occasional aid from the legislature to
enable them to give that spring to agricultural experiments
which is the soul of all exertion. A little money, and some
distinction, are admirable helps to individual efforts. A
man who makes great exertion to reclaim a stubborn piece
of land, to produce a great crop, to raise a fine animal, wants

LIST OF MEMBERS. 409

something besides the consciousness of the value and im-
portance of his elForts, to reward him. And the public want
this notoriety more than he does.

Successful etforts are often lost to the public, owing to
the ditfidence of the individual and the difficulty of making
them known. Can there be a wiser or more economical
application of the public money than restoring a small part
drawn from the subject in the form of taxes, in the shape of
premiums to encourage the increase of products, and thus,
in its turn, increasing the ability to pay taxes, and enlarging
the fund from which they are drawn ?

We are, for the reasons above stated, against any ge-
neral society with superior powers, or evep titles, but in fa-
vour of an increased liberality towards the local societies
which either do, or may hereafter exist.

A communication from the Hon. Timothy Pickering, on
the culture of peas, has been, by some accident, mislaid,
after being ordered for publication, and must, of course, be
postponed till our next number. We regret it, because we
always feel a sincere pleasure in perusing the plain and prac-
tical articles from the pen of this venerable and experienced
cultivator, and we are convinced that they are highly
useful.

That accidents such as this may not be attributed to neg-
ligence, we would observe, that the duty of editing this
Journal, is not unfrequently divided ; and, between va-
rious members of a committee for publication, papers may
occasionally be mislaid, without any imputation of neglect.

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY FOR 1821.
Aaron Dexter, M.D. President,
Samuel W. Pomeroy, Esq. 1st Vice-President.
Thomas L. Winthrop, Esq. 2d Vice-President.
John Prince, Esq. Treasurer.
John Lowell, Esq. Corresponding Secretary.
Hon. Richard Sullivan, Recording Secretary,
Benjamin Guild, Esq. Assistant Recording Secretary.

410

LIST OP MEMBERS.

Hon. P. C. Brooks,
Hon. John Welles,
Hon. Josiah Quincy,

TRUSTEES.

S. G. Perkins, Esq.
Gorham Parsons, Esq.
E. Hersey Derby, Esq,

MEMBERS ADxMH TED SINCE JUNE, 1820.

HONORARY MEMBERS.

Hon. Thomas Worthington, State of Ohio.

Charles H. Hall, Esq. Pomfret, Con.

Hon. Ambrose Spencer, Albany, N. Y.
Jesse Buelj Esq.

MEMBERS.

John Hubbard, Esq.

William H. Eliot, Esq.

Joseph W. Revere,

Thomas Brewer,

Thomas Dennie, Esq.

Samuel Atkins Eliot,

Joseph Hall, Jr.

George G. Channing,

Col. Harvey Chapin,

Nathaniel Dorr, Esq.

Otis Fay,

David S. Greenough, Jr. Esq.

Joseph Hall,

Joseph P. Leland, Esq.

Elijah Perry, Esq.

George Brown,

Hon. Wm. Prescott,

Hon. Joseph Tilden,

David W. Child, Esq.

Nathan Rice,

Benjamin Thaxter,

Silas Kempton, Esq.

William Felt, Esq.

Samuel Brooks,

Samuel H, Walley, Esq.

Do.

Boston.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.

Do.
Springfield.
Roxbury.
Brighton.
Roxbury.
Chelsea.
Sherburne.
Nutick.
Bernby.
Boston.

Do.

Dq.

Do.

Do.
Mew-Bedford.
Medzoay.
Brighton.
Boston.

INDEX TO VOLUME VI.

Agricultural Society, ofRcers and members of

" " of New Hampshire

Agriculture, of Massacliusetts errors of the
" New York Board of

" treatise on, reviewed

•' British . . .

" French

" Milanese

" Piedmontese

" Instruments of . . _ _

" of Nova Scotia, extraordinary revolution in

Air, the carrier, of fertility, not the food of vegetables
Alms-house at Salem

" Statement of

Animals, domestic form of . _ .

Apples, when they begin to open their flowers
Barley, why a favorite

" best food for horses

Beet, its quantity of Saccarine matter .

" quantity raised on an acre
Bennett's machine for sowing broad cast .

Borer, the worm called the, how extirpated
Breaking up land, how best managed
Brighton Cattle Show, Mr. Quincy's address at

'• Mr. Sullivan's address at .

«' Trustees account of for 1819

Broad Cast, Bennett's machine for sowing
Cabbages, quantity raised on an acre and how

" preserved by means of seaweed .

Carrots, their quantity of saccharine matter
" quantity raised on an acre and how
Cattle Show at Brighton, 1820, Premiums proposed for
" " Reports at

•• 1821, Premiums proposed for

" Account of

Cheese, Parmesan, what and how made
Cherries, when their flowers open
" when 6rst ripe

" how ought to be carried to market
Clay, burnt, remarks on as a manure
Clover, ameliorates the soil, and why .
" when it ought to be cut
" how to be got in witli safety
" ouglit not to be sowed with other grasses
Corn, Indian, Dr. Gorbam's analysis of .

" See Indian Corn.

Vol. VI. 53

the

107, 409
403
103
407
ICI. 369
167
166
166
166
168
406
388
73
79
276
400
376
370
291
262
331
404
12
1
201
15
331
257
380
291
259
96
218
294
15
293
399
402
403
354
376
378
378
377
303

412

INDEX.

Crops, rotation of . . .

Dactylis Gloinerata, cocksfoot or orchard grass

" its qualities and managemeat

Dairy Stock, S. W. Pomeroy upon

Dearborn, General H. A. S. on the locust tree and the insect which destroy
Derby, E. Hersey, on early potatoes
Donations to the Massachusetts Agricultural Society
Dung, which best, long or short ....

Fallowing, beneficial effects of analyzed

Fanners, their first object ....

to be sure of the necessity offences before going to the expense of

style building suited to .

just pride of . . . .

" errors of .

" should plough no more land than they can perfectly cultivate
" over cautious in admitting innovations . .

Farmer, a practical, his review of a treatise on agriculture .
Farmhouse, a view at the door of ...

Fellenberg, his attempts to improve the condition of the poor
Fences, unnecessary, not to be made
Fertility, remarks on .... .

Flax, husbandry, S. W. Pomeroy's essays on.

Flax seed, annual export of, from the United States -

" oiiglit to be changed
Flax, best on new soils . . ,

" manures for .... .

" rotations in its cultivation

" dew rotting of . . .

" dressing ......

" product of .... .

Fruit trees, management .....

" preservation of, from decay

Goosberries, when they ripen ....

Grapes, culture of .... .

Green crops, ploughed in for manure ....

Green, Mr. R., on wheat ....

Gypsum, why not every where efficacious

Harris, Rev. Dr. on destroying insects

Hay ward, Joseph, review of his work on agriculture

Hemp, how prepared .....

Hersey, Mr. Ebenezer, on his claims for extirpating the borer
Hop, seat of the bitterness of the ....

Horse, why preferred to the ox ... .

" barley the best food for the
Horticulture, review of a treatise on . . . " .

Indian Corn, Dr. Gorham's analysis of .

the most valuable of all grains
its culture .....

seed of how protected from birds
the first plant in Northern States
sown broad cast for a green crop
to be steeped in saltpetre before planting
'' quantity of on an acre ....

insects, a mode of destroying ....

Lawrence, Mr. Bezaleel, on potatoes . . . •

Liberality, makes the farmer rich
Locust tree, its value and on the insects wliich destroy it
Col. Pickering's remarks on the
should not be raised in nurseries
MangeMVurtzel, cultivation of the

quantity rai.sed on an acre
Manure, farm yard, economy of .
" " management of .

' heaps or pies ....

(1

it

55.

175

367
368

87
272
394
207
171
390
5
9

10

11
202
203
204
160
4

75
7
381
309
309
315
318
329
321
326
327
328
iR6
283
403

66
173
364
353
392
186
326
404
357
184
376
186
308
177
149
160
371
379
379
242
392
382

14

270. 272

360

362

84
255

61

62
6.63

142.

INDEX.

413

Manure, Snit used ag a . •

" wliicli best, long or short

" what i'.s signification includes

" eulpliuiic acid and vitriol

" clay burnt

'• salt concrutrated

" stable

" iiieadnw mud a

Masisachuseitf) agriculture, deficiencies iu

" " state of compared with products of southern climates

" agricultural society, premiums and reports at their cattle show

" " " donations to acknowledged

Meadow mud, a manure, how used
M'"dlar, Snowy, when it opens its flowers
Milcli Cows, why so few good in this country

'• " how to be uianaged
Nova-Scotia — Agriculture, extraordinary revolution in
Orchard Glass, its excellent qualities .
Orchard, management of
" proKt of .
" method of planting
" grafting .
, " pruning

" blight of .
Oxen, use and v^lue of on the road and the farm
" and Horses, comparative expense of
" " compared in agriculture

" superior to horses in ploughing .
Parmesan cheese, what, and how made
Parsnip, its quantity of saccharine matter
Pears, when their flower? open
Peas, not an exhausting crop

" how cultivated
Pickering, Hon. Timothy, on ox labour
" " on ruta baga

" " on the locust tree

Plants, food of

Plaster of Paris not a substitute for manure
" " Col Taylor's remarks on

" " quantity sown, and mode of using

Ploughing deep, objections to, answered

" *!^'^ • . •
Ploughs, difference in their size and weight

plum, wiien i' begins to blow

pomeroy, Samuel VV., on dairy stock

'• " on Indian corn .

" " on flax husbandry

Potatoes, management and culture of .

" vindicated and extolled .

some more nourishiug than others

best in a moist and cool soil and climate

quantity raised on au acre

" sweet, cultivated in Massachusetts, and how ,

" first of root cultivation

" its varieties ....

•' seed of. ought to be changed .

" how best preserved

" ameliorates the soil, and how .

" how best raised

" early, remarks on .

Premiums, their advantage to agriculture

Prince, John, on culture of mangel wurtzel

on Bennett's machine for sowing broad cast

CD the orchard grass

«

(i

125
171

209

340

354

357

353

263

3

300

218. 294

307

268

400

83

89

406

367

47.91

95

56

53

59

61

14

146

179

142

293

291

399

379

379

143

286

362

19s

387

385

383

39l

173

209

399

87

149

309

43

287

289

289. 373

252

267

371

372

373

332

377

383

394

409

84

331

366

414

INDCX.

(1

QuiDcy, Josiab, his address to Massachusetts Agricultural Society, 1820

" " his remarks on soiling .

Raspberries, wbeu they ripen
Bobinia Pseudacacia, remarks on
Rotation of crops
Ruta Baga, makes bad butter
" mauagement of

" its quantity of saccharine matter

" quantity raised on an acre, and how

«• the best of the turnip family

Rye, in what superior to wheat
Saccharine Matter, quantity of various vegetables
Salem Almshouse, account of
Salt as a manure
" *' top dressing
" quantity to be used as a manure
" destroys vermin
'' »* insects
Salts of ley, soapboilers, a manure
" concentrated, as a manure
Seed of clover, second crop to be reserved for
" of Indian corn to be steeped in saltpetre
" " " how protected from birds

Sheep, long-wooled. General Sumner on
Soiling, what, aud remarks on
advantages of
expenses of .

to what land applicable
" to what farmers applicable
Soils, which best for different species of manure
Sowing, broadcast, Bennett's machine for
Spayed heifers, advantage of
Stable manure

" " management of
Stereorary, how to be located and provided .
Strawberries, when first ripe .

'» how ought to be carried to market

Sullivan, Hon. Richard, his address before Mass. Agricultural Society
Sulphuric acid and vitriol as a manure
Sumner, General William H., on long-wooled sheep
Swedish Turnip. See Ruta Baga.
Sweet Potatoe, cultivated in Massachusetts, and how
Tar, train oil, and ashes, mixed with seed, preserves it from birds and
Tan, about fruit trees, preserves them from decay
Taylor, Colonel John, on Plaster of Paris
Turnips, doubtful if advantageously cultivated in northern states

" Swedish. See Ruta Baga.
Vegetation, comparison of tlie state of for several years
Vitriol and sulphuric acid as a manure .
Welles, Hon. John, on management of orchards
Vi heat, management of

on the preparation of the seed of
on the growth of
its smut how produced
its seed to be washed
not an uncertain crop
•' follows potatoes
Wool-growers, hints to, .

" fleeces, to be folded flesh side outwards
Young, John, effects of writings of, on Nova-Scotia agriculture

4>

II

<l

132

worms

1

113, 334
403
276
175
292
36
292
265
376
374
291
73

125. 358
127
134
142
358
358
357
378
379
160
363

113. 334

114. 148
124
346
347
356
331

90
358
359
6
401
402
201
349
363

267
160
284
286
375

397
349
91
33. 239
365
3t)4
378
379
395
396
200
200
406

END OF VOLUME VI.

THE

Massachusetts xV^ricultural

IIEPOSITOIIY and JOURNxiL.

NUMBER 1 VOLUME VI.

CONTENTS.

Mr. Quincy's Address 1

Trustees' account of the Cattle
Show, Kxhibition of iVlanufactures,
&c. at Brighton, 1819. . . . ^5

Wheat 31

Potatoes 34, 4:i

Swedish Turnip .36

Beets 41

On the bad management of Orch-
ards . . 4f^^

On the management of Fruit Trees &5
Abstract of an EsKay " On the

Economy of I'arm- Yard Manure" 61
On the calture of Grape Vines . 66

Alms-ITonse Farm at Salem . . 73
On the culture of Mangel Wurtzel 84

On Dairy Stocic 87

On the ^Janagcment of Orchards . 91
Cattle Show, Exhibition of Manu-
factures, Ploughing Match, and
Public Sale of Animals and Ma-
nufactures, at Brighton— On
Tuesday and Wednesday, the
17th and 18th of October, 1 820. 96
Officers of the Society for 1820 . 107
List of I>jembers admitted since

July, 1818 ib.

Honorary Members . . .Ill

BOSTON :

PUBLISHED- BV WELLS AND LILLY, NO. 97, COURT-STREET,
FOR THE TRUSTEES OF THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY FOR
PROMOTING AGRICULTURE.

Price ."jO cents.

1820,

VALUABLE BOOKS.

Messrs. WELLS & LILLY, No. 97 Court Street, Bopton,
have imported a large rollertioD of the best English publications; many of <hem
ill very elegant bindings, and with fine plates. They can offer to their Customers
a more extensive assortment of I-AW, MEDICINK, THEOLOGY, and iMISCEL-
LANEOUS LITEUATURP:, than they have ever before exhibited.

Orders for English or American publicalions, which cannot be
found in town, are constantly received and forwarded f>y the earliest opportunity.
Orders for a considerable amount in Foreign Books executed upon very low terras.

They have ou hand, among many others, the following elegant and
valuable Works :

The holy bible, with Commentaries, by the Rev.
Jonathan Hewlett •with superb plates, from paintings of the greatest
masters. Three vols. 4io. Russia gilt, with ^ilt leaves. Price $65.

THE SACRED WRITINGS ILLUSTRATED, in

a series of Engravings on wood. To which i? added, a concise account of
the origin and progress of the Art — tto. Boarils, $4 50.

THE HOLY BIBLE, with superb Engravings, by
Charles Heath ;*from designs of Ricuakd WestalIj, R.A. Three vols,
morocco, elegantly gilt— gilt leaves, $50.
Do. do. In two volumes, calf, 45.

A great variety of elegant Bibles, of various sizes, stipcrhly gilt.

BRITISH ESSAYISTS, new and very fine edition.

Forty five volumes 12mo. calf gilt $100.

ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS FROM ANCIENT

and Modern Poems. Three volumes royal 8vg. hoards, 18 dolls.

Vol. I. Pope's Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. Dryden's Virgil and Juve-
nal. Pitt's Virgil's iEueid, and Vida's Arl of Poetry. Francis' Horace.

Vol. 11. Rowe's Lucan. Grainger's Tibulh.'s. Fawkes' Theocritus^
&c. Garth's Ovid. Lewis' Statins. Cooke's Kes^iod. ,

Vol. III. Hoole's Arioslo and Tasso. Mickle's Lusiad.

SHARPENS Mihon, 4 vols, with most beai.'tiful plates,

hy V/estall, morocco gilt, ^ill leaves, 16 dolls.

Cov.'per, 3 vols. do. <!o. 13 dolh. 50 cts.

Thompson, do. 4 dolls. 5© els.

Goldsmiih, do. 4 dulls. 50 cts.

Rasselas, do. 4 dolls. 50 cts.

K Beat tie, do. 4 dolls. 50 cts.

Elizabeth, by Madame Cotlin, do. 4 dolls. 50 cts.

— Young's Night Thoughts, do. 5 dolls.

The aLove beaiitiful Editions may be had also iu calf gilt, or in boards.
Various other Editions of Milton, Cowper, &c. &c. very elegant and cheap.

BLAIR'S Lettures, 4 vols. 12mo. do. $9.

MOSHEIM'S Ecclesiastical History, 6 vols. 8vo. very
finely bound, calf gilt, 22 dolls. 50 cts. In boards, 15 dolls. In sheep let-
tered, 18 dolls.

f ^ BOOKS

Published by Wells and Lilly.

AN ESSAY ON THE CHARACTER AND PRACTICAL

Writings of ST. PAUL. By Hannah Mohe. Price 1 doll.

Saint Pniil has furnished ue with so rich a variety of moral and spiritual precepts, sohordinate to

the general law* of piety and virtue, that out of thein niigiit be well compiled a body of Ethicks,

or 6yst«-ni of precepts dt offidis, in truth aud conipleteuess far excelling tlioee which any philosophy

hath been able to devise or deliver. Dr. Barruiv.

FEMALE SCRIPTURE CHARACTERS; exemplifying
Female Virtues. By the Author of the " Beneficixi effects of the Christiaa
Temper oil Domestic Happiness." From the third London edition. Price $1
25 cents bound.

This Book contains the Lives of Eve... .Sarah".. .Rcbekah....Thermusi8...Pharoab'f Daughter...

Ruth. ..Hanuah... .Queen of Slieba... .Jezebel Esther.. ..Judith ...Susannah. ...The Mother, and

ber seven Sons ...The Virgin Mary.. ..Elizabeth a^d \nne... Martha and Mary.. ..Dorcas.

LECTURES ON SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY AND

Pulpit Eloquence- By the late George Campbell, Author of the Translation of
the Gospels. Price $2 25.

THE REASONABLENESS OF CHRISTIANITY, as de-
livered in the Scriptures. By John Locre, Esq. With a Preface by the Ame-
rican editor. Price 1 doll, sheep.

READINGS ON POETRY. By Richard Lovell Eugu-
TVORTH and Maria Ej)qeworth. Price 75 cents, half bound.

THE AIRS OF PALESTINE; a Poem: by John Pier-

PONT, Esq. Third edition. Uevi.sed. Price £0 cents, boards.

ESSAYS IN RHYMK, ON MORALS AND MANNERS.

By Jane Taylor, Author of ' Display ; a Tale.' Anil one of the Authors of
♦ Original Poems for Infant Minds,' * Hymns for Infant Minds,' &c. Price 75
cents, half bound

A LETTER OF ADVICE TO HIS GRANDCHILDREN,

Matthew, Gabriel, Anne, Mary, and Frances Hale. By Sir Matthew Hale,
Lord Chief Justice in the reign of Charles II. Price 87 1-2 cents bound.

Contents.— Chapter 1. Danger of the Times in relation to ileligion— 2.
Dangers incident to your Age, — 3. Dangers that arise to yoa from your Condition
and Helations.— -4. Dangers that may arise from your Constitution and Complex*
ion. — S. Religion in general. — 6. The Christian Religion. — 7. Directions con-
cerning Prayer. — 8. Heading of the Scriptures, &c. — 9. Observation of the Lord's
Day. — 10. Ordinary religious Conversation. — 11. On the Sacrament. — 12. Moral
and Civil Conversations and Actions. — 13. Moderation of the Passions. — 14. Idle-
ness and Employment. — 15. Ordinary Employments. — 16. Employment of young
gentlewomen — 17. Company, aud the Choice of it. — 18. Recreations. — Eating,
Drinking, and Sleeping. — 20. Apparel and Habit. — 21. Carriage to your Infe^
riours, Superiours, aud Equals. — 22. Single Life and Marriage.

BARBAULD'S LESSONS FOR CHILDREN ; in four parts.
Price 25 cents a part.

HYMNS IN PROSE FOR CHILDREN. By (he Author of
Lessons for Children. From the seventeenth London edition, much enlarged.
Price 25 cents.

EPISTLES ON WOMEN, exemplifying their Cbaracler and
Condition in various ages aud nations. With Miscellaneous Poems. By Lucv
AiKiN. Price 87 1-2 cents boards.

EOOKS
Lately published by wells and lilly,

NO. 97 roUKT-STRK^r.... BOSTON.

KPORTS of Cases Irg-ued and Deterinined

in the Court of King's Bent;h, with Tables of the Names of the Case.s and the
Principal V'attersj /By Gborgb jV^aule and William Selwvn, Esquires, of Jaa-
coln's 'nn. Barristers at I-aw. In four volumes. Price ^24 bound.

[Continuation of EaK.] ,

TVL S OF rilK HALL. By the Rev, George

Cracre, LL.i^. ]ii hAO vohir.KS. Price $2.

MORAL SKETCHES of prevailing Opinions and

Manners," Poreijiu and Dortjostjc : with Reflections on Prayer. By Han-
nah More* In two vols. 18mo. fine paper. Price $1 50. — One vol. 12rno.
common paper. Price $1.

AFFECTION'S GIFT to a beloved God-child.—

By M. II.

" Describe with truth and affection those qualities and accomplishments you think truly attrac-
tive ; which it is in her poker to acquire, which it will be lier glory' to possess."

" That lesson is likely to be impressive which is insinuated through the medium of Aflfectiod."

This Book isforn~!/ed qf Letters, addressed to a yowig Lady, on the following sub-
jects :

Religion. — On the Cultivation of tiie Temper. — On the Regulation of the Heart
and Affections. — On the Cultivation of the Mind. — Employment of Time.— On the
Study of History, &c. — Geograpiiy and Chronology. — Mjthology.— Botany, Che-
mistry, and Mineralogy. — Astronomy. — Accomplishments, useful.T— Accomplish-
ments, ornapiental. — Conversation. — The Afllections and Passi^ons.— Befiievolence
and Gratituoe. — Cand<iur. — Ueserve.— Friendship. — Vanitjr.— Pride and Anger. —
Envy and Censoriousness. — Sensibility. — Love. Price 62 1-2 cts. half ?"■"*.

3IEM0IRS of the late Mrs. MARY COOPER,

of London; who departed this life June 22, 1812, in the Twenty-sixlh year
of her age. Extracted from her Diary and Epioiolary Correspondence. By
Adam Clarke, L.L.D. Frqin the Fonrife. English Edition.

iXx' T ve been, in a shpft time, four editions of this work |>f:inl. in-

land.

^eiesls.' SPCon<i edition.

Every wise woman buildeth her house, but the foolish pUicketh it down with her hqnds.

Solomon.

THt;

Massachusetts Agricultural

REPOSITORY and JOURNAL.

MJMBER tl VOL»UME VI.

CONTENTS.

Remarks on Soiling . . 113
Of Nalt as a Manure . . 12i>

On the Prefereuce of Oxen to

Horses . ' . . 142

On Indian Corn and its Ciil-

lure . ? > • • • 149
lleview of a " Treatise on Agri-
calture, comprising a conoiRe
History of its Or»g:in and Pro-
gress— the present condition
of the Art.abroad and at home;
and the Theory and Practice
of Husbandry which have arJ-
spn out of the present state of
Philo<;ophicaI Attainraents in
F irope. By a Practical Far-
mer." V .. . . . 161
On the comparative vahie «f
the Ox, and the Horse in Agri-
culture ; and ao answer to the

question sometimes asked.
Why the Massachusetts Agri-
cultural Society have never
oflered premiums for the rais-
ing of the finest Horses ? . 179

Notice of a late work, entitled,
" The Science of Horticul-
ture, including a Practical Sys-
tem for the Management of
F'ruit Trees, arranged on De-
monstrativePhysiolbgicaiPrin-
ciples, illustrated by Sketches
in twelve Plates, with a Com-
mentary on the works of Brad-
Ice, Hitt. Miller, Forsyth,
Kuight, Kerwan, Sir Hum-
phrey Davy, and Mrs. Ibbot-
soh." By Joseph Hayward,
Gent .... 186

Hints to Wool-Growers . 200

BOSTON :

PUBLISHED BT WELLS AND LILLV, NO. 97, COCTRT-STREET,
FOR THE TRUSTEES OF THE MASS ACHDSBTTb SOCISTT FOR
PROMOTING AGKiCDLTrilB.

Price 50 cents.

1820.

VALUABLE BOOKS,

PUBLISHED BY WELLS AND LILLY,

NO. 97 COURT-STREET, BOSTON.

DISSERTATION : EXHIBITING A GENERAL VIEW

of the Progress of Chemical Piiilosoph}', (rom the early ages to tlie end oi' the
eighteenth century. By William Tuoivias iiRANOE. Price 1 doll.

DISSERTATION: exhibiting a General View: of the . Pro-
gress of Mathematical and fi.ysical Science, since the Revival of Letters
in Europe By John Plavkair, Professor of Natural Phiioftophy in the Lniver-
sity of hdinburgh, Fellow of the Uoya! Society of London, and seeretary of the
Royal Society of fcdinburiijh. Price $1 50 sewed.

A GENERAL VIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF META-
PHYSICAL, Kthical, and Political Piiilosophy, since the Revival of Letters in
Europe. By Dugald Stesvart. Ksq. F.K. S.S. I^ndon and Edinijurgh ; lionurary
member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences at .-t. Petershurgh; member of the
Boyal Academy at Berlin, and of the .American Philosophical Society held at
Philadelphia ; formerly Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Ldin-
burgh. Price 1 1 50 sewed. " -

ELEMENTS OF THS PHILOSOPHY OP THE HUMAN

jWIISTD. By DoGALD Stewart. Professor of ?(loral Philosophy in the University
and Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Honorary JVIeraber of the Impe-
rial Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburgh ; and Member of the American
Philosophical Society held at Philadelphia. Second edition. Price $3 50 bound.

THE "theory OF MORAL SENTIMENTS- Or, An

Essay towards an analysis of the principle's by wbich men naturally judge con-
cerning the conduct and character, first ot their neiglibours and afterwards of
themselves. To v\"^iiclr is added. ^ Dissertation on the Origin of Langnugen.
By AiJAM Smith l l.d. f.r.s. From the last English edition. Two volumes in
one. Price $3 bound. ■

THE LIFE OF MARCUS TULLllte ClCEriO. By Con-

TERs MiDDLETON, D. D. Principal Librarian to the University of Cambridge. In
three volumes. From the London edition. Price $9 bound.

This is a very handsome and correct editioaoi' one ofthe nioit iiulheniic and best written workt
in the English langUdge.

MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE OF DAVID GARRSCK, Eq.

Interspersed with Ciir^racters and Anecdotes of his. Theatrhal Cotemporaries.
The whole forming a History of the Stage which includes a period of thirty-six
years. By Thomas Orvies. 2 vols. Price $2 50 boards.

A MEMOIR ON THE COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION

of the Black Sea, and the Trade and Vlaritime Geography of^lNirkey and Egypt.
In two volumes. lUustrated with Charts. By Henrv A. S. Dearborn. Price
$^ in boards.

TRANSLATION OF THE LETTERS OF A HINDOO

Bajah ; written previous to, and during the period of his liesideucein England.
To which is prefixed a Preliminary Dissertation on the History, Keligiou, and
JVlauuers of the Hindoos. In two vols. By Elizabeth Hamiltow. Price 2 rfoffcs.
50 cts. boards.

LETTERS FROM GENEVA AWD FRANCE, written

during a residence of between two and three years in difierent parts of those
countries, and addressed to a Lady in Virginia by her Father, 2 vols. Price $1 £0.
boards. i

TRAVELS IN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES,

in 1816 and 1817. By Lieut. Francis Hall 14th Light Dragoons, H. P. 1 vol.
Price $\ 50 boards.

/

COURT-STREET, BOSTON,
May, 1820.

WELLS ^ LILLY,

/

/ HAVE LV PliESS THE FOLLOiVJJ\'G WORKS.

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIBLfi, or a De-

script ion of all the Beasts, birds, and Fishes, Insects and Hepliles, Trees
and Plants, .Vletals. Procibiis Stones, Stv.. mentioned in the Sarred Scriptures.
Collected from the best authorities, .and alphabetically arranged. By I'had-
DEi's :V1ason Harris, D.D. A.Ai^. and S.H.S. Minister of the first parish in
Dorchester. A new edition, re»iscd» improved, and enlarged.

A small volume with t)\it title was piililiiilinl in 1793 and has been long out of print. Its merit and
est iinjtion liare bet-n indicate*! by its raiiiJ sale, ainl by ilii. ccnimeiidatJDiis oC some of >iie most k-ariiefi
bil-'icnl Clitics and einiuent divines in tliis couutrv u.a in Edropt. The worK lias been sinct- wholly
tr.isivivil and grsatly enhtrge;!; and the Anthi^r's studies for more than ttcenty-Jhv i/fai\y have so
CO iiii' iitetl to its im(iroveni( lit, that he fe*.>ls a contideuee in vow olftrin^ it to tlie public as the most
pelt' et of 'he kind in any language; and is assuixd that it will be found to convex niiich useful iiifor-
)uation ni«on the subjtet of wjiitli it trials, satfsfhctorily to explain the reasons for the distii.clion between
clean and unclean animals in the Mosaic ritual, and to diseovtr tin- propriety and beauty of the frequent
allusion to natural nbiects in the Sacred iVrititigs, in insiauces, whitb isare betn wholly unperct^ived, or
but iudistincUy discerned.

POEMS BY ANNA LAETITIA BARBAULD. From the
last Londun edition. To which is added an tpistle to William Wilber-
FORCE, Esq.

LOCKE'S ESSAY ON THE UNDERSTANDING OF ST

Paul's t.pistles ; and

LE CLERC ON INSPIRATION, in a small neat volume.

THEY HAVE LVTELY PUBLISHED:

CHARACTER ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS IN LIFE: Ad-
dressed to those >Tho are approachiii;; IVIanhuod. By Isaac Taylor, Minis-
ter of the Gospel at Ungar. Author of Self-Cnltivaliou, Advice to the
Teens, &c. Price 75 cents.

GAY'S CHAIR. Poems, never before printed, written by
John Gav, Author of the Beggar's Opera. Fables, v^. Witb a >ketch of his
Jiife, from the MSS. of the Kev. Joseph Baller, bis Nephew. Edited by
IJe.vry Lee. Author of Poetic Impressions, Caleb Qiiotenu .tc. to wfpch
are added, two new Tales, the World, and Gossip, by the Editor. Price
62 1-2 cents boards.

PRACTICAL HINTS TO YOUNG FEMALES, on the Du-
ties of a Wife, a iVIother, and a Mistress of a Kamily. By .Mrs. Taylor, of
Ongar, Author of ' Maternal Solicitude for a Daughtt?i's Best Interests.'
Second edition. Price 7.5 cents half bound, noorocco.

MORAL SKETCHES OF PREVAILING OPINIONS AND

Manners, Foreign and Domestic: with Reflections on Prayer. IBy Han-
nah More. In two vols, liimo. fine paper. Price 1 doll. 50 cts.

AN ESSAY ON ENGLISH POETRY. By Thomas Camp-
bell. One dollar. Price 87 1-2 cents in boards.

TALES OF THE HALL. By the Rev. George Cbabbe,
LL.B. In two volumes. Price 2 doUs^

i

/ T» CllS \3f Lik

Wells 4r L

rr

T

NO. 97, COURT-STREET, E09

HJFE OJV HJND THE FO0A)irmd PF(,^,

HE AMERICAN FARMER; ronlaihing Onglnav^^s,,y3
and Selections, on iiiiral Economy and Internal Improvements^ with lllft^ '^jye
Engravings, Bj' John S. Skinner. 4to. $.0,00. ~

THE AMEP.1CAN GAEDENER'S CALENDAR; adapted

to thfc iCiiro.ites aH<< Seasmw of the United States. Containing a complete ac-
count of all the work necessary lo be done in the Kitchen-garden, Frnit-garden,
Orchard, Vinej'ard, Nursery, Pleasure-ground, Flower garden, Green-Honse. Uot-
honse, and Forcing Frames, for every month in the year ; wilh ample practical
directions for performing the same. Also, general as well as minute instructions,
for iaying out, or erectin'i, each and every of the above departments. acc,ovding
to modern taste and most approved plans ; the ornamental pian.ing ol Fi» asnre
grounds, in the ancient or modern style; the cultivation of Thorn-quicksand
other plants suitable for Ljv« Hedges, with the best methods of making them'^ &c.
Together with a Copious Index to the body of the work. By Barnard M'Ma-
HON. Second edition. Improved. $4.

A VIEW OF THE CULTlVATrON OF FRIT fT l^EES,

, and the Management of Orchards and Cider ; with accurate descriptions of ihe
most estimable varieties of Native and Foreign Apples, Pears, Peaches, Piums,
and Cheriies, cnliivated In the Middle States of America Ijhistrated by Cuts
of two himdred kinds of Fruits of the natural size. By William Coxe, B,sq. $3,25.

A TRE\TFSE ON THE CULTURE AND MANAf;.;-

MFNT OF F:!UIT T'lEES; in which a new method of; Pruning and Training
is fully drscpibed, together wiUi Observations on the Diseases. Defects j>nd njii-
ries., in all kinds of Fruit and Forest Trees; as also, an account of a particular
method of cure, made pnblick byorder of the British GovernmenV. By Wjlman
FnasNTH, F. A. s and F. S. A. To which are added, an lllusMation -ind iX-
adapting the rrt'es of the Treatise to the Climates and Seasons of the I'n:
States of America, By William Cobbett. $2,25.

A YEAR'S RESIDENCE IN THE UNfTED S. ....

OF AMERICA ; trfating of the Face of the Country, the Sol!, the CiRrfate, tho
Products, tlVe iVlode*t>t' Cultivating the Land ; oi'the Prices of Siaud, I aibfnir, I or)d,
and {Raiment ; of the Expenses of House^kecping and of the usual mannei of
Living ; of the Customs, Manners, dUd Character of the People ; and of the Insti-
tutions of the Country , €if il, Political, and Keligious. In three P^rts. By Wsl-
liamCokbett. $;j,GO.

THE PRACTICAL AMERICAN GARDENER; exhibit-
ing the time for every kind of work io the Kitchen Garden, Fruit Garden, Or-
chard, Nursery, Shrubbery, Pleasure Groond, Flower Garden, Hop Yard, Grer^a
House, Hot House, and Grape Vines, For every Month in tiie Year. By

An Old Gardener. $1,25.

AGRICUJUTURAL STATE OF THE KINGDOM, in F«b*

ruary. March and April, 1H16: being th& substance of the Replies to a Circular
Letter se/'t by the Uoard of Agriculture, to every part ef the Kiogdooj. Londofi.
1816. $2,60.

THE

Massachusetts Agricultural

REPOSITORY and JOURNAL.

NUMBER III VOLUME VI.

CONTENTS.

Mr. Sullivan's Address . . • •

Trustees' account of tbe Cattle

Show, Exhibition of Manufactures,

Public Sare of Animals, &c. at

201

218

Brighton, 1820 -'"

Corn OK,

Potatoes fxy

Mangel Wurtzel fj^

Cabbages ' * oS

Carrots ' ' ' ' ill

Beets f,^j

English Turnip 264

Sweet Potatoes • '^°'

On Tillage Lands . . . . : .268

Locust Trees . 270

On the Form of Animals .... 276
On the Preservation of Fruit

Trees 283

Ruta Baga or Swedish Turnip . . 286
Cattle S»how, Exhibition of Manu-
factures, Ploughing Match, and
Public Sale of Animals and Ma*
nufacturcs, at Brighton—- -On
Wednesday and Thursday, the
10th and 1 1th of October, 1821. 294
Agricultural Intelligence .... 305
Donations to the Society .... 307

BOSTON :

PUBLI8BGD BY WELLS AND LILLY, NO. 97, COURT-STEKET,

FOR THE TRUSTEES OP THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIBTV FOR

PROMOTING AGRICULTURE.

Pric/^ 50 cents.

1821.

CHRISTIAN TRACTS.

2.
3.
4.

6.
6.

7.
8.

9.
10.
11.

12.
13.
14.
15.

Messrs. Wells & Lillv have reprinted the series of Moral and
Religious Tracts originally pubhshed by the English Christian Tract
Society. These Tracts have been much approved, and extensively
circulated in England. They are extremely well adapted to arrest
the attention and improve the hearts of Children and young people as
well as of persons of the lower classes ; uniting, in a remarkable 'de-
gree, interesting narrative with the most seriou. inculcation of moral
and reii^ous principles.

These Tracts are comprised in five volumes, and sold in Sheep, at
it ^c?r: A^'-'^'T Bracks and Corners, ^4 60.-Boards, $^ SO.r-Sewed,
g3 00. and m Numbers at the following prices: :

No. 1. William's Return, or Good News for
Cottagers. By Mary Hughes, Author of
" Twin Brothers," &c.
Village Dialogues, Parts 1 and 2.
Village Dialogues, Part 3.
Village Dialogues, Part 4.
Village Dialogues, Part 5.
Village Dialogues, Part 6.
A Week in a Cottage,
History of Edward Allen, or the Patient
Man,

The .Widow,

Histtiry of Eleaor Williams,
The Sick Man's Friend,
Way to Wealth,

An Affectionate Address to the Poor,
Friendly Advice to the Unlearned,
Select Aphorisms, or Moral aqd Rel_
gious sayings of Dr. Whichcot ; with a
brief account of the Author,
A Good Wife, or, the Character of Eli-
zabeth Markham,

History of Samuel Bonner, or, Cruelty
to Animals,

An Essay on Repentance ; to which are
annexed, some Exercises of Devotion,
Sir Francis and Henry: Characters
from real Life ; a Tale,
The Returning Prodigal, in two piarts,
The Twin Brothers, or, Good Luck
and Good Conduct,
Thoughtlessness Corrected, or the
History of Emily Willis,
Dialogue between a Minister and a
Farmer, ,

The Orphan Sisters,
The Old Soldier,
Letter from a Son to his Mother,
Wijliam and»Jacob,

i-

16.
17.

18.

19.

20.
21.

22.

23.

24.
25.
20.

27.

sin-
gle.

17

100.

2

12J-
12i

121

121

17
12i

2

20
8
6
6
6

6
8

20
8

12|
20

pei

1 62|

1 12|

1 12|

1 12^

1 121

1 12|

1 12|

1 62|
1 12J^

1 80
75
66
66
66

75

56

56

56

56
76

c

1 80

76

1 12^
1 80

56

per
hundred.

8
C
8
8
8
8

- 10
8
12 50
4
3
3
S

4
3
3

4
12 50

8
12 50

3

COURT-STREET, BOSTON,

February, 1821.

BOOKS

LATELY PUBLISHED BY WfiLLS AND LILLY.

A NEW EDITION OF SERMONS BY THE LATE REV. ^0-
SEPH rtUCKMINSTER. With a Memoir of bis Life anji Writings.

Third eduion

MELMOTH THE WANDERER. A Tale by "the Author of
Bertram "

WALPOLE'S REMINISCENCES and W ALPOLI AN A.--$ 1,25 bound.
B^TRNS' LETTERS.^^1,25 bound.
GOLDSMITH'S ESSAYS and BEE.— ^^25 bound.
GRAY'S LETTERS, by Mason.— gl,25 bound.
LORD BACON'S ESSAYS. )

bound in one vol. $1,25.
CLARENDON'S ESSAYS. S

LADY RUSSELL'S LETTERS.— $1,25 bound.

COWLEY'S ESSAYS. >

> bound in one vol. $1,25.

SHENSTONE'S ESSAYS. S
JOHNSON'S, SERMONS.r-5^1,25 bound.
LOCKE'S ESSAY ON THE UNDERSTANDING OF ST.

Faui'ti Epistles ; and

LE CLERC ON INSPIRATION, in a small neat volume.

The first of the two following Tracts was written by Mr. Locke, to be prcfiz^4
to his Paraphrase and Nates on some of the Epistles of St. Paul. That great maa
Tendered the most important services to reiigioo by his different publications ;
and has contributed, perhaps more than any other individual, to give correct views
respecting the proper method of studying the scriptures. £ven if he had not
been the first metaphysician of any age, he would still be remembered as the first
among the English theologians of his own age. His paraphrase and notes consti-
tute perhaps the ^est exposition for popular use, of the Epistles to which, the;
relate, that has yet appeared in our own language.

The second Tract is the substance of two letters on Inspiration, published, and*
there is scarcely a doubt, written by Le Clgrc. Le Clerc was the contempo-
rary and correspondent of Locke and Newton. He was a scholar of the most
remarkable compass and variety of learning, and scarcely less distinguished for his
clearness of mind, good sense, and acuteness. It may be doubted whether there
is any where to be found, a more perspicuous and satisfactory statement on the
subject in question, than what this tract presents.
aCr' These works form a neat vohime in igmo. Price 62 1-2 cents m boards.

AFFECTION'S GIFT to a beloved God-child.— By M. H.

" Describe with truth aod affection those qualities and accompiishmeots you think truly attrac-
tive ; which it is in her power to acquire, which ft will be her glory to possess."

♦' That lesson is likely to be impressive which is insinuated through the medium of Affection."

A NEAT AND ELEGANT EDITION OF "POEMS, by Anna
L^TiTiA Barbauld,'* 18mo. Price 62 1-2 cents in extra boards.

This is the first edition in this country of these celebrated and truly admirable
^ems. It is very complete, containing several Poems not included in any Eng-
lish editieo, and seme now first published ijroia tli« MS.

LATELY PUBLISHED BY WELLS AND LILLY.

THE POLITICAL STATE OF ITALY. By Theodore Lyman, Jr.

Price $2 boards.

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BIBLE, or a Descrip-

tion of all the Beasts. Birds, and Fishes, Insects and Reptiles, Trees and Plants,
idetals, Precious Ptones, &c. mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures. Collected
from the best authorities, and alphabetically arranged. By Thaddeds Mason
Barris, D.D. A.A.S. and S.H.S. Minister of the first parish in Dorchester. A
new edition, revised, improved, and enlarged. Price ^2 50 boards— $3 00 sheep.
Qj'GeiUlemen to nkpm subscription papers were forwarded, tvill please return the

same.
*^* Subscribers are requested to send for their c^ies.

MEMOIRS of RICHARD LOVELET'eDGE WORTH, Esq. Be.

gun by Himself and concluded by his daughter, Maria Edcewobth. Two vol-
umes bound in one. Price $2 25 boards — $2 75 bound.

for a notice of this work see No 67 of the Edinburgh Review, and the last No. of the North
American Review ; and No 46, Quarterly Review.

PRACTICAL HINTS TO YOUNG FEMALES, ON THE
Duties of a Wife, a Mother, and a Mistress of a Family. By Mrs. Tay-
liOR, of Ongar, Author of ' Maternal Solicitude for a Daughter's Beat In-
terests. Second edition. Price 75 ets. half bound, jnorocco.

Every wise woman buildetb her house, but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands,

Solomon.

CHARACTER ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS IN LIFE : .Ad^

dressed to those who are approaching Manhood. By Isaac Taylor, Minister
of the Gospel at Ongar. Author of Self-Cultivation, Advice to the Teens, &c.
Price 75 cents.

ADVICE TO THE TEENS ; or, Practical Helps towards the
formation of one's own character. By Isaac Tayxor, Minister of the
Gospel, at Ongar. i

" It is in this, as in every other art or study, the foundation only is laid at
school, the manner of building is indicated ; the scholar may afterwards rear the
sbperst'ructare, as high as his disposition and opportunities shall enable him."

CampbeIil's Xeefures.

SELF-CULTIVATION recommended ; or, Hints to a Youth leav-
ijig School. By Isaac Taylor, Minister of the Gospel, at Ongar.
« Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father :
Attend to know understanding.' Solomon.

WELl^ if LILLY HAVE IN PRESS—

PRINCIPLES OF POLITICAL ECONOMY, Considered with a

View to their practical Application. By the Rev. T. R^ Malthcs. M.A- F,
R. S. Professor of History and Political Economy, in the East India College,
Hertfordshire. 1 vol. 8vo. «*..

[ Will be puhlished in ten days.]

LETTERS ON THE 5: ASTERN STATES. By Wiluam Tr
DOR. New and improved edition.
[ Will bt paiUshti in tmntrf days.]

. THF

' f

Massachusetts Agricultural

REPOSITORY and JOURNAL.

NUMBER IV VOLUME VI.

CONTENTS.

309

Essays on Flax Husbandry . . .

Bennett's Machine lor sowing
Broadcast

On preserving potatoes tor sea-
stores or foreign consunoption .

Remarks oli SoiUng .....

Ou the use of sulphuric acid as a
manure

Colonel Pickering on the Locust
Tree • • • • •

On the long-wooled sheep . . .

On th.e growth of wheat . .

On Orchard Grass 36f)

Review of " A Treatise on Agri-
culture," &c ^ 369

On Potatoes 382

Queries and Answers on Flasterof
Paris • . • 385

331

332
334

349

360
363
364

On Fertility ....... 388

Mode of destroying^ Insects . . . 392
On the growth of early Potatoes 394
On Wheat , . . , . . . .396

Comparison of the state of vegeta-
tion in the spring for seferal ■
years past . . ... ... 397

Report of a Committee td whom
was referred the application of

Mr. E. Hersey 404

Mr. Young and the Halifax Agri-
cultural Societies . . . . .

New-York Agricultural Publica-
tion . . . .... . .

New-Hampshire State Agricultu-
ral Society . . » . ...

Officers of the Society for 18Sh

4oa

407

408
409

Members admitted since June, 1820 410

iSBS

BOSTON:

FCBtlSaSD BT W£tX.B AMD LILLT, NO. 97, GOURT-STBCET,

T'OR THE TRUSTEES OF THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCH tv c.ik

fbomot'ing agriculture.
Price 50 cents.

182],

ws3^m^ ^mm ^w^mr^

HAF^ JJV FRESS,

I.

MEMOIRS OF THE COURT OF
aUEKN KUZABETH. By Locy Ai-

KiN. In two volumes.

n.

A PHILOSOPHICAL TREATISE
ON THE PASSIONS: From the third
London edition, corrected. By T. Co-
can, M, D.

in.

GENERAL INDEX to the first
nineteen volumes of the Quarterly Re-
view. Price $2 50.

*^* The plan npon which the following
Index has been constructed may be ex-
plained in few words. Perspicuity is
the object desired in a book of reference :
it has been thought that this might be
best attained by a separation of the
najmes of persons from the various sub-
jects.

The First Part contains the Names of
all the Authors reviewed, with a refe-
rence to every personal name incidentally
introduced. Under the name of the Au-

thor are given the facts and observations
derived from his book; in the Secoad
Part, those remarks and elucidations are
brought together that more particularly
belong to the subject treated of: this is
especially the case in the description of
countries, the geographical knowledge
being frequently derived from observa-
tion on the spot. This Second Part con-
tains the references to the Subjects ex-
amined, and to the moral and philosophi-
cal reflections scattered throughout the
vohiraes.

The Third Part forms a compendious
index to the several Quarterly Lists of
New Publications. The whole is pre-
ceded by lists of Subjects and of Authors
reviewed.

The time embraced in these Nineteen
volumes reaches from February, 1809,
to January, 1819. This period, it will be
seen, includes some of the most impor-
tant transactions of British history.

The Subjects that have parsed under
review are given in the following nine
pages. — Prefatory Note.

1i

^m

LATELY PUBLISHED BY WELLS & LILLY.

DISCOURSES delivered at the
Fioyal Academy. By Sjb Joshua Rev-
NOLDS, Kt.

THE VILLAGE OF MARIEI^-
DORPT. A TALE. By Anna Maria
Porter, Author of the Fast of St. Mag-
dalen, Knight of St. John, &c. &c. &c.
|n four volumes, bound in two.

LETTERS ON THE EASTERN
STATES. By William Tudor. A
pew land improved edition.

This edition is elegantly printed in 8vq. on a
pnperior quality paper.

MELMOTH THE WANDERER :
a Tale. By the Author of " Bertram,"
&c. Four volumes bound in two. — $2,50.

SERMONS, By Samuel Johnson,
LL. D. Left for publication by John
Taylor, LL. D. late Prebendary of West-
minster. $ 1,25, neatly bound.

Although numerouf editions of Or. Johrson's
works are in circulation, but few, comparatively,
of his readers, are aware that these sermons have
not hitherto been admitted into any of them : but
above all, the snbjscts on which they treat, and
the pen from which they flowed, indisputably
rank them with the original writings of Bacca
and Boyle, of Clareqdoa an4 Locke.

WORKS LATELY PUBLISHED BY WELLS AND LILLY.

ESSAYS, and the BEE. By Oli-

/■R GotDSMiTH. Two volunies neatly bound io
^ne.-5l,25.

THE LETTERS OF THOMAS

GRAY, Chronologically arranged frora the Wal-
POLK and Mason Collections. Two volumei
oeatly bound in one. — ^1,25.

Most of the numerous editions of the
Poetical Works of Grat have his Biography pre-
fixed, from the materials furnished by Mr. Ma-
■on's Memoirs. The present edition of his cor-
respondence professes to give his *' Lkttkbr'*
only. The Orford collection has furnished four-
teen, which have been inserted in their proper
places; but the notes, excepting a few marked B.
(Lord Drford's editor, Mr. Berry) are taken from
Mr. Mason's edition.

ESSAYS, MORAL, FXJONOMI-

C.VL and POLITICAL. By Francis Bacon,
Baron of Verulara, Viscount St. Aiban, and Lord
High Chancellor of England. To which is ap-
pended, "tESSAYS, moral and ENTER-
TAINING. By the Right Honourable Edward,
Earl of Clarendon. Two volumes neatly bound
in one.— ^1,25.

0:^ Thesk (Bacon's) Eeeays, written at a
period of better taste, and on subjects of imme-
diate importance to the conduct of common life,
*' such as come home to men's business and bo-
eoms," are still read with pleasure, and continue
to possess in the present age, nearly as much es-
timation as they did in tliat which witnessed
their first publication. From the circumstance of
their having engaged his attention atdifferent and
Temote intervals of his life, they appear to have
shared a more than common portion of their great
autlior'a regard ; and they are evidently compos-
ed in his happiest inanner, and with the fall
stretch of his powers. In them we are presented
with all the wisdom which the deepest erudition
could recover from the gulph of buried ages; and
with all that also which the most sagacious and
accurate observation coidd select from the specta-
cle of the passing scene ; in tlieoi we behold itna-
gination and knowledge equally successful in their
exertions; this as the contributor of truths, and
that as opening her affluent wardrobe for their
dress ; one like the earth throwing out of her
bosom the organized forms of matter, and the
other like the sun arraying them in an endless

variety of hues His other works are in

Cict extinct to the many, and cow generally
known only as a mighty name : and the writer of
these short compositions, the great lord Bacon,
may not im|)roperly be considered as sliryntj like

the ashes of an Alexander in a golden urn, within
the limits of this little but sterling volume.

As an historian, Lord Clarendon's reputation
is too firmly fixed now to be affected by cither
praise or censure: — If as a moral writer, he ap-
pear with less advantage than his illustrious pre-
decessor, his style, and its lengthened periods,
will readily be endured for the soundness of his
opinions and the integrity of his mind.

Until within these few years, his CasAvs, which
now form a suitable companion to those of Lord
Bacon, were not disengaged from the bulky folio
in which only they were to be found : in this edi-
tion, it has been thought proper to omit three,
which, from their extreme length, rather claim
to be considered as dissertations: their titles are,
" On an active and coiiiemplativt Life, and when
and why the one ought to be pre/erred brfore the
other ," '• Of the Reverence due to Antiquity ;"
"Against the multiplying Controversies, by in-
sisting upon particulars that are not necessary to
the Point in Debate.''^ These are together equal
in quantity to the remaining twenty-two, which
form the contents of the present volume.

THE LETTERS OF LADY RA-
CHEL RUSSELL, from the originals at
Woburn Abbey. Price $\ 2.% neatly
bound.

*:jf* The good sense, tender affection, fortitude,
and religion, of Lady Russell, are eminently di*.
played in the following collection of Letters ; to
which Dr. Birch often refers, in his Life of Arch-
bishop Tillotson, giving also two or three extracts^
The letters were copied from the originals by TiiO"
mas Selwood, who lived in her family, and dedi-
cated them to the late duke of Bedford. His manu-
script, which is in the library of Woburn Abbey,
being faithfully transcribed, permission was easily
obtained to publish this illustrious monument of
female virtue. May the example of a lady, no
less distinguished by merit than dignity, excite
imitation ! and may the conduct of the great be
universally influenced by the maxim, " that nobi-
lity derives its brightest splendour from solid
piety !"

The Letters are chiefly Lady Russell's j the
others are from sundry persons, and some of the
highest rank, to her. There are added from
Birch, a few of Archbishop Tillotson's to her lady-
ship, they being connected with some in this col-
lection; these are distinguished by being placed
within crotchets; and also her letter to king
Charles li. aAer her husband's death. Notes
are interspersed, to illustrate some passages of the
letters, and make the readers biHter at(iu'diated
with the per^OQ there meotiooed.

WORKS LATELY PUBLISHED BY WELLS AND LILLY.

ESSAYS IN PROSE AND VERSE,
T)y Abraham Cowley, To which is ad-
ded ESSAYS ON MEN AND MAN-
NERS. By William Shenstone.

Had Coffley writteo nothing but his prose, it
would have stamped him a man of geoius, and an
improver of our language.

CampbeWs Es.tay on English Poetry.

No author ever kept his verse and his prose at
a greater distance from each other. His thoughts
are natural, and his styJe has a smooth and placid
equability, which has never yet obtained its due
comroendation. Nothing is far sought, or hard-
laboured ; but all is easy without feebleness, and
familiar without grossness. Br. Samuel John'
son.

PRINCIPLES OF POLITICAL

ECONOMY, Considered with a View to their
Practical Application. By the Eev. T. R. MAL-
THUS, M.A. F.R.S. Professor of History and
Political Economy, in the East India College
Hertfordshire. 1 vol. 8vo. $2,25 bds.

MEMOIRS OF RICHARD LO-

VELL EDGEWORTH, Esg. Begun by, Him-
self and concluded by his Daughter, Maria
EnaKwonru. 1 vol. 3vo.— Price |2,25 boards.
~|2,75 botfnd.

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF
THE BIBLE; or, A Description of all the
Beasts, Birds and Pishes, Insects and Reptiles?
Trees and Plants, Metals, Precious Stones, &c'
mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures. Collected
from the best authorities, and alphabetically ar-
ranged. By THADnEus Mason Harris, D-D
. A.A.S. and S.H.S. Minister of the first parish
in Dorchester, A new edition, revised, improv-
ed, and enlarged. 1 vol. 8vo. Price $3 bound.

THE POLITICAL STATE OF

ITALY. By Theodore Lvman, Jr.— $2 bds.

REPORTS OF CASES ARGUED

AND DETERMINED in the Court of King's
Bench, with Tables of tlie Names of the Cases
and the Principal Matters. By Gkorgb MAuf.E
and WjixiAM SEiwtN, Esquires, of Lincoln's
Inn, Barristers at Law. In four volumes. ^24
bound, [Continuation of East.]

REPORTS OF CASES ARGUED
AND DETERMINED in the Court of King's
Bench, with Tables of the Names of Cases and
(he Principal Matters. By Richard Vadghan
BAKKEWALt, of Lincoln's Ion, and Edward
Hall Aldbhson, of the Inner Temple, Esqrs,
Barristers at Law. Vol. I. Containing the Cases
ef Michaelmas, Hilary, Easter, and Trinity
Terms, in tlie 58th year of George HI. — 1817,
1818,— $6 sheep. [ConliouatioD of Maule aod
Selwyn.]

A NEW EDITION OF SER-

MONS by the late Rev. Joseph S. BuCkmik-
8TKR. With a Memoir of his Life and Charac
ter. Third edition. $2,25 bound.

REMINISCENCES: Written in
1788, for the Arausemeot of Miss Mahv and
Miss Agnks B*»»v. By Horace Wajlpole, late
Earl of Orford. To which is appended, " Nar-
rative of what passed relative to the Quarrel
of Mr. David Hume and Jean Jacqurs R«u8-
SEAu, as far as Mr. Horace Walpolk was con-
cerned in it." "Letters which passed between
David Hume, Esq. and the Hon. Horace Wal-
poLE, relative to Rousseau." WALPOLI-
ANA.— $1,25 neatly hound.

85=' This agreeable Historical Tale has hither-
to been secluded from the eye of the general rea-
der, in the retirement of five quarto volumes.
The present editor has frequently contemplated
an impression detached from the other works of
the Noble Author; and as the public attention
I has recently been directed to his name by ai
additional volume of his Letters, it was thought
that it could not pass the press at a better oppor*
tunity than the present.

His (Horace Walpole's) Reminiscences of the
reigns of George I. and II. make us better ac-
quainted with the mannei-B of these princes and
their courts, than we should be after perusing an
!;jndred heavy historians ; and futurity will long
be indebted to tlie chance which threw into his
vicinity, when age rendered him communicative,
the accomplislied ladies to whom these anecdotes
were communicated. — His certainty of success
with posterity indeed will, rest upon his Letters
and his Reminiscences.— Quarteri^ Review, Sept,
1818.

THE LETTERS OF ROBERT

BURNS, Chronologically arranged, from Dr.
Cikrik's Collection. Two volumes neatly bound
in one.— $1,25,

CH?' The Poetry of Buess has bad such an
extensive circulation as to occasion no little sur-
prise that the Iiktters of the Bard could not
hitherto he procured without the re-purchase
of the poetical volumes, already in the hands of
the greater part of his readers ; some accommo-
datiouj it is presumed, that part of bis readers
will acknowledge, from the priblieallon of the
present vohimes. It is not necesssiry to repeat
the Biography of tne Poet in this place: it has
not only been condense<l fron» Dr. Currie*3 Me-
moirs, and prefixed to all the later editions of his
Poems, but is told by Burns himself in tlie twen-
ty-sixth Number of this edition, so as to leave
nothing to be wished for in a classical edition of
his " Lettsrs.*'

h: -T^