does not say where? Quere-is this the kind Dr. An account of a test by which the quali- so destitute of ambition (to say nothing about Coleman cultivates? In the Farmer of January ty of plaster of paris can be ascertained would be self interest) as not to feel a pride to excel in 12th 1821, it is stated by Mr. Reeder, that useful. the quality of his live stock? Is it not as cheap one bushel of seed sown on four acres of ground, Within 4 miles of this place* I am it not a source of great pleasure even to the eye, to keep a good animal as a bad one-and then is produced about 75 bushels of seed, and 6 tons of hay: this I presume is different from Dr. Cole- now offered a tract of land for about 450 dollars, to have in our fields and stables animals of fine man's, and perhaps is the kind I have sown. that ten years ago sold for $3500; on examining There is a trifling error in a short piece pub- it there is not sufficient good rail timber to fence symmetry, of thrifty constitutions, possessing and supplying in the highest degree the qualities for lished in the Farmer of April 19th, in line 20th, it with; what is the result? it is now lying an en- which they are kept-fine action in the horse-dofor "soon thick enough," read sown thick enough of about 25 years settlement? and it is on the ty in the ox-cows of the fill-pail breed, &c. &c. tire waste. Don't this look strange in a country cility, early maturity, and much beef of best quali and in the 3d paragraph I meant to say, if my small experiment is a just criterion to fix its great western road also. All agree that it is desirable to have such animals, value, I regret very much that I have not had By an arrangement with his Printer, the but many farmers are too miserably penurious, an opportunity of proving its value before I read Editor compounds to send every article to the too penny-wise pound-foolish, to pay any thing your publication. I hope I can now always press in a state prepared for publication, as to like their value for breeding stock. have a sufficiency of hay, even if clover fails, spelling, diction, &c. &c. so that the Printer is

AGRICULTURAL MEMORANDA,

A.

NOTICES TO AND EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENTS, &c.

QUERY BY A SUBSCRIBER.

for it will be time enough to sow millet, after the responsible only for following the copy. Hence In the 2d Vol. of communications to the fate of the clover crop is ascertained. correspondents will see the necessity of sending Board of Agriculture, Sir Charles Middleton, their communications in a fair hand and at least Bart. answers some queries relative to his Farm, correctly spelled. The Editor has not time to at Jeston, in Kent. make copies, which in some cases is absolutely A satisfactory reply is here given to each quesnecessary, from the number of the writer's er- tion; and the conclusion of the whole is, that, rors, even where the matter is good. It would be though in raising to high condition a farm which In the essay on manures by Arthur Young, unreasonable to expect him to do it, and impossi-had been much neglected and out of heart, the lately published in the Farmer, it is stated as be-ble for him to accomplish it. occupier may at first be materially out of pocket, ing necessary, when ploughing in long manure Spirits of turpentine (says a N. C. correspon- the result of a series of years will be highly adand green crops, to add a "skim coulter to the dent) in small and repeated doses has been em-vantageous. A considerable capital, however, is plough" quere-have any of our readers seen ployed in cases of dyspepsia with advantage-he requisite to bear the drawbacks. The such a coulter in use, how is it made, and how and recommends it in conjunction with RYE COFFEE, farm contains 250 acres, and Sir Charles states where is it attached to the plough? a description milk, exercise, (not locomotion, but positive that, in the first year of its falling under his manwith a drawing if necessary to understand it, labour, such as sawing wood or holding the plough),agement, the whole amount of the produce conwould be acceptable. a sore back, &c. &c. I fear, says he, your de- sisted of two loads of hops per six acres, forty Jacob Herrington, Esq. promises to com-votion to our interests deprives you of exercise one quarters of wheat, (328 bushels); twenty semunicate the result of trials to be made by him, in and an early bed. There are many items which ven qurs. of barley, twelve of peas, and thirty to him by the Editor of the Farmer, and of Chile go to constitute health, and none should be neg- loads of hay and clover; value in all, six hundred and ninety four pounds British; whereas, he wheat from Mr. Raguet, of the Senate of Pennadds: "I have had on the same farm, in its imsylvania. He gives the weight of one of his pigs proved state, nineteen loads of hops, one hun-615 pounds. dred and thirty quarters of wheat, thirty seven of barley, one hundred and thirty seven of beans, five thousand two hundred and forty bushels of potatoes, and eighty three loads of hay: value in all, four thousand two hundred and twenty seven pounds British."

the N. W. corner of Pennsylvania, of rare seed sent

lected.

A correspondent at Winchester, Con. under
date of May 1, says respecting,
MERINO SHEEP AND WOOL.

Mr. Law, President of the Prince George's Agricultural Society, is of opinion, that the ashes We have known of but one lot of full blood! of burnt clay, will keep off the cut worm from merinoes being sold this year, and these were a corn; and subsequently to the communication of very fine lot of 100, chiefly ewes, which brought that belief, refers for authority and confirmation $10. They are scarce, more buyers than sellers. to the New England custom of sprinkling ashes Nice lots of wool bring from 75 to 83 cents the on the young corn, as indicated by the lines of the pound. Poet,

We observed in your last paper, a request from PRICE CURRENT-CORRECTED WEEKLY. “A little ashes sprinkled round the spire, Jonathan for information respecting actual ex- Flour from the wagons, superfine $6 624-Wharf "Soon steep'd in rain, will bid the worm retire." periments made in this country with regard to do. $6 37 to 6 50-Wheat white, $1 44 to 146 He sent the Editor several grains of corn found the North Devon Cattle. We purchased a Devon -Red, do. $1 40 to 1 144-White Corn, 78 to in his field in which the worms had "their fangs so bull calf of Mr. Pattison of Baltimore, in the fall 80 cts.-Yellow, do. 71 to 75-Rye, 70 to 75closely fixed that the overseer in lifting the corn of 1820, we put him to an ordinary sized cow, the Oats, 40 to 45-Whiskey from the wagons 32 drew up also the cut worm." These grains have next spring, which produced a beautiful half cts. Shad No. 1. trimmed, $7-Do. do. No. 2, $6had their hearts cleanly scooped out, and look for blood calf of a mahogany red colour, which at No. 1, untrimmed, $5 75 to 6-No. 2, do. do. $5 all the world as if they had been visited by seven months old weighed 616 lbs. and on the-Herrings, No. 1, $2 25 p. bbl.-No. 2, do. $2— ground mice; it only shows that the cut worm as 16th day of February last when he was one year Whiskey, 33-Rice, $3 25 to 3 50-Apple Branwell as the mouse has a sweet tooth in his head.-old, weighed 812 lbs. He had the full milk of the 'dy, 36 cts.-Peach, do. none-Tar, N. Carolina, Mr. Law, whose mind is ever active, has discov-cow three months only, and no extra feed. The $2 25-Rosin, $2 25-White pine boards, per M red that his chickens are devoured this year by above mentioned calf we sold to Mr. Henry Herd-$10 to 30-Pitch pine boards, $10 to 30-Beesthe hawk, in consequence of the removal of his son of Hartford, at the cattle show last fall who wax, 374 to 40 cts.-Beef, Baltimore mess, No 1, kitchen, and with it the martin, the dreaded ene- now owns him. my of the hawk.

An essay signed J. W., on Indian corn, is received. The substance of it may be given in few words; he condemns high ridges and water furrows, recommended by Arator, because, when the roots have extended to the water furrows in search of food, they are there arrested in their progress, and cease to gather nourishment for the plant, at the very season when it is most wanting to perfect the ear, hence the ears are small, and

*

SAMUEL HULBERT & Co.

Kingston, Tennessee.

THE FARMER

BALTIMORE, FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1822.

$8 to 8 50-No. 2 do. $6 to 6 50-Pork, mess do. $13 to 1350-prime do, $11 to 1150-Bacon, hams, 10 to 12 cts.-Middlings, 7 to 8 cts.-Lard, 8 to 9 cts.-Candles, New England, 16 to 19 cts.-Salt, Liverpool coarse, 50 to 55 cents-Turks Island 65 to 70-St. Ubes, 53 to 55-Sugar, Havana, brown $9 to 9 50-White do. $13 to 13 50-Coffee, (W. I.) green, $28 50-St. Domingo, $26Molasses, (W. 1.) 30 to 32 cts.-Soal Leather 28 to 32 cts.-Rough, $4 50 to 5 per side-Butter 25 to 37-Eggs, 10 to 12 cts-Live Cattle, $5 to 6— MARYLAND TOBACCO, one parcel raised

the crop diminished; he would recommend a level The Editor is authorised to assure the pub-Beef, prime pieces, 8 to 10 cts.

surface.

lick that an opportunity will be presented at the

The Essay of MR. MINOR has been so of cattle Show and Fair, on the last two days of this by Nathan Hammond, of Frederick, sold the ten and so highly spoken of, that, at the sugges-month, to purchase choice breeding stock of eve- last week for $18 and 25-inferior qualities same tion of many friends it is published in pamphlet form with notes by the Editor of the "Ameri-ry kind.-Horses, neat cattle, Bakewell sheep, as last report-very dull, can Farmer," and is for sale at the Office of hogs, &c. Let farmers therefore who wish to imthe American Farmer, by WM. F. REDDING, Prove their stock come prepared: and is there a farmer, who pretends to cultivate his own land, nd by the Booksellers:-price 124 ets.

VIRGINIA TOBACCO-no sales.

PUBLISHED BY JOHN S. SKINNER.

No. 9.-VOL. 4.

AGRICULTURE.

From the Minutes.

AMERICAN FARMER-BALTIMORE, 24th MAY, 1822.

ROBERTS VAUX,

ADDRESS.

Mr. President, and Gentlemen

of the Agricultural Society.

Secretary.

1

were among the most distinguished citizens; and five hundred. But the change of manners, bu the pursuits of agriculture have rarely been em-infatuation of power, above all the introduci ADDRESS bellished by so much eloquence, or sung with so of slavery, rendered it difficult to enforce these much enthusiasm, as by the great writers of restraints, and the career of this inequality did Delivered before the Philadelphia Society for pro-antiquity. But this intellectual enjoyment of not stop till, as is confessed by Pliny, the extenmating Agriculture, at its annual meeting on the country may well consist with an imperfect sive estates had destroyed Rome and the pr the fifteenth of January, 1822. By NICHOLAS condition of husbandry. The natural feelings ces, and one half of Africa was owned by BIDDLE, Esq. belong to all times, but science is necessarily pro-Roman families the chiefs of whom Nero destroyAt a meeting of the "Philadelphia Society for gressive; nor does it detract in any degree from ed. In the progress of these changes, the best promoting Agriculture," held 1st m. 15th, 1822: the merits of the farmers of ancient days, that remembrances of the Roman power, as well as The annual address was delivered by Nicholas in an era of comparative infancy, in the physical the highest advancement of its agriculture, are Biddle, Esquire: sciences, they were not advanced beyond the connected with the period immediately succeedWhereupon, Resolved unanimously, That the knowledge of their age. I incline to think then ing the formation of the republic, when the allotthanks of the Society be presented to Nicholas that our natural reverence for ancient nations, has ment of seven acres continued to be generally Biddle, Esquire, for his eloquent oration this day exaggerated the value of their agriculture, and maintained, and it was deemed wrong in a senapronounced, and that he be requested to furnish a that a deliberate examination of their history and tor to possess more than fifty. It was during copy for publication. their writings, is calculated to lower the general this period that the farm of Cincinnatus consisted estimate of the scientific management of their of four acres, the other three having been lost by lands. his becoming security for a friend. It was then Thus the most distinguished people of antiqui-that Curius, on his return from a successful camty, the Athenians, were extremely attached to paign, refused from the people a grant of fifty the country life; yet their agriculture must have acres, declaring, that he was a bad citizen who been imperfect. Attica is a small, ridgy, poor could not be contented with the old allowance of district of land, about one-third as large as the seven. We cannot doubt that this subdivision of neighbouring county of Bucks, with a very light the soil required good cultivation to satisfy the I congratulate you on the return of this anniver- calcareous soil, so dry, that it would not yield wants even of the most frugal. But in the days sary of our Society. I rejoice with you that pasture to support the cavalry employed in its de- which are cited as the most distinguished in her another year has been added to its long career of fence, and so unproductive, that it did not afford history, when Rome spread over Italy and almost usefulness-and that, as the occupations of this grain enough for the subsistence of the farmers all the ancient world-the substitution of slaves day prove, we are prepared to resume our labours themselves. Its supplies of grain were annually for free labourers had given a new character to with undiminished zeal and increased resources. imported, and its chief produce appears to have agriculture. In that period almost all Italy was It is now nearly forty years since a few sagacious been then, as it is now, the honey from its hills, cultivated by slaves-not like that unhappy class and distinguished gentlemen, who had honorably and the olive which delights in its thin dry soil. of persons in our time, whose misfortunes are alserved their country during the war, wisely judg- Their great rivals occupied a larger, and rather leviated by tenderness, and whose increasing ing that its prosperity in peace eminently depend- a better country, but their habits and their in-numbers are at once the evidence and the reward ed on its agriculture, laid the foundation of this stitutions estranged them totally from the cultiva- of humanity-but by male slaves brought from institution, the first, and for a long time, the on- tion of it. The territory of Sparta was divided the provinces, whose waste, as they possessed no ly Agricultural Society in America. From that into small lots, each yielding about 70 bushels of families, was constantly recruited from the reperiod to the present day, its members have been grain, with a proportion of wine and oil; and mote parts of the empire. Their numbers must unwearied in cherishing the best interests of the these were cultivated, not by the owners them- have rendered them formidable, for they seem to nation. An extensive correspondence with the selves, who disdained the pacific labours of hus- have worked, like modern galley slaves, in enlightened farmers of Europe-the introduction bandry, but by a class of people, half slaves and chains;-they must have been treated with great of the latest writings-of the most improved im-half tenants, who gave a fixed proportion of the harshness, since, among other proofs of it, Cato plements-of new varieties of plants-and the produce to the landlords. Such a state of things recommends, as a matter of course, to every best breeds of animals, gave them advantages must be inauspicious to agriculture; the frugality good economist to sell off his old wagons, and which they have imparted to their countrymen of the owner being satisfied by a very moderate tools, and cattle, and his old and sickly slaveswith a liberality worthy of all praise. production, and the depressed condition of the and their labour could not have been very efficient From these efforts they have reaped an abund-tenant, rarely giving him the means or the wish as the allowance for a grain farm of 125 Ameriant harvest. They may find it in the distinction of improving his farm. The rest of the Greek can acres, a great part of which was of course in which their labours have acquired among the ag-states seem to have supplied their own consump-fallow, was eight men.

riculturists of Europe-they may find it in the tion; but this is probably an evidence rather of Accordingly, there are two facts decisive as to homage which every section of the union is offer- their temperance, than their skill, and the obser- the general productiveness of land. The first is, ing to the Society, by following its example-they vation of one of their best farmers, Xenophon, that as the almost universal system of farming may find it under a far more delightful form, in that agriculture is the easiest of all the arts, and was by alternate crops and fallows, nearly one the satisfaction of having contributed to the ad- readily acquired by a little attention to the execu- half the soil must have been always unemployed. vancement of their country, which has presented tion, reveals better than any collection of facts, The second is, that the average produce of Italy, a scene of agricultural prosperity, such as was the true state of Greek husbandry; particularly in the time of Columella, was only four times the never before given to the hopes of men. These as it is confirmed by the remains of all the geor-seed-two circumstances which do not now conare natural and gratifying reflections. It will, gical writers of Greece, which have reached us. cur in any well cultivated country. however, better accord with the unassuming and We have ampler information with regard to the Nor do the agricultural writers inspire more practical character of the Society, if instead of ancient state of Italy. The institutions and the favourable opinions. The works of Cato, of Varindulging in personal feelings, we endeavour to manners of the early Romans were singularly fa-ro, of Columella, of Virgil, of Palladius, and of make even this meeting not wholly unprofitable, vourable to agriculture. The extreme subdivi- the writers whose fragments are contained in the by an attempt, necessarily hasty and imperfect, sion of the soil, cultivated by the proprietor collection ascribed to Constantine, present, it is to compare the situation of the best cultivated himself, seems to present the strongest incentive true, the most curious details of ancient husbandparts of Europe with our own-to observe the of necessity and interest to good husbandry.—ry. There is much excellent sense, much admimeans of improvement which the examination Thus the first allotment to each individual was rable practice, many processes which might furpresents-and to suggest such topics as may re-two acres.* How long this limitation continued, nish suggestions for modern improvement; but commend the pursuit of agriculture in Pennsylva- is unknown; but, on the establishment of the re-farmers who resort to them for instruction, will public, 245 years afterwards, the limit was fixed rise I think from the study, with an impression,

nia.

In this inquiry our curiosity is naturally first at- at seven acres. This, like all unnatural ar-that their agriculture was governed by practices tracted towards those distinguished nations in the rangements which restrict human industry, gave rather than principles; and that there is wanting sruth of Europe, who after filling the world with way before the progress of wealth and inequality; that knowledge of the processes of vegetation, their fame, have passed away, bequeathing to for, in about a century and a half, a law prohibit the composition of soils, and the rotation of crops posterity some of the noblest works of genius. ed the possession by any individual of more than which have given to modern farming its dignity and the purest examples of human character.and value. Even these useful practices too are Undoubtedly in all that remains of them, we may often disfigured by a fantastical mixture of supertrace the evidences of strong attachment to rural * About one acre and a quarter American stition and empiricism. When, for instance, we life, and an exquisite perception of its enjoy-measure. read in Cato a minute description of an incantaments. Undoubtedly the cultivators of the soil Four and one-third acres American measure. tion, by which the dislocated bones of a farmer

AMERICAN FARMER.

may be charmed back into their places-when they extract from their land by industry and the fore any individual followed his example; and Columella directs us to save our vines from mice, application of manures, a rapid succession of even now his improvements are supposed by himby trimming them at night during a full moon-crops, probably not inferior to those of any other self to extend about one mile in a year. Other when Sotion declares that an effectual mode of country. The details of Italian and Flemish hus-causes, however, are not wanting, and some that extirpating broom-rape from the fields, is to draw bandry-the Italian rotation of crops, and the to us seem almost incredible. For instance, nearon five shells the picture of Hercules strangling Flemish management of cattle and manures-are ly one-half the arable land of England is held in a lion, and bury one in the middle and one in each worthy of attentive study by all in this country, common; its culture is therefore subject to recorner of the field-when Democritus will ensure who would improve in scientific farming. us a thriving garden, if we bury an ass's head in would often suggest modes of culture, better tion of each commoner is often so arranged, that the middle of it-when some of the most sober adapted to our climate than the practices of Eng- he cannot cross-plough his land for fear of tresThey strictions either of custom or law, and the porwriters gravely describe the remedy by which land, which we are too prone to follow without passing on his neighbour. These, it may be easithe broom rape may be driven from all fields, and making allowance for the essential difference be-ly imagined, do not produce more than half the caterpillars banished instantly from gardens, tween the seasons of the two countries. which was to make a barefooted, half-clad woman, with her hair dishevelled, walk three times culated to inspire a mingled feeling of admiration fault which is constantly deplored by her wriThe general cultivation of Great Britain is cal-closure and exclusive possession. Again, the round it-when these, and many similar direc-and surprise: of admiration at what she has ac-ters, and one that seems peculiarly strange where value which might be drawn from them, by entions are given by the great masters of the sci-complished, and surprise at what she has neglect-the economy of human labour is so well underence, they must be received as evidences of its ed. extreme imperfection. Indeed, no one who will capital, her commerce, her manufactures, furnish-by the multitude of horses. It is at this day comShe has many advantages: her exuberant stood, is the superfluous expense of cultivation compare the rude plough of the Romans with the ing to agriculture so large a body of domestic mon in England, to see four, five, and six horses admirable instruments of France and England, or consumers, have enabled her to cover a large following each other in single file, before a will contrast the writings of Columella and Sir portion of her soil with a picturesque and beauti-plough, in fields of a few acres, and in soils John Sinclair, can fail to acknowledge how much ful cultivation, which no stranger can contem-where two horses might easily accomplish the science and the mechanic arts have contributed to plate without satisfaction. Yet a nearer inquiry work; to see teams of four horses employed, agriculture. We may derive more instruction from their de- not induced a more enlarged and better hus- notwithstanding the successful introduction of the excites astonishment, that this very success has where two would be quite sufficient; and this scendants. So naturally do our recollections bandry. dwell rather on the past than the present Italyso much more are we attracted by its ruins than culations of British economical and statistical wri-are estimated to contain 3,500,000 horses, consuThere is an extraordinary difference in the cal-The consequence is, that England and Scotland by its prosperity, that we have not sufficiently ad-ters on that subject; but the safest estimates show, ming the value of 450 millions of dollars, and the Scotch mode of ploughing, as in this country.mired its agriculture. Yet Italy is probably at that a proportion of from one-third to nearly one-produce of sixteen millions of acres, being nearthis day the best cultivated country in Europe.-half of the surface of Great Britain is waste and ly one-half the productive lands of the kingdom. It supports from its soil a population greater in almost unproductive. Of these waste lands, it is The condition of a large proportion of the tenproportion to its extent than any other; and such again estimated, that one-fourth or one-fifth ants too, is, in many respects, unfavourable.— is its admirable system of culture, so triumphant might be enclosed and cultivated, and the rest The soil of England is owned by about 40,000 perits industry, that, though suffering from worst of all evils, oppressive and profligate gov-consequence is, that she does not raise grain or for a short term from five to nine years, the the employed for sheep or for planting timber. The sons, and a greater part of the leases are at will, ernments-although a great extent of country, enough for her own consumption; the average better policy of long leases not having yet benot less than 200 miles long, and from 25 to 60 importations of wheat and wheat flour, during the came general. Lastly come the tithes and taxes; miles wide, is in a considerable degree lost to last twenty years, having been about four millions the tithes, which take from three fourths of the cultivation, by the malaria, which has depopula- of bushels a year, amounting to nearly thirteen occupiers of land in England and Wales, oneted the fairest part of the old Roman empire; or fourteen days consumption. Whether it be tenth of the gross produce, even when the restill the absolute amount of its produce was never desirable to resort to the waste lands to supply mainder may afford no remuneration for their laperhaps greater than at present. They have ac- this deficiency, is a question of domestic policy bours-and the taxes which, combined with the complished this, by substituting for the long fal- which it is for her alone to decide. But even a tithes, on an average amount to more than onelows of antiquity a judicious rotation of crops, and stranger may be allowed to perceive, that, with-half of the rent. However consoling these views may be to our

by terracing the feet and sides of the mountains, out abstracting capital from other pursuits to re

so as to render them eminently productive. The claim waste lands, the deficiency of England own faults, it is more agreeable to dwell on the minute division of the soil forms the peculiar fea- might be readily supplied by the simpler process pleasing side of English farming, and to derive ture of its agriculture. When the influence of of a better husbandry on lands now under cultiva-instruction rather from their success than their Christianity had abolished slavery, the manumit-tion. ted slaves, who were then the only labourers, best authors, Dickson, writing in 1804, "a very rable in the generous and buoyant and elastic "A very small portion," says one of her misfortunes. And truly there is something admibecame tenants, and have so continued to the small portion of the cultivated parts of the island spirit with which the genius and industry of that present day. Five-sixths of its population are has, even at this advanced period, been brought country have upheld its agriculture, under a comsmall farmers, working the land on shares of one- under a judicious and well conducted system of plication of burdens, such as never before preshalf or one third. acres have rendered their country so fertile, that rich and fertile kinds, may be still met with in condition-by the poor laws-the tithes the taxThese cultivators of a few husbandry. Immense tracts of land, of the more sed on the soil of any country. By her peculiar from one end of Italy to the other-from the irri-different parts of the kingdom, that are managed es of every description, England was reduced to gated meadows of Lombardy to the volcanic re-in very imperfect and disadvantageous methods of a condition which demanded all the energies of gions of Naples, if we except some parts of the farming ;" and he adopts the calculation of Sir the farmer, and tasked to the utmost every rePope's dominions-there is scarcely a single spot John Sinclair, that 30 millions of acres are either source of capital and invention. On a moderate which does not produce the utmost which its sit-in a state of waste, or cultivated under a very de-computation, an acre of the best farming land, in uation and natural fertility admits. rests with delight upon the magnificent prospects 1812 and 1816, we learn from the valuable wri- tion, must yield about thirty or forty dollars: and The eye fective system of husbandry. Even still later, in order to repay with profit the labours of cultivaof Piedmont and the Milanese; on that busy tings of Dr. Rigby, that some of the very coun-accordingly it was made to produce that sum.— scene of industry, which sustains a population of ties which Dickson considers as the most perfect, By liberal investments of capital, by judicious one person to every two acres-where three-are still very deficient: that "in Essex the and economical husbandry, they have extorted fourths of the gross produce is disposable, and wretched system of fleet ploughing and whole from a soil not naturally distinguished for fertiliwhere the fields are constantly covered with a year fallows is still pertinaciously adhered to"-ty, and a climate inconstant and treacherous, an succession of varied and abundant harvests. The that Sussex" is behind almost all others, at least amount of produce which enabled the farmers of district near Vesuvius has a population of 5000 half a century"-that in Cheshire the antiquated England and Scotland to pay a higher rent than is souls to the square league, a proportion unknown system of a century back still prevails that yielded by some of the finest soils of Italy. If to any other part of Europe: while in Sorrento, Shropshire is subject to a very inefficient cultiva-indeed we were to select any district where skill their rotation of eight crops in five years, and one tion; and that in short "a great part of the and capital have been most successful against naof them a cotton crop, is pronounced by a compe- kingdom is in a lamentable state of agricultural tural obstacles of climate, I incline to think we tent judge to be "the best managed and the most unproductiveness." Some of these defects are should name the Lothians of Scotland. productive of any in the world." It is however rivalled, if it be not equalled, by the splendid success of Mr. Coke, of Norfolk, in be lost to us, we should habitually compare them the result of ignorance and prejudice. With all many parts of Flanders; where from a soil more rendering his land nearly ten times as productive, with our own. fertile than Italy, though in a climate less genial, he used the drill husbandry for sixteen years be-half, since the people of the United States have That the example of these countries may not It is now about a century and a

been principally occupied in reducing to cultiva-ticut, which, nearly half a century of confusion, vania possesses an extent of well watered, healtion their extensive forests. Their agriculture of concession, and of compromise, has but re-thy, rich, cheap land, covenient to both the atbears, of course, the impression of their circum-cently closed. But the greater part of the evil lantic and western markets, which however hidstances. While land was cheap, and capital may be traced to bad legislation. If, when the den from the world by her past mismanagesmall and labour dear, it was more natural to re-state sold its vacant lands, they had been previ-ment, now offers abundant temptations to indusclaim new fields than to restore the old, and to ously surveyed and marked, as those of the Uni-try, and will largely contribute to augment the diffuse over a wide surface of cheap land the ted States were, they would have been cheerful-population and resources of the state. To give greatest power of dear labour. The growth of ly bought and easily settled; but the unfortu-to these advantages all their attraction, however, cities the creation of new classes of society-nate policy of selling the right to land, leaving much more exertion is necessary than we have the increase of manufactures, have now concen- the purchaser to find it, and the mistaken hope hitherto witnessed. There are few families in tered our population, and by the formation of a of peopling a country, by requiring paper condi-the city, who have not some connexion with the permanent home market, are calculated to give a tions of settlement, instead of leaving it to fill lands of the interior; there are many who have new character to our farming. In venturing upon with the natural course of enterprize these have extensive estates there. To these I would rethat subject, it is fit to speak with entire freedom. introduced a fatal spirit of speculation and of commend most emphatically, to visit and exaThe object of our society is our improvement. In-fraud, which thirty years have not yet complete- mine their possessions; to be seen, and felt, stead, therefore, of dwelling upon the merits of ly repaired. Entire families were ruined by the and known as the owners; to disencumber themour farming, which is in many particulars deser-madness of these delusions. In the inextricable selves at once of the burden of paying taxes for ving of great commendation, I shall prefer the confusion of interfering claims, the same lands what does not exist, or might be worthless if less agreeable office of indicating the means of its were again and again sold by fraud or ignorance, found; to encourage every beneficial improveadvancement, believing that the humblest exer- till the maps of some of our counties exhibit a ment, and by all the means of conciliation and cise of patriotism is, to praise our country with-mosaic of conflicting surveys, which no science liberality, which they are, I know, equally able out striving to improve it. except law can ever bring into harmony. Then and willing to extend, identify their own with The condition of the soil of Pennsylvania may came the reaction of disappointment. Men turn-the growing interests of the new settlements. be examined, first, in relation to its uncultivated ed with disgust from a scene of so much suffering, There is still another step. How many well land, and secondly, with regard to its husbandry. and dreading a lawsuit on the threshold of every educated young men are there among us, lanAccording to the opinion of a very distinguish- man's property, abandoned in despair the attempt guishing in the long noviciate of some profession, ed geologist, Mr. Maclure, Pennsylvania con- to settle lands so surrounded with uncertainty or wasting in indolence the finest years of their tains more good land than any Atlantic state and trouble. There are now in Philadelphia-existence, who, in the new counties of the intein the union; that is, she possesses a greater ex- there are perhaps now listening to me, many ow-rior, might lay broad and deep the foundations, tent of that formation-the secondary-which ners of thousands, of 10, 20, and 50 thousands of of a splendid prosperity for themselves and their from its position, the course of its rivers, and the acres of land, which they have never seen, and of families. They will be received with welcome mineral deposits which belong to it, is best cal- which they would scarcely know the existence, by those whose fortunes they have come to share; culated to sustain a numerous population. These but from the inevitable visit of the tax gather-and their new interests and new connexions, will advantages, it must not be dissembled, have not er; lands which might be rendered magnificent soon render their situation as agreeable and disattracted their due share of attention. I incline possessions, surpassing now in extent, and here- tinguished as it will ultimately be profitable. to think that the best portion of Pennsylvania, after in value, the most splendid estates in Eu- There is more satisfaction in turning from the that which is destined to act hereafter the most rope. There are others who, deceived by ex-wild to the settled parts of Pennsylvania. The distinguished part in our agriculture, has never aggerated estimates-seduced by well painted old counties between the Delaware and the yet felt the plough. It is indeed lamentable to drawings of streams that have never flowed, ex-mountains, with the exception of Philadelphia, see so much of this long-established state totally cept in the eloquence of the deputy surveyor; of contain a population of about fifty to the square abandoned to look at extensive tracts of rich groves of white oaks, and beeches and maples mile. Their mixed pursuits, their division into country without a road or an inhabitant-to meet, luxuriating only upon the parchments of the land consumers and raisers of produce, as well as almost in the heart of Pennsylvania, the Seneca office, go on year after year, paying taxes for their access to the markets of Philadelphia and Indians from New-York, hunting through a wil-lands, undiscovered and undiscoverable, or which, Baltimore, afford advantages not enjoyed perhaps derness of nearly a hundred miles in extent, with if they really exist, may be again paid for by by any section of the union. The soil, without less interruption perhaps than they would have one, by two, by three, I have known as much as being generally distinguished for fertility, is fitfound two centuries ago. There are seventeen four other claimants, residing perhaps in an ad-ted for all agricultural purposes. The farms adjoining counties, north and west of the Sus- joining street. In the midst of these conflicts, averaging probably from fifty to one hundred quehanna, containing an extent of more than there grows upon the soil, either an honest set-acres of cleared land-the taxes light-the farm18,000 square miles, with a population of about tler always willing to purchase, or else some in- ing implements, in general good-and the best six souls for every square mile. There are five truder, originally perhaps not ill disposed, till breeds of cattle within reach. Yet, notwithadjoining counties, containing nearly 6,000 square the absence of all control, and a gradual attach-standing all these elements of the most enviable miles, without one inhabitant to the square mile. ment to his new residence, begin to inspire hopes state of agriculture, we must acknowledge that There are three adjoining counties, more than of wresting it from the owner. He then insinu- our farming is still very imperfect. If any evi3,500 square miles in extent, with only one hu-ates doubts of the title, defaces the marks of sur-dence of this were wanting, it might be affordman being for every two and a half square miles. veys, and shunning the proprietor, till 21 years ed by the actual produce and the rents of our I seem to be speaking of some desert on the Yel- may ripen his possession into a title, lives on in lands.

low Stone, not of a fine region within four days anxious obscurity, festering, discontented and It was stated two years ago by one of the viceride of Philadelphia, which was possessed in full restless, imagining in every passing stranger, presidents of this society, that the average crop sovereignty by Pennsylvania more than sixty the approach of his most dreaded enemy. Such of wheat in Lancaster county, which is consideryears ago an antiquity in this country-a peri- was once the too frequent picture of the condi-ed the richest in the state, did not probaby exod when the great empires of the west, Ohio, tion of the interior of Pennsylvania; and even ceed fifteen bushels per acre. Now the average Kentucky, and Indiana, who will outnumber now, although it has nearly passed, its effects are of all France is more than eighteen bushels Pennsylvania in the next Congress, were not still visible in the anxiety with which emigrants the average of all England twenty-four-and in among the prophecies of men. There is no ex-go round our state, as if there were some infec-some counties, as in Middlesex and the Lothians, ample among the old states of a wilderness like tion here, and pass on to remoter and poorer forty. With regard to rents, it is not easy to this. It has lost to the state half a million of in-fields, where their industry will at least be safe. speak with accuracy. If we except the alluvial habitants. It has condemned to barrenness a mag- There can be no hope for the agriculture of meadows near this city, which rent for nine or ten nificent region, that should have been filled with Pennsylvania, till this source of disquiet is com dollars per acre, I should not estimate the avewealth, with intelligence, and power. If we cast pletely removed; and fortunately for us, time, rage rent of cleared land with improvements, our eyes over the map of the union, we may dis-in revealing all the errors of that system, has within the district just mentioned, at more than cern in Virginia, a district of country to which furnished the means of remedying them. Every two or three dollars. In Italy, in England, and the nation has three times resorted for its chief owner may now ascertain whether there are in Scotland, lands not particularly favoured by magistrate. A large proportion of the corres-other claimants to his land, and readily adjust vicinity to markets, rent for from sixteen to ponding part of Pennsylvania is one unbroken wil- their mutual pretensions. Every purchaser may twenty dollars, and in the neighbourhood of large. derness, the habitual hunting ground of savages. now satisfy himself as to the title of the seller; cities, from thirty to forty dollars.

In the cause of this calamity we may learn a so that although suffering from our own improvi- The causes of this inferiority may be discogreat lesson, not merely of agricultural, but po-dence, we may be allowed to console ourselves vered in two characteristics of our farming-a litical wisdom. Something certainly must be as- for it, by reflecting that, while the states around disproportionate capital and an inefficient culticribed to the unhappy controversy with Connec-us have been peopled to their borders, Pennsyl-vation. The first is a striking deficiency. Ag

riculture, though a very common, is not, I thin

Now, the defects of our husbandry have rela-ishment to the plant, the minute subdivision of a favourite pursuit in Pennsylvania. It attracts tion to this system, the soil, and the deposit left by the water, these few from the other classes, and its ranks are 1st. We have not studied sufficiently our soil, combine to produce an amazing fertility. In rather thinned by desertion than recruited by with a view to establish a judicious rotation of Lombardy, for instance, the irrigated meadows volunteers. The enterprising shun it for its in-crops, nor adapted our cultivation to our climate. afford four abundant crops of grass. In the dry activity; the gay, from its loneliness; the pru-As an example, I doubt whether we appreciate climate of Spain, they are still more productive. dent, from its unproductiveness; so that although our long autumn, the finest of all our seasons, It could scarcely be believed, were it not voucha great proportion of the wealth of the state is to which husbandry as yet trusts so little, but ed by the personal observation of Arthur Young fixed in land, an exceedingly small capital is which would often enable us to draw a second himself, that in the watered fields of Valencia, devoted to farming. We too often exhaust our and valuable crop of roots after grain. From there are actually cut, four, five, six, and seven means in clearing or purchasing a farm, leaving the result of personal experiments made with crops of lucerne, from two and a half to three scarcely any resources for stocking and cultiva-that view, which better farmers would, of course, feet in height, and yielding ten tons of grass on ting it. Now an English farmer, with a certain practise more successfully, I incline to think, an acre at each cutting: so that on a moderate capital, rents a farm, as a manufacturer rents a that there are few of our good fields from which average an acre yields no less than fifty tons of house, and devotes his capital to extract from it we could not obtain considerable crops of roots, grass, and when broken up, gives three crops in the greatest possible produce. Accordingly his planted and gathered after harvest. Why indeed the course of a year. It is not wonderful, then, proceedings seem almost incredible to the possess-should we not, when they are constantly obtain- that in that country the greatest efforts have ors of large American farms. It has become a ed in Spain, in Italy, in Flanders, and even in the been made to water their fields; that reservoirs settled maxim of English husbandry, that be-climate of England and Scotland? have been constructed, canals cut, wells dug, and fore occupying good arable land, a capital of from 2d. We have not yet succeeded in diffusing machines erected for raising water from the rithirty to forty dollars per acre is necessary. On widely the best breeds of cattle, from the ex- vers, and that whole rivers themselves, instead an estate of three hundred acres, therefore, a far-cellent stock now easy of access to us all. There of hastening to the ocean, have been made to mer begins by expending in preparations nine is no subject on which it is more true, that pause and deposit their extraordinary fertility. thousand dollars; and his annual disbursements, a liberal expense is the strictest economy. Na- To us the example is peculiarly interesting, in labour, manure, and other articles, are about tural peculiarities of form in animals, are either since our climate resembles that of Spain in its five thosuand dollars a year. His operations are the cause or the indication of certain qualities. dryness-the defect which irrigation is most calall on a proportionate scale. To contract to pay Judicious observers, by the union of similar culated to repair. It is now almost an established a rent of twenty or thirty thousand dollars; to ex-animals, have given greater development to law of this climate, that in midsummer there pend in a single year, on lime alone, eleven thou-these qualities, and established at length distinct shall arrive a critical season, during which the insand dollars; to pay two thousand dollars a year for breeds with very decisive superiorities over our tense heat of our long days is not relieved by rape cake to manure turnips; to make a compost ordinary cattle. These should be sought by good rains, and our crops, just as they are verging to heap, costing four thousand dollars-such are farmers, as their superior profits far exceed the maturity, are suddenly checked and injured, and the combinations of wealth and skill which pro-additional price of them. But we are too often sometimes destroyed, by the burning influence duce good husbandry. These we cannot, and we tempted by the false economy of buying cheap of the sun. But instead of struggling to overcome need not, imitate. But they may teach us that animals, and we are frequently misled into the this danger, our farmers, with a want of the we should measure our enterprises by our means; practice of pampering into a sickly magnitude, cat- characteristic spirit of the country, sit down by and that an ill managed farm can no more betle which have no natural facility to fatten. This the side of the most magnificent rivers and unprofitable than an empty factory. Men praise is a mistaken pride, productive of no immediate failing streams, and lament the decay of their the bounty of nature. It is much safer to rely good, and the more to be regretted, since the harvests, touching the river banks, without one on her justice, which as rarely fails to reward capital actually lost in feeding bad animals might effort to convey to these fields the water which our care as to avenge our neglect. Our farms have imported good ones. is passing at their feet. In this finely watered then, though small, are generally too large for 3d. We are deficient in the cultivation of roots. country, we should surely be able to equal the our capitals; that is, we work badly too much The cattle are left to feed almost exclusively on improvements of Spain and Italy; and he will be ground, instead of cultivating well a little. In hay in winter, instead of being supplied with a great benefactor, who shall exhibit a cheap the estimates of finance, two and two do not al- roots, more nutritious and cheap in themselves, and efficient mode of irrigation. If the first exways make four--in the arithmetic of agricul- and the culture of which is among the very best pense be beyond the means of an individual, it ture, two are generally more than four. It is preparations for the succeeding grain. The ex- may be accomplished by the union of interested wonderful, indeed, how profusely a small spot tention, on a large scale, of the root culture, neighbours, and almost any expenditure would of ground will reward good husbandry. There would alone, I am satisfied, give a new face to be justified by the success of a plan, which would are in Italy hundreds and thousands of people, the agriculture of the state. In the use of these, at once render our fields twice, or five, or ten living on farms of from four to ten acres, and as well as the general treatment of cattle, we times more productive.

paying to the owner one-third, or one-half, of the should endeavour to adopt what is justly deemed The prevailing opinion however is, that even produce. The whole straw for the Leghorn bon-one of the greatest discoveries in agriculture-I with an improved culture, the high price of lanets, by the exportation of which in a single year mean the old Flemish practice, now known in bour in this country renders farming an unprofive hundred thousand dollars were gained, would England by the name of ductive and hazardous investment of capital.

grow on two acres. There are in Switzerland! 4th. Soiling. In administering food to thought- This belief has contributed much to retard our some hill sides, formed into terraces, which have less persons, it would be deemed strangely im- husbandry. I myself think it entirely erroneous. sold for two thousand dollars an acre; and in provident to let them eat and waste at pleasure. My impression is, that a capital employed in jufortunate spots for gardening, as near London, a We are more respectful or less judicious towards dicious agriculture, would yield quite as safe and single acre will yield a clear profit of from eight cattle. They are allowed to enter, without res-abundant a return, as in most of the other purto nine hundred dollars a year. These examples traint, fields of luxuriant vegetation; they lie suits of a life among us, and probably superior to may perhaps explain, how without the great ca- down upon it; they trample it under foot; in the profits of farming in other countries. For pitals of England, and without diminishing our wet weather their foot-prints commit injuries to instance, the average profit on farming in Engfarms, we may gradually render them richer the ground, which years cannot repair, and land, with which we are most habituated to comand more productive by judicious culture. what is worse than all, the benefit which they pare ourselves, is from ten to fifteen per cent. might confer on the land is almost totally lost. Now, in this country, the profits ought to be greatThe characteristic merit of modern farming Instead of this wasteful system, the cattle are er. The question might perhaps be decided by seems to be this: The old practice was to draw kept under comfortable shelter, and their food is the single fact, that while the greater part of from land successive grain crops, and then leave brought to them. An acre of ground thus fur- our farmers live well and educate large families it to recruit strength enough for a repetition of nishes three times as much subsistence as when from small farms, the same class of persons in them. The modern system secks to restore the pastured, and the additional expense of cutting is England, the renters of farms of about fifty acres, soil, not by rest, but by variety-to make one abundantly repaid by the rich manures which are universally allowed to be in a miserable situcrop be followed by another, feeding on differ- are thus saved. ation; and on that account they were actually exent parts or at different depths of the soil from There is one other branch of farming, which empted from the income tax-a forbearance the preceding. It has, therefore, for fallows, has scarcely made its appearance in this coun-which describes, at once, the measure of that substituted root crops. These support large try-It is wretchedness which could appease or defy even quantities of cattle, which, besides the direct 5th. Irrigation. This is, probably, the most the spirit of the Exchequer. But the inquiry is profit from them, afford the means of return-profitable of all modes of culture. Whenever sufficiently interesting to tempt us into a compaing sooner and more successfully to the grain the situation of land will permit of its being co-rison, between the arable farms, within reach vered with a stream of water, the direct nour-of the markets, of London and Philadelphia-

crops.