No. 105.] 57 



pounds. This prodigious gain of one hundred thousand times the 

 weight of the seed in a few months, is a process too simple not to 

 be well understood by every intelligent person. Only a few simple 

 substances combine to form all the products of rural industry. The 

 fecundity of living germs is truly wonderful. It is possible for a 

 single kernel of wheat to produce a thousand kernels. Who dare 

 say that what is possible now, with our little knowledge of the ope- 

 rations of nature, may not soon be practicable on a larger scale by 

 the aid of ever increasing science ? Look at the recent improvements 

 in the mechanical arts 1 Fulton believed it possible to make steam 

 drive a vessel. Now, it is quite practicable to compel this mighty 

 power to force the largest ships against both wind and tide across the 

 wide ocean. How speedily was the possible with a locomotive de- 

 monstrated by science to he practicable? We are slow to admit the 

 possible in farming operations, and still more reluctant to concede 

 the practicable. But the triumph of truth and reason is certain at 

 last. The State of New-York, with all its intelligence, enterprize 

 and wealth, should be cultivated like a garden. The present average 

 yield of wheat does not exceed fourteen bushels per acre. Who will 

 say that this may not be doubled ? The average yield of corn is 

 twenty-six bushels. These figures are taken from the official returns 

 of the recent census in several good counties. If it is any object to 

 grow twenty-six bushels of corn per acre, would it not be vastly 

 KQore profitable to raise an average of 52 bushels per acre ? 



The conviction that great improvement is attainable, is slowly ex- 

 tending through the whole community. This confidence in their 

 ability to improve any given practice, must precede all earnest efforts 

 to consummate such improvement. Where the human mind assumes 

 to be perfect in any branch of knowledge, it must be by accident if 

 it makes any farther progress in that department of its acquirements. 



The annual exhibitions of our State and county agricultural fairs, 

 are admirably calculated to give ocular demonstration that better 

 animals and better crops than we are generally in the habit of rais- 

 ing can be grown. Nor will the additional expense of raising 28 

 bushels of wheat per acre, instead of 14 ; or 6 pounds of wool per fleece 

 instead of 3 pounds bear any proportion to the grain inthe product. The 

 most successful wool growers, and those of the largest experience 

 that I have met with in the State, express full confidence in their 



