EDUCATED FARM LABOR. 67 



value of real estate — in the accumulation of property in the 

 county — in the appropriations made by the holders of this pro- 

 perty for churches, schools and school-houses, highways and 

 public works. 



No scientific man thinks of doing any thing in mineralogy, 

 botany, or entomology, without a cabinet ; and yet, scientific 

 as agriculturists claim and are admitted to be, other than the 

 collection in the State of New York, I know not that there is 

 an agricultural cabinet in the United States. In prosecuting 

 your object, the value of such a cabinet, accessible to the mem- 

 bers of your society, would be immense. 



There are eighteen varieties of winter wheat, and nine varie- 

 ties of spring wheat, that are cultivated, besides twenty-three 

 varieties not worth cultivating.* Do you know these varieties ? 

 or are you dependent upon the word of the seller for the kind 

 of seed you sow, and consequently the value of your crops ? 

 The seller, probably, knows no mope about the intrinsic value of 

 the seed than you do, and cares much less. You should have 

 specimens of the seed, both in the ear and out of the ear. 

 These specimens should be authentic — the pedigree, the product 

 per acre, and weight per bushel, should be recorded ; and then 

 you should demand that the seed you purchase compares with 

 the standard,! otherwise, not knowing your seed, how can you 

 look forward with confidence to the crops. 



What is true of wheat, is equally true of corn, of rye, of 

 barley. There are different varieties of these, cultivated in 

 different parts of the State, and even on different farms in the 

 same town. These varieties frequently have very different pro- 

 ductive values. The best should be selected as standards, by 

 men whose knowledge and experience render them competent 

 to do so. The grasses should be in your cabinet, with their 



* See New York State Agricultural Rep., by E. Emmons, Williams College. 



f Suppose the cabinet be connected with your agricultural store, your mer- 

 chant would become skilled in varieties as he could not be without a cabinet, 

 and as it would be almost impossible for any pi-ivate farmer to become. Pur- 

 chasers, then, would have the protection of his superior knowledge. At your 

 fairs, too, you would have men able to give correct names to the varieties pre- 

 sented, and to these persons all specimens should be referred for naming. 

 The farmer brings frequently a traditional name that originated, he knows not 

 where, his article is labeled with the name he brings, and every one who reads 

 is taught an error. 



