OBSERVATION AND EXPERIMENT. 5 



one being characterized as a conservative paper, another as 

 giving stock particular attention, with a development of the 

 social clement, and the third as more general in its range. 

 We have hitherto satisfied ourselves with the mistaken sophistry 

 of placing our agricultural press in the same category with our 

 newspapers. These are, for the most part, but duplicates of 

 each other ; but a moment's reflection will convince us that 

 this cannot be true of our agricultural papers. Like subjects 

 are often found in each, it is true, but mostly presented from 

 entirely different stand points. There are farmers who 

 subscribe for twenty or more agricultural papers. I would not 

 advise a number beyond what can be well studied, as well as 

 read, though I believe there are many who subscribe for one 

 who should subscribe for half a dozen. To return to our 

 subject. In compiling from these records of what the farmer 

 is doing in the way of observation and experiment, I find much 

 that is agreeable and profitable, somewhat that is to be 

 regretted. The articles by the practical farmer excel in point, 

 and generally evince that manliness, simplicity and truthful- 

 ness of character which belong to the calling. When a man 

 has his heart in his subject, we generally find interesting read- 

 ing, though he should choose to tell us that a particular species 

 of insect he is describing has six legs, or the particular spider 

 eight : a fact true of all insects and all spiders. 



Among other instances of a want of thorough observation 

 on the part of writers, or their ignorance of the recorded 

 observations of others, is one often met with — advising the 

 application of ashes to the roots of vines, to prevent the ascent 

 of a little animal, who, born in the vine, has no connection with 

 the soil until his mischievous course is run. Another is the 

 terminal blossoms, which set no fruit, false blossoms, the belief 

 of the writers being that they are abnormal products, when 

 they are the staminate blossoms, and as necessary for the per- 

 fection of the fruit as arc the pistilate. Another, and a very 

 striking instance of the want of correct observation on the part 

 of contributors to our papers, is in the treatment advised for 

 fowls. In all the articles that have met my eye relating to the 

 management of fowls, there is a uniform agreement in one 

 error — in advising the feeding of lime in some mineral form, 

 such as pulverized clam shells, oyster shells, burnt bones or 



