128 STATE BOARD OF AGUICULTUEE. 



use for peed. But we have no time for a reasoning process. Perfection is what 

 mnst he sought after in our calhng as in all others. Such wheat is diminished 

 in its germinating or vital forces, and runs out, as we term it. A thorough 

 kiiowledge of the laws of growth enables us to produce a perfect specimen, and 

 that would be a sure cure. 



Many who are employed in agricultural pursuits build up fortunes ; others, a 

 competence for all their wants. But circumstances alter cases. The farmer 

 who has a farm of three or four hundred acres is accredited as thorough, a good 

 manager, intelligent, because he succeeds. All this may be true, but he has. 

 advantages over one who has 40 or 80 acres, over and above the difference in 

 acres. He can keep from two to three hundred sheep, and cattle in proportion ; 

 can use one-third of his land for crops to good advantage ; the remainder is 

 resting for the plow-share, when in his judgment what is already in use needs 

 to be stocked and rest for future use. Why should he not prosper? If he does 

 not prosper, he has no claims for intelligence, frugality, or good management.. 



The farmer upon 40 or 80 acres who supports a family, rears and educates 

 them, is worthy of commendation. His resources, comparatively, are small. 

 The danger lies in drawing too heavily from his soil out of necessity. Twenty- 

 five acres to grain out of 80, deducting ten for wood, is all he can use annually, 

 and keep his farm in a proper status or condition. He must be frugal, a good 

 manager in domestic economy, intelligent and self-denying, or he will make a 

 shipwreck of farming. But thousands do it, and we give them the credit they 

 so richly deserve. 



In concluding what I have to say to you, farmers, the signs of the times are 

 ominous. The interest manifested on this occasion speaks of an uprising, — a 

 turning of our thoughts into channels which lead to the goal of triumph. The 

 farming jjrofession is becoming more popular, as science steps in and develops 

 the vast resources in the storehouse of thought, the promoter of ideal develop- 

 ment. The arts and sciences are hand-in-hand friends. Our profession is an 

 art as well as a science. What is cheering to us is, that professors of a college 

 are inviting us to unite our forces with theirs, both mentally and physically, to 

 bring forth such incalculable benefits for ourselves and the world. They pro- 

 pose to use the means in their power, — superior scientific attainments in connec- 

 tion with a chemical laboratory, — to unlock what is hermetically sealed from 

 our view. 



It seems like anticipating what is to be in the future and future wants. Let 

 us not bequeatli to our posterity barren lands. It would be a rank injustice. 

 Before another centennial our country will number its 200,000,000 of souls. 

 Then the resoiirces of husbandry will be taxed for home consumption. The 

 science of farming must keep pace with the ratio of increase in order to meet 

 our wants. 



Some of the cpiestions and answers which followed the reading of this paper 

 were as follows : * 



Mr. Ingersoll. — What has been your experience in feeding out the products 

 of the farm and employing the manure upon the land? 



Mr. Palmerlee. — I would confine the spreading of the manure upon one or 

 tAvo fields, Avhere the weeds can be controlled. The rest of the farm should be 

 kept up by green manuring, 



Mr. Sutherland. — What is your experience with regard to the use of lime in 

 promoting the growth of wheat? 



* There beinc: no short-hand reporter in attendance at this Institute, the discussions are reportecl 

 very imperfectly, and in some instances not reported JVt aU, 



