TRANSACTIONS OF THE STATE AG. SOCIETY 



mass of those who hold the plow handles. We consider the latter half of this report as 

 a most valuable book of reference for all intelligent farmers. 



The Prize Essay of Mr. Thomas, on " Agricultural Dynamics," which might have been 

 called the natural philosophy of the farm, we should like to see printed, bound, and hung 

 up in every work-shop, tool-room, and farmer's book-shelf, in the country. Without con- 

 taining one word that is new, it gives the reason, and explains the action of mechanical 

 powers, and the forces of nature generally, with illustrations so directly drawn from the 

 former's daily routine, that it gives a direct meaning and value to every point, rarely found 

 in text books devoted to the subject. 



With every years' volume of these Transactions, we notice with satisfaction, the in- 

 crease of interest about agricultural education. Almost every speech made at the county 

 societies last j'ear, alluded distinctly to its importance, and several able addresses before 

 the state and the local societies, take the strongest ground on this topic. Nothing seems 

 wanting now, but some concert of action between the difBerent county societies, for the 

 purpose of pressing the subject on the attention of the legislature, in order to secure a 

 practical farm-school, endowed by the state. The law-makers will never take any deci- 

 ded action in the matter till the farmers besiege the capital of the state with flails in hand, 

 and lay their strong hands on the members who feed them with fine compliments, but lay 

 their petitions on the table. 



One of the most valuable features — perhaps the most valuable, in these Transactions of 

 the State Society, is the account given under affidavit, by those cultivating the " premium 

 farms," of their management, and routine of cultivation. The true test of ability is suc- 

 cess, all the world over, and the best possible mode of finding out what can be realised by 

 farming, in any district of country, is to look carefully into the practical results — the cost 

 and profit of the crops on farms that are so managed as to pay well. 



A capital example of this kind is the second premium farm, of last year's competition — 

 that of Mr. Daxiel D. T. More of Watervliet, near Albany. Mr. M. bought, as it ap- 

 pears, five years ago, a farm of one hundred and eighty-five acres, a sandy loam, worn 

 down by having been leased to " skinners," for fifty years running. The buildings were 

 all decayed, and had to be either pulled down or destroyed by Mr. M. on his taking pos- 

 session. 



This farm was let, before More bought, for $100 a year, and even this was complained 

 of as too high a rent. The tenant sold all he could raise upon it, for ^400 a year. Mr. 

 More, nevertheless, bought it, "against the advice of all his friends," paid all the money 

 that he had or could raise upon the purchase money, and had to pay more as interest than 

 the former occupant paid as rent. 



" The land was so much exhausted," says Mr. M. in his statement, " that for two j'ears 

 I could only raise white beans." Not a very promising prospect surely. Nevertheless, 

 he undertook a system of deep plowing, and bringing his land into condition again by 

 plowmg under green clover, using plaster to promote the growth of the clover, at the rate 

 of about 250 pounds to the acre. 



Mr. More, as fast as he brought his land into heart, adopted a rotation of crops, and 

 applying manure as follows: " Plow under clover, plant corn, follow with potatoes, and 

 then rye, with a top dressing of manure, not so much for the benefit of the rj^e, as for the 

 clover and future crops. I am satisfied," he adds, "that my land has improved rapidly 

 from this mode, in fact at such a rate, that I shall not be able to follow it, so far as the 

 crop is concerned." 

 ow it appears that Mr. More has made this old worn out farm, that would not 



