FOR PROMOTING AGRICULTURE 45 



had much to offer of advice and discussion as to wool 

 and the raising of sheep for the shambles, etc. One 

 writer in 1813 naively begins his essay thus: "The 

 present high prices of sheep are to be ascribed princi- 

 pally to two causes: First, the number of speculators 

 in the market who buy to sell again; and, secondly, to 

 the prevalent erroneous practice in breeding." He 

 goes on to criticize the practice, saying that "hitherto, 

 unfortunately, the finest sheep have been selected for 

 the butcher and the poorest, only, kept for breeding." 

 He gives reasons for reversing the practice, but does 

 not suggest any remedy for the other cause of high 

 prices paid by consumers, which, as respects various 

 farm products, has not yet wholly ceased to be 

 lamented. 



In 1814 a letter from Justin Ely of Springfield, one 

 of the most intelligent contributors and members, was 

 published in the Journal recommending the cultiva- 

 tion of rhubarb to save the cost of medicine, for which 

 the imported root was used; and he speaks of his own 

 success with some roots which had been sent to him by 

 Charles Vaughan of Kennebec. In printing the letter 

 the editor declares that there are two kinds of rhubarb, 

 and re-iterates by saying, "we are satisfied we are 

 right," and then adds that that which his correspond- 

 ent has received is probably not the true medicinal 

 root, though it may have some value in that way. His 

 reason for this opinion was that Mr. Vaughan had 

 given to friends in Boston specimens of the other kind 

 of rhubarb, the stalks of which, the editor says, are 

 "equal or superior to gooseberry, as a preserve for 

 tarts." The phrase indicates a suspense of judgment 

 as to whether the edible was liable to supercede the 

 gooseberry or not. Evidently neither Mr. Vaughan 

 nor his Boston contemporaries suspected the commer- 



