17^ 



THE FARMER'S MONT HLY VISlTOIV 



lipvo to be some of the piincli.al causes, why agri- 

 culture in New Hampshire, has not advanced in the 

 same ratio with other occupations. 

 Cntise* Of the depression of Agriculture in 

 Kcw England and especially «» New 



JIampshire. 

 One of tlie principal causes is very readily trac- 

 ed to tire large amount of new, cheap and iertile 

 land of Ihe west, and the inducement it holds out 

 to the adventurer or new settler. From this sec 

 lion of New Hampshire, during the last few years, 

 emitrration has been very -great. Many of our ac- 

 tive>oun"- men have jrone to seek a home in the 

 ereut pratries or fancied Elysian fields of the 

 west; and the benefit of their labor m the cult.va- 

 tion of our soil has been lost. Many of our farm- 

 ers have sold their land to their neighbors who had 

 more land before tlian they could eubivate to ad- 

 vantage, and have gone to swell the population ol 

 the western States. . 



Another reason for the tardy march of agricul- 

 ture in this vicinity, is clearly to be seen in the gi- 

 gantic strides of internal improvements, and the 

 high prices it has paid for labor. Many of our ac 

 tive youu" men have been drawn off to graduate 

 rail-r'iads'and build their locomotive; ; to construct 

 the almost countless number of steam boats that 

 ply on our great lakes and mighty rivers. There 

 has been also a constant demand for mechanics to 

 erect manufactories, build their machinery and 

 furnish them with operatives. 



Another cause I would notice, the general man- 

 ner sofrevalent at the present time, to engage m 

 some easier and more lucrative employment, than 

 the cultivation of tlie soil, by which we have been 

 deprived of the services of some of our most active 

 Touug men. . 



The low state of agriculture may in no small de- 

 gree be attributed to the present easy and cheap 

 method of transporting meats and bread stufts froin 

 the new, rich and fertile districts of New York and 

 the west ; in consequence of which, our large cit- 

 ies and manufacturing villages, the mechanics and 

 many of our fanners have found it cheaper to sup- 

 ply themselves with provisions, bread stuffs in par- 

 ticular, a great distance back in the country, than 

 from the iariners in their.own immediate neighbor- 

 hood. And notwithstanding the high price of la 

 bor, produce has been so low, until two or three of 

 the last years, there has not been suthcient induce- 

 ment to stimulate our agriculturists to exertion 

 ■ and a better cultivation of' their farms. 



Another cause, and the last 1 shall mention, is 

 the want of scientific agricultural information — 

 and the general apathy to it, which has led us to 



KMowLEDOE, since the National Board of Agricul- 

 ture was established, by numerous periodical pub- 

 lications on rural economy, and by that increase of 

 wealth whicli flowed from the eiortionof the farm- 



er, and which naturally stimulated a search after 

 new improvements. According to the measure of 



new imp: - . -- 



attention bestowed upon the education of farmers, 

 it may be expected that improvement will hereaf- 

 ter advance. 



The man of uncultivated mind may hold a plough 

 or drive a harrow in an efficient manner, but he will 

 seldom introduce an improvement, or be the means 

 of efiecting any change in the established system 

 of rural economy." 



If the advance of agriculture in England and 

 Scotland is justly attributable to their more exten- 

 sive information and superior skill, which has been 

 attained by means of agricultural publications; 

 would it not be a fair deduction, to suppose that 

 similar means of information would produce simi- 

 lar results in this community. 



It is of no inconsiderable importance that every 

 farmer should be so much of a chemist, as to as- 

 certain the nature and properties of the soil he 

 cultivates, so as to adopt that kind of grain and 

 grass the most suitable and from which he can ob- 

 tain the greatest profits. Wheat undoubtedly has 

 been some thirty or forty per cent, more profitable 

 in this country the last two years than any other 

 grain we have cultivated. This may be in some 

 measure owing to the seasons, and to the high 

 price of flour, but not wholly. 



I have annually raised it on my farm since 1S16, 

 and have not suft'ered loss by it, so often as I have 

 by my corn crop. And, on an average, It has af- 

 forded me more profit than any other grain. 



Importance of cultiTntiug n rariety of 

 Crops and the more saleable Stock. 



Another subiect perhaps we do not always duly 

 consider, which is, what kind of stock is the best 

 adapted to the situation and peculiarities of our 

 farms.' Whether a stock wholly of cattle, or sheep 

 is best.' or a part of each is better? whether a dairy 

 and making of pork is more profitable and better 

 adapted to "our situation, than raising young cattle 

 and fattening them.' or whether all these may not 

 be profitably combined.' 



Every farmer must decide these questions tor 

 himself. Much must depend on the particular sit- 

 uation of h.s farm, and for which purpose it is best 

 adapted. Each is profitable or otherwise in pro- 

 portion to its good or bad management ; and we 

 can manage each just in proportion to our skill and 

 means. 



There is perhaps, very little difference, as to the 

 move alon- in the old beaten track of our fathers, \ profit of either system, taking a series of years 

 in tne miHround of alternately planting and sowing i together^ as every branch of business will sooner 

 the same field, contented with the scanty reinuner 



Btion it aftorded. 

 The circulation of facts and the diffusion 

 ' of information the cause of improvement 

 in Great Britain. 



I would recommend to every farmer to take some 

 well conducted agrirultural journal, in which he 

 will find from time to time, the experiments of otli- 

 «rs and their results, which he may adapt and_ ap- 

 ply to his own cultivation without the loss of the 

 •Xperiment. 



The surprising improvement in the agriculture 

 of Great Britain, within the last half century, is 

 attributable in no small degree to the circulation 

 of facts and experiments by means of treatises, 

 pamphlets and other agricultural papers. It is to 

 be hoped the time is not far distant, when the larin- 

 «rs of this country and elsewhere will give to this 

 lource of information its merited attention. 



In proof and illustration of the above statement, 

 permit me to quote from a British work, Brown's 

 Treatise on Agriculture : „ ■ ■ 



"The greai body of cultivators in Great britain, 

 ■whose farms are of considerable extent, have gen- 

 erally received a suitable education, by which their 

 minds are enlarged and animated with a desire to 

 improve their condition in the world, and rendered 

 equally quick to perceive,and ready to ado])t, such 

 improvements as may occasionally be proposed. 



In former times it was objected that farmers 

 were obstinate and bigoted, averse to every kind 

 of innovation upon the established practices, and 

 persisting in ancient systems even after their defi- 

 ciency and inutility had been ascertained in the 

 most decisive manner. Whatever truth there 

 might formerly he in the objection, its force is now 

 completely removed, there being no set of men 

 whatever'more open to conviction or more willing 

 to adopt new practices, than the British farmers of 

 the present day. 



Thischaaje of disposition has been accomplish 



•dbj A«EBBi;Ar..CIKOBI.ATIOH 



or later find its level 



I am of the opinion, however, that whenever sit- 

 uation, circumstances and peculiarities of soil are 

 such, that we can combine the different branches 

 of husbandry at a time, on the same farm, it will 

 be equally profitable and more safe, inasmuch as 

 we shall always have some articles that will sell 

 for cash, enabling us to pay our taxes, and other 

 necessary expenses. 



Value of a steady purpose. 



But when we have determined on our system or 

 method of husbandry, it will in general be more 

 profitable to pursue it steadily than often to change, 

 as in changing, we generally suft'er loss, and we 

 are not unfrequently behind the times. I 

 nted with a number of fanner 



qua 



am ac 

 ho in the 

 summer of 1S36 changed their stock .-if neat cattle 

 for sheep, and found themselves precisely in this 

 situation : and they have their last spring clip of 

 wool now on hand, or have disposed of it at a re- 

 duced price. 



Necessity of changing nnd improving 

 Stock. 



When we have determined what kind of stuck 

 is the best suited to our farms ; another inquiry 

 should immediately arise, how and where shall we 

 furnish ourselves with the best and most improved 

 breed.' This inquiry, I fear, has been too much 

 neglected, or wholly" disregarded ; as many of our 

 stocks too plainlv tell. 



Verv many of our farmers have kept the s?me 

 stock,"and their descendants for a series of years, 

 without ever attempting to change or cross them 

 with others : the result is, they have continued to 

 depreciate in size and value. 



There are, however, many worthy exceptions; 

 as there are a considerable number of farmers who 

 have paid much attention to selecting their stocks, 

 both of catlje and sheep, and improving them by 

 crossing the breed and by a selection of the best 

 orAeRicofcTURAt animals from a di.ti.nce. Gentlemen of this des- 



cription we presume may be found in every town 

 in the county, whoso influence is more or less ben- 

 eficial, and which we should do well to imitate and 

 if possible to excel. 



Importance of thorough cultivation. 

 Permit me for a moment to call your attention 

 to the advantages of a 'horough cultivation. Is it 

 a fact, that many of cur farmers, cultivate too 

 much land ; more than they manure as it should 

 be in order to raise it to that state of tilth, which 

 would be the most profitable.' I am free to confess, 

 that 1 have done so, in many instances : and further 



I believe so far as my knowledge extends, it is a 



common error among farmers in general, in the 

 rough towns in this county. 



The great desideratum is to obtain the greatest 

 amount of profit from our labor, combined with the 

 cultivation of the soil. 



It would be somewhat difficult, perhaps, to deter- 

 mine what amount of manure would be necessary 

 for a given quantity of land in order to insure the 

 greatest crop of grain or grass ; as much would de- 

 pend on the tilth the ground was in, when the ma- 

 nure was applied, as well as the strength of man- 

 ure. There is, however, butlittle danger of apply- 

 ing too much, and if we err, it is always best to err 

 on the safe side; theret'ore we should apply a sufS- 

 cient quantity to insure with the blessing of Provi- 

 dence a good crop. If we arc all of us satisfied that 

 it is more profitable to grow from thirty to forty 

 bushels of wheat upon one acre, than ten or fifteen ; 

 that it is less labor and more profit, to grow four 

 hundred bushels of potatoes upon an acre, than to 

 cultivate two acres for the same amount; that it 

 is cheaper, easier, as well as more profitable, cut- 

 ting twenty tons of Timothy or herds-grass hay 

 on ten acres, than to mow over forty acres for the 

 same quantity, and that of an inferior quality ; if 

 these are facts, and I presume no person will at- 

 tempt to deny them, would it not be well for each 

 of us to enquire as well as try the experiment, if 

 we can raise the same or a larger quantity of pro- 

 duce from a less quantity of ground, by a more 

 thorough cultivation, especially as we shoulu ever 

 keep in view to make the most of labor.' 



More fullv to illustrate the above position, I will 

 quote a paragraph or two, in point, from the New- 

 England Farmer. 



'''That more is to be gained by cultivating a small 

 spot of ground well, than a large parcel indifferent- 

 ly, is a truth illustrated by the following apologue 

 from a Roman author: — 



A vine dresser had two daughters and a vineyard; 

 when his oldest daughter was mdrried he gave her 

 a third of his vineyard for a portion ; notwithstan- 

 ding which he had the same quantity of fruit as 

 formerly. When his youngest daughter was mar- 

 ried he gave her half of what remained, and still 

 the prodliction of his vineyard was undiminished." 

 C'o/!/mf.//a,iv, cap. 3. Pliny mentions a freedman, 

 who having much larger crops than his neighbors, 

 was accused of witchcraft, and brought to trial. 

 He produced in the forum a stout daughter, and 

 some excellently constructed iron farming tools, 

 with his oxen, and said "TUese, Romans, are my 

 charms." He was acquitted. — rihiy's J\'at. 7/ii(. 



xviii, 6. 



The above quntation from Roman authors, whe- 

 ther true or fabulous, may peihaps have a tendency 

 to lead us to inquire, wliy it is, that we more fre- 

 quently endeavor to add acre to acre and field to 

 field, as our means increase, than to better our 

 condition by a more thorough cultivation of^ our 

 farms ; by raising our cultivation to such a height, 

 that two thirds or one half the quantity of land, 

 shall yield the same amount of produce, and bring 

 more income as less labor will be required. 



Root Cultivation. 



The root culture in Riita Baga, and Mangel 

 Wurtzel, is beginning to attract the attention of tlm 

 t'armers in this couiay to a considerable extent. 

 How far it can be pursued with profit, is yet to bo 

 determined. The principal and most important in- 

 quiries are, what kind of soil is best adapted to 

 their culture .' What kind of manure is best, and 

 what method of culture will insure the greatest 

 crop, with the least labor.' 



Ruta Baga. 



It is, we believe, conceded by English as well as 

 American agricultural writers, "that the true Turn- 

 ip or Ruta Baga soil is a sandy loam ; and we have 

 no doubt it is correct. In proof, and illustration 

 of the above, we would observe, we saw last Sep- 

 tember two fields of Ruta Baga Turnip, on land of 

 this description, in Winchester, of the largest size 

 we have ever seen. One of the fields belonged to 

 the Hon. Joseph Weeks : the other to Mr. Al- 

 exander. The writers all agree, that green or un- 



