THE FARMER'S MONTHLY VISITOR 



qu»;nt number, I will endfavor to recur to this lat- 

 tnr subject, and point out those spci-.ies on which it 

 would lie advisable to make experiuieuts. 



AoiiicuLTCRE OF Ei'Uoi'E.— Froui a cursory re- 

 view of the cultivation of the various kingdoms of 

 Europe, it appeared to me that England was in the 

 highest state of cultivation, and which, from its 

 beautiful tiiorn hedges— its neat cottages, adorned 

 by the ejrlantine, honeysuckle and ivy, chequered 

 here and there by the park and lordly palace, ren- 

 dered the whole land a picturesque garden. Some 

 of the counties of Scotland, such as the Lothia.ns 

 and the carse of Sterling and Gowrx-.arc in no wise 

 inferior. The little I saw of the cultivation of Ire- 

 land, rather exceeded my expectations. Belgium 

 and portions of the Netherlands, have a better soil 

 than that of England, and are fully as productive, 

 but they want neatness of cultivation, and, like the 

 whole continent of Burope, are destitute offences 

 and hedges— to mo the fields wanted ornamenT, and 

 the cottages seemed without much comfort. The 

 fields of Denmark were loaded with an abundant 

 crop of wheat, but there, as well as every where 

 else, I heard bitter complaints of hard times, and 

 the severe exactions of Government. I frequent- 

 ly thought that it would be no bad plan for our A- 

 merican o-rumblers about, taxes and oppression, to 

 take a trip toEurope,and learn a wholesome lesson. 

 Take my'word for it— it will step the mouths of 

 demagogues, reconcile them to titeir own country, 

 and tliey would return — not as politicians, but A- 

 mericans, saying, I have sinned against heaven and 

 my native land, and am now only worthy to be cal- 

 led thy son. I found the Grand Duchy of Baden 

 and parts of Wirtemburg, better cultivated than 

 Prussia in genera), probably because the soil was 

 more susceptible of improvement. Switzerland is 

 too romantic to be rich — and the Rhine is too clas- 

 sic a stream to \ii- tlie dull river of commerce, or be 

 surrounded by any tiling else than mountains 

 where the vine clambers along its sides and the ru- 

 ined castle frowns on its loftiest peaks. In the cul- 

 tivation of France, I was greatly disappointed— 

 the sword has scarcely had time to be boat into 

 the plouglishare — the soldier finds it hard to stoop 

 to the labor cf the harrow and the hoe, and seems 

 disposed, yet a while to leave tliis drudgery to the 

 woman. Austria, with its fine soil and clrm^e, is 

 retarded in agricultural improvement by the wealth 

 of its nobles and the oppression of its peasantry. 

 Its possessions in Bohemia appeared rather better 

 cultivated than those portions bordering on Hun- 

 gary and Venice. 



Reciprocity of Trade. 



There is no policy more sliort sighted than re- 

 stricted trade, as between difl'erent nations. It is 

 impossible that one nation shall long continue to 

 furnish extensive trade to another where the con- 

 ditions of trade are not reciprocal — where free in- 

 gress and egress to each other's productions shall 

 not be common to both. The tov.'U cannot long car- 

 ry on an extensive trade in selling to the country, 

 if the productions of the country shall not be 

 bought in return ; for if articles are taken freely, if 

 there is no lack of disposition to purchase, there 

 must speedily be an inability to pay for them. 



It has heeii lately demonstrated by the returns of 

 the foreign trade of this country for different years, 

 that our exports have invariably fiillen oft" when 

 our government has passed tariff laws to prevent 

 loreign imports : on the contrary, the exports have 

 taken a rapid rise cf millions the moment the 

 weights are removed. 



There is no doubt that the United States of A- 

 merica long have been and long will continue to 

 be the best customer in the world to the British 

 manufacturers: but the United States cannot con- 

 tinue a trade with England that is not reciprocal. 

 She must take our products, or trade not at all — 

 The effect of breaking down the cotton trade with 

 this country by substituting cotton from the Brit- 

 ish colonies of'liidia at really a higher cost, would 

 be most injurious to British interests. — Yet 

 as there are men here who would shut down 

 the gates of our prosperity with a high tariffin the 

 erroneous belief that domestic interests may be bet- 

 tered — so in Enoland efforts are made to substitute 

 the raw article of whicli a large portion of her man- 

 ufactures is made (cotton) by sending to India, 

 whose population can take nothing in return as an 

 equivalent. Of the increased efforts of the British 

 to build up the productions of India we may oljtnin 

 some idea from the following article taken from the 

 L?ndon Marklnne Express of March 16, 1340: 

 How should the American farmer be urged to at- 

 tend to his true interests by witnessing The extra- 

 ordinary efforts of Great Britain to increase the 

 productions of the soil as well at and near horrie 

 as in the most distant coloxiies .■* 



From llic (l>niiilon) .MnrltlanP Espre-s. 

 The commercial infn-mation received by the o- 

 verland mail from India is of the most satisfactory 

 character, as respects the rapid increase in the a- 

 mountof the productions of that immense and val- 

 uable appendage to the British Crown. A great 

 mass of inforiuation i;; supplied by the private and 

 public advices on mereantilo affairs. Tlie returns 

 made up to tlie close of the year IS30 of the exports 

 to Great Britain of produce show, with one or f.\ o 

 exceptions, a great increase over ihe shipments of 

 previous years. It will not be possilile for us to 

 give detailed statements of all the exports from 

 Calcutta in the past year. The fVdlowing facts will,_ 

 however, be suincient to show that the people of 

 India arc most actively engaged in increasing the 

 productions of the soi'l, and tliat, were the restric- 

 tions now placed upon most of the produce of In- 

 dia removed or equalized, the time is not tar distant 

 when she would furnish most ample supplies of 

 cotton, so as to render the British manufacturer to- 

 tally iudependenl of the United States— that her 

 agriculturists would successfully compete with the 

 West India planters and those of the Mauritius ; 

 and that tea also may be raised in such abundance 

 in Upper Assam as to render Great Britain totally 

 independent of China for her supplies of tliis latter 

 now necessary article of consumption. The fol- 

 lowing statistical details were made out in the 

 "Factory Maunds" of India, i. e., each maund be- 

 ing equal to 84 lbs. English :— The exportation of 

 rice to Great Britain had increased from 302,030 

 maunds in 1838 to G-J0,G1G maunds in 183'J ; of lin- 

 seed, from 80,069 to 1(57,601 maunds ; ofcastoroil, 

 from 10,08.5 to 16,819 maunds ; ofkutch, I'roml!,- 

 533 to 52,242 maunds; of rum, from 121,637 to 

 260,132 gallons; of ginger, from 16,87.5 to 24,131 

 maunds : of silk piece good.s, 2.59,248 (carats) to 

 35.S,3.jG pieces ; and of bandannoes, from 149,012 

 to 169,.520 pieces ; of cotton, from 5,!05 to 24,h58 

 maunds ; of hides, from .570,222 to 967,866 pieces; 

 of saltpetre, from 297,835 to 357,379 maunds ; of 

 sugar, 673,603 to 700,228 maunds, &c. In the ar- 

 ticle of hemp alone, out of the many principal ar- 

 ticles produced in India, there was a reduction of 

 exports last year, when 18,841 maunds were ship- 

 ped off, against 33,183 maunds in 1838. The re- 

 turn of the exports on the two last years from Ma- 

 dras and IJoniba.y have not yet reached us, but we 

 are assured that they exhibit equally gratifying re- 

 sults to those already noticed. The increase in the 

 cultivation of cotton and sugar conlinued to re- 

 ceive the greatest attention from Lord Auckland ; 

 and the establishment cf agricultural societies in 

 the several presidencies of India, would it is thought 

 do more for extending the produce of the country 

 than any other step i:itherto taken to accomplish 

 that purpose. The accounts received from Assam 

 relative to tlie cultivation of the tea-plant there are 

 of a most encouraging description. The markets 

 for British manufactured goods were not very firm 

 at the date of the present advices. It is, however, 

 stated that this state of things could not long con- 

 tinue. White cotton goods, woollens, twist, cop- 

 per, iron and lead, were in good request. 



To Die E lilor uf llie Parmer's .vlwiUjIy Visitor. 



DE.iR SiK, — Being one of tlie subscribers to your 

 paper, and being acquainted with you by reputa- 

 tion, I feel justified in communicating the follow- 

 ing : 



You will soon perceive I am no scholar or man 

 of science. Born in the year 1770, the commence- 

 ment of the revolution, I have perfectly in my 

 memory those events that followed. .Aly father 

 and three brothers all being engaged in the war, 

 myself (he youngest, the only male at home, the 

 privations endured, the hardsliips encountered, 

 gave me some idea what independence cost, so that 

 1 feel the more anxious to perpetuate it. And 

 thinking as I do that the farmers of our country 

 are the only class that will support our indepen- 

 dence if supported at all, and being a small one of 

 that class myself, I would if possible contribute to 

 the advancement of that interest. My knowledge 

 of farming is almost exclusively experimental. — 

 For fifty years I have been tryin? those experi- 

 ments with small means to do with : and I liaye 

 e'stablished some facts in my own mind that it would 

 be difficult to remove. Making allowance for cli- 

 mate and .soil, I have been for yeais trying to as- 

 certain the best method of preparing my lan^ for a 

 crop of corn with moderate manuring. I W^i^jvC' 

 late my experiment the year past, ,Tk(>.^9il was 

 of a solid sandy loam, adapted to the growth of a 

 crop of any kirid rai.,ed in New England when 

 properly manured and tilled — grass not excepted. 



The quantity was three and a half acres, all hav- 

 ing been mowed three seasons. Oni; half 1 plough- 

 ed the September previous ; the other hUf early in 



the spring. About one week before planting I car- 

 ried the manure in sucli manner as to include part 

 of that ploughed in the fall; I then spread it on 

 the ground, and harrowed crosswise, the furrow 

 crossintr the whole three and a half acres. Upon 

 that part on which the dung was spread, I turned 

 two light furrows together just so as to have them 

 meet. The rest of the piece I furrowed out a prop, 

 er distance for the rows. 1 dropped the manure in 

 these furrows for the hills about the same quantity 

 to the acre, the rows running both ways, then plant- 

 ing the corn and tilling it all alike. Tiie result 

 was, that part on which I spread the dung and 

 struck it up was evidently (he best corn; and I 

 think this is the best method of applying manure 

 for the raising of corn as it mi.xea tiie dung and 

 soil together in such a manner as best to promote 

 the growth of the crop. The first hoeing 1 use the 

 harrow ; after that the plough, turning the furrows 

 towards the rows letting the plough run light, this 

 will not disturb the roots of the corn as much as 

 the cultivator. The last ploughing should all be 

 finished by the time the ears begin to set. Should 

 weeds grow after that to injure the corn, let the 

 boys go with their hoes and chop them down. 



It was also evident that that part of the piece 

 ploughed in the spring was much the best, the 

 ground being the most mellov/ and the more easily 

 tilled. This I have observed for years. 



For raising potatoes, I prefer ploughing my land 

 —spreading the manure on it — then harrowing it, 

 then planting the potatoes, not sinking them much 

 in the ground, covering them with this mixture of 

 earth and manure. This I call the first hoeing; 

 makiniT the covering something in the form of a 

 hill. 



A-J to making manure I have my own notion. — 

 I know some have preferred making it in a pond 

 or settle. TJiis method I think any man of com- 

 mon observation must condemn, as in that situa- 

 tion no fermentation is produced, and no salts col- 

 lec'cd. One of my neighbors the last season, mow- 

 ed a quantity of his swamp grass ; collected that 

 and other vegetable matter, and deposited them in 

 a sink in his yard to make manure. This spring I 

 was present when he was loading it. I found much 

 of the grass wliole, and not much stained. In my 

 opinion the best way of making manure when it 

 can be done, is to cover it, and exclude it from the 

 rains; in this situation it collects salts. If this can- 

 not be done, cart it into the field early in the spring, 

 pile it in heaps, mix a little lime or plaster with it, 

 and cover it with earth say three inches deep to 

 prevent the salts from escaping; and in one month 

 you will find it completely rotted and-fit for use. 



But, sir, I feel as thougli I was intruding on your 

 patience, considering how much better infiirmation 

 you may have than I am able to communicate. I 

 should like to give you some of my notions as to 

 improving our pasture lands, &c. but my limits fail. 

 I would only mention I have a small, good stock : 

 one of the best cows, some of the best heifers, and 

 as good a two years old bull as there is in this vi- 

 cinity. 



Respectfully yours, 



LUTHER FRINK, Jb. 



West Springfield, May 1, 1840. 



South Hadhtj, Ms., .-Jpril 20, 1S40. 



Hon. Isaac HiLt, — Dear Sii- : — I was, like your- 

 self,bred to the printing business, and have followed 

 it, most of the time, for forty 3-ears. But, having 

 ever been passionately fond of rural scenes and 

 employment, and feeling the stiffening effects of 

 age upon my fingers, I have, for the last five or six 

 years, devoted myself to agricultural piiriuiits. 1 

 have recently, procured all the numbers of your 

 "Visitor," and have read them through carefully, 

 and am well pleased with them, generally. I cart- 

 not agree with you, in your e.\travagnnt eulogiums 

 upon the imported breeds of cattle. So far as I am 

 acquainted, their excellency consists solely in their 

 extra keeping. I have never known a cow of any 

 imported breed to excel, or even equal, a cow of the 

 native breed, formerly owned liy my neighbor, Mr. 

 Jonathan Burnett, of thistown, which would with- 

 out any extra keeping, mak? 14 lbs. butter a week. 

 Now, Sir, I cfmsider that- the grand error of our 

 farmers is, seliing' oft' their best younglings to the 

 butchers, lean go into_ the yards of farmers in 

 otir neighboring towns, and select as good stock, all 

 things considered, as, any I have ever seen import- 

 ed. Let breeders seleot their best calves for stock 

 and sell the inferior ones to the butcher, and we 

 ghall have no nceri of e.vpending thousands of dol- 

 lars for imported bulls and heifers. 



But! ain wandering tVom what I intended to say, 

 when I sa't dowr. ; which was merely that I have 

 tal;en great pains to procure the best kind of pota- 

 toes, a vegetable of w'hich I am very fond, altho' I 



