1S3S] 



FA RMERS' HECIS rion. 



13 



and ailvaiitaueous food for stock? Clearly and 

 most ohvioiislv not. In all our investiiXiilions, we 

 must liPirin with first principle?. On no well recsu- 

 lated farm, is iliert^ more straw than will keep the 

 requisite stock clean, dry and warm, ami thus 

 preserve the manure. Straw contains liulo nutri- 

 ment, and is very indiireslihle; and if any manure 

 is lost by the use of it as (bod, it is ohviously the 

 most costly and unprofitable food a fiirmer can 

 consume. " I know of" no more speedy and certain 

 method of briniririij a larm into the hands of the 

 sherifT, than growing an undue proportion of til- 

 lage cro|is, and usino; the straw as food. 



Take all the crops formed for the use of man 

 and stock in succession, the grasses intervening 



one to years, between one arable crop for 



stock, and one arable grain crop for man — never 

 more tiian three arable crops together — two the 

 best. 



Every crop to be repeated as distantly as possi- 

 ble. 



Sow clover with every arable cattle crop, to 

 plouiih in for the next crop. 



Manure no arable crops excepting Indian corn, 

 potatoes, turnips, millet, &c.; and applied on the 

 surlace as Ions as possible before planting, and 

 applied very moderately. 



The rest of the manure, with lime and plaster 

 applied to the ynung grass; after mowing the grain 

 stubbies, applied very moderately. 



Lose no manure of any kind, liquid or solid. 



Never apply any labor to destroy weeds; they 

 will go of themselves, if the due supply of vegeta- 

 ble matter is created by the grass crops. Weeds 

 are a true test of agriculture. 



Although agriculture is in reality the first and 

 most important of all human occupations, and the 

 foundation of all others, and the first means of all 

 human existance, all other legitimate productive 

 occupations are the foundation of it. It is the first, 

 yet it is the last, which can be fully perfect. The 

 improvements and labors of individuals in all pro- 

 fessions and sciences, are utterly vain and nuga- 

 tory, unless the condition of the population is equal 

 to sustain those improvements and labors; hence 

 in countries where rank and titles are yet wor- 

 shipped and looked up to, credit is given for many 

 accomplished and created results, to individuals, 

 which are due alone to the condition and well being 

 of the public. Discoveries, and the developement 

 of science and knowledge, are not made so much 

 by superiority of intellect, as by developed pre- 

 vious knowledge arising from the pre-existing and 

 existing wants of society, affording a guide and 

 clue to them. The most brilliant Greek or Ro- 

 man never could have discovered the steam-engine, 

 pteam-boats, coal-gas. rail-roads, &c. &c. &c.; 

 they had no previous guiding power, influence 

 and knowledge, to lead them on to do so. Dis- 

 coverers have never been willinirto admit and ac- 

 knowledge this influence and directing power over 

 their minds; credit is given them for much more 

 merit and talent than they possess. 1 am fully 

 aware of the full efiijct of this power and influence 

 in my own discoveries, respecting the use of 

 weeds, the law of human subsistence and occupa- 

 tion, and the discovery of (as I believe) the true 

 system of rotation of crops consequent to them; 

 and the discover}- of the true cause of the fly in 

 the wheat, the worm m the peach, the titilure of 

 the turnip and potaloe crops, the true system of 



manuring, &c. &c. My knowledge obtained in 

 England, and then seeiuir the wants and stale of 

 society in the United States, made the develope- 

 ment of all this easy and consequetive. I have 

 not a whit more talent than certain other men; 

 they had, and have, no more talent than I have; 

 previous ceriain knowledge, constiiutional organi- 

 zation, and existing circumstances, place all dis- 

 coverers upon a level. 



Socrates and Plato would have been fools in 

 conversation and knowledge respecting manuliic- 

 tures and many other subjects, with the most 

 stupid and illiterate cotton-spiimer in ASanchesier. 



That must be the truest and best system ol ag- 

 riculture: 



Which requires the least labor comparatively 

 and positively. 



Wiiich requires the least additional occMsioiiul 

 labor. (A very sure test.) 



Which returns the greatest quantity of stock, 

 grain, material tiir clothing. &c. together. 



Which furnishes sufficient manure \'nr all ihe 

 young grasses, the corn, turnips, potatoes, mil- 

 let, &c. 



Which permits all the crops to be sown, plant- 

 ed and harvested in due season, without hurry, 

 and with the least additional labor. By this rule, 

 the surest and best, much of the agriculture of 

 Enfrland is exceedin<rly defective. 



Which permiis the greatest quantity of stock 

 and produce to be sold without creating any defi- 

 ciency of manure. 



Which is yearly improving and increasing the 

 crops, and the tt>rtility of the soil; and without es- 

 sentially increasing the labor. 



Which produces improving quality as well as 

 quantity of produce. 



Which diminishes the growth of weeds with- 

 out any labor being expressly and exclusively ap- 

 plied tor their destruction. 



Which makes the crops more and more inde- 

 pendent of seasons, and proof against the attacks 

 of insects. 



Which returns the greatest possible quantity of 

 vegetable matter and animal manure to the soil, 

 without at all curtailing the sale of the just and 

 due proportions and quantities of produce, in ac- 

 cordance with the legitimate wants and demands 

 of society. If sufficient manure cannot be made, 

 either the crops are very unduly proportioned, or 

 they are still deficient. 



In short, that is the true system which will fur- 

 nish food to all in accordance with the law of 

 man's subsistence, as he is organized to subsist. 

 The true principles of agriculture must be, and 

 are, in accordance with that law. And man's or- 

 uanization must be, and is, in accordance with 

 the true principles of the law of the production of 

 his food; and the law of his occupation must be 

 and is in accordance with both these. 



George Henry Walker. 



From tlie Nantucltet Inquirer. 

 PEAT. 



Peat is of vegetable origin, aud is formed in cold, 

 moist situations, where vegetables may be decom- 

 posed without putrefaction. Hence, in the torrid 

 zone it is never found; but as we advance north it 

 occurs, and on the borders of frigid regions it is 

 found in great abundance; a cold humid atmos- 

 phere being peculiarly lavorable to its generation. 



