palace — between his bark canoe and the mag- 

 nificeut steamboat — between his war club and 

 Colt's revolving pistol. The story of the tools 

 named, their invention and uses, would be the 

 history of civilization itself It would trace the 

 progress of the arts, from the use of the gourd to 

 the manufacture of the celebrated " Portland's 

 mystic urn." In every trade, as you disti'ibute 

 duties, you fix responsibility and promote skill. 

 But having indulged in these reflections, letCs 

 apply thein ^vhere they cam be applied, and it is 

 at this we have been aiming. Let the principle 

 be kept in mind in xha formation of societies fur 

 agricultural improvement ty- 



Our Agricultural Societies are too anomalous, 

 too heterogenous. They undertake too manj' 

 things at once — the result is that much is at- 

 tempted, but little is done well. Look at the 

 vast variety of objects comprehended in the 

 bills of those ««n!<«/ exhibitions — not an animal, 

 nor a machine, nor a fowl, nor a grain, nor grass, 

 tier vegetable, nor fruit, that a single Society, 

 coming together once a year, for two da3-s, does 

 not undertake to improve. The result is, that 

 vvhile some are improved a little, others are not 

 at all. and the aggregate melioration from year 

 to year, is scarcely perceptible. Would it not be 

 better to form out of the same ijiembers, different 

 societies for special objects 1 For example, the 

 Improvement of Houses, or of Agricultu- 

 ral Machinery. These are important branches 

 of raral economy, and each a study in itself — and 

 the first inquiry should, in all cases, be, not what 

 premiums should be given for particular objects, 

 bat whether the object deserves encouragement 

 at all. Premiums have been offered in Marj-- 

 land, for more than twenty j-ears. for heaviest 

 crops of beets and turnips and carrots and pota- 

 toes. Well, let us ask, not whetlier the quanti- 

 ty per acre, has been going on increasing from 

 year to year, as the result of greater skill elicited 

 by these premiums, but has the aggregate cul- 

 ture i\se\i extended a single acre in that time ; 

 and if not. is it not a broad hint that you should 

 pause to inquire whether there be not some 

 strong reasons, in the circumstances of the coun- 

 try or locality, some defect m soil, some uncon- 

 geniality of climate, some Mweconomical result 

 of labor ; in a ^vord, some powerful considera- 

 tions in the nature of the case, that forbid the 

 extension of root culture. Indications \vhich 

 admonish you that you are working against the 

 natural policy and interests of those you repre- 

 sent. That your bark, pu.shcd against wind and 

 tide, is makinge lee way ! would it not be bet- 

 ter to direct your zeal — so well meant, so patri- 

 otie, so admirable in itself — to some nciv ob- 

 jects ? For one, among others that might be 

 named, would it not be advisable to offer a high 

 premium for the earlie.al and most succe.s.sful ex- 

 perlmenls which shall illu.strate the expediency 

 (706) 



— or not — of adding Madder to the c7-ops now 

 cultivated. Those who use it in dyeing, think 

 the farmer might raise it with a good profit, at 

 one-third of its present price. We shall in due 

 time, tell all we can learn about its nature, cul- 

 tivation, uses, &c. We only mention that one 

 thing, because it comes uppermo-st, as the pen 

 glides along. Another object may be suggested 

 as well worthy of diligent inquiry, by a special 

 society, who should give it earnest and exclu- 

 sive attention. That is, an inquiry into the prac- 

 ticability of applying steam, power to a variety 

 of agricultural purposes, to which it has not 

 yet been extended in this couutrj' ? If the sim- 

 pler and less efficient contrivances for giving 

 greater productiveness to man power, have been 

 the cause of multiplying the human race, and of 

 augmenting their comforts and enjoyments; if, 

 in fact, these may be considered as proportioned 

 to the number and perfection of artificial labor- 

 saving inrentions, why not apply the productive 

 powers of steam to Agriculture, as well as to me- 

 chanics, manufactures, navigation and war? 

 Who that reflects on the advantage w-hich steam 

 power aflbrds in its greater rapidity and cer- 

 tainty, does not see what an advantage might 

 have been taken of its use in the late riise in the 

 price of grain, by getting it ready for market m 

 less than half the usual time. It is estimated in 

 England, that a six horse steam power will 

 thresh and clean nearly four hundred of our 

 bushels a day. For fuel, " culm or dross" is 

 generally used, and unlike horse power, when 

 not working, it costs nothing. Is there any 

 good reason, we repeat, why steam power 

 should not be made to do for Agriculture, what 

 it has done for manufactures and the arts? Is 

 not the enjoyment of this great, this invaluable 

 productive power, applied with such effect, in 

 the industrial operations of other classes, the 

 reason why they so much outstrip the tillers of 

 the soil, and with less capital, go ahead of them 

 in population and wealth. In our next, we 

 shall give a more extended view of this subject 

 — suffice it now to prompt the farther consider- 

 ation and inquiries of American Agriculturissts 

 to quote a writer, w-ho says, " so rapid has been 

 the extension of steam poM-er to farms in this 

 vicinity, that from the fine elevations round Ed- 

 inburgh, more than 100 steam engine stalks or 

 chimneys, may be observed as land-marks of the 

 farms, and giving a peculiar feature to the land- 

 scape." 



We have been told that Mr. Boiling, to his 

 honor, has had the enterprise to put up a steam 

 machine on his farm in Virginia, and finds it 

 exceedingly satisfactory, convenient and prof- 

 itable; and we doubt not his example will be 

 followed — but then how slowly, compared with 

 what it would be, were the subject investigated 

 and illustrated, as it might be by a:: active, spir- 



