THE FARMERS LIBRARY AND 



587 



Hundred alone withia the l^t ten months, 

 some of which put iu over 300 acres last fall, 

 and several others are now engaged to be ready 

 for August next. 



Some of the other Hundreds of Newcastle 

 County are preparing to use them in a cor- 

 responding ratio. 



I will close this and leave Mr. Groundsell, Mr. 

 Peunock, and Mr. Carr (who I understand has 



sent to England for the best improved Drill — 

 success to his cnterpriscj — and also Mr. Sawdon, 

 to give their views. 



Very respectfully your friend. 



J. JONES. 

 Dr. J. \V. Thompson, ■Wilmington, Del. 

 I am not certain if one bushel of seed wheat 

 or oats is not thick enough. Last year I sowed 

 nine gallons of wheat and less of oats per acre. 



J. J0NE3. 



THE FAR1IER3' LIBRARY AND MONTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



CLOSE OF THE FIRST VOLUME— COMMENCEMENT OF THE SECOND. 



Ik Editor and PubUshers have had the good 

 fortune to redeem their promises, and meet the 

 expectation of their patrons so far, they venture 

 to hope that the Second Volume wiU give yet 

 more satisfaction. 



Every farmer can understand that no one can 

 manage an estate the first year he comes into 

 possession with so much efficiency as he can af- 

 terward. It requires a year at least to get ac- 

 quainted with the nature of the soil, and the re- 

 sources and wants of the farm : how much stock 

 he can venture to keep — what implements are 

 needed, and how he shall adapt his force to his 

 work ; for the work to be undertaken will de- 

 pend on the capital at his command, and the 

 crops to be grovrn ; and these again will be reg- 

 ulated by the nature of the markets, which, to be 

 remunerating or otherwise, will depend on dis- 

 tance, modes of conveyance, and other consider- 

 ations. 



So has it been with us. True, the Editor had 

 no little experience in the conduct of agricultu- 

 ral journals, for, to think and to wrfte about 

 what might best elevate and promote American 

 Hu.sbandry, may be said to have been the pas- 

 sion and the habit of his life ; but heretofore his 

 labors and illustrations had been connected rath- 

 er with the practice than the philosophy — with 

 the A, B. C. than with the grammar of the art. 

 When we undertook to edit and publish an ag- 

 ricultural periodical, devoted to " Agriculture. 

 Intek.sal I.mprovemests, and Rural and 

 Domestic Eco.vqmy," no such thing had ever 

 before been attempted in the United States. — 

 Then it was most important, as it is still import- 

 ant, to make known generally, and as soon as 

 possible, all existing practical improvements 

 in the art, and the machinery and processes em- 

 ployed in it ; and to shadow forth such as might 

 yet be accomplished for its benefit. 



The first object was to infuse an esprit du 

 carps into the agricultural communitv, to get 



them to think and to feel that they too had a 

 great business peculiarly and exclusively their 

 own ; one as susceptible, at least, as any other, of 

 melioration and progress ! — that they, too, 

 needed a medium through which they could 

 hold communion with each other, and promote 

 their common interests by a free and reciprocal 

 communication of thought and experience. 



In the heartfelt conviction that such a great 

 public convenience and instrument of public 

 usefulness ought to be provided for and encour- 

 aged, the old " American Fanner " was estab- 

 lished, without concert or promise of anybody's 

 countenance. The issue proved that the founder 

 was not mistaken — that the fruit was indeed 

 ripe, and waiting to be plucked. The work was 

 welcomed and supported by the elite of the 

 country in every State. Then soon followed 

 the "Plow-Boy," at Albany; then the "New- 

 England Farmer," by the talented Fessrn 

 DEN ; and the " Cultivator," established by 

 the New-York Agricultural Society, and on its 

 account at first, and soon and long after for his 

 own, edited by the able and lamented Buel. — 

 " Even in their a.shes live their wonted fires!" 



Now there are very many agricultural jour- 

 nals, conducted with eminent diligence and 

 abilit}-, which have served to spread abroad, 

 through the agricultural community, a spirit of 

 inquiry and a habit of reading, on the greatest, 

 and, in its kindred sciences and literature, the 

 most various and entertaining field of study that 

 ever has been spread out before the mind of 

 man. Thus it is, pioneer publications have 

 cleared the way and opened the forest, until, in 

 the present condition and wants of Agriculture, 

 a new epoch has arisen ; one which seems to 

 create or rather to constitute the same demand 

 now, for a journal more voluminous and elabo- 

 rate, as twenty-six years ago seemed, in like 

 manner, to call for a register of agricultural ex- 

 periments, and advertisement of improvements 



