THE AGRICULTURE OF OHIO. 



48/ 



cation should be mainly, if not entirely, based on the great truth that with the 

 cultivation of the land must be connected the cultivation of the mind. Agricul- 

 ture will reach and maintain its attainable excellence and its rightful supremacy 

 only when the sentiment shall become general which was lately avowed with 

 equal modesty and good sense at one of the meetings held in the Legislativellall at 

 Boston, where, according to that excellent paper, the Massachusetts Plowbot : 



Major Whf.elkr spoke at some length on 

 the propriety of bringing up more young 

 men to Irat-n the art. of farming. The rich 

 would find tlioir account in giving their sous a 

 chance to acquire agricultural information. He 

 repeated that lie Iiad long been engaged in 



other kinds of business; he had been in 

 trade, and though he had never an opportu- 

 nity of goiufj' to school much, he had not felt 

 the want of education so sensibly in any 

 branch of business as in farming. Here he 

 found he, needed the aid of science. 



In the same commendable and auspicious spirit Mr. Jenks, of Boston, remarks : 



The importance of proper education can- 

 not bo too highly estimated. The difterence 

 between those mechanics who come here 

 from Europe with a proper education and 

 others i.s gieat. Those among them who are 

 called teachers earn and receive forty per 

 cent, more tliau other hands. Mr. Jenks 



thought the great improvement which has 

 been made in j)low8 was the result of scien- 

 tific investigation. He had heard of a man 

 who made a profit by farming witii the aid 

 of books alone, without any practical educa- 

 tion. He was guided by science only. 



We regret that we have not space at command to publish the whole of this 

 introduction from Mr. Trimble — but have we not occasion to experience that 

 feeling every day, with so many very able addresses delivered to Agricultural 

 Societies, which, could we follow our inclinations, would go far to fill every 

 number of this Journal ? 



It appears by this Report that Societies had been formed, in the single year 

 previous, in more than twenty counties. Of the nature and value of the informa- 

 tion collected as respects the capability and products of the State, the reader 

 may judge by supposing what replies would be elicited by the following " Cir- 

 cular." It is only, as every one knows, the disinterested and public-spirited 

 who will take the trouble to answer such Circulars; therefore the information 

 they impart is generally the most reliable to be had. The most wealthy are 

 frequently content to guard their money-bags, and while they avail themselves 

 of other people's communications, are either too lazy or too selfish to impart any. 

 We the more incline to make room for the Circular, as we hope it will be adopt- 

 ed, with modifications to suit circumstances, and be addressed by other Societies 

 to prominent men in all parts of the country: 



and what have been the prevailitig prices 

 paid to fai-mers for the same the present sea- 

 son ? 



C1RCULA.R OF THE Board. — The following 

 inlerrosatories will show particuku-ly what 

 infoiTTiation is desired by the Board : 



1. What is the prevailing character of the 

 soil of the country — is it mosdy rolling, or 

 level — sandy, or clayey — and what kinds of 

 timber predominate in the forests ? 



2. What are the principal kinds of farm 

 crops or agricultural productions ? 



3. What wivs the character of these crops 

 the past season as to yield and quality, and 

 what is supposed to have been the yield of 

 each, per acre, with ordinary cultivation ? 



4. Have you any reliable information or 

 Rtiitistics of the aggregate amount of any sta- 

 ple products sold or produced in the county ? 

 if so, give the same, and the name of the 

 source whence obtained. 



5. In what towns or cities are the surplus 

 productions of the count)- mostly marketed, 



6. Have any considerable improvements, 

 within your knowledge, been inti-oduced in 

 your comity during the past two or three 

 years, in the modes of fai'ming or the kinds 

 of faitn crops, implements or stock ? 



7. Is there any Agricultural Society, or 

 Fanners' Club, at present organized in the 

 county ? if so, give the names and Post-Office 

 address of the principal officers, and add any 

 other particulars respecting its history or 

 transactions that may be deemed interesting. 

 (Such Societies as have drawn money from 

 the County Treasuries, in accordance with 

 the law passed last winter, are required to 

 make a report in accordance with the instruc- 

 tions of the Board, published in the Ohio Cul- 

 tivator of April 1, 1846.) 



f^° It will be proper for you to add any oilier facts or suggestions relating to the Agricnllnre 

 of tbe country, or tlie means of its advaiicemeut, that may occur to your mind. It is desirable, 

 11005) ' 



