NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Published by JOHN B. RUSSELL, at the corner of Congress and Lindnll Streets, Boston THOMAS G. FF,SSF.M)EN, Editor. 



VOL. IV. 



FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1825. 



No. 17, 



learning and knowledijo are so m;uiy demonstra- 

 lions of a great moial and physical revolution in 

 the state ol' socioly. It is not claiming' loo mncli, 



when we say trial these are the legiliniate con- 



The commillee on A^rieultiire have perform- j sequences of the improvements and extension ot 



REPOaT 



OF THE 



ilrrfeslvtre ^arfcuUuval Sortcty. 



ed the annual duties as>igned them, and have 

 it in their power to make a report highly salir 

 factory and honoiiraldo to the connty. It is mad 

 the duly ofthis committee to view all crops an 

 farms ~ offered for premium. The commilie 



onr agricniliiral knowledge and experiments 

 This is the great and inexhaustihie source, 

 iVom wliich mannl'aclnres are created, commerce 

 supplied, and the nation made opulent and pow- 

 erful. Can it then he a matter of indifference, 



mio-ht -lose their remarks at this point, hut the "'hether we shall unitedly co-operate in sustain 

 great (ield of observation that lay open to them, i'lg a cause of such countless benelits? Berk- 

 seemed to invite to a more extended view, and >hire has distinguished herself in this great ca- 

 a conviction of ils utility will authorize them to ! reer of usefulness. It only requires a general 

 occupy a little time in offering the results. Prac-jnninn and effectual co-operation of the north and 

 tice has also sanctioned this course. The com- s"Uth with the middle section of the connty, to 

 millee have not the pleasure of represenlin^. : I'roduce results more favorable to the general 

 from their own view, the general slate of .V^ri j iTosperity and happiness, than has fallen to the 

 culture throughout the connty. No claiiR f. ■ '"t of man in any country. In view of so many 

 a view of crops was prel'ered tVom the norfliern ; hlessing', the commitlee carneMly tall on their 

 section of the county, excepting in Lanesboro'ngh j fellow cilixens, to apjdy their thnushts and al- 

 and Windsor. The view,ofcnui=c, waslimiled tenlion to the means of success. The farm is 

 to the southern section. Why this should so be,! Hie great theatre on which the farmer is to di-^- 

 or why so much apathy shoul.l prevail in a pari j I'hiy his knowledge and good management — 

 of the" county, once alive and active to these | The commiltee urge tlieir brnihcr farmers to 

 great primary interests, is not readily solved, i !"f>k 'veil In their enclosures and Iheir durability, 

 It is an occurrence deeply to be rezreled. The 1 lo iheir animals and their selection and rearing 

 commillee earnestly invile their fellow citizens. ! —lo their ploughs aii-l harrows.the mn>t iinpor- 

 in the north, to awake IVom this stale of indii'-j '■•n* imj)lements in farming— to llio choice ol 

 fercnce, and occupy the ground they heretofore seeds, and effectual cultivalion— to the forming 

 so honourably possessed in this greatest and best and increasing of manures and iheir application 

 of pursuits. Experience long since decided the j— to the draining of wet land', the leveling of 

 utilily of Agricultural Societies. Wise and em- 1 ''oggy lands, and the Irrigation of dry lands— to 

 inent men i^n this and other countries have.£;.:i^|L!he increase of forage, and especially providing; 

 tioned this opinion, and added to it the to.!?e of ''•'''S"l"les in the exigency of droughts. For. 

 their own o-reat examples. The fruifs of (hese t'"? purpose, recent experimenis have recnm 



institutions are apparent. No rational doubt can 

 be entertained. Berkshire furnishes an impres- 

 sive example of the benelits realized from the 

 labors and exertions of the Society. If yet any 

 man affects to doubt, let him retrospect and trace 

 the progress of the Society from 1811 lo this 

 time. The advances in usefulness, have been 

 rapid, and produclive of more good than was an- 

 ticipated. Let a candid recollection of the for 

 tner state of our agricultural concerns, be con- 

 tracted with its i>resent condition. The result 

 proves that our products have not only increas- 

 ed in number and variety, but that in most in- 

 stances the amount is doublrd. The increase 

 and increasing population of the county, wiih 

 their new and multiplied pursuits, have called 

 forth these improvements, and rendered them 

 necessary to the general welfare. The spirit 

 of emigration has been arrestei!. The valuable 

 native resources of the county have hern dis 

 covered and brought into general use. 1 hese 

 fruits manifest themselves in Ihe vast increase 

 of household induslrv, and the general extension 

 of it to every pursuit. We witness altogether 

 a new stale of things. W'hal is the influence ol 

 these events on the habits, morals, and comlilion 

 ol the people? The answer is furnished, in the 

 view of the present slate of society — the Indus 

 try, economy, and spirit of enterprize which is 

 displayed on every side, Ihe thirst for knowledge 

 — the esiablishmeni, multiplication and better 

 Su]iport ol schools, seminaries and sources ol 



mended IMillet, Indian Corn and Oats, fliillet 

 grows rapidly and is a valuable substitute for hay. 

 It may be sown late advantageously, on a dry 

 soil. Indian corn sown broad cast, plenlifiillv, 

 yields a great quantity of forage and may be 

 sown late. The committee solicit the allenlion 

 of dairy firmers to the condition of this branch 

 of our rural concerns. Complainis have long 

 prevailed that Cheese and Butler have been bad- 

 ly managed, in too many instances. Ricii, well 

 llavored Cheese, and clean, well lasted Butler, 

 are by far too rarely found in the market. This 

 fact has depressed Ihe price and discouraged Ihe 

 farmer. In all instances where superior Cheese 

 and Butter have been made, the market is ready, 

 and the price corresponded with Ihe quality. — 

 The prices have been such as to compensate the 

 maker and encourage his exertions. The com- 

 mittee are decidedly of the opinion, that bad or 

 unskilful management in this department, togeth- 

 er with sending Cheese to market bpfore it is 

 dry and sound, are Ihe causes which have so 

 much depressed the price and discouraged the 

 farmer. It is the ttue interest of the farmer to 

 reform this evil. 



The committee have witnessed instances of 

 praiseworthy exertions in Horticulture. The 

 progress of civilization has extended lo this de- 

 partment many valuable improvements. It is 

 desirable to see attached to every farm house 

 and cottage, an extensive Garden, well stored 

 with the numerous and early vegetable produc- 

 tions and Irtiils. which so essentially promote 



economy, convenience and health. For Ihe pro- 

 pagation of fruits the soils of the counly are well 

 suited. It is important and useful that Ihe va- 

 liely and quantity should be increased to meet 

 every exigency. It would prove a source of 

 bolii pleasiire and profit. The occasion rices 

 not permit Ihe committee to exiend their re- 

 marks to other objects, however useful, or how- 

 ever much Ihe exigencies of the times demaiid 

 it. 



The committee hasten to the immediate ob- 

 jects of Ihe report. The return of this anniver- 

 sary furnishes abundant considerations for re- 

 cognizing a kind Providence, in having ordered 

 the events of the year in great mercy. This 

 section pf our country has been favored with 

 seasonable rains and a long and temperate seas- 

 on, while in places adjacent, they have been vis- 

 ited with severe droughts. In Berkshire, the 

 crops ol]wheat, rye, oats, pease and Indian corn 

 are pleritiful,and have seldom been equalled. — 

 The improved nioiles in cultivation have re- 

 markably increased Ihe jirodiict, and not less 

 im[)roved Ihe condition of the farmer. The 

 quantity of land devoted to tillage is probably 

 much le.ss than lormerly, yet Ihe amount ol pro- 

 ductis greatly increased. The growing of wheat 

 and the introduction of the white flint wheat, 

 seems to be increasing. And more attention is 

 given to the Pea crop. But the skill and force 

 of tiUage is in nothing so remarkably displayed 

 as in the growing of Indian corn. The quanli- 

 ly of lalid licrelofore devoted to this crop is much 

 reduced^Jtjil llic product has generally doubled 

 the ';'-!i"ittity formerly raised on an acre, ^nd of 

 a beller nuality. It is not now an nncoinmon 

 thing lo sefc.crops of Indian Corn, of from "iO lo 

 00 bushels th» acre. These remarks ajiply par- 

 ticularly lo Ihe towns of Sheffield, Great Bar- 

 ringlon, Slockbri5lge, W'est Stockbridge, Rich- 

 mond, Pittsfield, Laapsborough, and Windsor.— 

 In several of these towns, the knowledge dis- 

 pl.iyed in conducting of this crop has produced 

 unusual effects, and excited many and great ef- 

 forts. The commillee do not intend to be un- 

 derstood, that the same good management does 

 not generally prevail, in other toivns, but it has 

 not been made manifest to them. If it was prop- 

 er, the committee could designate several indi- 

 viduals in Ihe towns of Great Barrington, Stock- 

 bridge, Richmond, Pittsfield and Windsor, whose 

 examples and good conduct in improved cultiva- 

 tion merit the most decided approbation. The 

 general effects of these improvements are most 

 apparent — and where most effectually pursued, 

 are to be seen the most rapid atid substantial 

 prosjierity. The committee earnestly entreat 

 their fellow citizens in every town, to regard 

 with a deep and lively interest Ibis state of 

 things, and endeavour lo offer evidence lo the 

 next Viewing Committee, that they are not in- 

 different to their own personal welfare or Ihe 

 honor of Berkshire. The committee are not 

 permitted to suppress the remark that the im- 

 proved state of tillage husbandry has enabled 

 our firmers lo devote more land to pastures and 

 mowing than lormerly, and boih forage and pas- 

 ture are more abundant than in former times. — 

 Hence the problem is solved by experiment, that 



