224 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



sum, bones, &c, are illustrations of mineral man- 

 ures. 



In no department of rural economy are our 

 farmers more deficient, than this of manures. 

 In none is there more room for beneficial illustra- 

 tions, by well-conducted farm schools. Different 

 soils, and different crops, require rules adapted 

 to each. To ascertain what these are, is the grand 

 desideratum in good farming. 



At a late meeting at the State House, it was 

 said there were 100,000 farm establishments in the 

 State of Massachusetts, and that there was scarce- 

 ly one of these, in which there was not lost annu- 

 ly at least $10 for the want of proper care of the 

 manure. This when spoken of in the aggregate, 

 makes the large sum of one million of dollars. 

 But can there be any doubt of this 1 Let any one 

 examine the premises where is kept only a horse, 

 a cow and pig — and they will readily see how 

 there could be made twice as much manure as is 

 ordinarily done. Here then in a very small estab- 

 lishment is a loss of more than ten dollars — much 

 more, then, will be the loss proportionally, in 

 large establishments. 



On all those farms, where convenient coverings 

 for the animals and their droppings are wanting, 

 summer and winter, it is fair to say, that full one- 

 half of all the nutritive qualities are necessarily 

 wasted. 



Much is lost, also, in the preparation of the 

 compost heap, away from the field to which it is 

 intended to be applied. The expense of transpor- 

 tation neutralizes, in a great measure, the benefits 

 that might otherwise be derived. Much is lost by 

 the application of manures upon or near the sur- 

 face. If buried to the depth of 5 or 6 inches, 

 there is no danger but the fibres of the tenderest 

 vegetables will so extend as to use it up — and 

 when laid upon the surface, the most nutritious 

 and volatile properties of the manure soon evap- 

 orate and are gone. All manures will lose more 

 than they gain by keeping above ground. Ma- 

 nures move in all directions when in the ground, 

 but more upwards than downwards — therefore, 

 there is less danger in covering them, than leaving 

 them uncovered ; and there is never hazard in 

 perfectly fining and commingling them with the 

 soil. This I regard as the main-spring of success- 

 ful culture. p. 

 Feb., 1852. 



For the Neiv England Farmer. 

 FARM SCHOOLS, 



BY JOHN OOLDSBURT. 



Mr. Editor : — I wish to say a few words more 

 upon Mr. French's plan of establishing, in some 

 suitable place, a model and experimental school in 

 agriculture, in which the whole science, in all its 

 branches, may be thoroughly taught and learned. 

 It is very evident, (at least, to my mind,) from 

 what has already been said in a former communi- 

 cation, that the science of agriculture cannot be 

 successfully taught or learned in any of our present 

 institutions, — neither in our higher seminaries of 

 learning, nor in our common schools. If it is to 

 be taught scientifically, thoroughly and systemat- 

 ically, (and there is everywhere great need of such 

 instruction,) it must be taught in an institution 

 established expressly for the purpose, and possess- 

 ing all the requisite means and facilities for accom- 



plishing the object. It will not do to have agri- 

 culture ''go snacks'] with other studies in any of 

 our existing institutions, and to come in for its 

 share of attention ; nor to have it stand second in 

 importance to any other branch of science ; but 

 it must be made the first, and stand at the head 

 and alone ; and all other studies must be made to 

 contribute to its success. 



The plan of Mr. French appears to be eminent- 

 ly well calculated to accomplish its object, for two 

 reasons, 1, because it is a feasible plan; and 2, 

 because it is an economical one. 



1. I call it a feasible plan, because it is so sim- 

 ple, so practicable, and so easily accomplished. It 

 is attended with no great difficulties or obstacles. 

 It needs only to be clearly understood, to com- 

 mend itself to every one's mind, as the plan, the 

 only sure and successful one, which, if universally 

 adopted and carried into effect, will be attended 

 ■with certain success ; and all that is needed to car- 

 ry it into effect, is the hearty co-operation and 

 support of all the friends of agricultural education. 

 If they could all be united in support of this plan, 

 and be led to act in concert, they could easily se- 

 cure for it the desired aid and assistance of the 

 State. Massachusetts, ever liberal in the bestow- 

 al of her favors, and always the first and foremost 

 in supporting other institutions of learning, would 

 not niggardly refuse, when properly requested, to 

 grant a sufficient sum to establish an institution 

 designed to benefit the great mass of her laboring 

 population, the very bone and muscle of the State. 

 More especially, as this request for aid would come 

 from farmers, without distinction of sect or par- 

 ty, for whom she has heretofore done so little, and 

 to whom ghe is highly indebted for her present 

 wealth, prosperity and happiness. 



2. I call it an economical plan, because it can be 

 so easily and cheaply carried into effect. Mr. 

 French's plan contemplates the establishment of 

 only one model and experimental school at the 

 outset. One school is as good as fourteen, (the 

 number of counties in the State,) to test the use- 

 fulness and success of the plan. This plan, there- 

 fore, does not require the expenditure of large 

 sums of money, till its usefulness and success are 

 made certain in the minds of all. But, in all oth- 

 er plans, vast sums of money must be expended 

 at the outset ; and this expenditure must be re- 

 renewed from year to year. It will require no 

 trifling sum to establish a professorship in connex- 

 ion with all our colleges and higher seminaries of 

 learning, or even to appoint a sufficient number of 

 lecturers to give instruction in all our common 

 schools. These vast expenditures will be contin- 

 ually increasing from year to year, till they mount, 

 "like Pelion upon Ossa," to an enormous sum, 

 and become very onerous to the people of the 

 State. And it is easy to see, that these plana 

 would, in the end, prove an entire failure, which 

 would be death to the cause of agricultural sci- 

 ence. J. o. 



Warwick, Feb. 21, 1852. 



Remarks. — The plan for a model farm school as 

 set forth by our associate, Mr. French, struck us 

 at the time as the most feasible and safe, of any- 

 thing that we had heard of or seen described. We 

 are glad to find his views so ably sustained by our 

 correspondent above. 



