V..).VII.— Nn.-20. 



AND irORTICULTUIlAL JOURNAL. 



155 



noiahlo distinction, until Agricultural Societies 

 ve bei n founded and patronized by the wealthy 

 d ciiii-rpririing, and intelligent; and indeed it 



- '-inj a i'act established in the history of this sci- 

 > nee, tiiat an active spirit of improvement lias ever 

 boen contemporaneous with the rise of such an in- 

 stitutiuii. In France, in the Netherlands, in Eng- 

 land, .~ii;tland, Ireland and tliroughont the United 

 .--Mies ;.r America, agricultural associations have 

 bccii cxcrywhcre founded, and all the more emi- 

 nent authors on Rural Economy— Arthur Young, 

 Sir John Sinclair, Dickson, Cully and Coke, unite 

 in one panegyric in their favor. It is a mistaken 

 notion that the practice of Agriculture is so easy 

 and simple as to be followed with success by the 

 ignorant. Tlie unlettered boor, who follov.s the 

 track of the plough, is no more capable of com- 

 prehending the principles of vegetation than the 

 illiterate mechanic, who polishes the brass for the 

 Orrery, can compass the beautiful and mysterious 

 harmony of the solar system. True, he does 

 know that the sun appears in the East and sets in 

 the ^Vest, as the ploughman perceives that the seed 

 confined to the faithful bosom of the earth, springs 

 up a graceful and stately plant ; these are things 

 visible to the senses ; but both are equally inca))a- 

 ble of penetrating into those natural causes, which ot 

 produce effects of such mystery and power. To 

 be a successful practical Agriculturist, to under- 

 stand the chemical properties of soils, to know the 

 proper ingredients and the fittest manures to ap- 

 ply to each, so as to bring their vegetative powers 

 info the highest perfection ; to be acquainted with 

 the diseases of plants, to" be capable of mitigating 

 and counteracting the effects of an unpropitious 

 season ; are points of information, wliich, to in- 

 vestigate and master, require a mind of no ordina- 

 ry stamp. Many of the most valuable discover- 



into all the labors of the husbandman, their coun- 

 sel and patronage must be lent to these institu- 

 tions. 



In looking. Sir, at the sources of native wealth, 

 can I see why the friends of our commerce and 

 fisheries should feel any jealousy in seeing a por- 

 tiun of the public funds diverted to so useful and 

 so imjiortant an object. What country, in the his- 

 tory of tlie world, ever became opulent or power- 

 ful, without an industrious and respectable peas- 

 antry 'i True, we can fall upon one or two ex- 

 amf)lp.s in history where states have enjoyed a 

 briet and jiassing splendour from the returns of an 

 active commerce, hut national wealth and national 

 greatness have never been permanent and stable, 

 ^chen they were not created and supported hy the 

 riches of the soil. 1 wish not to put forward any 

 elaborate display of* facts in support of the posi- 

 tion, for I regard it in the History of National 

 Wealtli a point as strongly confirmed as a political 

 axiom can be. Is it not acknowledged by all 

 writers on economy that the domestic demand is 

 infinitely more profitable to the trade of a country, 

 than the foreign or distant demand. The com- 

 merce of a country ii a machine made up of dis- 

 tinct parts, all of which are dependent on each 

 ler. Of what use would be those immense im- 

 portations of British goods, which are thrown into 

 Halifax every spring and fall, were there not a 

 numerous agricultural class to consume them ; 

 and ill how large a ratio would our West India 

 trade be curtailed were the demand for its pro- 

 duce confined to Halifax, and the fishermen situ- 

 ated on our Atlantic shore. I frankly admit, on 



the breed of sheep throughout the Province, there 

 is an index afforded of what might be accomplish- 

 ed. Wool of excellent quality could be produced 

 here in great abundance, and were capital direct- 

 ed to the manufacture of it into coarse flannels, 

 cloths, &c. it would not only yield a fair return 

 for its employment, in.agriculture, but would large- 

 ly swell an internal demand for agricultural pro- 

 ductions. 



The subject matter of this letter has mjltiplied 

 on my hands. I intended, when I sat down, to con- 

 fine myself to a brief illustration of the table above 

 inserted ; but every thing which relates to agri- 

 culture has with me so great a charm, and the 

 anxiety 1 feel to see its practice improved in this 

 Province is of so enthusiastic a character, that I 

 have been led more at large into the subject than 

 I at first meant. I trust my notions are siifiicient- 

 ly reputable to excuse the liberty 1 have taken 

 with your readers ; and that the lengtli of this let- 

 ter will be no argument against its worth. 



THOMAS KING. 



les n agriculture Lave been made, not by the friends of trade to imagine, that they can advance 

 practical followers of the Art, but by men who and build up their own interests bv pursuing any 

 have pursued the science as one of philosophical set of measures wliicl - " ' - " ^ 



research One of the most striking advantages,! prosperity of our inland districts. A nation is a 

 conlerred by Agricuhural Societies, is, that it family upon a large scale ; quarrels distract, con- 

 brmgs such men to take an interest in the subject, I, entions ruin it. The prophetical language of 

 and induces them to unite with the wealthy and scripture is admirably consonant with the Influ- 

 respectable m dignifying the labors of the hus- ences and issues of luiman events. It is a deceiv- 

 bandman. They concentrate into one^focus, and ing and melancholy folly for the followers of 

 direct to one end, all the intelligence of a district ■ . - - - • •' 



[By the Editor.] 



SALIVATION IN HORSES. 



It is said that if parsley seeds are sown with 

 clover seeds the hay or gras.i jiroduced by the 

 mixture will cure Slavers, or Salivation in horses, 

 a troublesome complaint in which water runs pro- 

 fusely fro.-n the mouths of the animals. 



BOTTS I\ HORSES. 



A writer for the American Farmer vol. V. page 

 ,,,,,,,, , - 214, who signs "A'lmrorf Oioi'ng-*" sa vs, " to pre- 



the Other hand, that the demand for agricultural I vent botts, burn hickory wood into ashes and keep 

 produce among the inhabitants of the town and j on hand for use, ' ' 

 the seaboard, is of essential consequence to the ' i 

 farmer ; but surely it is the height of folly for the 



giving once a week about a pint 

 to eacli horse in his food ; if oats, wet and sprink- 

 le the oats ; the horse will eat them without ob- 

 jection, and I think it, perhaps the means of keep- 

 ... , . ,. . , - '"gl'orses in health, where they would without 



will be prejudicial to the I the ashes have been diseased from other causes." 

 Probably the ashes of other wood as well as that 

 of hickory miglit preserve the health of the horse. 



They elevate and improve the agricultural mind, 

 and turn it to more enlightened and scientific in- 

 quiries. They bring the farming classes together 

 to explain and to discuss new modes of practice 

 and detail each others' experiments ; and while 

 they necessarily impart a new charm to the opera- 

 ii"ns of the field, they sharpen the general intel- 

 lect, and render the improvements and experience 

 •-'I' each, the common property of all. The good 

 • tilcts which did result from them in this prov- 

 ince, whilst they were in existence, were surely 

 .surticiently seducing to recommend them for the 

 fNture ; and I am fully satisfied, that, if the Legis- 

 lature wish to see this Province independent of all 

 foreign supplies, they must ag.Tin bring up some 

 general t:y.stem of agricultural encouragement, 

 similar to the one before in operation. Under the 

 guidance of experience new checks may be pro- 

 vided, and modifications may be introduced to 

 meet the circumstances, or rather the prejudices 

 of the country ; but if <)ur legislature wish to raise 

 our agriculture into a prosperous and enviable con- 

 dition, if they are disposed to follow the exa 



branch of industry to claim a superiority over 



0.\ THE PRESERVATION OF CABBAGE. 



If the raising of vegetables is an object to the 

 farmer, their preservation will be found no- less so. 

 I am convinced fiom a partial experiment that the 



those of another ; the prosperity of one inevitably i 'o"owing mode of keeping cabbages will be found 

 even though imperceptibly, ministers to that of i "seful. After they are gathered, and freed from 

 'he rest, and the hajipiness of a people, compound- ! '''^''' '""^^ leaves and stalks, that nothing remains 

 'A of different classes, s[)rings only from the pros- j ''"^ '''^ sound jiart of the head, head them up in 

 perous condition of all. Agriculture, commerce, ! '"^ ''S''^ cask. By thus excluding them from the 



and fisheries, in Nova Scotia, like the three em- 

 blems which adorn our national banners should 

 '3e " Tria juncta ni wno," and from the motto 

 which the Highland Chieftain bears on his shield, 

 "together all, and single nothing," they may de- 

 rive an imposing, instructive lesson. 



But although so much may be effected through 

 t!ie agency of agricultural societies, provided they 

 b? supported by public funds, still there can be no 

 do'ibt that the march of the Province would be 

 vastly accelerated, were the internal consumption 

 iicreased in any rate ; for, as Mr. Huskisson has 

 energetically said, the "power of consumption" is 

 ai once the index and source of a nation's jirosper- 

 it'. This could be promoted by the introduction 

 ol coarse manufactures, a branch of industry for 

 jWiich the country is perfectly prepared ; and 

 mp'e wiich, in its beginnings, only requ 



of older and more enlightened states if in short uegmnings, omy requires the attcn- 



thev wish the breath J llnZvf ^' r J ' '"^ ""'' encouragement of the Legislature. From 



tnej Hish the breath of a long hfe to be infused th; improvement, which h 



las lately been made in 



air they may be kept a long time. Those intend- 

 ed for the longest keeping should be put into 

 small casks, as they will soon spoil when exposed 

 to the air. 



TO PREVENT BEER rROM GROWING FLAT. 



Put into a cask containing eighteen gallons, a 

 pint of ground inali, suspended in a bag, and close 

 the bung perfectly ; the beer will be improving 

 during the whole time of drawing it for use. ' 



FINE CALF. 



Mr. Bloses Field of Northfield, Mass. lately kil- 

 led a Heifer Calf, only 6 months and one week old, 

 which weighed as follows : 



Quarters, 263 lbs. 

 Hide & Tallow, 51 do. 

 The mother of this calf was two years old, on- 

 ly ; and the calf ran with its dam till killed, and 

 neither had any food but what was derived from 

 a good clover pasture. — Communicated. 



