THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



69 



light id drawn fnrth that the individuals present 

 can furDisii. An osspniiai member is a reporter 

 to note the material facts and opinions staled hy 

 each individual, for pulisetpicut publication. For 

 this, there is no dillic.uliy in Boston, us there are 

 there, bfesides the commissioner, no less than 

 three editors of agricultural papers, who partici- 

 pate in the discussions, and all of whom report the 

 proceedings. 



We have frequently, heretofore, republished 

 extracts from the proceedings of these meeiings, 

 and shall present the report of the last, to follow 

 these remarks, as a sample of the usual proce- 

 durt^. 



It would be a capital addition to all that is now 

 done by our existing agricultural societies, to hold, 

 and report for publication, discussions of this de- 

 scription. There is not one society, (even though 

 tiie most silent and therefore the niost inefficient 

 heretofore,) of which there are not sundry mem- 

 bers, whose opinions and facts, thus expressed, 

 would be highly interesting and useful to their 

 brother agriculturists in general. We earnestly 

 urge upon each and all these societies to ado|)t this 

 course, for at least one meeting in each'year, and 

 in addition to, (and by no means in subsiiiution 

 of,) any useful labors heretolbre performed by 

 them. 



But such meetings are peculiarly appropriate, 

 and likely to be most beneficial, at the seat of go- 

 vernment, and during the session of the legislature. 

 Tlie number of agriculturists there present, both 

 members of the legislative body and others, 

 though residing and farming in remote districts, 

 would add much to the variety and value of the 

 subjects treated, and to the inleresl of the proceed- 

 ings. 



An agricultural and horticultural society for 

 Henrico, has been just [ijrmed, of agriculturists 

 principally laboring in the vicinity of Richmond ; 

 and under auspices and direction from which we 

 hope for much better results than the ordinary 

 course of agricultural societies in Virginia. The 

 formation of this society offers excellent nteans to 

 introduce easily such agricultural meetings and 

 discussions as are above recommended ; and the 

 society, acting in concert with any number of vo- 

 luntary and temporary assistants and auditors, 

 might hold meetings in Richmond, frequently du- 

 ring the winter, to very great advantage. We 

 shall place this article in the hands of the officers 

 of that society, as early as possible. If they should 

 think it advisable to act upon the suggestion, we 

 will be glad to take part in their free and intbrmal 

 discussions, and to report i\\\ useful doings of such 

 meetings through the Farmers' Register. We 

 know that there are members of that recentlv 



formed society, who, though Ihey liave never writ- 

 ten any thing for our pages (and perhaps naver 

 will for any publicati jn.) as practiced and success- 

 ful cultivators, possess knowledge, which well de- 

 serves being made known to the agricultural pub- 

 lic. If these persons (as is the case with the far 

 greater number of the good farmers of the whole 

 country,) cannot be induced to write their fiicts 

 and opinions for publication, lei us endeavor to 

 draw them forth in liee conversation. And if 

 there is any attempt for this purpose, we farther 

 take the liberty of urging the society (on these 

 occasions, a! least,) to avoid all regularly prepared 

 addretses, which are, in most case.^, merely es- 

 says on agricultural things in general, and on 

 nothing particular, and ofno use and no effect, ex- 

 cept as substitutes for, and dampers to repress and 

 extinguish, all other and more useful efijrls. — Ed. 

 F. R. 

 Second ^Agricultural Meeting at the State House. 



On Thursday evening last, the organization of 

 the meeting was completed by the clioice of 



Hon. Daniel P. Kinir, of Danvers, President. 



Allen Putnam, of Danvers, Secretary. 



Committee of ^Arrangements. — William Lincoln, 

 Worcester ; Horace Collamore, Pembroke ; Cor- 

 nelius Delano, Northampton ; Calvin Cnoley, 

 Haivley; John Prince, Roxbury; Andrevy Dodcre, 

 Wenharn ; Asa G. Sheldon, Wilmington; Hon. 

 l^aac Hill, Kd. Monthly Visitor ; Mr.' Buckmin- 

 ster, Ed. Boston Cultivator; Mr. Cole, Ed. 

 Yankee Farmer j and the president and secretary, 

 ex officio. 



Subject for discussion, as previously announced 

 was the Cultivated Grasses. 



Mr. Colman, Agricultural Comtnissionpr, staled 

 that there are more than COO such grasses, but 

 that he should confine his remarks to a few of the 

 more common. H^rds grass or timothy yields 

 well ; two lens to the acre is a good crop, though 

 four tons have been obtained ; it is an enduritig 

 grass, lasting 6 or 7 years, after wliich period it is 

 best to turn the sod ; cattle are fond of it. Would 

 sow 12 bushel seed to the acre ; no harm in sow- 

 ing more ; when thick the hay is finer ; moist but 

 not wet soil best suited to it. According to 

 chemical analysis it is most nutritious if suffered 

 to ripen before it is cut, though our animals like 

 it better when cut young. 



There are two kinds of' Dutch clover, northern 

 and southern, difl'ering in the time of their ripen- 

 ing." The broad leaves take much nourishment 

 from the atmosphere, and the tap root when it 

 decays furnishes nutriment to tiie other grasses. 

 It ameliorates the soil. As food for stock it is in- 

 ferior when cured in the common method, i. e. 

 when allowed to become nearly ripe before cutting 

 and then dried thoroniihly in the sun. Some 

 practical men maintain that if cut younirer and 

 made in cock, its (luality as food is as frond as the 

 other grasses. The southem, tlioiigh less pro- 

 ductive than the northern, is to be preferred; 

 makes better hay ; should be powed in winterer 

 spring and not in autumn. It is va'uab'e as a 

 green crop to turn in ; if it be rank, roll and 

 harrow befjre ploughing, and then it can be easily 



