6 



GENESEE FARMER. 



Jan. 1845 



is with England a question of trememlouB impor- 

 tance, what is to become of the vast accvmiiilations 

 of people, which are ccntinually increasing here at 

 the rate of from seven hundred to a thousand per 

 day. * * * The svibject, it appears to me, and 

 perhaps wholly from my being unaccustomed to a 

 condition of things in any degree resembling it, is 

 daily assuming a fearful aspect : I do not mean of 

 danger to the government, for the government seems 

 never to have been stronger, but fearful in its bearings 

 upon the public peace, the public morals, the securi- 

 ty of property, and the state of crime." Mr. C. 

 does not pretend to offer a remedy for this state of 

 things, but seems to think the allotment system the 

 best which has yet been devised, as it is, at all 

 events, capable of improving, to some extent, I he 

 laborer's condition. 



Progress of Agriculture. — Under this head, 

 Mr. Colman gives an interesting description of the 

 great improvements which have been made and are 

 still going forward in England, by means of drain- 

 ing, iriigation, k.c. Of the live stock, he speaks in 

 the highest terms, but does not go minutely into this 

 subject, intending to take it up by itself hereafter. 

 He speaks not of the cattle as seen at the cattle 

 shows, but as they are seen every Monday in the 

 Smithlield Market, and at the other smaller markets 

 and fairs in various parts of the kingdom. He says 

 '' here are cattle and sheep of several different breeds, 

 and all of remarkable excellence of their kind ; I do 

 not say perfect, for that, in almost all cases, would 

 be assuming too much, but leaving very litle to be 

 desired beyond what has been attained. Their con- 

 dition and form, their symmetry, then- fatness, are 

 admirable ; and each breed is seen retaining its dis- 

 tinct properties ; and what is most remarkable, 

 showing how much can be done by human art and 

 ekill, in improving the animal form and condition, 

 and bringing it to a desired model." 



Application of Steam to Agriculture. — The 

 application of steam to the plow, so far as Mr. Col- 

 man has heard, has not been attended with much 

 success. Steam engines are extensively used in 

 some sections, for thrashing grain. In the Lothians 

 of Scotland, it is said that the use of steam power 

 for this and other purposes, saves one quarter of the 

 horse power required on the farm. A very impor- 

 tant item, as the keeping of horse teams is the 

 greatest single source of expense to the British far- 

 mer. A six horse steam power, usually thrashes 

 from 30 to 40 bushels of grain per hour. Mr. C. 

 suggests that in the prairie districts of our western 

 country, wherever coal can be had, steam power 

 might be advantageously used for many farm pur- 

 poses. 



A very important use of steam power in Britain, 

 is the conveying of live stock to market by means 

 of steamboats and railroads. Cattle are brought in 

 immense numbers to Smithfield market by these 

 convevances, without loss of condition — sometimes 

 the distance of seven hundred miles. Mr. C. thinks 

 no parties have suffered injury from railroads. 

 Contrary as it may be to all theories, the farmer 

 near market is not injured, though the distant one is 

 largely benefitted. 



The Increase of Agricultural Products in 

 Britain, is shown in a very striking light. The av- 

 erage importation of wheat into England from 1801 

 to 1810, when the population was set down at 17,- 

 442,911, would have given a fraction over one peck 

 to each person. From 1811 to 1820, when the po- 



pnlation was 19,870,589, the quantity imported 

 would have given less than a gallon and a half to 

 each person. From 1831 to 1835, the population 

 was 25,000,000, and the quantity imported would 

 have given to each person one gallon. Taking the 

 three years 1833-4-5, the importation would have al- 

 lowed only one pint and one fifth to each consumer. 

 This will give some idea of the immense produc- 

 tion and resources of that little inland. Under a 

 fast increasing population, as before mentioned, the 

 dependance on foreign supply, has been constantly 

 growing less. 



Among the means of improvement, Mr. Colman 

 remarks that the Royal Agricultural Societj' is an 

 efficient organ. It was instituted in 1837. It has 

 begun the establishment of an agricultural library 

 and museum, the object of which is to exhibit spe- 

 cimens of agricultural productions which are capa- 

 ble of preservation, seeds, plants, grasses samples of 

 wool, mineral manures, models and drawings of im- 

 plements, &,c. &c. Mr. Colman remarks that he 

 has often urged the establishment of agricultural 

 museums in the United States, especially in the ca- 

 pitals of the States, where the different legislatures 

 assemble. The suggestion is a valuable one. — 

 Cannot our New York State Agricultural Society 

 profit by it ? 



The management of the Royal Agricultural So- 

 ciety at its exhibitions, is spoken of as admirable in 

 many respects. Mr. C. says — '' every possible ef- 

 fort is made to secure an impartial decis'on among 

 the competitors ; for besides that they are not suf- 

 fered by their presence to influence the examiners, 

 the examiners themselves are selected from among 

 persons as far as possible disinterested, and not like- 

 ly to be influenced. They are chosen, likewise, 

 with a special reference to their character and quali- 

 fications, to the nature of the subjects submitted, 

 and every pains is taken in this way, to secure the 

 greatest aptness and talents. The name of the 

 competitor is not given if it can be avoided, but only 

 the number of the article presented. The rules of 

 admission and competition, are stringent and abso- 

 lute, and no exceptions are on any account allov.-ed." 

 The Highland Agricultural Society in Scotland, 

 and the Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland, are 

 both spoken of as excellent institutions, similar in 

 their objects and management to the Royal Agricul- 

 tural Society of England. 



Model Farms. — Mr. Colman notices some of 

 these. He has visited that at Glasnevin, near Dub- 

 lin, and furnishes some highly interesting particulars 

 in regard to it. In connexion with this establish- 

 ment there is also an agricultural school, \^'here 

 young men receive such an education, theoretical and 

 ])ractical, as fits them to pursue the occupation of 

 farming to the best advantage. The young men 

 work in the field about six hours per day. Mr. C. 

 had the gratification of listening to an examination 

 of fourteen of these young men, brought out of the 

 field from their labor, and declares that " it was em- 

 enently successful, and in the highest degree credit- 

 able both to master and pupil." The products of 

 this model farm, as given by the superintendent and 

 teacher, are quite remarkable. Seven hundred and 

 twenty bushels of potatoes per acre, are given as an 

 average crop. The superintendent states that the 

 largest crop he ever oljtained, was in a field where 

 the sets were three feet apart each waj'. Medium 

 sized potatoes, planted whole, are preferred to cut 

 ones. The experiment had been made, and the dif- 



