1846. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



m 



Science and Agriculture. 



We copy the following judicious observations 

 on the application of science to agriculture, &c., 

 from the Cheshire, (England,) Chronicle : 



"It is as important to the country tliat agri- 

 culture should be scientifically understood and 

 studied as that manufacturing science should pro- 

 gress. The mere culture of the land is nothing, 

 except it be conducted on the best possible prin- 

 ciples. To plow and manure, to sow and reap, 

 to break up and lay down land, to breed and to 

 rear stock, and to tarm and to labor on a form, 

 merely as they who have passed did, is no great 

 merit. This is merely to exercise an imitative 

 ^ talent. The resources of the mind ouglit to be 

 brought to the labor ; and profiting not only by 

 experience, but in learning by experiment, we 

 may hope to see improvement progress in an 

 equal ratio in agriculture as in mechanics ; and 

 the knowledge that the stores of experimental 

 philosophy affords to be applied to this, the most 

 useful of all arts, because it produces the raw ma- 

 terial on which the human race is fed and clothed. 

 When the merely operative farmer knows the 

 value of science, he will see that it is the best 

 auxiliary to the production of agribultural wealth ; 

 and learn the secret why his better informed 

 neighbor, who has devoted some attention to such 

 pursuits, has beat him in the career of enterprize. 

 Agricultural societies are peculiarly beneficial in 

 communicating this knowledge. They bring 

 the results of all systems into competition ; and 

 must set those who are behind in the contest 

 thinking why they are so. Whatever experi- 

 ments have been tried, whatever failures expe- 

 rienced, are brought under the review of all, the 

 first as lessons to instruct, and the last as rocks to 

 avoid. The real value of crosses in breeding, 

 of intermixtures of soils, of the action of peculiar 

 manures, of the introduction of seeds, and of the 

 utility of implements, are tested. The landlord 

 and the tenant, whose interests are identical, are 

 brought together, and may profit by the inter- 

 course." 



From the Boston Cultivator. 



Poultry. 



Messrs. Editors : — I doubt whether there 

 are any animals kept by the farmer, which will 

 yield him more real profit than domesticated 

 fowls. If proper care be taken with them, and 

 they are allowed to roam at large about the farm 

 yard and premises, they will produce eggs suffi- 

 cient to bring in a profit double the amount of 

 their expenses; provided, however, all hens will 

 do as well as mine have done the past year. — 

 Yet, I doubt whether hens generally deposit so 

 large an amount of eggs in the same space of 

 time, as the annexed statement will show. 



From April 1st, 184.5, to April 1st, 1846, I 

 have sold in market 282 dozen of eggs, (being 

 the produce of 23 hens,) at an average price of 



16 J cents per doz.; amounting to $37,63 ct3. 

 Sold also from the same, .'|8,00 worth of chicJt- 

 ens, which, added to $37,63, makes a total of 

 $4rj,63. 



During the same length of time the}- have con- 

 sumed 24 bushels of corn, worth 80 cts. per 

 bushel ; amounting to $29,20. This sum de- 

 ducted from $45,63 leaves a profit in my favot 

 of $25,98. 



I have made no account of the eggs and chick 

 ens used in my family, (which has been not a 

 few.) If I had done this, the balance in my fa- 

 vor would have been increased several dollars. 

 I will offset this, however, by the damage done 

 by the hens on the farm. 



Let no one say hereafter, that there is no prof^ 

 it in keeping fowls, if properly managed. One 

 great reason why farmers think there is no profit, 

 is because they never take the trouble to ascer- 

 tain what their eggs come to in dollars and cents. 

 They will put an over estimate on the grain fed 

 out, and pay but little regard to what their hens 

 produce in return. 



My method of keeping hens is attended with 

 but little expense and trouble. Some of my 

 neighbors take great pains during tlie winter sea- 

 son, with sup|)lying their fowls with fresh meat» 

 or liver, and varieties of grain, &;c. ; yet they do 

 not seem to get any more eggs in consequence. 

 I make use of little except corn and scalded meal; 

 the latter, however, but once or twice a week. 

 I keep plenty of old mortar in and about tbetr 

 roosting places, (which is about half under 

 ground,) and occasionally throw in a hod of ash- 

 es for them to roll in, which is an excellent pre- 

 ventive of lice. 



I pay particular regard to the time of feeding 

 early in the morning, and just before sunset. — 

 Some make a practice of keeping a quantity of 

 corn before their fowls day after day, and let 

 them eat at their leisure. I do not coincide ex- 

 actly witli this practice ; I believe in regularity 

 in feeding fowls, as well as hogs, cattle, horses, A^c. 



There is no profit, in my opinion, resulting 

 from raising chickens, other than for one's own 

 use. I commonly kill otT my old hens and keep 

 my pullets over, being much better to lay, I 

 think. 



Thus much I have said in regard to domestic 

 fowls, making it appear that there is as muck 

 profit in keeping hens as any animal kind a far- 

 mer can have, considering their value. 



Albert Toud. 

 Smlthjield, R. /., April 1, 1846. 



SuBSTTTUTR FOR PoTATOES. — A Western pa- 

 per suggests the propriety of growing artichokes 

 as a substitute, in some degree, for potatoes — and 

 on the authority of Ellsworth's reports, states that 

 they are better spring feed for hogs, cattle, and 

 sheep, than the potato, at a diminution of cost ia 

 I production. ' . 



