1858. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



85 



a remarkable circumstance that farms have a ten- 

 dtmcy to decrease in size more rapidly Avhere the 

 land is poor than where it is rich. — North Amer- 

 ica ; its Agriculture and Climate, hy Eohert 

 liussell. 



SCIENTIFIC FAKMINQ. 



AVe take the following extract from a pamphlet 

 by Mr. T. Dyke Acland, recently published in 

 England : 



"If we consider on what powers of nature hu- 

 man food depends, it is surprising how many de- 

 partments of knowledge may contribute some- 

 thing to the result. How plants grow — and how 

 animals feed — why some thrive and others are 

 stunted — are questions as yet imperfectly an- 

 swered ; but they are the subject matter of the 

 science of Physiology ; a science, the comprehen- 

 sion of which implies an accurate knowledge of 

 Chemistry and of the general principles of Nat- 

 ural Philosophy. The constitution of the soil, 

 the varieties of strata, are taught by Mineralogy 

 and Geology. Draining, in its present advanced 

 state, depends on the laws of Hydrostatics. The 

 economy of farm labor requires the skilful ap- 

 plication of the laws of Mechanics. These are 

 all matters of fact, plain, broad and palpable, 

 entering into the simplest arrangements of a well- 

 conducted farm. But if we go on to more deli- 

 cate subjects, how much is the produce of the 

 farm affected by the principles of Heat and Light, 

 perhaps of Electricity, by the complicated agen- 

 cies of climate included in the province of Me- 

 teorology ! To the subject already named must 

 be added the diseases of vegetables and animals, 

 and the intricate questions involved in the art of 

 high-breeding. In addition to Avhat belongs to 

 agriculture as a food-producing art, the farmer 

 requires knowledge of the principles M'hich affect 

 the rates of wages, profits, rents — principles 

 taught by Political Economy, but having a most 

 important bearing on the question, 'Will it pay ?' " 



Although we would not argue that every farm- 

 er should endeavor to become a Meteorologist, 

 Electrician, etc., or, as Professor Mapes says, 

 study medicine with the view of being his own 

 doctor, or law to obviate the necessity of employ- 

 ing a legal practitioner a few times during his 

 life, or theology with the sola view of rendering 

 the clergyman a supernumerary, still we cannot 

 help thinking that all general information, and 

 the more exact the better, has a very material 

 tendency, if properly applied, to prove conducive 

 to the farmer's best interests. Every cultivator 

 desires to obtain from the soil, at the slightest 

 expense and injury to the source of production, 

 the largest amount of crops. In order to accom- 

 plish this result, unless his means are very limit- 

 ed, there are few intelligent men who will "dispute 

 the necessity of being familiar with general prin- 

 ciples in the various departments of his profes- 

 sion. The man who grows crops should under- 

 stand the nature of soils, which certainly includes 

 more research than would enable him to arrive 

 at the sage conclusion that one is sandy, and 

 another clayey, etc. Then what should be the 

 extent of the farmer's education ? Who will an- 

 swer the question ? One person is found fault 

 with for being too scientific, another for being 

 too practical. Now suppose these two classes of 



gentlemen would shake hands with each other, 

 having as their motto Practice and Science, and 

 casting away the baneful influence of prejudice, 

 seek to gather and apply knowledge for its own 

 dear sake, we might hope for rapid progress in 

 mental acquisition, national wealth and prosperi- 

 ty. If the farmer were not placed in such close 

 proximity with almost every department of sci- 

 ence, in a word, with Nature's endlessly beautiful 

 and diversified works, it would not be difficult to 

 define what should be the extent of his education. 

 Let us apply truths as fast as discovered, and not 

 find fault with the man of science because he 

 cannot supplant the Divine Architect. Although 

 it would be impossible for any agriculturist dur- 

 ing his natural life to study any one department 

 bearing on his calling to its fullest extent, still 

 we do not ourselves, and are afraid never will, 

 possess the necessary information to advise when 

 he should cease to explore, and grieve over the 

 exhaustion of the realms of knowledge. — Worlc- 

 ing Farmer. 



For tJie New England Farmer. 

 THE THINGS I BAISE— NO. 6. 



myatt's victoria bhubakb. 

 This is a large, and perhaps on the whole, the 

 best variety, though it is not as high flavored as 

 some, and is more acid. Large crops can be raised 

 with proper attention. It is necessary to trans- 

 plant often, or thin out in some way, as the stools 

 become large and the stalks will consequently be 

 small. It will bear manuring very heavily. It 

 should be put, if possible, on rather moist, though 

 not wet land. I consider this crop a profitable 

 one for the market gardener. 



LINN.EUS rhubarb. 

 This is a newer and smaller variety than the 

 preceding, and better in quality, though less prof- 

 itable for market. It is some days earlier than 

 the Victoria. Should recommend it for home use. 



SEYMOUR'S SUPERB CELERY. 

 A very fine variety growing large and solid. I 

 have raised it three feet long, and blanched twen- 

 ty-two inches high, white as snow. This plant 

 requires a rich, moist, well-pulverized soil, and 

 should be kept well hoed and free of weeds, but 

 not earthed or hilled up until three or four weeks 

 before it is dug. I am aware that this is contrary 

 to usual practice, but nevertheless a very good 

 way, the best in my judgment. Let it be tried, 

 and each one judge for himself. I am confident 

 they never will return to the old method of hill- 

 ing up during the season, and thus causing the 

 celery to rust and become worm eaten. 



cole's dwarf CELERY 



Is a dwarf variety of very good quality, grows 

 short and quite stout. I treat it in the same way 

 as the above named sort. 



drumhead savoy CABBAGE. 



This is a hybrid, a cross between the Drumhead 

 and Savoy, having the size and shape of the for- 

 mer, and the curly appearance and good quality 

 of the latter. I regard it as one of the most, if 

 not the most profitable cabbages grown. They 

 head remarkably well, not surpassed in this re- 

 spect by any except the Winnigstadt. I have 

 grown it three or four years with uniformly good 



