196 



NEW ENGLAND FAUMElt, 



Jan. 4, 1>S.'!2. 



ADDRESS, 



DELIVERED BEFOKE THE WORCESTER 



AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



OcTtlBKBCO, 1831, 

 niNO THEia THIRTEENTH » N M V E R SiR V , C ATT LE tHOW i.ND 



B V OLIVER F I S K E , M . D . 



Continued from page 169. 



The early history of Scoilaiul is prixhictive of 

 few results vvliich giv(i a ciiuracter lo liusbiindry. 

 The feuils of tlieir clans, ami the igiKirance and 

 abject condition of the ])fO|ile, ri'tanli'd, for many 

 centuries, this art of civilization and peace. The 

 labors and ])uhlications of Sir John Sinclair, witli 

 the efforts of his copatriots in establishing a Board 

 of Husbandry, have infused a spirit whicli has ad- 

 vanced the practical knowledge and science of ag- 

 ricidture, to a degree of perfection, not surpassed 

 by any portion of the British empire. But the best 

 service rendered by Sir John, was in a residence 

 in Flanders, where he acqnired a knowledge of 

 the political economy and agricultural skill of the 

 people, which he has promulgated for the benefit 

 of his own country. 



About the tiiiddle of the last century, Ireland 

 began to acquire some distinction in the art of 

 liusbandry. The transactions of the Dnlilin Soci- 

 ety for the encouragement of agriculture, are now 

 cited in terms of approbation by all foreigners, in 

 their memoirs on that subject. She yet sustains 

 her res|)ectable rank. It is known that the gen- 

 erality of this people are miserably poor. Neces- 

 sity compels the occupants of small patche.s, rent- 

 ed by their landlortis, to resort to the most etfica- 

 cious measures for their utmost jiroduction. — 

 Manure is easily procured, and liberally applied. 

 I once iTiet with a hd'oring Irishman, ignorant in 

 most subjects, but intelligent in this, at a pUice 

 where our scanty mode of manuring was in view. 

 He noticed the different management, in this im- 

 portant particular, between his country and ours. 

 In Ireland be averred, the i)iles of manure lay as 

 thick as they can stand ; while in this country, 

 one little heap is thrown here, and anotiiel-, away 

 yonder I ftlost of our farms would justify this 

 shrewd remark. 



In France, previous to the great revolution 

 which upturned everything hut the soil, the science 

 of agriculture was pressed forward with great 

 vigor. Fifteen societies were established by royal 

 approbation and patronage, for their improve- 

 ment ; and twenty co-operating branches aided 

 this national efl'irt. The code of Napoleon was 

 admirably calculated for its advancement, lint be- 

 came paralyzed as soon as enacted, by tlie down- 

 fall of the Ciirsicau. Since that time, France has 

 been too unsettled for improvement. 



A few observations on the importance of science, 

 as conducive to the art of husbandry, will bring 

 U8 to some further view of the rural economy of 

 Great Britain, as introductory to our own. 



To prove that science has this important bear- 

 ing, I need but to mention the fact, that the art 

 of Printins; gave a perceptible impulse to the art 

 of Husbnnilry. This incontestaldy demonstrates 

 the importance of hooks and treatises which em- 

 body the science, and record the experiments 

 which a detached individual could neither know 

 or conjecture, in the short period allotted for inde- 

 pendent improvement. The Book of Agriculture, 

 the first and best of all agriculinral works, was 

 written by Fitzherbert, already mentioned, and 

 printed in 1534. It obtained an extensive circu- 

 lation. In diffusing practical knowledge, science 1 



had the benign and salutary influence on the i cal publications of the day. Of thin cla^s, none 

 clouded intellect, which the sun imparts in dispel- can be more useful than the Nc« England runner, 

 linj; the darkness, and mists of the morning — i edited wiih wise discrimination, and tlie vehicle of 



The genial rays of both these heavenly luminaries 

 must be combined, and concentrated, to cause the 

 earth to yield its best increase. 



The union of science, and art, in constituting a 

 good farmer, hears an analogy to the soul and 

 body, in forming a perfect man. This union must 

 be derived from the look-learning, which, by too 

 many, has been considered wholly superfluous, and 

 its teachings distrustful. This anomalous race, if 

 ever numerous, will soon. I trust, become extinct 

 in this favored region, by the irradiation of that 

 science it labors to obscure. What other art or 

 science is su|)posed to be attainable, in any con- 

 siderable degree, without reading or study ? Why 

 should the farmer alone rely on intuition, the mere 

 instinct of the brute, for his improvement ; and 

 be directed in his employment, by the- same habit 

 which cottfines his cattle to the furrow, and brings 

 them about at the end of it, without a driver ? 

 Why should he consider himself nothing more than 

 the head tool of his implements, and but the main- 

 spring of their movements, while the mechanic 

 and artisan, by their science, seem to infuse intel- 

 lect into them? If knowledge be necessary in 

 any occujiation, it is pre-eminently so in that of 

 the l"armer. The mechanic has no call to investi- 

 gate the elements which are the bases of the ma- 

 terial of his handicraft. His stock is before him ; 

 aiul his tools, guided by the unerring hand, and 

 practical eye of professional skill, gi\e form and 

 finish to his work. Not so in the business of the 

 farmer. He may as readily learn its mechanical 

 parts ; but he has problems to solve, and myste- 

 ries to investigate. He must be familiar witii the 

 component parts of the substance on vvhieji he be- 

 .stows his labor — their relative proportions — tlieir 

 affiniiies — their separate ami compound agencies 

 — and the influence of other bodies, in their adap- 

 tation to the results he is laboring to obtain. In 

 short, he must kiioiv the necessary ami intimate 

 connexion between cause and effect. These de- 

 sirable acquirements, it is true, cannot be foniiil in 

 [)erfection, except by the aid of chemistry. This 

 important branch of science, in its bearing on ag- 

 riculture, cannot be obtained by the generality of 

 farmers ; nor is it necessary. Their general laws, 

 and princii)les, are ac<piiieil from Lectures on that 

 subject. Something, of which some of you may 

 have seen in the course, which, through the kind 

 instrunientality of the Lyceum, has been recenily 

 enjoyed. Their more necessary application to 

 the art of husbandry, may be derived from books, 

 from mental research, and from their daily devel- 

 opment. Of the books to be consulted, there is 

 none so appropriate and useful as .SjV Humphry 

 Davy''s Elements of Agricultural Chemistry. 



I have said that the profession of agriculture 

 requires more study than that of the artisan. If 

 this be true, it is fortunate for the farmer that he 

 can command more time for its acquisition. Win 

 ter is comparatively, and to him more peculiarly, 

 a season of leisure. Those who do not possess 

 books on this subject, can rea<lily borrow them. — 

 Next to the inspired volume, I would lend a trea- 

 tise on agriculture. But a farmer is the last per- 

 son who should live by borrowing. Let me re- 

 coinmcnd a better course — an association of 

 school districts, or smaller sections, for the pur- 

 chase of a select number of standard works on this 

 subject, with the lighter productions, and periodi- 



sound and" practical instruction, furni>bed from 

 the experience (d"our most scieniitic farmeis. 



General knowledge, independent of nienial en- 

 joyment, is important in all occupations, not only 

 as it may direct the hand, but as it calls into exer- 

 cise other energies, conducive to the common 

 good. This is true under all forms of civil gov- 

 ernment ; more especially in a Jlepublic, where 

 the forest is explored, in common with the grore, 

 for materials best fitted for the hisiing enduraiiee 

 of the edifice. In our favored land, this honora- 

 ble and patriotic incentive is most happily super- 

 added for its highest attainment. 



It is observable in the economy of England, and 

 should be everywhere, that ample provision is to 

 be made for the sustenance of stock, before it 

 becomes an object to multiply, and ameliorate its 

 breed. Having obtained this (Mimary requisite, 

 their great agriculturists, with laudable Zealand 

 perseverance, are prosecuting this next important 

 branch of husbandry. 



As evidence that the more imperious wants of 

 society are amply provided for in that country by 

 the aiil of husbandry, I mention that Horticulture, 

 or rather its branch of Floriculture, the offspring 

 of luxury, is more prized, and is cultivated with 

 great assiduity. This pet child of dotage, nurtur- 

 ed in refinement, has now become the belle, and 

 receives the homage of the day. Her prerogative 

 is to tiauut in tlie parlor, decked with her bouquet, 

 and displaying the desaert, « bile her plain, liome- 

 hred sister in the kitchen, is preparing suhstamial 

 nutriment for the family, and superintending its 

 necessary concerns. They can best estimate their 

 relative superiority, who have the mi.-fortiine lo 

 witness the dinbrence between shotv and substance 

 in their own households and among their own 

 daughters. 



A taste for Horticulture, the primeval employ- 

 ment of man, is pervailing and adorning our own 

 country. ISnl this br.inch of the parent stock 

 must derive her |)riiicipal rearing and residence 

 from the city and its environs ; and when trans- 

 ferred to the country, must yield a precedence to 

 her younger sister. I mean not to derogate from 

 the impoiti.nce of these fascinating and more re- 

 lined pursuits, as tliey occupy the leisure, and 

 serve to cultivate the mind and chasten the taste 

 of the more delicate portion of our race, in an ele- 

 gitnt and h(;allhful relaxation ; and as they ulti- 

 mately subserve the intercsis of agriculture. — 

 They display in miniature, both the theory and 

 practice of good husbandry, which is readily pro- 

 tracted upon a larger scale for the benefit of a 

 country practitioner. 



But the rural economy of Great Britain, in her 

 tastes and priKluctious, like her common law, ia 

 applicable to us, more from its general principles 

 than its adaptatiim to the genius of the soil, or the 

 people. — Both, if they govern, must bend to con- 

 tingencies ; and be in force no longer than other 

 codes are established, for the guidance of the 

 farmer and the juri-st. Our farmers have indeed 

 found surer guides in their own experiments on 

 their own soil. 



It would be instructive, as well as pleasant, to 

 notice the means and the stages of our progress 

 in this most interesting national achievement : but 

 time will permit but a summary view. 



The character and success which our first citi- 



