^^fk^5 



DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ALL ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES, 



Agricalture not only gives riches to a nation, bat the only riches she can call her own. — Johnson. 



VOL. II. 



SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 1850. 



IVO. 2. 



S. W. COLE, Editor. 



QUIXCY HALL, BOSTON. 



J. NOURSE, PuopiuEroa. 



AGRICULTURAL MEETINGS. 



Ox Tuesday evening of Last week, the first agri- 

 cultural meeting wan held at the State House. By 

 some mistake, the meeting was called a week before 

 the appointed time — on the second Tuesday of the 

 month, instead of the second Tuesday of the session. 

 On this account, the meeting was not large, but it 

 was quite respectable as to niimbcrs, and stiU more so 

 as to the zeal and Interest that were manifested in the 

 great cause that claimed attention. 



The meeting was organized by the choice of the 

 following officers : lion. William B. Calhoun, Pres- 

 ident ; Hon. John Daggett, Hon. George S. Boutwell, 

 and J. M. Earle, Esq., of Worcester, Vice-Presidents ; 

 Mr. Buckminster, of the Ploughman, Mr. Cole, of 

 the N. E. Farmer, Mr. Punchai'd, of the Traveller, 

 and Mr. J. C. Moore, of the Atlas, Secretaries and 

 Reporters; Hon. William B. Calhoun, Samuel Car- 

 penter, Esq., of Attleborough, and Paoli Lathi-op, 

 Esq., of South ILidley, Business Committee. 



As Mr. Calhoun was absent, Mr. Daggett was 

 called to the chair, and presided. 



Voted, To commence the meetings at 7 o'clock, and 

 close at 9 o'clock, precisely. 



Voted, That the speaker who opens the discussion 

 of a subject, be limited to thirty minutes, and the 

 speakers that follow, to fifteen minutes. 



On suggestion, the president announced that the 

 general subject of agriculture was open for discussion. 

 Several gentlemen made desultory remarks on various 

 branches of this subject, particularly on the great 

 improvements that have been made in this country ; 

 the VHrious improvements of which agriculture is 

 susceptible; the importance of education, connected 

 with progress in this art. Sec. There seemed to be a 

 general feeling in favor of having lectures before the 

 meetings, a part of the time this season. 



"Agricultural Education" was proposed and ac- 

 cepted for discussion at the next meeting. 



IMPROVE WET LANDS. 



In many cases, gravel or sand can be hauled on to 

 wet lands more conveniently in winter, as the ground 



is frozen, than at any other season ; and, with the 

 farmer, this is usually a less busy season than any 

 other. K the gravel be taken from the bank, the 

 ground's being frozen will not be any serious hin- 

 drance. 



Gravel is the best article for the improvement of 

 wet lands, as it is porous, and allows of ready drain- 

 age ; next in order is sand, and then loam. Even 

 clay and mud arc advantageous, as they cover up 

 vegetable matter, and cause it to decay and form rich, 

 vegetable mould ; and they serve also to elevate the 

 surface and promote drainage. 



In some cases, low lands are too moist merely from 

 their locality, or lowness and flatness, that prevents 

 drainage, the soil being light and porous. Such 

 lands, after being well drained, would be benefited 

 by clay, mud, or loam, rather than by more porous 

 substances. 



In manj^ cases, gravel or sand is not only neces- 

 sary to elevate the surface of wet land, and render it 

 drier by more thorough drainage, but herdsgrass, and 

 other productions, need silex or sand to give firmness 

 to the stalk. Wlien a soil consi.-<ts wholly of mud or 

 vegetable matter, the grass often fidls down before 

 fully grown, while the soil contains all the elements 

 of nutrition excepting silex, \\hich is indispensable to 

 the perfection of many plants, particularly herds- 

 grass, redtop, cane, Indian corn, wheat, rye, and 

 other plants of firm stems. 



MANAGEMENT OF BEES. 



As the davs are becoming longer, and occasionally 

 more mild, bees require extra care, else they will 

 come out on warm days, and becoming chilled by 

 cold winds, they will fall upon the ;anow and perish ; 

 for they are suddenly affected by the cold snow, and 

 cannot recover. 



The most simple mode of preventing this evil, is to 

 shade the hive ; then the bees will usually keep 

 within, until it Is warm enough for them to go at 

 large without danger. In a warm location, the sua 

 will often strike with considerable force upon a hive, 

 which, with the natural heat of the swarm, will 

 make the hive so warm that the bees will be induced 



