NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



45 



Tbcse substances, in their elementary state, being 

 minerals, they are not liable to evaporation, but 

 they remain with the pciTnanent jjarts of the liquid 

 manure. On boiling this manure, or exposing it 

 to heat, and consequent fermentation, the aqueous 

 parts would escape in steam or vapor, and the volatile 

 matters in gases, leaving the salts and other solid 

 parts, — Ed. 



■* 



Fo7- the Ncio England Fai-mer. 

 HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE. NO. IV. 



[concluded.] 



Mr. Editor: — The soil of South America is rich 

 and productive, but the bowels of the earth are 

 stored with the precious metals; henc-o agriculture 

 is generally neglected- The pcojDle are many years 

 behind the times, both as it regards the implements 

 of husbandry, and the mode of subduing the soU. 

 But the United States were destined to happier 

 scenes of action. Our fathers pushed the buisncss of 

 agriculture with nerve, resolution, and unexampled 

 success. The forest feU before them, and the country 

 soon began to smile, and promised what a more dis- 

 tant day has brought forth. While every other art 

 and science is cultivated, that of agriculture has by 

 no means been neglected. The different modes of 

 subduing and cultivating the sod have, within a few 

 years, engaged the attention of men of wealth and 

 leisure. Many valuable publications have been dif- 

 fused over our country, from which much valuable 

 and useful information has been drawn. But in the 

 agriculture of tliis country many improvements are 

 still to be made. Many of our farmers blindly follow 

 in the footsteps of their fathers, without deriving any 

 benefit from reading, reflection, or experiment ; and 

 we frequently hear them complain that their agricul- 

 tural labors are severe, and their crops smnll. 



This is in some degree true ; but its truth arises 

 principally from the fact that they cultivate too 

 much land to render agriculture profitable. I speak 

 in relation to the means which the)^ employ for fertil- 

 izing their land. Much may be done without the 

 aid of manure ; but the use of this article is the most 

 ready and efficient mode of rendering the cultivation 

 of the earth profitable. Instead, however, of increas- 

 ing this article by compost, many farmers misapply 

 that which is incidental to their farms. They are 

 too apt to spread a small qiiantity of manure upon a 

 large piece of poor lancL The manure, in this case, 

 is almost entirely lost, inasmuch as it remains in an 

 inactive state. There is not a sufficient quantity to 

 give an impetus to the cold and barren earth with 

 which it is uiixed. This is one great cause of poor 

 crops ; and the great surface over which the labor of 

 the husbandman is spread, is the principal ground 

 of excessive labor of which he complains. The farm- 

 er should only plough as much land as he can 

 highly manure ; then his labors would be compara- 

 tively light, his crops large, and his land constantly 

 improving. By this mode of proceeding, the crops 

 would not exhaust the land ; and the quantity of 

 manure upon it beyond what is necessary to the 

 j)roduction of the crops, would, by its fermentation, 

 fertili/.c, and render of the nature of compost the 

 whole cultivated surface. Such land may, with a 

 trifiing expense, be kci)t very rich. Whilst this pro- 

 cess is ojjerating upon a part of the poor lands of a 

 farm, the residue of them may lie fallow, or be fertil- 

 ized by ploughing in such green crops as may be 

 produced upon a lean soil. The means of enriching 

 land arc numerous, which are within the reach of 

 every farmer. A little reflection upon the most com- 

 TlioH principles of philosophy will point them out. 



Different soils, and different manures, and different 

 crops, must aU be connected according to their 

 respective and relative natures. Farmers should 

 consult the nature and character of their farms, and 

 regulate their tillage accordingly ; and they should 

 also remember that husbandry, of all arts, is the 

 most improvable. ROCKINGHAM. 



For the yew Enyland Fanner. 

 "CONVERSATIONAL MEETINGS." 



Mr. Editor: — On page 314, Vol. I., of the N. E. 

 Farmer, is an article, which doubtless interested many 

 of your readers. That farmers should meet together, 

 and discourse topics which belong to their vocation, 

 is a subject of great magnitude and importance ; and 

 we have often urged the formation of a " Farmers' 

 Club " in this place, but our labors have ever proved 

 unsuccessful ; and we now take this waj' of again 

 introducing " the plan of creating public sentiment 

 by moans of popular assemblies." I believe there is 

 such a union of feeling or sjiirit existing here relative 

 to this object, that a speedy organization might be 

 made. Who will throw the "first brick," or coop- 

 erate in bringing about such an enterprise ? 



Where is there a farmer in New England that does 

 not reverence with hallowed emotions the land of his 

 birth, as well as his highly honored vocation ? That 

 venerable band of " faithful few " who landed upon 

 "Plymouth Bock," held this, their chief employment 

 — subduing a wilderness — in high estimation ; and 

 they and their descendants have transmitted from 

 generation to generation — yea, down even to the 

 latest posterity — this, a noble gift or token for 

 remembrance, — "a fruitful field." Say Morse and 

 Parish, in their early history of New England, in 

 speaking of the " character of first settlers," "They 

 were destinctl to plant and subdue a wilderness, 

 filled with savage enemies ; to lay the foundation of 

 a great empire, under the jealous eye of their parent 

 country." Thus we see the manifest zeal or interest 

 taken iir the cultivation of the soil ; and in order to 

 give efficacy to their enterprise, or to cooperate in 

 helping each other, so that all might stand on " equal 

 footing," tradition says they fovmd it necessary to 

 congregate, or assemble together, that they might 

 consult their best interest. We have it from oral 

 account, that these meetings were generally held 

 under the broad canopy of heaven beneath the shady 

 boughs of some large and stately tree. 



Would that such was the practice now, in all fi\rm- 

 ing communities ! What benefit, what vast amount 

 of knowledge, might be derived from such means ! 

 Again we ask. Who will cooperate with us in bring- 

 ing about this desirable enterprise ? 



WoBUHN, Jan., 1850. D. W. J. 



For the New Enc/land Farmer. 

 HOUSE LAMBS. 



Mr. Cole: — Being a reader of the New England 

 Farmer, I have often acquired now and useful infor- 

 mation on various subjects of agriculture and rural 

 economy. You have given us articles on breeding, 

 rearing, and fattening neat cattle, sheep, and swine. 

 But there is one subject which I have not seen 

 noticed in your paper, or in your bountifully sup- 

 plied markets. I mean house lambs, for A\hich, if you 

 advert to the prices of meat in tlie provision marlcct of 

 London, and other cities of Great Britain, you will 

 find, at this season of the year and the two following 

 months, the prices generally qiiotcd. 



I will admit that it is an" article of luxury and of 

 rather limited use ; yet that docs not preclude you 

 from giving it a passing notice. As I liavc been par- 

 ticularly acquainted with this branch of rural econ- 



