276 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



[March 25, 



FURTHER EXTRACTS 

 FROM MR CHAUMONT'S ADDRESS. 



IConcluded from paye 268.] 



The agricultural societifis have been produc- 

 tive of great good, as is better evinced : in 

 more thoroughly ploughing and subduing the 

 soil; in more liberal!}' manuring and carefully 

 saying manures ; in a more judicious selection 

 and best employ of seeds; by getting improved 

 agricultural implements ; by greater attention 

 to the breed of domestic animals ; by greater 

 neatness in clearing, draining, fencing and seed- 

 ing the farms; by greater improvements in fat- 

 tening animals ; the groat augmentation of 

 crops; the increase of roots; the vast diminu- 

 tion of ardent spirits consumed by labouring 

 men: and lastly the improvements in domestic 

 manufactures of cloth or other dress. 



Agricultural societies have been useful to 

 the community. The improvements in agricul- 

 ture have advanced more in a few years, than 

 they would have done in half a century with- 

 the influence of these societies. The eflects 

 have not been confined to the members, but 

 even to the opposers of the societies. The 

 visible marks of usel'ulness generally are the 

 improved state of farms as to cultivation, fences, 

 orchards, buildings, adaptation of crops to their 

 proper use, improved breeds of horses, horned 

 cattle, sheep and hogs. Domestic manuiaclures 

 have improved in the same degree. The ag- 

 ricultural class have had their views enlarged, 

 their prejudices removed, their resources dis- 

 played, and they feel their importance. 



Here, gentlemen, you have had the most un- 

 deniable testimonies of the immense utility of 

 the Agricultural Societies, and although similar 

 institutions have so recently been established in 

 our state, you cannot but be convinced (hat with 

 perseverance in our laudable pursuits and some 

 amendments in our regulations, we will not be 

 long vvithuul attaining the glorious and eminent- 

 ly beneficial resulis of our neighbours. The 

 lestinionies which I produce here to carry that 

 conviction info your minds, to animate our hopes 

 and stimulate our efforts, are worthy your entire 

 confidence. 



I ad(}ressed my^etters to persons whose opin- 

 ions on the subject vveie generally unknown to 

 me ; yet there is but one of those who answer- 

 ed my questions who is not in harmony with the 

 rest. Upon the whole, he thinks that Agricul- 

 tural Societies ought to be given up, and man- 

 ufacturing societies substituted, or their object 

 changed to that of the introduction of a compe- 

 tent manufacturing population. 



To accomplish this, gentlemen, which we 

 will consider as being the great desideratum of 

 the warmest friends of the manufacturing inter- 

 est, we have no need to change our object. — 

 Nothing can attain it sooner and more elTectual- 

 ly than by a faithful adherence to, and an en- 

 ergetic display ofthe jirinciples of our Societies. 

 We all agree that to that end some of our prac- 

 tices must be altered and improved. Our in- 

 tentions are already and repeatedly manifested 

 by our deeds, and we have confounded the in- 

 terests of the Agriculturist with those of the 

 manuf.icturer. Besides, you cannot encourage 

 one without promoting the other. Look to En- 

 gland, tliat great m inutacturing country, you 

 will see that the extraordinary extension and 



improvements in their manufactures and the un- 

 expected increase in their population, began 

 with the encouragements of all kinds given near 

 30 years ago to their agriculture. Look to 

 France — a most cruel civil war, and a war with 

 all Europe, combined their devastations to des- 

 troy more than a million of its inhabitants. But 

 Agriculture is encouraged — abundance follows. 

 Their manufactures flourish to a degree never 

 known before in that country. 



Methinks I see a farmer, or rather a man liv- 

 ing in the woods, and getting his s.-.anty subsist- 

 ance by scratching his lirlile lands, having let"t 

 at home, his wife anxious after the state in which 

 he shall return home — Children wasting their 

 physical and moral |!Owers in slothful idleness. 

 His wandering steps have led him to this place 

 on the day when we have assembled to cele- 

 brate our annual festival. His doubtful looks 



great deal may be done by skill and judgment, 

 in preparing your lot to become a farm. A 

 great proportion is now arrived at that state 

 where the most approved method of farming 

 may be applied vvith advantage. I will endea- 

 vour to state briefly a few remarks, some of 

 ihem in the hope that, matured by your good 

 judgments, they may not be wholly uninterest- 

 ing or useless. 



1 would recommend the cultivation of millet, 

 both for hay and nutritious seed. It is raised 

 successfully in small quantities by some farmers 

 in this county, and 1 believe to their satisfac- 

 tion. I have received a little most beautiful 

 seed from I'rance, but which will, I ap|)rehend, 

 make the hay too rank. It will be preferable, 

 when wanted as a grain. 1 have distributed it 

 in several parts of this county and adjoining 

 ones, and an opportunity will be given of judg- 



view a procession formed by men whom he sup-jing of its relative merits with the common mil- 

 poses by their manners and by his little acquaint- 1 let. The following remarks by the zoaluiif< nnd 

 lance with them to he among the most respect- ^ able foreign Corresponding Secrelary ofthe 

 I able in the county. He follows and obtrudes Board of .\griculture, Mr Featherslonhaugh, iire- 

 ! himself in a place where he never entered be- 

 fore — a church. He finds upon enquiry, that 

 here the rich, the poor, the farmer, the median- 



cei'e, in the memoirs of that body, an interest- 

 ing paper frnm Mr John Hare Powel, of Phi- 

 ladelphia county. " Mr Powel states, that on 



ic, and the professional man are mixed without : the 5lh of May, five bushels of millet seetJ 

 distinction ; all political parties have subsided, . were sown on four acres, and harvested on the 

 and all angry feelings are stifled. The solemn j sth of July, giving four tons an acre. That he 



olilained this season 40 tons from 16 acres, of 



appearance of the audience, the impressive 

 prayer, the sweet music, have produced impres- 

 sions hcretuiure unknown. He listens with pa- 

 tience, and even with attention, to an a<ldress 

 where he finds that sobriety and industry are 

 indi»Tensable to the acquirements of wealth, to 

 which he is not insensible, and of reputation, 

 which as yet concerns him little. The distribu- 

 tion of premiums is a more tangible and substan- 

 tial call to his feelings, and begins to rouse some 

 dormant idea of praise-worthy ambition. The 

 [irocession resumes, and a numerous company 

 set down to a dinner where, although the great- 

 est hilarity prevails, he finds no disorder nor fu- 



whicli only four had been manured, and that it 

 afioids fodder more nutricious and more easily 

 made than any sort of hay. The writer of 

 these remarks had an opportunity of seeing 

 Mr. Powel's neat cattle, in February, 1823, in 

 the use of this fodder, — and finer animals, and 

 belter kept, are not to be found perhaps in 

 America. 

 '• Thy subject is especially interesting to those 

 who have small fjrms, as well as to those whose 

 ordinary fodder is made uncertain by drought." 

 Another plant vvhich I would call to your 

 attention, I would request- some observing far- 



mult : and to his inexpressible wonder the guests mers to try with care, as I am not acquainted 

 separate in jierfect sobriety and good humcur. i with any successful culture of it on a large 

 He himself forgets to get drunk, and walks j scale : but 1 believe it promises to be of great 

 straight to his house. His astonished and en- advantage to our northern climate, and compar- 

 chanted family are disposed to listen with at- i alively thin population, creating high wages, 

 fention and pleasure to the recital of scenes | I mean the Jerusalem Artichoke — Hclianthui 

 which have produced the unprecedented effect. I tubcrosiis. 1 have had a correspondence upon 

 Their emotions excite and stimulate his own. — ' that valuable plant with a distinguished farmer. 

 His wife must try her hand at some article of | who has made experiments upon it ; and I will 

 manufacture, and his boys declare that if tliey leave a copy of whit he wrote to me upon this 

 had a chance, they could plough as well as any subject, with our I-.ecording Secretary, to be 

 body. The charms of novelty keep up the first ; communicated to those who may be disposed to 

 excitement. This family turn a new leaf. A acquire a new root, of easy cultivation, and 

 few days' work have sulhced to show that the most nutricious qualifies. 



children may be supported at school, they are j As hay is rather scarce this season, it is a 

 neatly clad in homespun clothes on Sunday, ami j proper time for mentioning, with the serious 

 are no more strangers to the public meetings of j attention which it merits, a most important 

 worship. The father finds bis health and his | substitute for it. It is the stalks of wheat, rye, 

 moral situation improved. Emulation has be- j barley ,or oats. It must be cut fine and mixed vvith 

 gun to operate upon him, and he is determined i meal. It will make a stronger, healthier, more 



that the field of his neighbour shall not much 

 longer be the better ofthe two. In short, health 

 and happiness have returaed under their roof 

 The rough clearing is getting the aspect of a 

 farm, and if it continues in this way a few 

 years, it may one day get the premium for the 

 best farm in his town, and perhaps in ll'.e 

 county. 



It will indeed take several years from. the 

 beginning to arrive at that enviable point. — 

 But even in these rude stages of i'arraing, a 



spirited and better looking animal, than any 

 oflier food which has yet been devised ; and 

 1 need hardly add, it is the cheapest. I have 

 used it with constant success, in France as well 

 as here. I understand that an experienced far- 

 mer, at least in this county, has tried it the last 

 winter, and speaks in the highest terms of it. — 

 I have caused the machine for cutting it, which 

 is used at the Carthage iron works, to be 

 brought here Cot your inspection. It is more 

 siDiplelhan the one which 1 employ, ar.d per- 



