244 



Wool and Sheep Husbandry^ 



Vol. VIII. 



of the numerous works upon the application 

 of Chemistry to Agriculture, lately published. 

 Knowing by chemical analysis or examina- 

 tion, the composition of the grain and straw 

 of wheat, and that of the soil, it was an 

 easy matter to apply those materials which 

 were needed, in order to produce a healthy 

 and vigorous growth. He prescribed for his 

 wheat and soil as he would for a patient, and 

 with equal success; health and strength have 

 been restored to the suffering subject. 



Now, as to the sources of the manure 

 which he has made use of, we will say a 

 word ; it is in the power of every farmer, 

 near large cities, to procure the materials 

 which are needed to enricii the soil. 



The Doctor formed a compost obtained 

 from various sources, consisting of the refuse 

 of tanners', soap boiling establishments, &c. , 

 in short, of such animal and vegetable sub- 

 stances as contain soluble salts, or which 

 can be made subservient to the growth of 

 plants. In the selection of these substances 

 he was guided by their composition as made 

 known by chemical analysis. " Give," says 

 the rational agriculturist, "to one plant such 

 substances as are necessary for its develope- 

 ment, but spare those which are not requi- 

 site, for the production o? other plants which 

 require them." 



" An empirical," or quack system " of agri- 

 culture, has administered the same kind of 

 manures to all plants, or where a selegtion 

 has been made, it has not been based upon 

 a knowledge of their peculiar composition." 

 The phosphate of soda or lime, the silicate 

 of potash, and sulphate of ammonia, or other 

 salts containing these in other combinations, 

 are necessary for the production of wheat ; 

 these have been supplied by the Doctor, and 

 why should we be astonished at the results 

 which have followed their application? He 

 has adopted the scientific method of manur- 

 ing, and if his knowledge of the composition 

 of the soil and wants of the crop was exact, 

 and his conclusions correctly drawn, he could 

 not err in the application of his manures. 

 His is indeed a triumph of science over the 

 old fashioned, uncertain, and empirical mode 

 of farming ; here is an example worthy the 

 attention of every farmer, and especially 

 should it be considered by those whom pre- 

 judice has so blinded that they can not per- 

 ceive the vast benefits arising from the judi- 

 cious application of scientific knowledge to 

 agriculture. It is indeed "creditable to the 

 Doctor as a scientific farmer;" we hail him 

 as a benefactor, and desire that he may per- 

 severe in that path of usefulness in which 

 he has found both pleasure and profit. 



J. S. L. 



Flula(]^lphia, Second month 6tb, 1844. 



Wool and Sheep Husbandry. 



A paper read before the Practical Farmer^s 

 Club, of New Castle county, by one of its 

 members, at the regular monthly ineeting, 

 February 1st, 1844. 



The Hon. Francis Granger, in his remarks 

 before the Agricultural Society of New York, 

 at Rochester, last fall, said that Abner Bar- 

 low, the man who sowed the first wheat 

 west of the Cayuga Lake, had made one of 

 their party in coming up in the cars to Ro- 

 chester that morning, and that Abner Bar- 

 low was now a hale, hearty man, enjoying 

 a green old age, and you all know, added 

 Mr. Granger, " how long it is since western 

 New York has had the reputation of being 

 the great wheat district of the country." 

 Other Abner Barlows — other agricultural 

 pioneers might be pointed out, probably now 

 in being, who sowed the first wheat in Ohio, 

 in Indiana, in Illinois, and Michigan, all more 

 recently known as great wheat districts of 

 the country. These are now likewise great 

 corn growing States, as are also others of 

 the Western States. Kentucky raises about 

 49,000,000 bushels of corn, Tennessee 55, 

 000,000 busliels, and this corn has very re- 

 cently begun to find its way by the route of 

 New Orleans to Boston, our corn market. 



We are forcibly reminded by such facts 

 of the changes that have taken place, and 

 are constantly and rapidly taking place in 

 our agriculture, not only as to the extent to 

 wnich it is prosecuted, but particularly as to 

 the scene of operations. These matters re- 

 quire to be watclied, and somewhat pondered, 

 by us farmers still cultivating the ancient 

 domain of the " old thirteen," and it may be 

 they will suggest from time to time, modifi- 

 cations, or some corresponding changes on 

 our part, in our mode of culture. 



Other equally striking changes have been, 

 and are being made by the manufacturing 

 interest. We now manufacture annually, 

 to the amount of )!;350,000,000, and give 

 employment to 455,668 persons, who are 

 connected with and supported b}'^ this in- 

 terest. 



The following is the estimate of the wool- 

 len business in 1839. It has probably in- 

 creased fifty per cent, since that time. 



Number sf fulling mills, 2,585 



Woollen manufactorios, 1,420 



Value of manufactured goods, $20,696,999 



Number of persons employed, 21,342 



Capital invested, $15,765,124 



It appears from the reports of the Secre- 

 tary of the treasury, that for the eight years 

 preceding 1843, there were imported into the 

 country on an average, annually, upwards 

 of 9,000,000 pounds of wool. In 1841, it 



