36 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



-1' 



O.v Its Twenty-Eighth Birthday, the Genesee Farmer 

 stands before you, kind reader, in an entire new snit.— 

 In the tuU blush of manhoo'd, with thousands of staunch, 

 old friends, who hare known him from his youth up, 

 pledged to support him in his efforts to represent the 

 experience of intelligent American farmers, he feels jus- 

 tified, even at a time like the present, in incurring this 

 extra expense ; still young and vigorous, as well as pros- 

 perous and hopeful, he may be allowed to pay a little 

 attention to appearances. If his dress is useful and be- 

 coming, no one can object to its being fashionable, clean 

 and handsome. It is no holiday attire, but one adapted 

 for earnest, every-day work. It will do good service in 

 eradicating the weeds of ignorance and imposition from 

 his extensive farm, and in scattering the seeds of experi- 

 mental science and approved practice. Grateful for the 

 generous support so long accorded him, and full of hope 

 for the future, he sincerely wishes each and all of his host 

 of old farmer friends, and his thousands of new acquaint- 

 ances, " a prosperous and happy New Year." 



With its new head, new type, and the great variety and 

 excellence of its practical communications from experi 

 enced cultivators, in various partsof the continent, we feel 

 assured that none of its friends will be ashamed to show 

 this number of the Genesee Farmer to his neighbors, and 

 a.sk them to help sustain the cheapest agricultural and 

 horticultural journal in the world, by sending in their 

 names and fifty cents to the publisher. 



Prize Essays. — We have great pleasure in presenting 

 our readei's this month with Thirty I^rize Essays, written 

 for the Genesee Farmer, by some of the most experienced 

 practical farmers and gardeners in the United States and 

 Canada. These Essays alone are worth three times the 

 cost of the volume, to any one interested in rural pursuits. 



On some of the subjects a great many essays were re- 

 ceived, and it has been no easy matter for the judges to 

 decide which was the best. We believe they have exer- 

 cised their delicate duties with strict impartiality. Pro- 

 bably many of the competitors will be disappointed in 

 not receiving the Prize, but we have too higli an opinion 

 of their intelligence to suppose that they will be ofl'ended. 



We hope every one of them will continue to favor us 

 with their experience, not only on the subjects named in 

 our Prize List, but on any other subject that may suggest 

 itself to their minds. We rely mainly on our able corps 

 of correspoudents in our efforts to make the Genesee 

 Farmer worthy of its extensive circulation. 



To correct an impression to the contrary, we may be al- 

 lowed to say that we must not be held responsible for 

 every theory advanced or every practice recommended in 

 these Prize Essays, any more than in ordinary communi- 

 cations. The Genesee Farmer is the " Practical and 

 Scientific Farmer's Oicn, Paper," and we allow our corres- 

 l on lents to express theii- views freely. If the experience ) 



of any of our readers has led them to adopt different 

 views from those advanced, we are certain our correspoiid- 

 ents will unite with us in our desire to hear from them. 



The persons who have taken a Prize will please inform 

 us what book or books they wish, and they shall be sent 

 immediately, prepaid, by mail. 



On some subjects, no essays have been received. These 

 will be found in a new list published in this number. We 

 hope our readers will compete freely for these premiums. 

 The effort of writing will do them no harm, even if they 

 do not succeed in taking a prize. 



Odu January Premiums. — The names of the successfal 

 competitors for the January Premiums for the greatest 

 number of subscribers will be announced in the February 

 number, and the prizes immediately sent. There are 

 twelve Premiums, and a very small club will undoubtedly 

 take the smallest one. Very few persons compete for these 

 premiums. Any one who tries, will be sure of one of them. 

 It is not necessary that the club be sent in all at once. 

 Send on the names as fast as obtained. The time for com- 

 petition for the January prizes expires on the 14th of this 

 mouth. Read over the List of Premimus, and see what 

 you can do to increase our circulation. "^ - 



We should feel obliged if our western friends would 

 send us, if convenient. New York, Canada, or Eastern 

 bills. Small sums may be sent in gold or postage stamps. 

 Money may be sent at our risk, and you need not " register " 

 the letters. 



Our friends will be glad to learn that the prospects ot 

 the Genesee Farmer were never better than at this time. 

 Our receipts up to this date are more than/o!/r times as 

 large as up to the same time last year. Thanks to our nu- 

 merous correspondents, the " Farmer " last year gave great 

 satisfaction ; and though some of our agents complain of 

 "hard times," yet few of our old subscribers are found 

 willing to give up the ^'■Farmer." Agricultural reading is 

 a " necessity " to an intelligent farmer, and in no other 

 paper can so much original and practicalagricultural and 

 horticultural matter be obtained at the same price, and in so 

 convenient a form to bind into a book for future reference. 



Crowded Out. — We have an able article from Dr. Lbb 

 in type, which was intended for this number, but the Priae 

 Essays have crowded it out. It shall appear next month. 

 Many other excellent communications have to lie over for 

 the same reason, among ihem one from our special corres- 

 pondent, Josiau Salter, whose articles in the last volume 

 have given such general saisfaction, and who will continue 

 to write regularly for the " Farmer " during the presnt year. 



The Guano Trade. — A convention is now assembled 

 at Peru, for the purpose of devising means for the future 

 management of the Guano trade. Hitherto there baa 

 been but one agent for Great Britain, and one for the 

 United States. In 1854, there were imported into England 

 200,000 tons, and into the United States 163,000 tons. On 

 this A. GiBBS & Son, of London, received $800,000, and 

 Baereda Bros., of Baltimore, $650,000 commission. It is 

 time this gigantic monopoly was broken up, and it behooves 

 the farmers of England and the United States to use all 

 their efforts, through their representatives, to induce the 

 Peruvian Governmeut to permit free trade in guano. j 



