NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



381 



ssion in the estimation of the people where 

 ought to be, at the head ot' all others. It 

 S been the case that fanners have educated 

 eir sons for lar less important pursuits than 

 ose of farming', from the mistaken idea thai 

 ey were more honorable ; the learned pro- 

 ssions have been crowded to overflowing, and 

 e art of husbandry has not received that al- 

 ntion I'rom stientitic men which her impor- 

 Dce justly demands. Now, the merchant for 

 s health "can cultivate his potatoe plat, and 

 e lawyer and judge, his acre of corn. Sci- 

 ce is enlisted for the improvement of hu';- 

 indry, and the farmer proudly adheres to his 

 )cation, and more contentedly and cheerfully- 

 it is justly acknowledged by all classes, not 

 ily an essential but an honorable pursuit. 

 The arguments in favor of the society as a 

 eans for the improvement of agriculture are 



qual force to the improvement of manufac- 

 res and domestic breeds. The improvement 

 our slocks of cattle, sheep, and swine, is an 

 iject of primary importance, and we cannot 

 nsistently boast of independence while we de- 

 nd on foreign nations to supply us ivilh our 

 cessary clothing. Every exertion ought 

 erefore to be made for their improvement; 

 at our pastures may exhibit the finest animals 

 their kind, and our families be richly cloth- 

 wilh cloth wrought by the hands of our wives 

 d daughters. Although we might improve in 

 ese particulars without the existence of an 

 rricuttural society, yet we have no reason to 

 lieve that we should as rapidly and generally, 

 id to that degree of perfection, as we should 

 thit. 



Id fact we have abundant evidence of the 

 efulness of this institution. Every man of 

 (servation and candor is ready to acknowledge 



Many improvements are introducing and 

 ling into use. Farmers are beginning to see 

 eir true interests. Clover is taking place of 

 BS enriching and less productive grasses ; clo- 

 r seed is beginning to be raised in considera- 

 ; plenty, and can be purchased for a reasona- 

 e price ; enquiries are made as to the best 

 ode of culture; and improved breeds of hors- 

 , cattle, sheep and swine, are by some sought 

 :er with avidity. These appearances indi- 

 tte a spirit of improvement ; and men of ob- 

 yation date their beginning with the com- 

 inceraent of agricultural societies. It is a 

 t, that these and other improvements and 

 \e spirit of inquiry which begins to be mani- 

 sted among us, commenced in those districts 

 d counties where agricultural societies first 

 Isted. It is likewise a fact with a few ex- 

 ptions, that those counties which were first 

 this institution, have taken and still hold the 

 ad in the laudable work of improvement ; and 

 is acknowledged by those who are qualified 

 judge, that agriculture, taken in connexion 

 ith stock and manufactures, in Berkshire, 

 here agricultural societies had their origin in 

 e United States, and where one has been in 

 iccessful operation for 12 years past, has im- 

 ioved at least one half If these things are 

 , why do not all whom it concerns, come up 

 the help of the institution, and exert them- 

 Ives to render it useful, by endeavoring to 

 icel. If it is deserving of support, it ought 

 be liberally supported ; and it would be an 

 isy matter if all were disposed, to give it 

 icb support. One dollar an'jually from all 



those who are abundantly able, and whose real I 

 interest would be essentially promoted thereby, 

 would give us a fund of 12 or 1500 dollars a 

 year. This sum suitably appropriated annually ' 

 lor ten years, would yield us a profit of at least ' 

 2 or 300 per cent. " It would not be necessary | 

 to apply these funds exclusively to the use of 

 premiums; much good might be done by pur- I 

 chasing and introducing th"^ host bmeds of' 

 slock." In becoming a subs.rriber and pacing 

 the trifling sum required, there would not bo 

 the least dai-.^'er ofan individual's sutfering loss,, 

 it" he only resolve as the resolution of every 

 farmer ought to he, yiriKo subscribe, (that the 

 Board may know its resources) thoi resolve to j 

 be a successful candidate for premium; and j 

 if he should eventually fail of his premium?,! 

 U". would be more than coinpcnsafed for the I 

 dollar given, in the produce of the extra excr-j 

 tion to excel, which that donation may have [ 

 excited. Let this resolution be extensively and 

 generally manifested among the farmers, ac- 

 companied with a spirit of concession, a wil- 

 lingness that the meed of praise should be giv- 

 en to another, if to him it more properly be- 

 longs, and we should hear no more doubts and 

 cavilings about the usefulness of this institution. 



But it is believed that all have not adopted 

 this course, the only sure and infallible one to 

 render the society extensively useful. From 

 an erroneous idea of the real object of the 

 premium afforded, the course has too frequent- 

 ly been, that of withholding a support until by 

 chance a good animal or crop is obtained, then 

 subscribe and offer it and then withhold until 

 chance should be propitious again. Such nar- 

 row policy can never meet the liberal views of 

 an enlightened legislature : it will never pro- 

 mote the interest, nor obtain the object of this 

 institution. An erroneous opinion has likewise 

 too frequently obtained, that all could not be 

 rewarded for the support given, unless all could 

 obtain premiums ; " whereas men of genuine 

 patriotism and liberal views, will spurn such 

 mercenary considerations, and contemplate the 

 premiums merely as instruments to excite a 

 spirit of emulation." 



But there are many objections raised against 

 this institution, as palliatives, for not giving it 

 support ; most of which are more imaginary 

 than real. One is, that it is calculated to favor 

 the rich more than the poor. In one sense, it 

 may be so considered ; but the poor are benefit- 

 ed equally with the rich, in proportion to what 

 they are worth. It is certainly as much for the 

 interest of the one as the other, that agricultu- 

 ral knowledge should advance : — And should we 

 consider the obtaining the premiums as the on- 

 ly object, a man who has a farm, if it is small, 

 and his other circumstances not the best, 

 may be equally as successful in a trial for most 

 of the premiums, as he who has a large farm 

 and thousands besides. Success in this respect, 

 does not depend so much on property as on re- 

 solution and enterprize. The man, let him be 

 rich or poor, who does not believe that he has 

 as much enterprize as his neighbour, and 

 thinks that he cannot do as well, he most assur- 

 edly will not. — No man ever obtained an ob- 

 ject, that he did not believe was within his 

 reach. But let him only believe that he can do 

 and obtain, and be correctly informed as to the 

 course to pursue, and he will seldom undertake 

 without accomplishing. 



Another objection to the society is, that the 

 inducement offered for the raising of an ex- 

 traordinary crop, ivill influence the fnrmer to 

 bestow too iiiur.h labor and manure on a small 

 part of his farm, to the neglect of the other 

 part: and that the crop thus obtained, together 

 with the premium, would not more tlian com- 

 pensate for the extra expense incurred. One 

 would hardly suppose it possible that a rational 

 man, anr! a farmer too, would make so flimsy 

 and inconsistent an objection as this ; yet, strange 

 as it may ap()enr, this objection is urged with 

 a good degree of assurance, and with more 

 efiect, perhajis, than any other. If the induce- 

 ment (iffered for an extraordinary crop should 

 induce farmers, generally to cultivate no more 

 of their land fhi'.n they could cultivate in such 

 manner as to obtain the greatest possible net 

 profits, and neglect the other part so much as 

 to stack it down with clover, an important ob- 

 ject in our general system of farming would be 

 obtained. It is a fact, generally speaking, that 

 too much of our land is under the plough, that 

 it is continued there too long, and that the cul- 

 tivation is not so perfect as it should be. It is 

 likewise a fact, that many of our farmers arc 

 in the habit of ploughing most of the land they 

 have, that will answer to plough, year after 

 year, and hire pasture and buy hay for their cat* 

 tie. And it is a fact likewise, that hay has for 

 three years past commanded a higher price by 

 the ton in this village than corn, when one ton 

 of copn cost as much labor, and is worth more 

 than four tons of hay for feeding stock. The 

 reason of this is obvious : too much of the one 

 is raised to the neglect of the other; too much 

 land is impoverished by constant ploughing, 

 and not enough is growing better, by the rich 

 sward grass or clover. There is therefore 

 not much danger, nndcertainly no need of neg- 

 lecting one part of a farm, by giving the other 

 more perfect cultivation. Neither is there 

 danger of bestowing more labor and attention, 

 by enriching and tilling land well, than the crop 

 is worth. The earth always pays well, with 

 interest, those who treat her properly, and do 

 not mock when they attempt her cultivation. 



There are many other objections made of 

 not as much weight as those noticed, and al- 

 though urged with much assurance, are hardly 

 worth a reply. One withholds his support be- 

 cause lawyers and merchants, anti other men not 

 accustomed to the plough, belong to the socie- 

 ty ; and concludes, as they cannot teach him 

 " how to raise potatoes," a society to which 

 they belong cannot benefit agriculture. An- 

 other condemns the institution for his failure in 

 an attempt to manufacture a fine piece of cloth 

 —for Ids mistake in judging that the fineness ci' 

 the thread was the only requisite to ensure hira 

 the awardof a premium. Another because the 

 opinion of a committee and his opinion as to 

 the merit of an animal do not coincide. An- 

 other because our whole system of agriculture 

 has not been renovated at once. Another be- 

 cause agricultural societies have recommended, 

 in some instances, the raising of vegetables 

 unworthy of cultivation. And another, because 

 designing and dishonest men, in some cases, have 

 imposed upon the society, and obtained premi- 

 ums by deception and false statements. 



That there are obstacles which impede the 

 successful and uninterrupted progress of the so- 

 ciety, and that there are diflicukies to surmount^ 



