338 Husbandry. — Improvement in the construction of ploughs. Vol. VII. 



Husbandry. 



By Dr. Hirzel. 



" The pleasure arising from the study of 

 husbandry, is now confirmed in me, since it 

 is become a part of my duty to examine the 

 nature of soils; and the appointment of first 

 physician to the republic of Zurich, making 

 it encumbent on me to watch over the health 

 of her citizens, I am obliged to pay particu- 

 lar attention to the different modes of living 

 among the different ranks of people — the 

 consideration of a remedy for epidemical 

 distempers among cattle also, being strongly 

 recommended to my care, some knowledge 

 of agriculture seemed a necessary prelimi- 

 nary to such an office, as it almost always 

 happens that the origin of these epidemical 

 distempers springs from the meadow and 

 pasture land; the rules inserted in our me- 

 morials for preventing epidemical diseases 

 in cattle, by correcting the insalubrity of 

 the soil, furnishing proof of what I advance. 

 Tliis double motive inspired me with an ar- 

 dent desire of exploring and explaining, with 

 all possible precision, the present state of 

 rural economy practised amongst us, with 

 its imperfections and capability of improve- 

 ment. And I must acknowledge, that the 

 methods hitherto pursued, do not appear to 

 me the best calculated to answer the pur- 

 pose in farming. An eager pursuit after 

 new experiments, prevails amongst those 

 whose knowledge of the ancient husbandry 

 is superficial and incompetent, and some 

 there are, who flatter themselves with being 

 considered the greatest improvers of agri 

 culture, from the introduction of some un- 

 known species of grain or artificial grass; 

 ■ while others expect fame from the invention 

 of some new implement or different mode of 

 tillage; while a third sort hope to acquire it 

 by untried objects of attention. Now, in 

 opposition to all this, I apprehend the first 

 principle we ought to set out upon is, a per-? 

 lect knowledge of the nature of soils, with 

 a competent insight into such methods of 

 cultivation as are practised by the most in- 

 telligent and industrious farmers, by which 

 they often double their produce, when com- 

 pared with their nearest neighbours. What 

 r smains therefore, is, to procure a free com- 

 munication of these methods, and to endea- 

 vour by all possible means, to excite a laud- 

 able emulation amongst farmers: this, I 

 should think the most eligible plan for re- 

 storing agriculture amongst us: the most 

 circumscribed genius may follow practical 

 rules unmolested by any obstacle, whilst 

 new inventions are attended with a crowd 

 of difficulties. But I have no desire to de- 

 preciate the merit of those generous citi- 



zens, who have appropriated a considerable 

 part of the superfluity of their income to the 

 procuring of newly invented implements of 

 husbandry, and several sorts of grain and 

 grass seeds, trees and shrubs unknown in 

 our climate, of which they have made trial 

 on their own estates, before they were ren- 

 dered public; these spirited attentions, of 

 whose good effects we have already reaped 

 much advantage, undoubtedly merit our com- 

 mendation and acknowledgment; yet this 

 plan for the improvement of agriculture, ap- 

 pears more uncertain and slower in its pro- 

 gress, than that which I have ventured to 

 recommend ; it is more uncertain, because 

 men are too apt to embellish a favourite 

 theory in their writings: the objects of 

 which they are fond, are often extolled be- 

 yond reality, and they allow too much to 

 fancy in their descriptions. It must be a 

 long course of experiments, which alone 

 can determine whether this or that grain or 

 grass, may be naturalized with real benefit 

 to a country, or whether the adoption of a 

 new system of husbandry, with its attend- 

 ant expense, be an advantageous compensa- 

 tion for abandoning an old one. Experi- 

 ments often succeed to admiration, in a well 

 cultivated garden, but when extended, the 

 utility is found absorbed in the expense of 

 labour. 1 have also observed that new in- 

 ventions are always slow in their effects, 

 and can be of no real benefit until they be- 

 come habitual or general: it is a work of 

 time to convince a cultivator that the alter- 

 ations you propose are eligible, and to per- 

 suade him to renounce his prejudices, and 

 change the habits received from his fore- 

 fathers, for new ones." 



Improvement in the construction of 

 ploughs. — A Scotch writer observes : " twen- 

 ty-five years ago, it was common to see four 

 horses and four oxen, dragging and stagger- 

 ing before a large heavy plough, carrying a 

 very small furrow, at the rate of about a 

 mile an hour, whilst the driver — the only 

 active member of the cavalcade — was obliged 

 to traverse three miles to their one, to pre- 

 vent them from falling asleep! Now, we 

 see no plough with more than a pair of 

 horses, carrying a furrow twice the weight, 

 and going with apparent ease three times 

 faster; while the horses are better bred, in 

 better order, and maintained at less expense." 

 Horses, in this part of the country — West 

 Lothian — have now quite superseded oxen 

 in husbandry work. 



That life is long which answers life's 

 great ends. 



