NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



107 



NINTH AGRICULTUEAL MEETING 



At the State House, MAurn 11. 1851. 



Hon. Marshall P. Wilder in the Chair, — Subject, 

 "Agricultural Education." 



Tlie President in opening the discussion enter- 

 tained and interested the meeting with an able and 

 appropriate speech, showing the importance of in- 

 telligence and science in all the pursuits of life. 

 He contrasted the condition of the civilized nations 

 with that of savages, exhibiting the great advan- 

 tages of education, or the power of knowledge. 

 He then took a hasty view of some of the most im- 

 portant discoveries and improvements of modern 

 times, and the wonders that they were effecting. 

 Among educated people, steam, railroads, telegraphs 

 and other agents are at work contributing to their 

 welfare; and may not these or other agents be 

 brought in reqiiisition to aid the farmer in his pro- 

 gress and his labors 1 May not the chemist pre- 

 pare materials that serve as fertilizers 1 There has 

 not been so much progress in agriculture as in 

 other arts. The farmer needs scientific and prac- 

 tical knowledge. We have colleges for the edu- 

 cation of our sons for other professions, but no in- 

 stitution to give them instruction in farming, or the 

 sciences that appertain to this calling. Massachu- 

 setts has an excellent system of education that com- 

 mands respect all over the country, and shall she 

 allow other States to excel her in agriculture? 

 Other States are moving in this business. Science 

 asks the chemist what elements the plant contains, 

 and what are in the soil; and whether it is adapted 

 to the plant, or what ingredients are deficient? 

 When the soil is exhausted, indiscriminate manur- 

 ing will not restore its fertility. Our lands have 

 become exhausted all over the country; even in the 

 once fertile West the crops are diminishing , and 

 some mode must be adopted for the restoration of 

 our exhausted land. In Europe they have been 

 making improvements in this way, and already 

 some lands yield double their former produce. In 

 the breeding of animals a great improvement may 

 be made. Compare the plump fat Suffolk pig, with 

 the old-fashioned squealing lean grunter. All other 

 stock is susceptable of improvement. Our crops may 

 be greatly increased too. At present our produce is 

 decreasing, while our population is increasing. 

 This State imports equal to 2,000,000 bushels of 

 bread stuff. Our agricultural journals are constant- 

 ly sending forth useful information, and our agri- 

 cultural societies are also doing much; yet there is 

 a deficiency. The means of a professional educa- 

 tion should be within the reach of the farmer. As 

 the Agricultural Commission (of which Col. 

 Wilder is president) had recently made a report to 

 the Legislature, with a plan for aschool, th.e speak- 

 er omitted making any remarks on this branch of 

 the subject. 



Prof. Fowler, of Amherst, expressed his entire 



satisfaction at what had been said by Col. Wilder. 

 He referred to some important modern discoveries 

 in chemical science, and tlieir adaptation to pur- 

 poses of great practical utility, and these cases il 

 lustrate a thousand that are applicable to agricul- 

 ture. In the early stages of society there was no 

 science. The arts grew up first. Then followed 

 the sciences. Now the order is reversed. Science 

 precedes, art follows. There were a few isolated 

 facts which aided the arts. By the classification of 

 facts, sciences have been established. Formerly the 

 arts aided in the formation of science; but now 

 science is rapidly progressing, and it contributes to 

 the improvement of the arts, which now hardly keep 

 pace with the sciences. Knowledge is power in ag- 

 riculture as in every thing else. What is it that 

 distinguishes Massachusetts but the application of 

 good sense, for which the Yankees are noted, and 

 intelligence and science ■' Let Massachusetts lead 

 the M'ay in the application of science to the art of 

 agriculture by the establishment of an institution 

 which shall promote the cause of agricultural edu- 

 cation. The other States of the Union are looking 

 to her agricultural improvements which shall com- 

 port with the ancient renown and her present glory. 

 Let her be true to herself and furnish an example 

 to the whole country. 



Mr. Whittaker requested the chairman to present 

 the plan for an agricultural college, as recom- 

 mended by the Agricultural Commission, which 

 request was complied with. We shall refer to this 

 subject when the report is published. 



Mr. Teschmacher, of Boston, remarked that 

 there was quackery in every thing, and a good 

 share of it in what is called agricultural science, 

 and publications generally. To guard against 

 these errors we want a school under competent 

 teachers, where the young farmer can obtain true 

 agricultural science and correct practice by work- 

 ing with his own hands. He was in favor of 

 science and useful periodicals; but opposed to quack- 

 ery. He spoke of the advantages of science, and 

 stated various cases as illustrations of his position. 

 His remarks on the potato rot went to show that 

 fungus was a cause and not consequence of the dis- 

 ease. Salt and lime were a remedy. Adjourned. 



We have a communication from J. W. Proctor 

 on this subject, which is necessarily deferred for 

 want of room. 



A Large Hog. — Reuben Locke, Jr., Stoneham, 

 Mass., raised a hog, Columbia breed, from N. Y., 

 20 months old, which weighed 710 lbs. when dress- 

 ed, and was growing and gained quite rapidly when 

 killed; the skin quite thin and the meat very fine, 

 thickness of pork 4 to G in. thick on the back, but 

 hold the thickness remarkably well; was killed on 

 Tuesday last week. This hog was 6 ft. long frons 

 between the ears to the tail, and girted 6 ft. 5 inches 

 round the body at the fore-shoulder 



