114 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



their \vi(.lth,mn be laid at an inclination of \b°; and 

 since it ean be proved that rectangular furrow-slices, 

 whose depth is equal to two-thirds their width, and 

 which are laid at 45°, present the greatest surface 

 to the ameliorating action of the atmosphere; and 

 since it can also be proved that such furrow-slices 

 present in their projecting angles the greatest cubi- 

 cal contents of soil for the harrow to operate on, in 

 raising a fine, deep tilth, or seed-bed, and that such 

 furrow-slices have the best spaces for the circula- 

 tion of air, and the passage of water, underneath 

 them, — we may conclude that all ploughs, for lay- 

 ing lapped-furrows in heavy adhesive soils, are 

 absolutely faulty in just so far as they fail to cut 

 rectangular furrows, whose depth is to their width 

 as two is to three; and to lay them at an inclination 

 of 45*^. I would give unerring mathematical de- 

 monstration of these points, were it not that I should 

 be extending an article already too long. 



I intended, Messrs. Editors, to have said some- 

 thing about the importance of each radical improve- 

 ment in the plough, in increasing actually the 

 wealth of the country, not only directly by the in- 

 creased crops to be derived from improved plough- 

 ing, and the direct saving of expense in doing the 

 work, (a good plough, saving time and labor,) but, 

 indirectly, by exciting in the farmer's mind a new 

 degree of pride and ambition to farm it better every 

 way. But my article is already too long, and I for- 

 bear. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 EDUCATION OF FARMERS. 



I congratulate the farmers of Massachusetts on 

 the introduction of this subject for discussion; and 

 the liberal and enlightened views that have been 

 presented by the chairman of the meeting. They 

 are such as we had a right to anticipate, from one 

 who has done so much, by his own example, to ad- 

 vance the best interests of the farmer. 



How shall the condition of the farmer be im- 

 proved? is the all-absorbing topic of the present 

 time. There are those, not a few I fear, who 

 think the art of cultivatiun needs no culture; that it 

 will thrive best in the natural way; will progress 

 most, with least protecting care; that what the fa- 

 thers have done the sons can do, and all attempts to 

 mend this state of things will be labor lost. To 

 such I have only to say — 



"Where ignorance is bliss, 

 'Tis folly to be wise." 



In all Other branches of industry, preliminary 

 preparation is deemed indispensable. Who would 

 think of calling on a professional man for advice 

 and assistance, be he minister, lawyer, doctor, or 

 whatever he may be, who had given no attention 

 to qualifying himself in his profession'? Does the 

 mechanic find favor in his employment, until he has 

 been properly instructed? Who among the mer- 

 cantile class succeed best, those that come in at the 

 door, or those who come in some other way ? Why 

 then shall the cultivator of the soil, alone, be sup- 

 posed to be endowed with an instinct adequate to all 

 the exigencies of his employment 1 The truth is, 

 because some things will grow, in spite of the ig- 

 norance of those who plant, many suppose there is 

 no necessity for co-operative efforts. 



The culture of the soil is a science, a science 

 most complicated, requiring the combined applica- 

 tion of all other sciences. How is it possible to un- 

 derstand the constituents of soils, or the influences 



of manures, without understanding the elements of 

 mineralogy and chemistry? Without doubt there 

 are many skilful cultivators who know nothing of 

 these terms, but does it follow, that they are igno- 

 rant of the principles involved in them? Do not 

 these cultivators, like the observing mariner, who 

 has never been instructed in the art of navigation, 

 acquire a science of their own, that will unerringly 

 lead them to the port of destination? This is ne- 

 cessarily a labor of years. It is the same kind of 

 knowledge possessed by the rude sons of the for- 

 est, wherein their skill surpasses that of civilized 

 man. If, when starting in life, this knowledge could 

 at once be acquired, would it not ensure progress 

 in advance of competitors less favored ? Every one 

 must admit, the more intelligence, the more skill, 

 the more knowledge a man has, the better will he 

 be qualified, other things being equal, for the man- 

 agement of a farm. So also with those who are 

 called on to assist in such management. It is point- 

 edly remarked by Mr. Coleman, when speaking of 

 the mode of culture in England — "the difference be- 

 tween an educated and uneducated laborer is this, 

 — the one is accustomed to depend upon himself, 

 to inquire, to reflect, to observe, to experiment; 

 the other, scarcely exercising his mind at all, more 

 than the cattle which he drives, is accustomed to 

 move in the line, and that only, which has been 

 marked out for him." 



The question now is, can any thing be advanta- 

 geously done by the State to promote their educa- 

 tion ? With us this is a new inquiry. In many 

 of the States it is now going on. New York, Ohio, 

 and others have done something. Shall Massa- 

 chusetts, the oldest, and as she claims, the most 

 enlightened of all the sisterhood, be the last to make 

 the effort? Suppose it should be made and fail — 

 who will be harmed thereby? Suppose $20,000 

 of the funds realized from the tax on banks, togeth- 

 gether with $20,000 more collected from volunta- 

 ry contribution, should be applied in this enterprise, 

 as tiie commissioners recommend; will any harm 

 follow such an appropriation? When I think of the 

 liberality of the action of the House yesterday, on 

 a collateral subject, I am inspired with a hope that 

 something will be done. With a high probability of 

 benefit on one hand, and an entire certainty of no 

 loss on the other, there can be no hazard in thus 

 legislating. The time has come when the experi- 

 ment is demanded. Iffarmersare justto themselves, 

 it will be tried. 



March Uth, 1851. p. 



|i^"Mr. J. R. Stafford, an Ohioan, has for sever- 

 al years been engaged in devising and perfecting 

 improved methods of putting up Corn Flour. His 

 recently patented method has received the stamp 

 of scientific and practical approbation, earning him 

 several gold medals and other gratifying testimo- 

 nials. The new -and extensive mills constructed 

 under his auspices at Atlantic Dock, Brooklyn, are 

 now turning out an abundant supply of "Indian 

 Corn Flour," and "Indian Corn Farina," of the 

 best quality, utterly divested of moisture, and so 

 put up as to be proof against deterioration or change 

 by transportation, time or temperature. We advise 

 every one to procure a box of this "flour" and one 

 of this "farina," as samples of the best preparations 

 of grain for human food ever yet made. The at- 

 tention of shippers of breadstufTs, we presume, has 

 already been drawn to them. — N. Y. Tribune. 



