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DEVOTED TO AGRICULTURE AND ITS KINDRED ARTS AND SCIENCES. 



VOL. III. 



BOSTON, SATURDAY, DEC. 20, 1851, 



NO. 26. 



RAYNOLUS (fc NOURSE, Pbopbietoks. 

 Office.... QuiNCY Hall. 



SIMON BROWN, Editor. 



FREU'K HOLBROOK,^ Associate 

 HENRY F. FRENCH, 5 Editors. 



CLOSE] OF VOLUME THIRD. 



When we find that the year is growing old, and 

 its last sands are ebbing away — when we know 

 that it is forever numbered with the years that 

 are "beyond the flood," and that no hopes or re- 

 grets can recall it — when in its solemn and silent 

 march, it may have stolen away something of our 

 buoyancy of spirit or touched our heads with sil- 

 very hues, it is not strange that such a review 

 should tinge one's thoughts with sadness. It is 

 not such a feeling however, that moves us now ; 

 but rather one of joy and gratitude, that in the vo- 

 cation in which we are called to labor such vast 

 results have been accomplished — that the attention 

 of individuals possessing talents of the highest 

 character, and the aggregated mind expressed in 

 various public assemblies, and now taking hold of 

 the Legislatures of the States, and the Nation, is 

 turned to the first and most important industrial 

 pursuit of man. 



In no one year is it probable that such progress 

 has been made before in tlie various modes of cul- 

 tivating the earth ; in new applications of mechan- 

 ical powers ; and in more systematic investigations 

 of the nature of soils and of the substances used for 

 supporting life. 



As a Science, as well as an Art, the business of 

 Agriculture has received a new and powerful im- 

 pulse. It is now elevated in the public mind to a 

 genteel occupation. Every man aspires to it as the 

 ultima thulc of his hopes, the fruition of his earthly 

 labor and toil. It will result in immense ?noral 

 benefits, unite the people with hooks strongei tlian 

 steel and give the nation a power never conceived 

 before. 



Sad events, there have been ; they have touched 

 the heart with a sorrow that time only can partly 

 assuage ; they were in the course of Providence. 

 That Providence has summoned our friend and as- 

 sociate from our side, -and called other loved ones 

 away from our earthly vision. We bow to these 



admonitions in huml)le confidence, and work on 

 with an earnest and trusting heart. 



Laboring in the wide field before us, we have 

 constantly found cause of thankfulness, in the 

 cheerful hearts and vigorous hands that have sus- 

 tained us on the way. We have felt strong in 

 their midst, and only give utterance to the sincere- 

 emotions of our heart, when we thank them for 

 their forbearance and kindness, as well as for their 

 invaluable favors. Without them it were impossi- 

 ble to reach that position in the public favor which 

 we now are confident we possess. There is palpa- 

 ble evidence in our successive editions that we have 

 in a considerable degree met the wants of the agri- 

 cultural community. In clubs and in neighborhood 

 associations men have instigated each other to good 

 works. They have examined, experimented, dis- 

 cussed and decided, and their practical decisions 

 have been sown broad cast through our columns. 

 There are others whom we could wish to number 

 with these, and they are respectfully invited to aid 

 us in elevating to its proper position their favorite 

 rural art. 



In closing the volume we have given a copious 

 index to the subjects, and an index to the names of 

 correspondents, which will be found of great con- 

 venience. This volume contains much that cannot 

 fail to be eminently useful to those commencing the 

 management of a farm, as well as numberless use- 

 ful hints and suggestions to tlie skilful practi- 

 tioner. 



NEW ARRANGEP/IENTS. 



To keep pace with the increasing demands of 

 the Agricultural community, and enable us to de- 

 vote more space to contributors, to Horticulture, 

 and extracts from the columns of our friends, we 

 shall on the first of January increase the size of the 

 New England Farmer to 48 pages, and issue it on 

 the first of every month, embellished with numer- 

 ous engravings; making a handsome volume of 576 

 pages at the end of the year This will be the 



