FARMERS' REGISTER— FARMING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



597 



OBSTACLES TO THE DIFFUSIOX OF AGRICUL- 

 TLRAL, SCIKXC'E. 



From the Northern Fanner. 

 Messrs. Editors : — A n opinion prevails to a c^reat 

 extent amonij; farmers, that success in ao-ricultural 

 pursuits depends moreontlie number of acres cul- 

 tivated, that on the science and skill of the cultiva- 

 tor — more on tlie amount of labor bestowed, than 

 on the skill with which it is applied. 



This opinion miijht have been just, fifty years 

 ago, in some sections of New England (so far as 

 respected the immediate profits of cultivation,) 

 when the lands were new and unexhausted of those 

 principles of fertility, which had been accumulating 

 for thousands of years, by the decomposition of ve- 

 getable matter: but such opinions now, in their 

 effects, must be ruinous to the country, as they 

 form tlie most insurmountable obstacle to the dif- 

 fusion of such knowledge and practical skill, as 

 would enable us to restore to its original fertility 

 the lands which our fathers have exhausted by 

 such injudicious husbandry. It is not at all surpris- 

 ing that the farmer who has been brought up un- 

 der the influence of such opinions, should still pur- 

 sue the course, which his fether pursued, with such 

 apparent success. True, ha is unsuccessful, is fal- 

 ling in debt, and perhaps his farm is mortgaged ; 

 but he attributes his want of success, to unfavora- 

 ble seasons, misfortune, or othercircumslances be- 

 yond his control ; without once stopping to reflect, 

 that the entire different condition of his farm re- 

 tjuires an equally different course of cultivation. 

 Prejudices, in favor of old modes and old princi- 

 ples, shut out all inquiry from this whole class of 

 farmers. Ask Ihem, why they do not subscribe 

 for some one of the agricultural papers, which aie 

 read with so much eagerness by our most intelli- 

 gent and successful farmers, and they will tell you, 

 that their knowledge on these subjects is already 

 more extensive than their power to execute ; that 

 they possess all the skill necessary, but that they 

 have not the means of commanding the labor re- 

 quisite to make the improvements they v.ish. 



Another important olislacle to the diffusion of 

 correct knowledge on agricultural subjects, is the 

 prevailing taste, among farmers, as well as all oth- 

 er classes, for local politics. Many of our farmers 

 have so much of the care of the Commonwealth up- 

 on their hands, that they are compelled to neglect 

 their own private affairs. This is, no doubt, what 

 is understooil to be pafrini{sm,m these days ; but it 

 is most certainly bad husbandry. Ask one of these 

 politicians to subscribe for an agricultural paper, 

 and he will tell you, he is taking, one, two, and 

 perhaps three political newspapers, tor which he 

 pays ; and perhaps, has two or three otlsers sent to 

 him without pay. This is almost sure to be the 

 case with such prominent politicians as have neg- 

 lected their own affairs, for the public good; or, 

 what is precisely the same thing, for the good of 

 office seekers. This class, therefore, have neither 

 taste nor time, for improving either their farms or 

 their understandings ; they are full of business and 

 bustle, in settling the affairs of the nation, till some 

 revolution of the political wheel divests them of all 

 their consequence ; and then, it is too late for them 

 to learn first principles, or attend to the more hum- 

 ble business of agriculture. 



Neither of these classes can be prevailed on to 

 subscribe for, or read agricultural papers ; for the 

 one class is too wise already to profit by them, and 



the other too bus)- to attend to the humble science 

 which they teach. 



Another obstacle to the more general diffusion 

 of tliis important science, is, that, that class of our 

 citizens, wiio patronise agricultural ])ublicalions, 

 and who really believe in their great utility in jiro- 

 moting the best interests of the country, are too 

 sparing of their influence and of their pens on this 

 subject. 



Every intelligent farmer v/ho reads an agricul- 

 tural publication, should feel interest sufficient, to 

 induce him to communicate sometliing, once a 

 year at least, on this subject, for publication ; and 

 he might also, if he would exert his influence on 

 others, (and such individuals always jwsscss influ- 

 ence,) furnish without much trouble to himself, one 

 additional subscriber lo such a })aper, annually. In 

 this way much might be added to the value of these 

 publications, and their benefits be much more wide- 

 ly extended. 



The obstacles, however, of which I have spoken 

 can never be removed, till a spirit of inquiry shall 

 be awakened among farmers, till they shall believe 

 it necessary to read and examine, as well as to la- 

 bor : nor until they are convinced that science is 

 as necessary to success, in the pursuits of agricul- 

 ture, as in any other business of life. 



FARMING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



Extract from the Report of the Examining Com- 

 mittee appointed by the Middlesex Agricultural 

 Society. 



Mr. How's farm contains 117 acres, well pro- 

 portioned with the various kinds of soil, which are 

 necessary tomakea farmer more active. This farm, 

 purchased by Mr. How, about 40 years ago was 

 destitute of fences, except brush and wood ; and 

 the buildings nearly decayed ; and not more than 

 one ton of English hay cut on the farm. By the 

 industry and hard labor of Mr How, the farm now^ 

 is in good slate of cultivation, with 933 rods of wall, 

 400 rods of ditches, a large house, two barns, sheds 

 and out buildings, necessary for a farmer, built by 

 Mr. Hov/ ; a good stock of cattle, and now cuts 20 

 tons of English hay, 10 tons of meadow hay ; grain 

 and other produce in j)roportion. The improve- 

 ments on this farm have been made chiefly by 

 draining the low lands, and taking the manure 

 from the ditches and putting it on the high land, 

 previously passing through the cow and hog yards, 

 and also by levelling with hoes rough and boggy 

 land, and covering the same with sand or gravel, 

 manuie and hay-seed; which your Committee 

 think far better than plougiiing where the soil is 

 wet and heavy. The labor that has been perform- 

 ed on the farm was chiefly done by Mr. How's 

 own hands and team. We are of the opinion, that 

 much of the labor on the walls must have been 

 done at a season of the year, when many other far- 

 mers have l)een sheltered from the severity of the 

 cold. We cannot select any part of the farm as 

 having any extraordinary mode of cultivation ; 

 but each part has been made subservient to the 

 benefit of the whole. By a long and steady course 

 of industry and good husbandry, (he farm which 

 was of little income, has now become a profitable 

 field. The labor of cultivating and gathering the 

 crops are performed by Mr. How, and a boy with 

 a team ; it is now a very productive farm accor- 

 ding to the laborers. 



