662 



FARMERS' REGISTER— STRAW CUTTER— STEAM POWER, &c. 



agriculture, under the auspices of the state, is well 

 conceived, and we iiope it may i)C acted ujjon. In 

 this age of jrencral improvement, when institutions 

 and associations have been ibrmed for promoting 

 intelligence in almost every branch of knowledge, 

 and among all classes, we see no good reason why 

 measures should not be taken, ibr extending simi- 

 lar advantages to the cultivators of the soil. At 

 least iive sixths of our whole population are main- 

 tained by husbandry and gardening; it is there- 

 fore of the first consequence, that instruction should 

 be universally disseminated on all the branches of 

 tillage. This would enable the proprietors of the 

 soil to manage it in such a manner as to insure the 

 most abundant harvests, as well as to aftbrd the 

 greatest possible enjoyment to their households, 

 from the variety, value and beauty of their pro- 

 ducts. A powerful impulse should be given to 

 this great branch of national industry: it is re- 

 quired by public policy, patriotism, and a just 

 regard to the rights and interests of the people. 

 And it is greatly desirable that the stale govern- 

 ments should take measures to lacilitale inquiries 

 and exjieriments. As a science and an art, agri- 

 culture embraces a wide field, requiring an exten- 

 sive acquaintance with natural history and philoso- 

 phy, while the practical ojjeralions are so various, 

 ditficult, and oftentimes even delicate, that they 

 cannot be satisfactorily performed without intelli- 

 gence. Theory and practice must be taught, and 

 science and skill acquired in a contemporaneous 

 manner; and this can only be done in well mana- 

 ged schools of instruction, combined with farms of 

 experiment, under well educated and practical 

 masters. We can never have the advantage of 

 improved cultivation, combining ornament and 

 recreation, with utility and comfort, without them. 

 The genius of husbandry must'be sought by ad- 

 vances, propitiated by kindness, and her protection 

 insured by assiduous devotion. 



The French people, in the exercise of that 

 munificent spirit which has rendered Paris the 

 emporium of the arts and sciences, the seat of use- 

 ful knowledge and elegant learning, have endowed 

 seminaries dedicated to all the difiiercnt branches 

 of rural economy The Jardin des plants, the 

 school of rural economy at Alfbrt, and tlie celebra- 

 ted farm of Rambouillet, would do honor to any 

 country. Why then should we hesitate to com- 

 mence the foundation of similar establishments. 

 The inducements are more urgent, the demands as 

 imperious, and prospective advantages incalculable. 

 We should i'eel dishonored as a nation, that no in- 

 stitutions have been founded for the advancement 

 of an art which includes so much; which admin- 

 isters to our wants, and multiplies tiie sources of 

 our happiness. This reprehensible indilTerence — 

 this total negligence of measures for inculcating 

 theoretical knowledge and practical skill, in a fun- 

 damental department of human education is inex- 

 cusable, and demands the serious consideration of 

 the people. There are means enough and to spare. 



USEFULNESS OF THE STRAW CUTTER. 



From the New En°land Fanner. 

 The following letter gives conclusive testimony, 

 in addition to many proofs we have heretofore pub- 

 lished, of the value of the important implement 

 here named. 



Beverly, Jan. 25, 1834. 

 It is with jdeasure that I comply with your re- 

 quest, asking the result of my exj)erience on the 

 sulyect of feeding slock. My stock consists of 51 

 head, viz. S horses, 6 oxen, 35 cows and 2 year- 

 lings. This stock was fed in the usual way with 

 English, salt and fresh meadow hay, with meal and 

 potatoes as their condition required, to the 1st De- 

 cember last, at which time I commenced chopping 

 my hay. In giving the result of my experiment 

 I must in some measure ask the privilege of a 

 yankee, viz. that of guessing; but in this case I 

 think I can guess pretty correctly, as much of the 

 hay as has been loaded in consequence of having 

 to remove it from one barn to the other, and cal- 

 culating the number of days a load would last, the 

 result is as follows : 



700 lbs. English hay, at ^16 per ton, ^5,60 



200 " fresh ' " 4 " 40 



100 " salt " 8 " 40 



3 bushels corn meal, 2,25 



8 " long red potatoes, 1,60 



Per day, $10,25 

 400 lbs. English hay chopped, ^ 16 per ton, 3,20 

 100 " fresh " " 4 " 20 



100 " salt " " 8 " 40 



3 bushels corn meal, 2,25 



4 " long red potatoes chopped, 80 

 140 gallons pure water, 0,00 



1 man at ^'6 per month, 31 



Board of man at s$l,50 per week, 23 



Per day, S7,39 

 Balance in favor of straw cutter, 5^2,86 per day. 



In addition to the above balance, may be added 

 an increase of six gallons of milk from twenty- 

 five cows then in milk, and likewise something for 

 the improvement of the condition of my whole 

 stock. 



Yours respectfully, amos shelijejv. 



NEW METHOD OF APPLYING STEAM POWER. 



From the Keeseville Argus. 

 Mr. Brown, of Keeseville, has stated that he has 

 invented a plan by which he proposes to dispense 

 altogether with the use of an engine, thereby not 

 only saving the important item of fifteen thousand 

 dollars in the expense, but moreover the cumbrous 

 bulk and ponderous transportation of an engine. 

 He has entire confidence in the perfection and 

 utility of this discovery, having tried the experi- 

 ment "on a small scale;" and is taking measures 

 to i)atent his invention, and to demonstrate its 

 capacity early the coming season. Mr. Brown is 

 an ingenious mechanic and worthy citizen of our 

 village. Thus, with Burden's boat, Rutter's pro- 

 cess of generating steam, and Brown's application 

 of its power, we may soon expect to ride from 

 Troy to New York, and back in twelve hours, and 

 at an expense less than we could stay at home in 

 " these hard times." 



A FAT HOG. 



From the Riclimoml Wliii;. 



Mr. Samuel Cottrill in the upper end of Henrico, 

 killed a hog of his own raising on Friday last, the 

 nett weight of which was nine hundred and fifteen 

 pounds. 



