1.— TV. 



13 



AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL. 



99 



results which we expect from the Horticultu 

 ral Society, about going into operation among 

 us, if it be not sootier brought about, will be 

 the introduction of Lucerne as one of the very 

 best kinds of fodder. 



We do not profess to know much about it 

 personally, but the testimony, wherever it has 

 been tried, is strongly in its favor; and we 

 take the following noiice of it from the Farm' 

 er's Assi-tant. a very useful publication, which 

 we happen to have. 



This grass was introduced from Prance into 

 Groat Britain, about 70 years ago; and was 

 first brought to this country by thai distinguish- 

 ed promoter of improvement, the late Chan- 

 cellor Livingston. With this best cultivation 

 and plentiful manuring it will yield from six 

 to nine tons of hay per acre, in a season. A- 

 bout twenty pounds of seed per acre, are ie~ 

 quired, if sown broad cast, which is consider- 

 ed a more profitable mode of cultivation, fur 

 the farmers of this county, than drilling. It 

 may be sown with oats ; but it seoms to be re- 

 garded as best to sow this seed by itself, after 

 deep and thorough plowing. Mr. Livingston 

 sowed it with success in September, after ear- 

 ly crop of potatoes ; and it may well be sow- 

 ed immediately aftor a crop of flax, in both 

 of which cases the soil is reduced to a fine 

 mellow mould. 



The best soils for it are said to be of ths 

 dryer kind, such as a rich sand, or a gravelly, 

 Of sandy loom. It grows well, even tn the 

 coldest climates, though it is more productive 

 under the more temperate skies. It comes 

 forward very early, endures drought well, and 

 if cut frequently will renew itself till late in 

 the season. 



The first year's crop is not as large as the 

 subsequent ones, snd it retains its vegetative 

 vigour about 10 years, when it should b,» plow- 

 ed in, and the soil will hu found improved for 

 other uses ; it is as good as c'over, if not bet- 

 ter, for this purpose, making the ground rich, 

 friable and light. 



There is one quality, in particular, which re 

 commends this grass, for fresh fodder, to 

 farmers in the vicinity of market towns. If 

 mowed as often as the growth will fill the 

 scythe, (as it should be for this purpose) it 

 will continue to produce a succession till very 

 late in the season. Mr Young, a celebrated 

 English farmer, says: "for fatting bullocks 

 and pasturing swine this gra-s may be very 

 advantageously used. When it is made into 

 liay let it be cut while quite green, and made 

 without DAich shaking, as the leaves fall off 

 considerably when dry. A little salt added 

 to it, when laid in the mow, would be a great 

 improvement." — Troy Sent. 



indications of rising on a permanent founda 

 lion. Of the society at Newburgh we have 

 no information of its proceedings. Next year 

 we hope for better things. The Rensselaer 

 ooiiuty Horticultural Society recently formed 

 at Troy, will not, we are well persuaded, be 

 contented to remain last and least. The So- 

 ciety at Philadelphia, like the Philadelphians 

 themselves, preserves its par value. The 

 Charlestons. C. Horticultural Society, recently 

 organized, will, without doubt, put on a spiri- 

 ted aspect. There arc other similar associi- 

 tions in contemplation. Among the benefits 

 flowing from these societies are the cultiva- 

 tion of a taste for rural charms, the introduc- 

 tion of new and valuable fruits, and esculents, 

 and the beautifying the grounds about dwel- 

 lings, and along streets and roads. It is a 

 matter of surprise that these associations a'e 

 not appreciated. We should have supposed the 

 tasty inhabitants of Now Haven, for instance, 

 would have increased the attractions of their 

 city in this way. 



Of Agricultural associations there are but 

 few. Those in Massachusetts appear to move 

 on with unabated ardor, and with decided use- 

 fulness. In almost ererv branch of husband- 

 ry this State has made greater and more gene- 

 ral advances than any other in the Union — all 

 attributable is the spirit excited by these socie- 

 ties. The great state of New York concen- 

 trates all its honor in this respect, in one soci- 

 ety, that of Jefferson county. The successful 

 progress of this society will, at no distant day, 

 convince the inhabitants of the State of their 

 folly in abandoning a system calculated to pro- 

 mote their individual interest and the wealth of 

 the State- There are other societies in the 

 Southern, and particularly in the Western 

 States. The one at Baton Rouge, in Louisia- 

 na, and of Hamilton county. Ohio, are favora- 

 bly known to the Agricultural public. We 

 see indications, particularly in this State, of a 

 disposition to revive those associations. The 

 times and the taste of the people are more 

 I'avorable than they were ten or fifteen years 

 ago. 



AmoDg other indications ot national prospe- 

 rity is the increase of facilities in travollm» 

 ami transportation of goo^s and produce. Be- 

 sides numerous and extensive canals in every 

 section of the country, rail roads are awaken- 

 ing a spirit of enterprise, and opening new 

 and nearer markets to the products of the far- 

 mer's labor. These means of conveyance are 

 producing effects, which will increase and per- 

 petuate_our blessings — tending to remove sec 



Extract from the adtlress of the Editor of the 

 Noio York Farmer, at the commencement of Ins 

 4th volume. 



As an evidence of the increased attention to 

 rural affairs, are the formation and success ofl 

 societies having for their objects the oultiva-j 

 tion of a taste for the science of the vegetal 

 ble kingdoui.and the improvements of the pro- 

 ductions of the garden and orchard. The 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society at Bos- 

 ton, has, during the past year, marched nobly 

 on in her praiseworthy career. The great va- 

 riety of fruits exhibited, and the rare »nd at- 

 tention with which they are examined and de 

 scribed, entitle this society in 'his particular, 

 to stand pre-eminent among tier lovely sisters. 

 The Boston market has unquestionably bt en 

 improved in fruit and vegetables, by tbe efforts, 

 of this association. The Slate of New York [ 

 has taken tbe lead in 'he number of its Horti- 

 cultural societies. The one in this city is vene- 

 rahle for its years, and (or the good it has done. 

 Let it undergo a more scientific organization, 

 and it will at once be acknowledged the pa- 

 rent in knowledge as well as in age. Tbe 

 one at Albany has done, and will continue to) 

 do well. The Domestic Horticultural Sscie- ' 

 ty of the western past of this State, exhibits 



ttonaljoealousies, peculiar habits, and bring 

 forwardra race of men quick in thought and 

 movement, and of liberal and enlarged views. 

 Tbe increased attention paid to education, 

 particularly in that class of schools designed 

 to benefit the great body of the people,thc con- 

 cert of effort, and the interchange of views, 

 brought about by conventions of teachers, are 

 calculated to produce much and lasting good — 

 'o render the munificent bestowments of our 

 legislatures the most effectual in accomplish- 

 ing the desired ends, and add very materially 

 to the firmness and consolidation of the foun- 

 dation on which our imperishable national fa- 

 bric is to be reared 



The establishment of farms and workshops 

 in connexion with schools and colleges is ano- 

 ther pleasing expression in the features of our 

 country. In proportion as these institutions 

 flourish, it will only require industry and a fair 

 moral character for youth, however poor, to a- 

 vail themselves of tho privileges afforded by 

 our best seminaries of learning. 



Erotti fcue American Farmer. 



PLEtnlUM A6RICSLTURAL ESSAYS. 



A country so essentially agricultural in its 

 interests, and possessing a population so intel 

 ligeut, as the tinned States, ought to produce 

 more original matter for the press, en subjects 

 connected with husbandry. The political, and 

 scientific press, teems with fresh matter weekly 

 ijxi daily ; wlyle tiie agricultural is very much 



neglected. The cause u. which we atttnbute 

 this want of agricultural writers may be infer- 

 red from the remedy wa are about to propose. 

 No one, it is presumed, will attribute it to a 

 want of subjects, or ability on tho part of our 

 farmers — there is no country on earth where 

 more abundant materials exist f->r agricultural 

 essays, and none possessing a greater propor- 

 tion of intelligent writers among its agricultu- 

 rists 



Without, therefore, attempting an elucidation 

 of the evil caused by this dearth of agricultu- 

 ral matter, and believing that its existence is 

 sufficiently apparent, we prooeed to the reme- 

 dy, or sueh a one as we think will be at least 

 partially effectual. 



We propose to award premiums for original 

 Essays on the three great divisions of the ag- 

 ricultural interest, to wit : 



1st. For the best Essay on any subject strict- 

 ly Agricultural, a perpetual free subscription 

 to the American Farmer, beginning with the 

 13th volume. 



2d. For the second best Essay, of the same 

 character, five years' subscription to the Ame- 

 rican Farmer, beginning with the l3th vol- 

 ume. 



3d. For the third best Essay of the same 

 character, one of the previous volumes of the 

 Farmer, handsomely bound. 



4th. For the best Essay on any subject strict- 

 ly Horticultural, a perpetual free subscription 

 to the American Farmer, to begin with the 

 13ih volume. 



5th. For the second best Essay of the same 

 character, five years' subscription to the Far- 

 mer, beginning with the ]3th volume. 



6th. For the third best Essay of the same 

 character, one of the previous volumes of the 

 Farmer, handsomely bound. 



7th For the best Essay on any subject of 

 Rural Economy, a perpetual free subscription 

 to the American farmer, to begin with the 

 13th volume. 



8th. For t he second best Essay of the same 

 character, five years' subscription to the Far- 

 mer, beginning with the 13th volume. 



9ih. For the 'hird best Essay of the same 

 character, one of the previous volumes of the 

 Farmer. 



The Essays offered for the above premiums 

 will be submitted to a committee of respecta- 

 ble, intelligent, arid practical Agriculturists; 

 and to secure to the successful competitors the 

 premiums for the best Essays in the three de- 

 partments, their names will be regularly ente- 

 red on the book of the office as subscribers for 

 life, charged one hundred dollars therefor, and 

 credited by premium Essay in full, which will 

 bind as well our successors as ourselves to a 

 faithful performance of the contract. 



In judging of the merits of the Essays, all 

 things else being equal, a preference will he 

 given to practical over theoretical treatises ; 

 but no deficiency of style, inelegance or errors 

 of composition, will be allowed to militate a- 

 gainst the success of an Essay, the matter of 

 which in a more comely' dress would have ob- 

 tained a premium. (The Editor will take 

 pleasure in. supplying such deficiencies.) The 

 particular subjects for the Essays in the three 

 department- of Agriculture, Horticulture, and. 

 Rural Economy, are left entirely to the sug- 

 gestion of tbe writers themselves; as are also 

 the length of the Essays, and the propriety of 

 accompanying their publication with the pro- 

 per names of the writers, though we always 

 profr proper signatures. 



Essays for tbe above premiums will be re- 

 ceived until tbe first day of June, at whieh 

 time all tbat may have come too hand will be 

 submitted to the judges, whose award, with 

 the first prize essay, will be published in the 

 first usmber of the American Farmer after the 

 decision. Those who do not wish their names 

 published may accompany their Essays with a 

 sealed paper, containing their names, and 

 which will not be opened unless it obtains a 

 premium, and then only to enable us K> awatti 



