Ml®. 



Vol. S. 



ROCHESTER, N. Y. ~ APRIL, 1848. 



No. 4. 



THE GENTBSEE FARMER: 



Issiced on the first of each month, at Rochesta; N. Y., by 

 D. D. T. MOORE, PROPRIETOR. 



'DANIEL i.EE & D. D. T. MOORE, Editore. 



p. BARRY, Oondnotor of Horticultural Department. 



FIFTY CENTS A YEAR: 

 Five copies fbr $2. and any larger number at the same rate 

 if directed to individuals. Eight copies for $3, if only directed 

 'io one person — and any larger number, addressed in like man- 

 ■^er, at the same rate. All subscriptions payable in advance, 

 and to commence with the volume. {Jj^- Back numbers sup- 

 1 plied to new subscribers. 



[ Editorial Correspondence of the Genesee Farmer. ] 



Progress of Agricultural €Iieiiiistry. 



For the last ten years, during our connection 

 with the press, we have watched with deep in- 

 terest the gradual progress of agricultural chem- 

 istry, and have never doubted its final triumph 

 over all opposition. If our patience has occa- 

 sionally been pretty severely tried, now and then 

 something pleasant transpires, which greatly 

 strengthens oi^- ho[je in the future. Of the latter 

 character, is the recent happy conversion of the 

 Horticulturist from the dark, uncertain creed of 

 empiricism, to the luminous and sound doctrines 

 -of agricultural chemistry. The January, Feb- 

 ruary, and March numbers of that popular jour- 

 aial, bear unmistakable evidence of the fact that, 

 a. nev/ spirit has come o'er the dream of its editor. 



In the April number of the American Journal 

 •of Agriculture and Science for 1847, Prof. Em- 

 mons gives the results of the analyses of the 

 earthy elements used by nature in forming the 

 bark, sap and heart- wood of apple and pear trees, 

 grape vines, and of several valuable forest trees. 

 The most useful of these analyses were copied 

 into the June number of this journal of that year, 

 and commended to public notice. We also pub- 

 lished our own analysis of Mr. Bissell's nursery 

 soil, and so clearly pointed out its defects for 

 growing fruit trees, that Mr. B. assured us the 

 knowledge so acquired would have been worth 

 hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to him, had 

 we analyzed his soil two or three years earlier. 

 He kindly oflered to subscribe $.500 toward start- 

 ing our chemical school. Of course, we do not 

 pretend that the editor of the Horticulturist is 

 bound to know what takes place in his line, at 

 the city of Rochester. It is, however, a curious 

 accident (a mere accident we suppose,) that he 

 should not see Dr. Emmons' important analyses 

 until nearly one year after their publication with- 

 in a stone's throw of the office of the Horticultu- 

 rist ; and after the able scientific journal of Dr. 

 E. had passed out of his hands from the want of 

 just appreciation. 



in the March number of his periodical, Mr. 

 Downing says : — " We find an interest spring- 

 ing up in all parts of the country for special ma- 

 nures for fruit trees." A correspondent writing 

 from the city of Washington remarks: "The 

 information contained in the leading article (the 

 one in which Dr. Emmons' analysis of the ash 

 of the apple tree was copied,) of your Horticul- 

 turist for this month is worth ten years' subscrip- 

 tion to that work [$30] to any person that has 

 an apple orchard. 



This is true ; but while the Horticulturist and 

 its conductor are reaping a rich harvest of dol- 

 lars and fame, the man of science — the author of 

 these invaluable researches — is, we fear, shame- 

 lessly driven out of the field of agricultural jour- 

 nalism. Rejoicing as we do at the conversion of 

 the Horticulturist to scientific principles which 

 have long been taught in the Genesee Farmer, 

 and through its pages scattered broadcast over 

 the whole Union, at one sixth of the price of Mr. 

 Downing's paper, we can not but regret the 

 loss of one so capable of imparting that instruc- 

 tion in rural science, which American agricul- 

 tural writers, as well as readers, .so much need. 



W^e respectfully submit that, either agricultu- 

 ral chemistry is a humbug, and utterly worthless 

 to the great farming interest of the country ; or 

 it eminently deserves legislative encouragement, 

 and should be carefully stu^Iied and taught with 

 all the appliances necessary to master the subject. 

 Four years ago the popular branch of the New 

 York Legislature passed our agricultural school 

 bill by a vote all but unanimous, only two mem- 

 bers voting against it. It was lost in the Senate 

 by two votes only. The next session it was 

 passed again by the House b^ lai-ge majority, 

 and lost in the aristocratic bi'Snch of the- Legisla- 

 ture by one vote. 



Could our policy have had the countenance of 

 a writer of the reputation of Mr. Downing at 

 that time, each one of the old eight Senate dis- 

 tiicts would this day be reaping all the advanta- 

 ges of a first rate agricultural school. But our 

 humble efforts were too plebeian to meet with 

 favor from a gentleman who has a hereditary 

 claim to be regarded as a learned horticulturist, 

 from the lucky accident of " being born in a 

 Garden." Fortunately, there is no royal road 

 to high scientific attainments. A man who is too 

 indolent, or too regardless of the value.of science, 

 to devote his days and his nights to its diligent 

 study, has little claim to its honors. 



These remarks are called for by the cool as- 

 sumption with which the editor of the Horticul- 

 turist, in the March number, prescribes, as some- 



