202 



GENESEE FARMER. 



Aug. 



Progress of Agricultural Improvement. 



AG. JOURNALr^, SOCIETIES, EXHIBITIONS, &c. 

 The progress of agricultural knowledge and 

 improvement must not be left without a remark 

 or two, as this is one of those constant elements, 

 which exercise an important influence upon the 

 aspect of our agricultural industry. 



This knowledge is diffused in no small degree 

 by the Agricultural Journals, some of which 

 are conducted with distinguished ability, and 

 embody not only selections from foreign works, 

 but also original essays and suggestions of great 

 value. It is with pleasure that we own our in- 

 indebtedness to many of them for the aid which 

 we have received not only in common with 

 the public in general, but especially by the 

 correspondence and contributions of their editors. 

 The operation of our labors also, in this great 

 field, we believe, notwithstanding the fears of 

 some, has been favorable to the extension of this 

 species of literature. We judge so from the 

 evidence furnished in our correspondence. The 

 spread of knowledge, useful knowledge, more 

 and more widely claims and ever receives our 

 advocacy. It would be a solecism indeed, were 

 we to act on a different principle, as from this 

 office there is continually going forth, new modi- 

 fications and combinations of matter, and fruits 

 of genius, to add to the slock of the worlds en- 

 ginery of improvement. 



Several new journals devoted to the interests 

 of agriculture have been commenced since the 

 list was prepared, which is found in the report 

 of 184.5. Another pleasing feature in the pro- 

 gress of this literature, is the increasing dis- 

 position manifested by the publishers and editors 

 of the 'political and literary journals to give a 

 column or more to agriculture and its kindred 

 sciences. Many are t'le newspapers which have 

 adopted this plan, and very generally some of 

 the best suggestions which make their appear- 

 ance in the agricultural journals, thus find their 

 way to multitudes at remote distances, which 

 they could otherwise never reach. The titles 

 of numerous public journals now have associated 

 with them the name " Farmers," showing the 

 hold which their claims are gaining on the press 

 of our country. We hail it as an auspicious 

 sign, for with these yeomanry of our country, 

 the stalwart sons of the soil, are identified our 

 best hopes of the ultimate progress of our com- 

 mon well- beloved Union. 



The press is likewise continually sending 

 forth many volumes, as well original as reprints 

 of foreign works, which are finding their way 

 silently among the agriculturists of our country, 

 and enlightening their minds as to the great 

 principles of the science, and furnishing various 

 knowledge of a practical kind. These aid to 

 train our husbandmen to think, to reason — and 



although there is still too much prejudice and ig- 

 norance, yet we cannot but believe there is a 

 continually advancing progress in the operation 

 of these elements of industrial science on the 

 great mass of our agricultural population. Ex- 

 peiiments assume the shape of more reliable at- 

 testations to the truth or error of theories, and 

 hypothesis gradually take the form of well-sup- 

 ported systems. The freedom we here claim 

 and exercise, of discussing every thing which 

 presents its claims to be received as favorable to 

 the public welfare, is most admirably suited to 

 bring into exercise the dormant intellects and 

 arouse the otherwise awakened energies of our 

 fellow-countrymen on a topic so closely blended 

 as is agriculture, with their own and their neigh- 

 bors' weal. 



As another method of improvement, we can- 

 not pass over the numerous, and as we are happy 

 to add, increasingly numerous agricultural socie- 

 ties and farmers^ clubs in our country. Many 

 of the states have flourishing state societies, and 

 even where these do not exist, we find county 

 or district societies. As we have already inti- 

 mated, these associations are multiplying. Every 

 year adds to their number and efficiency. They 

 exercise a happy influence, and promote agri- 

 cultural improvements in more ways than one. 

 The fairs or exhibitions which usually form one 

 part of their instrumentality, hold out induce- 

 ments to the competitors to aim at higher excel- 

 lence. The visit of the committees to the farms 

 entered for premium, naturally calls forth effort 

 to arrange every thing in the best order, to re- 

 move unsightly evidences of carelessness and 

 sloth, and to turn every means of cultivation to 

 the best advantage. The spirit of order, neat- 

 ness, industry, and thrift is inspired, and a new- 

 state of things, even beyond their own anticipa- 

 tions, testifies to the presence of an influence 

 perhaps before unfelt. Nor is this all : the sub- 

 ject of it reaps a further and rich reward in the 

 idditional value of his products in the market, 

 and thus a real state of prosperity is induced 

 which might possibly not have otherwise existed. 



The same eflTect in a measure attends on all 

 of the various methods by which the husband- 

 man's aim is directed to higher excellence ; 

 whether in the exhibition of animals and their 

 products, his skill in driving the plow through 

 the tough soil, or the display he is enabled to 

 make of the various fruits of the earth, which 

 he has brought to win for him the applause of 

 his fellow-citizens. His and their modes of cul- 

 ture, of stock-breeding, of home husbandry, are 

 compared ; new thoughts are struck out by the 

 collision of mind with mind ; and he must be a 

 casual observer indeed, an anomaly among thou- 

 sands, if he does not bear back to his own farm 

 or plantation some new knowledge, some sug- 

 gestions, that may aid his judgment and better 

 his practice. When men thus meet in masses, 



