572 



NEW ENGLAIND FARMER. 



Dec. 



MELVILI.E ISLAND. 



Since the absence, and we fear the loss of the 

 bold navigator Sir John Franklin, andhisdevoted 

 companions, every thing relating to the wonderful 

 and often terrific regions near the North Pole, is 

 full of a sad interest. The Journal has collected 

 the paragraph below from the reports made in re- 

 lafion to the ship Resolute, which passed the last 

 winter at this island 



done " that will tell,"— that will reach and influ- 

 ence farmers. There has been talk enough already; 

 but few have given it a hearing. Our agricultur- 

 al papers have laudably endeavored to excite an 

 interest upon this subject ; but few, comparative- 

 ly, have read them. We have had long talks, 

 every week, during the winter, in the State House; 

 but the great mass of the people were not there 

 to hear them. And those who have addressed us 

 at our autumnal cattle shows, have either directly 

 or indirectly recommended this subject to their 



„.„ Kellet, of thel hearers; while, in fact, the great "mass of the 



Re olute ;:sS: fj^^^^X^. from whence people of the several counties have been at home 

 IS ere. fi?st discovered the Investigator at her ^^gg^ng th.r pot^^^^^^^^ . _ . -. 



eventful voyage, one of a group of islands m the 

 Polar sea called the Georgian Archipelago. It lies 

 between 74'' 25' and 75° 50' north latitude, and 

 106"^ and 114'^ west longitude. It is 240 miles in 

 lent'th and 100 broad, and its surface diversified 

 by hills and valleys. The climate is too cold for 

 the growth of trees or shrubs, but in the ravines 

 and valleys grow various kinds of grass, moss and 

 sorrels, which afford food for the many herds of 

 musk oxen and deer which frequent that region in 

 the summer season. The musk ox is a very ill- 

 proportioned little animal, generally three or four 

 hundred pounds in weight, and is considered very 

 respectable eating. Their hair is so long as to 

 reach nearly to the ground— makiwg their legs ap- 

 pear only two or three inches in length. They 

 are usually found in large herds. Besides the 

 above animals many varieties of birds frequent the 

 island ; and Capt. Perry, who explored the island 

 in the spring of 1820, mentions the fact that in 

 every part over which he traveled, the holes and 

 tracks of mice were seen, and several of the Uttle 

 animals were caught by the party. Wolves and 

 foxes remain there throughout the year, and the 

 white bear of ttie north finds a home amongst the 

 icebergs and floes which surround it at all sea- 

 soup." 



For the New England Farmer. 

 FARM SCHOOLS. 

 Mr Editor :— Some time since, how long ago 

 I do not exactly recollect, nor is it of consequence 

 to determine, I wrote for your interesting and in- 

 structive paper two brief articles on the subject 

 of Farm Schools. In those articles, I endeavored 

 to advocate, as well as I could in so brief a space 

 the plan proposed by Mr. French, of Exeter, N. 11. 

 of establishing, in some suitable place, an Expert 

 mental Farm School, with all its necessary appur- 

 tenances and accommodations, in which theory and 

 practice might be united, and all the branches of 

 at^riculture be systematically and thoroughly 

 tauo'ht. I also gave my views, and the reasons 

 therefor, against having this instruction given in 

 conneciion with any of our colleges, academies, or 

 high schools on the one hand, or our common 

 schools on the other. Ever since, I have watched 

 carefully and considered well all that has been 

 said or done upon this subject ; and, as yet,_ I 

 have seen no reason to alter or modify my opin- 

 ions. „ ,, 



I recur to this subject again, not for the pur- 

 pose of repeating what I have heretofore said, or of 

 throwing any new or additional light upon the 

 subiect, but for the purpose of keeping it before 

 the people, till tlfey shall be induced to do some- 

 thin». It is time, high time, that something were 



It is true, we have established a Board of Agri- 

 culture, and elected, it is said, a highly talented 

 and efficient Secretary, who has already addressed 

 a letter to every town in the State, proposing cer- 

 tain questions of the highest importance, to be 

 answered, in relation to the present and past state 

 of agriculture throughout the Commonwealth. 

 So far', all is well. But it will not do to stop here. 

 " We must not put our hands to the plow and 

 lookback." We must look ahead. Something 

 must be done in the right way, and in the right 

 manner. As well might the State have establish- 

 ed a Board of Education with its Secretary, with- 

 out establishing Normal schools in which the sci- 

 ence of teaching is taught, as to establish a Board 

 of Agriculture with its Secretary, without estab- 

 lishing an experimental school in which the science 

 of agriculture may be taught. Agriculture is a 

 science, as much as the business of teaching ; and 

 students in agriculture should be under the direc- 

 tion of an instructor who is at once scientifac a-nd 

 practical,— capable on the one hand of directing 

 their studies, and, on the other, of showing them 

 the best samples of all kinds of farm-work, done 

 by himself. A portion, at least, of his lecturer, 

 should be in the open field, with plow, hoe, spade, 

 or scythe in hand. He should be able to do any- 

 thino- that is to be done on a farm, and to give a 

 reason for its being done in the right way and 

 manner. And he should be an economist, capable 

 of showing how the cost of production may be 

 diminished, and how crops may be expended so 

 as to give the best return, both in pecuniary and 

 in fertilizing value. 



Let it not be said that the estabhshment ot an 

 experimental Farm School, on the plan proposed 

 by Mr. French, is a hazardous enterprise. It will 

 be attended with no more hazard, than was the 

 establishment of the first Normal school ot the 

 State, which, at the outset, met with strong op- 

 position, and was denounced as inconsistent with 

 our republican institutions,— as impracticable and 

 visionary ; but as soon as it was established, and 

 it proved to be successful, Normal schools were 

 established in different parts of the State, bo 

 will it be with Farm Schools. 



John Goldsbury. 



Warwick, Oct. 27, 1853. 



Remarks.- This subject, again presented to the 

 reader by our friend, is one of importance, and 

 we hope will receive the attention and careful con- 

 sideration of each one who reads his earnest ap- 

 peal. Something in the way of scientific improve- 

 ment among the mass of our farmers, ought to be 

 done, more than is now attempted. 



