1851. 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



255 



" It would eeem as if our cUplomatio and consular systems 

 were organized simply in regard to the great intersts of com- 

 merce and manufactures ; but could they not be made equally 

 subservient to tlie mother interest of agriculture and its co- 

 ordinate branches ? While our consuls report on the com- 

 merce and manufactures of foreign countres, would it not be 

 well to require ihem to report also on the different agricul- 

 tural productions of those countries, and tlie improvements 

 which from time to time may be introduced in their culture ? 

 Might they not be made to furnish detailed accounts of the 

 different modes of cultivation, the manner of preserving 

 crops, the agricultural implements in use, and the various 

 kinds of manures resorted to as means of preserving or re- 

 storing soils ? Could they not be induced to report on all 

 the variety of fruit, shade, and ornamental trees, and forward 

 specimens of seeds, plants, roots, and bulbs, for gratuitous 

 distribution, accompanied by proper directions for their use 1 

 An occasional paper on the domestic animals of different 

 countries, and the mode of breeding them and improving the 

 breed, would be particularly acceptable, should the official 

 business of the consul admit of such useful and interesting 

 digressions. 



" These reports would not be expected to be made quar- 

 terly, as are those on commerce and manufactures. An 

 annual paper would comprehend all that is desirable, and 

 would certainly bo no great tax on the consul's time and pa- 

 tience. In many instances all the materials for his report 

 would be readily furnished him by the official politeness of 

 the government to which he is accredited, and in others he 

 would find all the required information already collected in 

 some printed form. 



" By such simple means avast amount of information from 

 all parts of the globe could be collected, which in your hands, 

 and in the hands of other corresponding associations would 

 be a most powerful auxiliary in the dissemination of agricul- 

 tural knowledge. And I would, in connection with this 

 subject, respectfully suggest the propriety of establishing a 

 greit National Agricultural Society, which in immedi- 

 ate connection with the Agricultural Societies in the differ- 

 ent Sl>ites and Territories of the Union, and the Patent 

 Ofiic ^, or some other appropriate governmental bureau, might 

 ensiiy posses itself of all the necessary information, to pre- 

 sent :u its annual report an elaborate and comprehensive 

 vie\v of the agi'icultural condition of our whole country. — 

 That Society would also be the proper medium for receiving 

 the specimens of seeds, plants, bulbs, &c., forwarded from 

 foreign countries by our consuls, together with the collec- 

 tions which, under existing regulations, our navy is in the 

 habit of making, and of distributing thera among the differ- 

 ent States and Territories. 



" The National Agricultural Society would also be 

 the proper channel of communication, and of effecting agri- 

 cultural exchanges, between the several local societies of the 

 United States, and the various agricultural and learned asso- 

 ciations in foreign countries. It would, in fiict, be the great 

 ceitre of agricultural information, which would diffuse 

 knowledge in a thousand different directions, over the whole 

 length and breadth of our land, and to which every farmer 

 could confidently apply for advice and instruction on any 

 subject connected with his profession. 



'■And here I may pause to inquire whether the Smithso- 

 nian Institute, at the seat of the National Government, might 

 not, ex-nffido. become a colaborer and assistant of the Na- 

 tional Agriculttiral Society, in all its literary and scientific 

 branches ? Might not the Institute aid the Society in all its 

 periodical publications, and, in conjunction with it, diffuse 

 the greatest amount of " useful knowledge among men ?" 

 Surely the philanthropic intention of the worthy founder of 

 that institution, could not be carried out in a more suitable 

 and effective manner, than by making it thus subserve the 

 great interests of agriculture in all its branches. Whatever 

 its present usefulness may be, it can perform no higher duty 

 than contribute in the most efficient manner, to the perfec- 

 tion of that species of human industry, which is the parent 

 and promoter of all others, and on which Uie safety and per- 

 manence of our institutions rest as on their broadest founda- 

 tions." 



Fences. — Examine the fences which enclose your 

 fields — do it yourself, and have every weak place 

 made strong. Failing' pasture tempts stock to break 

 in and destroy. Care in this regard now may save 

 you from the vexation and loss hereafter. 



HOGS BUNNINa AT LARGE IN WINTER. 



OuK friend, Mr. A. J. Head, of Fairfax Co., Virginia, 

 justly censures (in a business note) the common 

 practice in that region, and in some others, of letting 

 hogs run all over a farm in winter to root up mea- 

 dows and eat every clover root, as well as top, in 

 order to escape starvation. In sections where there 

 is little snow or frost, and where English grasses and 

 clovers require much care lo flourish, droves of swine 

 or sheep, and herds of cattle, often do immense injury 

 to the fields trampled in wet weather, and having 

 every blade of grass eaten into the ground. Farmers 

 in Fairfax that provide a plenty of forage for their 

 neat stock in winter, and grain or roots for their 

 hogs, and keep up both, carefully saving all their 

 manure, are fast improving the soil and are destined 

 to realize a handsome profit on their business. They 

 get 31 cts. a pound for their butter by taking it ten 

 or fifteen miles to Washington, Georgetown, or Alex- 

 andria. We would suggest that they give to pastures 

 and meadows a top dressing of lime and wood ashes, 

 if not more than ten bushels per acre — five of lime, 

 and five of ashes. A larger dose will be better. — 

 All the land in the neighborhood of Washington 

 lacks lime and potash, particularly old and long cul- 

 tivated plantations. 



Three Things NECESSARr to make a.-^ Agricul- 

 tural Plan VALUABLE. — 1st. Before any plau is 

 placed before the public, it would be well for the 

 author to test it by experience, and see whether it 

 would carry out the object for which it is recom- 

 mended. At any rate he should let reason and com- 

 mon sense dictate. 



2d. He should cast his eyes around him, and see 

 for whom he is writing. He ought to know that a 

 large majority of the farmers in thi-s country are in 

 limited circumstances. These are the on-es he ought 

 to help — the rich can help themselves. And if he 

 wishes his plan to take and do much good he should 

 be careful not to attach much expense to it, except 

 labor. This will enable them to help themselves, 

 for such have ways enough to lay out their hard 

 earned cash without paying large sums for new plans. 



3d. He should express his views in as few words 

 as possible. This last proposition I guess the editors 

 will say is right, and so says Green Farmer. 



The WAT TO raise Wheat after Corn. — Take 

 green sward land highly manured, and well plowed 

 about the first of May ; then cultivate it well and 

 plant corn four feet apart each way, rows straight, 

 and keep it well tilled until the last week in August. 

 Then top the stalks, and as soon as cured carry them 

 off the ground. Then sow wheat among the corn, 

 and cultivate it thoroughly both ways with one horse. 

 Husk the corn at your leisure, and about the first of 

 May following take a scythe and mow the stalks 

 close to the ground. The wheat will not winter kill. 

 Titus Canfield. — JFest 'Bloomfxld. 



Sore Necks in Oxen. — This is caused by using 

 yokes that do not fit Uie neck, or by working the 

 oxen in wet weather. It can be prevented by using 

 good yokes and applying oil or lard to the neck in 

 stormy weather. 



Remedy. — Use ointment made of lard and bees- 

 wax ; or make a strong wash of white-oak bark, and 

 apply it night and morning. 



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