AGRICULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES. 39 



their profession, the farmer has few equals and no 

 superior. 



The second cause of the depressed state of agri- 

 culture in the United States is the inattention of 

 farmers in selecting the best breeds of animals for 

 their yards, and the best seeds for planting. In 

 these two respects there is the greatest room for 

 improvement ; and the necessity of entering at once 

 upon a course of reform cannot be too earnestly 

 pressed upon our cultivators. Experience has 

 shown, that animals can be formed, in the hands of 

 the scientific breeder, to meet the wants or remedy 

 the defects of any existing race. Whether it be 

 beauty of form, weight of carcass, aptitude to fatten, 

 or all these combined in cattle ; or the same quali- 

 ties, with or without wool, in sheep; Bakewell, 

 Cully, Berry, and EUman "have shown that domestic 

 animals, in the hands of the farmer who understands 

 the principles of breeding, are as clay in the hands 

 of the potter, to be moulded and transformed at will. 

 The records of Smithfield market (the most decisive 

 evidence that can-be produced) prove that the aver- 

 age weight of cattle and sheep has increased one 

 third within less than half a century. Not less ben- 

 eficial have been the results which have ensued 

 from attention to improved or new varieties of seeds. 

 The most valuable kinds of wheat, barley, oats, and 

 other grain in Europe, and of maize or Indian com 

 in this country, have been the result of careful se- 

 lection and long-continued cultivation. Col. Le 

 Conteur, of the Isle of Jersey, who has paid more 

 attention to wheat, and instituted a greater number 

 of experiments in regard to the plant than any other 

 man living, having devoted about twenty years, and 

 ample means, to the pursuit, states, " that the only 

 chances of having pure sorts is to raise them from 

 single grains or single ears ; and that the improve- 

 ments he had made in this way had amply rewarded 

 his labour, as tho produce of his crops had been in- 



