ESSEX SOCIETY. 55 



warm lands in the county. We do this more confidently from 

 the double product, the seed and brush of the plant ; believing 

 that the successful return of either will compensate the cultiva- 

 tor for his labor. Mr. Porter's opinion of the comparative ex- 

 haustion of this crop, and Indian corn, upon the soil, we are 

 not fully prepared to endorse, as in the case of broom corn the 

 bulk of the crop is returned to the soil, while in Indian corn, it 

 is mostly removed. 



The remarks of Mr. Porter, on the comparative advantage of 

 stable and compost manure, as a top dressing, we hope will 

 elicit the observation and experiment of our agriculturists. — 

 Composting has of late been a prominent theme of our agricul- 

 tural writers, and if the application of the basis of compost is 

 equally as effective as the compost, much labor may be saved. 



The young orchard named in the statement, was particularly 

 noticed, and commended by the committee. The trees were 

 all thrifty, and of healthy appearance, and gave strong symp- 

 toms that a part of the increasing profits of the farm, spoken of 

 in the statement, may reasonably be expected from this source. 

 The trees in grass land, under the treatment of Mr. Porter, ap- 

 peared fully as vigorous as those on cultivated grounds. 



We cannot pass without notice, the home pasture, on which 

 was kept during the season, stock equal to one cow to about 

 two and one quarter acres of land ; and from the appearance of 

 the pasture, the condition of the cows, and the amount of milk 

 taken, the feed was not stinted. This is a result in pasturing, 

 which is not usually seen, and forcibly impresses us with the 

 importance of devoting more attention to pasture grounds. 



On the profits of farming there exists a diversity of opinions ; 

 and the belief that agriculture is not one of the most direct 

 roads to wealth, probably induces many of the sons of farmers 

 to other pursuits of life. If the statements of some of our best 

 farmers are entitled to full belief, no occupation offers more cer- 

 tainty, and few larger hopes of success, than agriculture. And 

 that these statements are reliable, most of us have indications 

 from the profits of some small patches of our land, that by de- 

 sign or accident, may have been devoted to a suitable crop, and 

 cultivated with imusual care. Extended cultivation is proba- 



