PROGRESSIVE AGRICULTURE. 233 



report of the Commission of Agriculture for 1882 shows the 

 average of wheat in Vermont and Massachusetts to have 

 been a fraction over 17 bushels per acre ; in Connecticut, 20 

 bushels ; in New York, Pennsylvania and other of the larger 

 States, about 15 bushels per acre. 



During the first half of the present century the popula- 

 tion of England increased 7,000,000, and the production of 

 wheat in that country increased in the same time to an 

 amount equal to the demands of the people. 



Not many years ago it was claimed by certain enthusiasts 

 that we had only to resort to deep plowing to find " a farm 

 under a farm." If this be not altogether true, it is proven 

 beyond doubt that there are farms within our farms awaiting 

 development. The most enthusiastic farmer can hardly fix 

 a limit to the amount of valuable produce that can be grown 

 on a given quantity of ground. By a careful study of the 

 nature of difierent plants, and a force of application, we may 

 often secure two and sometimes three crops in one season 

 rial and from the same ground. 



Demands and Possibilities of the Future. 



Down through the ages, notwithstanding the divine injunc- 

 tion, "Love th}' neighbor as thyself," man has spent his 

 energies largely in subduing his fellow-man, — who, after all, 

 will not stay subdued. Let us hope that in the era of prog- 

 ress now upon us we may learn the importance and the 

 beauty of complying with that early command, " Subdue 

 the earth," and we may faintly imagine some of the possible 

 results. We shall learn to utilize more perfectly the mate- 

 rial and forces at our command. 



As the manufacturer utilizes the forces of nature when he 

 turns water on to his wheels, and confines steam that it may 

 do his bidding, so the farmer must utilize the gathering, 

 digesting and assimilating powers of the various domestic 

 animals and the forces of gravitation in drainage and irriga- 

 tion. 



We must learn and remember that the difference between 

 about right and just right may be the difference between 

 success and failure, and that wo have to contend with sharp 

 competition and constantly varying circumstances. None 



