FAEMINGTOOLS. 43 



I have, since, practiced on this conclusion, and have had my reward. I 

 have applied four hundred pounds of Peruvian Guano to the acre, broadcast, 

 and plowed the -whole under, to the depth of six inches. At one harvest, I 

 gathered from three acres of this poor, sandy plain, three hundred and six 

 bushels of corn in the ear, and realized a net profit of $92. 

 mDLEY, Nov. t4, 1855. 



REPORT ON FARMING TOOLS. 



BY HON. FRANCIS DE WITT. 



Science and art have been constantly producing wonderful changes in all 

 departments of industry. The agriculturist, once slow to comprehend the 

 importance or necessity of any cliange in form or substance" of the farming 

 tools used by his father, now realizes that changes may be made, which are 

 decidedly beneficial. We need but to go back thirty or forty years, to draw 

 a striking comparison with the times in which we live, and articles in daily 

 use. Many farming tools of former times are becoming obsolete and are 

 seen only occasionally in a corner of some old garret, having been super- 

 seded by " labor-saving machines." 



Of the implements used for agricultural purposes, nearly all have passed 

 through such a transformation in the march of improvement, that some of 

 them could hardly claim the relationship of " third cousin " to their prede- 

 cessors of the same name. Others again, " new and rare " things, which 

 our fathers dreamed not of, are now considered almost indispensable to every 

 farmer. 



Among the many good results growing out of the formation of agricultural 

 societies, is the rapid improvement in fiirming tools. In no department of 

 industry are improvements progressing so rapidly, as in agriculture. The 

 fact is noted in the Patent Ofiice Reports, " that the greatest number of 

 patents applied for and issued, of any one class, are connected with agricul- 

 ture, and the fewest are those to be used in war ;" it is said the proportion 

 is nearly as ten to one. This probably in part arises from the fiict that im- 

 provements can be made ; that agricultural societies stimulate such im- 

 provements ; and partly because labor-saving tools are necessary, owing to 

 the scarcity of farm laborers and the high price of labor. It is hoped an- 

 other good may be the result of these exhibitions of skill and industry. Our 

 young men, who, in years past, have been disposed to forsake the old home- 

 stead, and the tilling of the ground for positions and occupations in cities 

 and large towns, with a future prospect of a little more cash, but far less in- 

 dependence, may be enabled to see that there is a scope for the mind, in the 



