162 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



FACTS AND 0ESER.VAT10XS RELATING TO 



AGRICULTURE & DOMESTIC ECONOMY. 



Fon THE NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Extracts from an Address delivered before the Western 

 Society of Middlesex HusbaadmeD, by Rev. Wilkes 

 Alkn, A. M. 



" It was the complaint of a learned investig-a- 

 tor of the works and ways of nature, and of an 

 experimental farmer before the formation of 

 any agricultural society in America, that thougli 

 men of business, ingenuity, and observation, 

 might find out things valuable and useful, yet 

 for want of some proper method to communi- 

 cate them, they would die with the discoverers, 

 and be lost to mankind.* 



" By association and a free interchange of 

 thoughts, the discoveries and improvements of 

 one become the common property of many. 

 By example and conversation the mind receives 

 a powerful impulse to action. It shakes otf its 

 indolence, and puts forth now efforts to equal a 

 superior, or rival an equal. It seizes upon new 

 tracks of thought, and pursues them to some 

 new and important discovery. By social inter- 

 <;omsc, knowledge is ditl'used, emulation inspir- 

 ed, the attention fixed on new objects, and 

 throwing attainments are secured. Associations 

 of men of the same occupation and employment 

 have been vastly beneficial to one ai uther in 

 various ways. But the useful tendency and 

 lieneficial influence of associations for specific 

 objects will not, 1 trust, be disputed in this so- 

 ciety-making age." 



" The beneficial influence of agricultural so- 

 cieties has been experienced in breaking up 

 long established associations, unfriendly to im- 

 provement. Within the memory of many now 

 living, each successive generation walked in 

 the steps of the preceding. The same field 

 was planted in the same manner for a century. 

 Anv deviation from ancient usage was deemed 

 disrespectful to the memory of the dead. Preju- 

 dice and error were hereditary, till science with 

 her torch led on to new discoveries, and experi- 

 ence elucidated and enforced the truth and im- 

 portance of her decisions." 



" The advantages of agricultural associations 

 are not confined to annual exhibitions and shows 

 and to the collection and distribution of informa- 

 tion. " Their purposes terminate not in in- 

 structing in new courses of husbandry, but in 

 introducing neiv principles of action." By cal- 

 ling the works and improvements of the retired 

 and unknown farmer into public notice, you 

 place him in some respects on an equality with 

 men of other [)rofession=, who are const;intly 

 moving in a public sphere, and acting in view 

 of the multitude of spectators. You at once ex- 

 cite in his breast a strong desire to excel in hi- 

 art by making him renli/.e. that his art or pro- 

 fession is an object of puldic attention, and a 

 means of obtaining celebrity. You at once 

 touch the main spring of action, by pointing out 

 a road to fame, honor, and emolument, and pla- 

 cing the obscure agriculturist in the high way 

 to that distinction, which the physician, the 

 lawyer, and the divine, enjoys by excellence in 

 his profession. The ultimate object of agricul- 

 tural societies is to give new strength to the 

 common spring of action, ambition to excel in 

 the art or profession of a farmer." 



" The potntoe was not known in Europe in 

 Queen Elizabeth's day, and her sallads were 

 imported from Flanders."* In this country, near- 

 ly a century clasped before the kind and salu- 

 brious properties of the potatoe were known, 

 and its important uses discovered. This great 

 benefactor of mankind wa% long viewed with 

 a jealous eye, and taken into the stomach with 

 as much caution as the most nauseating medi- 

 cine of the physician. But whence this change 

 in public feeling, sentiment, and practice ? It 

 is unquestionably owing to a few enlightened 

 individuals forming themselves into companies, 

 setting out on enterprises of discovery tor the 

 good of mankind. As in the sea, wave impels 

 wave to the shore — so in society, man acts 

 upon man. His example, the benefit resulting 

 from his enterprise, the public honor with which 

 it is crowned, all conspire to excite in those 

 around him a noble emulation. The flame of 

 emulation catches from breast to breast, as the 

 electric flash passes through contiguous bodies, 

 till the whole community feels the impulse first 

 given by a single individual." 



" Gentlemen, the association you have formed 

 and are attempting to found on a rock, a fund, 

 which is to give vital animation to you and all 

 around you, is an institution of great importance 

 to the general interest and prosperity of the 

 country, and especially to those within the 

 sphere of its influence. To promote and se- 

 cure the wide and lasting benefits, which, it is 

 confidently believed, may result from it, every 

 member must feel himself of vital importance, 

 and act as though its whole prosperity depen- 

 ded on his exertions. Never lose sight of the 

 object, which is improvement in domestic manu- 

 factures, and every branch of field husbandry. 

 Need 1 remind you of the immense field open 

 for your exertions? Need I remind you, that 

 the walls, which your forefiithers built, are fal- 

 len down, the orchards they reared up, decay- 

 ed, and the pastures they cleared, grown over 

 with thorns and briers? Need 1 echo in your 

 ears a truth, which every where meets the 

 traveller's eye, that there are yet vast tracts 

 of unproductive land, capable of the highest im- 

 provement, and wanting nothing but the plough, 

 the hoe, and the hod, to make them just what 

 the possessors would have them to be, fruitful 

 fields, and well cultivated gardens? Diminish 

 the quantity and increase the good quality ot 

 youi lands, and you will have the means of sup- 

 porting handsomely two families, where one 

 now scarcely obtains a comfortable living. 1 

 am borne out to the lull in this assertion by 

 the experiments of many practical farmers. — 

 Particularly by those of Mr. Upton, Superin- 

 tendent of the alms-house farm in Salem."f 



" You begin your labors. Gentlemen of this 

 Society, at an age, and under circum-^tances, 

 which promise all the most sanguine can ex- 

 pect. A new agricultural era has commenced. 

 Men of learning, talents, and influence are en- 

 listed in the cause ; and the public attention, 

 released from the labours, cares, and ravages of 

 vvar, is directed to the interests of agriculture. 

 Your art and profession as husbandmen are ri- 

 sing to their native rank and dignity ; and to 

 accelerate their progress you must diffuse use- 

 ful knowledge, and improve the education of 



those destined to agricultural pursuits. Knowl- 

 edge and virtue adorn and dignify the humat 

 character. They add respectability and digni- 

 ty to bodies politic as well as to individuals."* 



* PwCT. Dr .laro-l Eliot, KiUing;iTNth, Ccc 1T4'? 



•J. Lo-well's Address, 1818. 



■I See PZa-5. Agricultural Repository, No. 3, Vol. 5. 



*It is a remark applied by a late -writer, to France, 

 but equally applicable, it is believed, to America, ''thai 

 agrii uitun- till of late has been considered a degiadi 

 employment." The rtason why it has been so consid- 

 ered -will be found in the -want of education, know- 

 ledgi-, and intellectual improvement among that clas; 

 ofpiople, -who exercise this art. Increase the mora 

 and lit! rary attainment? of the great body of agricul- 

 turists, and you exalt their character and profession 

 Too loiiff has the error existed, that a classical or aca 

 dimic education is lost upon those, -p.-ho arc designee 

 for agricultural pursuits. Fatal to the usefulness and 

 virtue, to the hopes and prospects of many young mei 

 of more than ordinary education, has been the idea, 

 that the labors of the field or the methaiiit's shop arf 

 beneath tlieir dignity ; that knowledge raises men 

 above, and disqualifies them for the necessary and more 

 humble, yet useful employments of life. To young 

 men of these feelings and sentiments, we would recom 

 mend the careful perusal of the following lines of the 

 poet. 



A little learning is a dangerous thing ; 



Drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring ; 



There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, 



But drinking largely sobers us again. 

 This hint, it is hoped, will be sufficient to induce the 

 more opulent farmers of our country to raise the stand- 

 ard of what is commonly called a good education fot 

 farmers' sons, destined to follow the profi ssion of theii 

 fathers. 



HO^V TO DISTINCriSH CATTLE WmCH HAVE A TOO- 

 PENSITY TO FATTE.N'. 



Mr. CuUey, a famous English breeder, ha? 

 given the following directions relative to thie 

 subject. " We undoubtedly first judge by the 

 sight, which being pleased we bring the sense 

 of feeling to its assistance ; and if this also ap- 

 proves, we then conclude that the animal suiti 

 our purpose, or is answerable to the idea wc 

 have formed of it. A nice or good judge ol 

 cattle or sheep with a slight touch of the fin- 

 gers upon the fatting points of the animal, viz 

 the hips, rump, ribs, flank, breast, twist, should- 

 er-score, &1C. will know immediately whether it 

 will make fat or not, and in which part it will 

 be the fattest. I have often wished to convey 

 in language that idea or sensation we acquire 

 by the touch or feel of our fingers, which en- 

 ables us to form a judgment when we arc hand- 

 ling an animal intended to be fitted — but I have 

 as often found myself unable to fulfil that wish. 

 It is very easy to know where an animal is fat- 

 test which is already made fat, because wc can 

 evidently feel a substance or quantity of fat up- 

 on all those parts which are denominated the 

 fatting points ; but the difficulty is to explaia 

 how we know or distinguish animals in a lean 

 state, which will make fat, and which will not, 

 or rather which will make fat in such points or 

 parts, and not in others ; when a person of judg- 

 ment (i« /^raclicf) can tell as it were instanta- 

 neously : 1 say in prac/ice, because I believe the 

 best judges out of practice are not able to judge 

 with precision, at least I am not. We say this 

 beast touches nicely upon the ribs, hips, &c. be- 

 cause we find a mellow, pleasant feel on those 

 parts ; but we do not say soft ; because there 

 are some of the same sort of animals which have 

 a soft loose handle, of which we do not approve, 

 because though sof't and loose, they have not 

 the mellow feel above mentioned : for though 

 they both handle loose and soft, yet we know 

 that one will easily become fat, and that the 



