S6 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 5, 1827. 



CAlfSES OF SUPERIORITY OF BRITISH 

 FARMING. 



The great body of cultivators in Great Britain, 

 whose farms are of any considerable extent, have 

 generally received a suitable education, by which 

 their minds are enlarged ; animated witli a desire 

 to improve their condition in the world, and ren- 

 dered equally quick to perceive, and ready to a- 

 dopt such improvements as may occasionally be 

 proposed. In former times it was objected, that 

 farmers were an obstinate and bigoted class of 

 men, averse to every liind of innovation upon es- 

 tablished practice, and persisting in ancient sys- 

 tems, even after tlicir deficiency and inutility had 

 been ascertained in the most dci^isive manner. — 

 Whatever truth there might formerly be in the 

 objection, its force is now completely removed ; 

 there being no set of men whatever cioro open to 

 conviction, or more willing to adopt new practices 

 than Britisli farmers of the present day. This 

 change of disposition has been accomplished by a 

 general circulation of agricultural knowledge, 

 tince the National Board of Agriculture was es- 

 tablished ; by numerous periodical publications 

 upon rural economy ; and by that increase of 

 wealth which flowed from the e.xortions of the 

 farmer, and which naturally stimulated a search 

 after new improvements. According to the meas- 

 ure of attention bestowed upon the education of 

 farmers,it may be expected that improvement will 

 hereafter ai'-'ance. A man of uncultivated mind 

 may hold a plough, or drive a harrow in a suffi- 

 cient nianniT; but he will seldom introduce an im- 

 provement or be the means of effecting any change 

 in ihe established system of rural economy. 

 Brown's Treatise on Agriculture and Rural Affairs. 



NEW EJVGLAND FARMER. 



BOSTON, FRIDAY, OCT. 5, 1837. 



FOB THE WEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



LUCERNE. 

 Mr Pessenden — The growth of Lucerne is not 

 only more rapid than that of any other of the cul- 

 tivated grasses, but it is also more rapid in our 

 climate, than it has been represented to be by any 

 of the sanguine recommenders of it in Europe. — 

 On the 26th of April last, 1 bought C pounds of 

 Lucerne seed at the office of the New England 

 Farmer, and the next day sowed 4 lbs. of it on a- 

 bout a third of an acre of well prepared ground. 

 I sowed with it about as much barley as I thought 

 would protect it against weeds. 



I cut the barley on the 28th of May, and the 

 Lucerne was then 9 inches high — both were cut 

 together and given to my cows — on the 30th of 



Society, brought from South America — among the 

 rest there was a small parcel (about one pound,) 

 which was marked " Chili clover seed." I instant- 

 ly recognized it to be Lucerne. It came late, and 

 I could not sow it before the 'iSth of July, liaving 

 no ground fit for its reception. On that day it was 

 sown, and on the same patch (but separated from 

 it,) some Dutch clover seed, presented to me by 

 Ebenezer RoLLirvs, Esq. The Lucerne is now 

 9 inches high, and the clover about 4 inches. 



I think Lucerne must be valuable for soiling. — 

 Although I agree with J. H. Powel, Esq. that 

 soiling can never be very extensively used on great 

 farms, yet there are many small farmers in New 

 England, who, like myself, can only compass 20 or 

 25 acres, and yet wish to enjoy the luxuries of a 

 dairy, to supply our own families throughout the 

 year, with better butter than money will procure. 

 To such persons, soiling is of great value, and in- 

 dispensable necessity. 



I bow, with great respect, to the opinions of Col. 

 Powel's experienced correspondent, Mr Rudd, 

 as to the inexpediency of soiling in England ; but 

 as that great farmer has assigned his reasons, we 

 may judge of them for ourselves. He says that 

 cows cannot enjoy as good health when soiled, as 

 when indulged with air and exercise in pastures. 

 This may be true in England, though, even there, 

 there are high authorities opposed to the opinion. 



My own experience of twenty-one years is of a 

 contrary nature. I have raised my own cows and 

 usually kept them, from birth to 15 years — they 

 have enjoyed the highest health — are admired for 

 their apparent good appearance — and their good 

 qualities are satisfactory to myself. My cows are 

 soiled 10 months in the year — for 2 months they 

 are tethered out, in which last mode they take 

 rather more exercise than if eufforoJ to mngo. 

 JOHN LOWELL. 



I write "Lucerne," instead of "Lucern," because 

 it is a French word which we have recently bor- 

 rowed, and I can see no good reason for changing 

 the orthography. 



I have said that Lucerne is more rapid in its 

 growth than any other of the cultivated grasses. 

 I have this year compared it with Orchard Grass, 

 sown on better land than that devoted to Lucerne. 

 The Lucerne, in the poorer soil, (though a good 

 and well prepared one) has much surpassed the 

 Orchard Grass. 



Roxhurij, Oct. 3, 1827. 



Rules and Regulations for the Cattle Show, Sfc. at 

 Brighton, on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 1827. 



Oxen on or before Tuesday the- 



time of entry for the premiums. 

 Manufactures & Inventions — Butter, Cheese, 



July the Lucerne was a foot high, and again cut Honey, Cider and Currant Wine, before 9 o'clock, 

 for soiling — early in September the Lucerne was A. M. on Tuesday, the 16th, and to be deposited 

 about 15 inches high, and some of it in flower ; it at the Hall and ready for exhibition before 10 

 was the third time, and made into hay, and I o'clock, A. M. of the same day. [The Hall will 

 gave a good crop for grass even of the ' second \be open on Monday, the day previous, for the de- 

 year. It is now up again, anil about S inches 'Posit of articles.) 



high. Your associate, Mr RussrLi., the proprie- j 2. Stock of every kind to be entered by letter, 

 tor of the New England Farmer, has seen it in its |(post paid) specifying the animals; or by personal 

 present state, wiiich is beautiful to the eye, and a i application, to Jonathan Wi.n.-hip, Esq at Brigh 



ton. Secretary of the Show, on or before Tvts 

 day the lijth ; and a certificate will be given of 

 such entry, bearing the number oi' the pen assign- 

 ed. 



3. Ploughs for the Ploughing Match to be en- 

 tered before nine o'clock, A. M. on IVednesduy, 

 the nth. ' 



eye, 

 complete cover to the soil. 



I have already ascertained that it will st:ind our 

 winters better than clover, having had a small 

 patch of it, which has stood four winters without 

 the slightest injury. 



I received by the kindness of Commodore Hull 

 a bo.\ of seeds for the Massachusetts Agricultural 



4. Working 

 16th. 



examination for the premiums. 



1. The Committee on Inventions, that on Ma7i 

 iifactures, and also the Committee on Butter, 

 Cheese, Cider, Currant Wine and Honey, will com- 

 mence their examination of the articles entered 

 in their several departments, at ten o'clock, A. M. 

 on Tuesday the 16th. 



2. The Committee on Stock at 9 o'clock A. M. 

 on Wednesday the 17th. 



3. The Ploughing Match will take place at half 

 past nine o clock A. M. on Wednesday the 17th. 



4. The Trial of Working Oxen at eleven o'clock 

 on the same day. 



5. 7'he Auction for Animals and Manufactures 

 at 12 o'clock M. on the same day. 



rules to be observed et competitors for 



THE premiums. 



1. All Stock to be in the Pens before nine o'clock 

 A. M. on Wednesday. 



2. No animal to be removed from the Pens but 

 by permission of a Marshal. 



3. Fat Cattle are to be weighed before being put 

 into the Pens, at the expense of the owner. 

 Q^/^A'b animal not bred tvithin the State can be of- 

 fered for a Premium. 



4. The working Oxen to be arranged on the 

 right hand of the Avenue from the road to the 

 Hall, with their heads towards the centre; and the 

 drivers are to remain with them there, until the 

 time for the trial. 



5. A Certificate will be required that articles of 

 manufacture offered for premium were wrought 

 within the State — to be delivered to the secreta- 

 ry at the time of thp pntry who « ill furnish for 

 each parcel to tlje person presenting it, a label 

 with a number corresponding with that of the cer- 

 tificate of the entry; to be annexed to the parcel. 



6. No Competitor for any premium to be present 

 during the examination unless requested by the 

 Committee; — the Claimants of the premiums for 

 Inventions excepted, who will bo required to at- 

 tend on the Committee to answer such questions 

 as may be put to them ; and also to exhibit suffi- 

 cient evidence that such inventions as are offered 

 by them are of profitable use. 



7. After examination the goods will be consid- 

 ered in charge of the owners, but must remain 

 for pablic inspection until after the auction on 

 Wednesday the 17th, but a night watch will be 

 provided by the Trustees. 



8. Each parcel of butter, cheese, honey, cider 

 and currant wine must have upon it the private 

 mark of the owner. The cider and wine to be 

 accompanied with a written statement of the 

 method of making and managing the same. 



9. The barrel of cider which obtains the first 

 ^»-emiu?n. v;ill be used at the society's dinner, on 

 the 17th, and five dollars allowed for the same in 

 addition to the premium. 



10. Notice must be given to the Secretary, of 

 theanimals and manufactures to be sold at the auc- 

 tion, in season fora list to be prepared for the use 

 of the .Auctioneers. The sale to be in the order 

 of the entries. 



11. The services of the .\uctioneers will begra- 

 (ciicous ; but the government duty must be paid by 

 the owners. The owners will attend to the deliv- 

 ery to purchasers, and collect the purchase money. 



