vol,. XIII. NO. 38. 



AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL 



301 



iniisKliiTctly and most favoralily conduce to its 

 nianiifactiii-es ami coiiiiiiiTce, and to the substan- 

 tial comCoit and best interests of the whole 

 people. 



That the agriculture of the United States al- 

 thou'rli in an improving, is yet in a very imperfect 

 condition ; the resources of the coiuitry are very 

 partially unfolded ; the cultivation yields by no 

 means those ample returns which it may be made 

 to command ; and is far from that improvement 

 and perfection to which it may with the highest 

 idvantage be ailvanced. 



That it would coiuribute essentially and imme- 

 iiately to this object: that a general agricultural 

 survey of the whole country, should be under- 

 aken and gradually prosecuted to its cotnpletion. 

 rhat this survey should cndirace the actual con- 

 iuion of its agriculture in different parts of the 

 :ountry, going, as far as practicable, from person- 

 il observation and intercourse with the most iiitel- 

 igeut and successful cultivators, into detailed and 

 tatistical accounts of the crops cultivated, the 

 nodesof cultivation, the average yield, the value 

 ad application of labor, the disposal of the pro- 

 uce, the implements of husbandry, the condition 

 nd capabilities of the soil, the improvements of 

 ifhich the agriculture of any particular part of 

 le country is susceptible, and, iu general, what- 

 ver may be immediately connected with its agri- 

 ultural advantage and prosperity, particularly in 

 16 manner of Arthur Young's Agricultural 

 'ours, Radcliffe's Sinvey of the Agriculture of 

 'landers, the County Reports of England, Sin- 

 lair's Reports of the Agriculture, and his partic- 

 lar account of the Husbandry of Scotland. 



That such survey should particularly embrace 

 le cultivation of the leading products of the 

 )untry — maize, wheat, cotton, sugar, tobacco, 

 emp, wool, and silk ; the cidtivation of the most 

 iluable forest trees; together with other crops 

 )d products not less essential to comfort and use. 

 It of less comparative importance and extent ; 

 id the character, rearing, and management of 

 'ery species of live stock. 



That the information thus obtained should be 

 imediately furnished to the Government, and 

 easures taken for its general diffusion. 



That it be the duty of the said Secretary or 

 Secretaries, under the sanction and direction of 

 said committee, to procure models of all new and 

 valuable machines to be employed for agricultural 

 purposes, one of each kind of which," as far as 

 may he adapted to that part of the country, shall 

 be deposited at Washington, and at the seat of 

 government of each State iu the Union ; to open 

 a correspondence with distinguished individuals 

 abroad, and iu different parts of the country, on 

 the sulijects of agricultural interest and im|)rove- 

 ment, and to obtain and circulate such valuable 

 seeds or plants for agricultural purposes as it may 

 be desirable to introduce into the country, or dif- 

 fuse in different parts of it. 



That it be the duty of the said Secretary or 

 Secretaries to manage and superintend, under the 

 sanction and order of said Board, the publication 

 and distribution of such reports and papers as 

 may be deemed of general utility and im|)ortance. 

 That for these objects there be annually appro- 

 |)riated the sum of dollars. 



any useful and feasible projects for the same ob- 

 jects, as far as my Immble power extends, than 

 myself u. c. 



Meadowbanks, Jan. 30, 1835. 



Your memorialists would further respectfully 

 ggest, that to accomplish this most valuable ob- 

 it there be appointed a joint and standing com- 

 ittee of both Houses of Congress ; or otherwise 

 ere be selected, in any mode deemed best, as 

 my as five individuals from the citizens at large, 

 10 shall constitute a Board of Agriculture for 

 i United States. 



That there be appointed one or more compe- 

 it individuals, whose duty it shall be to prose- 

 te such survey ; and whose further duty it shall 

 to be in attendance upon the Board of Agri- 

 Iture at Washington at least one mouth during 

 5ry session of Congress ; and to them make a 

 report of his or their doings, surveys, and 

 vels ; and who shall themselves act as Secreta- 

 3 to said Board. 



That it shall be the duty of said surveyor or 



veyoj-s, to spend at least mouths in every 



ir, under the direction of said Board, in the ac- 

 1 and personal survey of different parts ef the 

 ntry, with a view to obtaining and diffiising 

 fullest agricultural information ; and that he 

 hey shall present a written and full report of 

 lis or their doings and observations annually 

 le first meeting of the board. I 



Such, Mr Editor, are the outlines of a plan' 

 simple enough, in my opinion perfectly feasible; 

 and of the most obvious and highest utility ; and 

 the exjiense of which, compared with the public 

 advantages to accrue from it, would be of no con- 

 sideration ; and compared with other expeuditures 

 of the Government for objects of far more doubt- 

 ful utility, would be hardly a drop to the ocean. 

 How many individuals it might be necessary to 

 engage iu such survey, and how long a time 

 might be occupied in it, would be matters of fur- 

 ther consideration. One active, intelligent, and 

 practical man might accomplish it. Two would 

 doubtless be ample. It would not be an affair to 

 be hurried, and the statistical information to be 

 collected would require great care and exact in- 

 quiry. Six years would not be too short a 

 time, if the country were divided into two great 

 sections, to accomplish it in a proper manner. 

 As the survey progressed, much valuable matter 

 would be gradually elicited. Every farmer and 

 planter of any consideration in the country would 

 be excited and interested by it ; would from pa- 

 triotic motives be emulous to communicate all 

 the information in his power; and from personal 

 considerations, would be anxious to put his prop- 

 erty iu the best condition for examination. Mas- 

 sachusetts has already set the example of a 

 thorough and able geological survey of her terri- 

 tory. New York has done the same in respect to 

 several of her counties ; but, precisely to what 

 extent, I am not apprized. An agricultural sur- 

 vey, conducted in the manner above described, 

 would be of more value, and might itself be in- 

 strumental of furnishing much geological inlbr- 

 mation ; and exposing many of the mineral as 

 well as vegetable treasures of the country. 



I shall not now go farther into detail of the ad- 

 vantages which I thiid< would accrue to the coun- 

 try, if this project could be intelligently and prop- 

 erly executed. I hope it will not be regarded as 

 wholly visionary. 1 offer these suggestions with 

 diffidence ; but with a strong desire that they may 

 attract the attention of some of our distinguished 

 statesmen and citizens, who estimate justly the 

 importance of an improved agriculture, and are 

 willing to labor at its advancement; and that it 

 will call out from such men opinions and discus- 

 sions, which, if not favorable to it, will lead to 

 wise and better plans. No one will listen to such 

 opinions with more satisfaction, or co-operate, in 



I From the Ppushkeepsie Telegraph.] 

 HIKTS TO FARMERS. 



There are two particular items, to which I 

 would call the attention of farmers, viz. to do 

 everything at a proper time, and in a proper man- 

 ner. Never to put off" anything till tomorrow 

 that inay lie done today, is an excellent maxim, 

 and should be observed by every farmer: while 

 he holds iu everlasting contempt, that saying of 

 the Spaniards, do nothing today that can be put ' 

 oft' till tomorrov/. Very much of a fiirmer's 

 success will depend on a due regard to the observ- 

 ing of time. If his land is in good order to sow 

 his seed he should never wait for the morrow, 

 that the moon may change. I heard a respecta- 

 ble farmer " down east " ask another if he paid 

 attention to the moon's phases, when he sowed 

 his peas, he replied that he did not even let the 

 moon know when he sowed them ! You may 

 smile at the old gentleman's remark, and I may 

 say to such as do regard the moon when they 

 sow their seed that I am astonished at their foUv .' 

 But to return ; a man can do much more work in 

 season by a little regard to order. Generally 

 speaking, eiery i)art of a farmer's work should 

 be as distinctly separated as the ends of his fin- 

 gers, though this ride will not hold good in every 

 case. A farmer was asked how he got along so 

 well with his business.' he replied that he did but 

 one thing ut a time. Solomon said (and surely he 

 ought to know) to everything there is a season, 

 and a time to every purpose under heaven, a time 

 to plant and a time to pluck. But perhaps 

 enough of that. Then let everything be done in 

 a pioper manner. It would be well for every far- 

 mer to remember what I many times heard an 

 excellent farmer say, " if a thing is worth doing 

 at all, it is worth doing well." This applies to 

 every person whether farmer or mechanic. But 

 to the farmer more especially. If his land is 

 worth ploughing at all, it is worth doing well. It 

 is too often that the farmer reasons thus : " If I 

 expend ever so much labor and money upon this 

 piece of land, it will yield but little, therefore, I 

 will not take much pains with it." He might as 

 well say of the best piece of land he has, if I 

 sow or plant this, and the corn or «heat should 

 do well, it might be destroyed by mildew or some 

 other means, therefore, I will let it lie. This is 

 iu nothing more uecessary than in making fence 

 or building houses. For instance notice the fas- 

 tening of gates or driving stakes. One stitch in 

 time or manner will save nine. By doing one 

 thing well another thing may be preserved, and 

 much property saved. But one more hint; after 

 a farmer has committed his seed to the earth, it is 

 his duty to pray to the Giver of every good and 

 perfect gift, that he may have an abundant har- 

 vest ? Have the prayers of every man been ans- 

 wered to the restraining or giving raiu to water 

 the earth .' Who is it that gives us fruitful sea- 

 sons, filling our hearts with gladness ? 



Now, Messrs Editors, if you think the above 

 hints will be subservient to the farmer's interests, 

 you may give them a place in your paper ; or if 

 not, commit them to the flames. 



TuEOpniLus Farmeju 



