280 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



JANCART as, I'<3r- 



^mw m^^)L£i.m'^ jj^mssssitx 



BOSTON, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1837. 



Agricdltural Survey of the Commonwealth or 

 MiSSACHUSETTS. — We have been informed, and nre 

 much pleased to learn, that a Topoirraphical Suivi.'y <>f 

 this State, v»ith particular reference to its Agriculture, 

 under the sanction of the Legislature, is in contempla- 

 tion. Surveys of this kind have been accomplished in 

 Great Britain and Ireland, and the results have been 

 very useful and interesting. Almost every cultivator 

 lias some improvement, or peculiar mode ol tillagpi 

 some new or improved seed, plant, fruit, breed of ani- 

 mals, mode of treating their diseases, some new and su- 

 perior implements for facilitating and adding efficacy to 

 labor; eometliing peculiar in his practice of the art of 

 husbandry, which, if generally known, would be gener- 

 ally adopted, and prove beneficial to every individual of 

 the great family of man. The knowledge derived from 

 actual survey, sanctioned by ocular demonstration, and 

 correctly reported, could have none of the disadvanta- 

 ges attributed to hook farmittg. It would be the results 

 of experience, cornmunicuted, for the most part by men 

 who practice wiial they communicate, and who cannot 

 afford to practice incorrectly. 



In carrrying into effect a survey of the kind alluded 

 to, much — almost everything would depend on the aa- 

 ricultural knowledge, and judgment, as well as industry 

 of the person or persona to whom the surveys may be 

 entrusted. It would be easy to accumulate masses of 

 matter, as 6at, stale and unprofitable as the figures in 

 the calendar pages of an old almanac, but if the inquirer 

 knows what has been in use, and is capable of judging 

 of what might be found useful in rural economy, miaes 

 of informat on might be explored, more valuable than 

 those of Golconda or Polosi. 



In order to obtain valuable results to the researches, 

 said to be in contemplation, a si/stem should be pursued 

 as regards objects of inquiry. In Great Britain, the fol- 

 lowing course, or something similar, was usually adop- 

 ted . — 



Survey of Midiilf.sex. 

 Middlesex is part of the north side of a vale watered 

 by the Thames, and contains 179,200 acres, exhibiting 

 a great variety of agriculture. 



3. Geographical State and Circumstances. 

 Climate — Healthy; warmer near London, fruni the 

 fires kept there. Stationary winds from S. W. and N. 

 E. In spring, frost in the hollows, when none on the 

 hills, theimometer has been as high as Ho'-", and as low 

 as 6^ below zero. 



Soil. — By long continued manuring, the surface soil 

 almost every where looks like loam. 



Surface — Gently waving ; highest towards the north ; 

 Hampstcad 400 fi^et above the level of the sea, &.c. 



Mineral Strata.— 1. Cultivated surface. 2. Gravel 

 of Flints, &c. Water ; Abundant and excellent. The 

 Thames falls about 24 feet in ten miles. Mineral wa- 

 ters, at East Act'in, Hampsiead and Bagnige wells. Fish 

 canchi in the Thames : Sturg on, Salmon, Tench, &c 

 Spring water found at various depths, from 5 to 300 

 feet' the latter the depth at P.iddington. 



2. Stale of Propeity. — Estates gi'nerally under the 

 care of altornies and badly managed. Tenures: much 

 freehold, consid( rable extent of copyhold, some Church, 

 College and Corporation land. 



Thenfiiilows: 3 Buildings; 4. Mode of occupation ; 

 5. Imiilements ; t>. Enclosing; 7 Arable Innd ; 8, Grass 

 lands; 9. Gardens and Orchards ; 10. Woods and Plan- 



Economy ; 14. Political Economy ; 15. Obstacles to 

 Improvement; 16. ftiiscellaneous Observations, 17 

 Means of Improvement 



Other topics of inquiry might be added to, or substi- 

 tuted for b.ime of the above mentioned; and, perhaps, 

 circular letters containing queries relative to such pnints 

 of information as are thought of the greatest conse- 

 quence, might be sent to intelligent ciiltivatois, in the 

 towns about to be visited for the purposes of Agricul- 

 tural Surveys, &c. By such and other means which 

 will suggest themselves to practical and ingeni'ius cul- 

 tivators, a mass of information may be eticiied which 

 will be of a vali-e, scarcely to be overrated by the most 

 sanguine anticipations. 



The Farming Interest and tbe Surplus Reve- 

 nue,— Under this head, the American Farmer gives an 

 article, recommending the several States to establish 

 Pattern Farms, Agricultural Schools, General State Ag- 

 ricultural Schools, and County Societies- 



" After viewing and reviewing the subjert, in all its 

 various phases, we have come to the conclusion, that a 

 better disposition of a. part of tn.e revenue, could not be 

 made ; and that like the seed sown of old, it would in- 

 crease a hundred fold. 



" America at this moment presents a curious aspect 

 to the world. Hitherto, from her surplus products, she 

 has been able to supply the old world with a large por- 

 tion of their bread stuffs, but owing to the disastrous re- 

 sults of the season the last year, she is now almost de- 

 pendent on the transatl inlic grain growers, for her daily 

 bread. Such being the case, does it not behoove those 

 whose province it is to superintend and promote the 

 concerns of the national husbandry, to essay a remedy 

 for the existing evils. If it should be asked, would the 

 organization of the agricultural institutions, we speak 

 of, prevent the depredations of the fly, and .stay the ele- 

 ments .' We answer, if they did neither one nor the 

 other, the happiest effects would result from their exis- 

 tence. While the two first, would tend to enlighten 

 the agricultural community, the two latter would excite 

 a spirit of emulation and generous rivalry, that could 

 not fail to be productive of an immense sum of public 

 and private good " 



MASSACHUSETTS HORTICUJL.TURAI4 SOCIETY. 



EXHIBITION OF FRUITS. 



Saturday, Jan. 14, 1837. 



Pears.— By Mr Manning. Nelis D'Hiver (La Bon- 

 ne Malinoise) a fine fruit of middling size, and stated by 

 Mr Manning to be a gre.it bearer. Neu town Virgalieu, 

 a breaking fruit, in form and iize resembling the Chau- 

 monlelle. 



Apples — By J. M. Ivcs. Michael Henry Pippin, of 

 Coxe, a fruit of about the quality of the Rhode Island 

 Greening. Carhouse, or Gilpin of Coxe — a most abun- 

 dant bearer, small size, not yet in eating. Fama Gusta 

 from New Jersey — rather too acid for a table, not an- 

 swering to the description of Coxe. Also, an unnamed 

 fruit, from a tree of a remarkably beautiful and delicate 

 growth; very hardy, — the fruit grows at the extremi- 

 ties of the branches, with very small footstalks, ripe in 

 April. 



The above is the Report of Mr Ives, which was for- 

 warded by him from Salem, together with all the spec- 

 imens of fruit which were exhibited this day. We have 

 only to add, that the Nelis d'hiver, though not hand- 

 some, has the fine flavor of the Cbaumontelle, The 

 Newtown Virgalieu, though only tolerable for eating, is 

 fine for baking — and a most extraordinary productive 



fruit, therefore a most profitable kind for cultivation. 



Of the Apples, the .Michael Henry Pippin, was the hand- 

 somest fruit, and the finest as to flavor. 

 For the Committee. 



WILLIAM KENRICK, Chairman. 



Agkiculturai. Paper? IN Maine.— Maine can now 

 boast of a trio of agricultural papers, equal to any in the 

 country ; and we are happy to add that her farmers 

 seem to understand their value, by tendering thcin a 

 hearty and liberal support. 



The Maine Farmer, is published at Winthrop, and 

 ably conducted by Dr. Holmes, a practical cultivator, 

 and a scientific man. His correspondents are numerous 

 and of the right sort, giving valuable statements of im- 

 (irovemenl and experience, in a plain and perspicous 

 manner. 



The Yankee Farmer, is published at Portland, S. W. 

 Cole, Editor, and commences it third volume, with an 

 improved typographical u[ipearance, and changed from 

 a semi-monthly to a weekly paper. The Editor is in- 

 dustrious, and successful in his endeavors to present to 

 his readers an interesting sheet. The selections and 

 editorial matter are alike judicious. 



The Fanner &. Mechanic, John S. Sayward, Editor, 

 published at Bangor, is devoted as its name indie ites, 

 and differs somewhiit in plan from the two first named 

 papers, but no less useful or interesting. 



Though the establishing of these papers has had the 

 pflect to withdraw subscribers who live in that section, 

 and who very properly preferred to subscribe for local 



papers, from our list, we gladly hail them, and wish 

 tations ; 11. Im| rovements ; 12 Livestock; 13. Rural I tliem all the prosperity they deserve. 



I.ARGK Hi'GS. 



Bio Hogs. — David Smith, of Hadley, has slain five 

 hogs, the wlu le weight of which exceeded twenty-one 

 bundled ! One fellow had grown so corpulent about 

 the face that, literally he could'nt look " bevond his 

 eye-lids!" — Northampton Cour. 



Mr Cornelius Husied, of Pine Plains, in this county, 

 fattened this fall, a " lady pig " and 11 " blooming re- 

 sponsibilities," the weight of which was twenty-four 

 hundred and thirty-seven pounds ! If Northampton can 

 produce a swinish family having more weight in com- 

 munity than this, we will give it up, and say notliin" 

 about one of our Duchess county pigs, which had grown 

 so fat, that — would you believe it.' — his mother did'nt 

 know him ! — Ponghkeepsie Tel. 



Larger Still. — Messrs Editors,— In order to sus- 

 tain the credit of old Duchess, 1 enclose you the weight 

 of 11 bogs, which I sold to Mr Kli Mygatt, merchant of 

 New Bedford Their weight was as follows : 350, 3'2, 

 334,387, 31:11,400, 448,453, 459,490. Aggregate weight 

 4542 pounds; avera,:e weight 413 pounds. The hogs 

 were 1 year old in June last. Ai bro Akik. 



Quaker Hill. Dec. 26, 1836. Ibid. 



There were yesterday brought to this market, by Mr 

 Nathaniel llrown, of Scituate, nine hogs, raised by him 

 the present season, weighing in the aggregate after be- 

 ing dressed, 3443 lbs. averaging a fraction less than 3^3 

 pounds each. The largest weighed 4(50 pounds. They 

 were purcha-ed by Messrs Ward & Work, and J. Flo- 

 ret, of the Old market. — Prur. Jour. 



We have given above the utmost that Hadley, " Old 

 Duchess," or Scituate can boast of, and now give them 

 a touch of what Soutliboro' can do. 



Lakge Hogs. — Joseph Jennison of Soutliboro', Ms. 

 has fatted and brought to Market this season, two Hogs 

 16 months old, weighing 1)^9 lbs. and 557 lbs., which 

 he sold for 13 cents a pound, realizing the sum of $154 

 18. Pretty fair business this .' 



