308 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER 



APttlt, 3, isao. 



REPORT 

 On providing for the Appointment of a Board of 

 .'ierricullure, and a State Chemist, tos;ctlier with a 

 Minoril;/ Report. 



(Concluded.) 

 The great importance of improved implements 

 of husbandry, your committee believe is not duly 

 appreciated. An instance will be mentioned, of 

 somewhat recent occurrence, of which thry have 

 personal knowled;^e. A field in common was divi- 

 ded between two neighbors and planted with corn. 

 As it had been previously subjected to the same 

 treatment, the line of division was supposed to give 

 each party an equal chance for a crop. The same 

 variety and from the same parcel of corn was 

 planted in the two cases, and in both cases the 

 after cultivation was seasonable and similar. In 

 one case a new plough of improved construction 



— but hardly known in some parts of the State 



was used, and a crop of fortyfive bushels per acre 

 obtained. In the other case a new plough of a 

 pattern that is in extensive use in some parts of 

 the State, was used, and a crop of thirtyfiw bu.sh- 

 els per acre obtained, and this with the additional 

 expense of at least two dollars in labor to remedy 

 the defects in the ploughing. Hero were ten bush- 

 els of corn and two dollars in labor, in the cropping 

 of a single acre, gained, without any other assign" 

 able cause, than, to say the most, the skilful use of 

 an improved plough — and that, perhaps, not the 

 best — over the common use of a plough, certainly 

 not the worst, and by many considered good. No 

 manure was used in either case, and the gain and 

 saving by the improved plough was fully equal to 

 the whole expense of making the crop, yet old 

 ploughs will be used. Farmers have been imposed 

 upon and disgusted so much with patterns got up 

 without skill or science, or apparently the least 

 knowledge of, or reference to, the principles in- 

 volved in the case — improvements from bad to 

 worse — that in many cases they look with distrust 

 upon everything that bears the name of improve- 

 ment. The removal of thi- prejudice is a matter 

 of no little consequence, and would be attended 

 with the happiest results. The amount of labor 

 misapplied, as may be inferred from the case cited, 

 is an immense tax upon the industry of the Coml 

 monwealth, and the saving or beijefical application 

 of It will tend directly, in proportion to its amount, 

 to swell the aggregate wealth of the State, as well 

 as promote the interest of individuals ; and the 

 Committee believe that no measure is more likely 

 to accomplish this desirable object than the opera- 

 tions of a judicious Board of Agriculture. 



Indeed the plough, which lays at the foundation 

 of all good husbandry, or improvement in cultiva- 

 tion, affords of itself, matter sufficient to justify 

 the appointment of a board. To examine new 

 claims, and determine among them and the n-reat 

 variety of patterns already in existence — by accu- 

 rate and careful experiment on philosophical prin- 

 ciples — which is best for the various descriptions 

 of work, would be of great service to farmers who 

 have not the means necessary to institute a just 

 comparison. It is of great importance that this 

 implement should possess other qualities than 

 merely that of being made of cast-iron. If it is 

 not yet discovered, there is undoubtedly, some cer- 

 tain angle of elevation and curve of share and 

 mould-board best calculated to raise and turn the 

 Bod in the easiest and most perfect .manner, and if 

 the investigation of the subject should result in 

 discovering which now in use is best, or in the 



invention and general use of a still more perfect 

 pattern; the benefit to the farming interest could 

 not easily be calculated ; for if the operation of 

 ploughing is not well performed, no after cultiva- 

 tion practised in our fields, however laborious it 

 may be, can remedy the defect ; a loss of labor, a 

 waste of ihe energies of the soil, and a diminution 

 of crop are the almost inevitable results. The 

 committee would urge the importance of the sub- 

 ject as a reason for going so far into particulars. 



The establishment of a Board whose duty it 

 shall be to suggest, from time to time, for the con- 

 sideration of the Legislature, -such measures as 

 the interests of our agriculture may require, and to 

 devise means for its improvement, and indeed, to 

 have a general inspection of the whole subject, is 

 certainly a more systematic method of proceeding, 

 and much more likely to meet promptly the rea- 

 sonable demands of this great interest,' than the 

 present method of appointing a committee of the 

 Legislature for a single session to whoso notice 

 specified subjects only are committed. 



In constituting the board it is of the first impor- 

 tance that it should embrace men of thorough 

 chemical knowledge applicable to agriculture, as 

 well as scientific and skilful practical fanners ; as 

 it is only by the combination of science to plan, 

 with skill to execute, that improvements are to be 

 expected, and from a board of intelligent men thus 

 constituted, is it too much to expect the advance- 

 ment of the agricultural interest.' No question 

 can arise connected with agriculture however im- 

 portant or difficult that would be likely to be dis- 

 posed of any other way, better than by reference 

 to a board thus constituted. The subject of boun- 

 ties, premiums and appropriations for the improve- 

 ment of agriculture, would properly engage their 

 attention, and had the board existed a year since 

 perhaps the money paid from the treasury for bounty 

 on wheat the past season, would have taken a dif- 

 ferent destination, for the same reason that the 

 merchant will not invest in purchases that will 

 yield but twentyfive per cent, when he can as well 

 invest where it will give fifty in the same time. 



The committee will not attempt to anticipate all 

 the objections that may possibly be brought in 

 opposition to their views on this subject. The 

 principal, and, as tliey believe the only real ground 

 of objection is the expense. Perhaps it will be 

 said that, in the present state of our treasury, we 

 cannot afford the appropriation necessary to carry 

 out the measure. In reply, the committee would 

 say, that we cannot aford to remain ignorant of 

 our resources. It is a false economy that interpo- 

 ses to prevent a judicious and necessary expendi- 

 ture. In this case it is like the economy of the 

 merchant who refuses the expense of a compass for 

 the ship in which he embarks his wealth ; the 

 amount to be expended is almost nothing, compared 

 with the object to be secured. If, as is believed 

 to be the case, the products of our farm stock, and 

 of our soil and the labor app:ied to it, amount to 

 one hundred millions of dollars annually; an in- 

 crease of this product of one per cent, if it can 

 be efiected by an improved application of the same 

 amount of labor and expense — and who acquainted 

 with the subject can doubt that much more can be 

 done — will give a clear saving to individuals of 

 one million of dollars, and increase the aggregate 

 wealth of the State by that amount annually. One 

 half of one per cent, of this saving would keep a 

 chemist in the constant employ of the Common- 

 wealth, meet all the expense of the board, and 



leave a considerable surplus to promote the general 

 object It is wasteful extravagance in effect to 

 continue the reaping of scanty harvests, where 

 means of improvement abound. If we do indeed 

 — as we are assured by our intelligent geological 

 surveyor — possess in exhaustless abundance the 

 means of cheaply enriching our farms, we cannot 

 afford to remain ignorant of the process. 



To leave the procuring of these desired results 

 to individual enterprise, is to delay the reception of 

 a great public good until it can be secured at indi- 

 vidual expense, or a loss of many thousands to save 

 a few hundreds. It is reversing one of the pri- 

 mary objects ofour government, drawing in, instead 

 of carrying out, the principle of encouraging in- 

 dustry. 



To increase our resources, may be as wise and ' 

 may as effectually relieve our treasury from future 

 embarrassment, as cutting off necessary expenses. 

 It certainly will be more effectual in furnishing 

 means to carry out the broad plans of general 

 I education and general benevolence adopted hy 

 former Legislatures. These plans, which justly 

 make one proud to hail from Massachusetts, re- 

 quire and will continue to require, large appropria- 

 tions of money. They tell for the intelligence and 

 glory of the Commonwealth, and the patriot and 

 philanthropist must rejoice in their continuance. 



The great objects of the board should be to 

 devise and execute, under the sanction of the 

 Legislature, measures to develope our agric ultural re- 

 sources, and add to our substantial wealth the value 



of our soil ; — to bring science to the aid of our 

 farmers, and increase the value and the reward of 

 labor. These objects are worthy the appointment 

 of the board ; and — to accomplish them is worthy 

 the highest efforts of those who may be called to 

 the trust, and merits the co-operation of every 

 farmer, and the good wishes of every citizen of 

 the Commonwealth. 



With these views, the committee recommend the 

 adoption of the following resolutions. 

 For the Committee, 



WILLIAM CLARK, Jr. 



Resolved, That tliere be appointed by the Gov- 

 ernor with the advice and consent of the Council, 

 one person from each congressional district in the 

 Commonwealth, who shall constitute a Board of 

 Agriculture, and shall hold their offices for the 

 term of three years, and all vacancies in the Board 

 shall be filled in the same manner as the original 

 appointment is made ; the Governor shall also ap- 

 point the first meeting of the Board. The Board 

 shall meet in Boston once at least during the ses- 

 [sion of the Legislature, and as much ofteiier, not 

 e.xceeding three times in each year, as they may 

 think necessary, and at such place as they may 

 determine. They shall elect from their own num- 

 ber, a president and secretary, and may adopt rules 

 for their own regulation. The Board shall elect a 

 chemist, fix the compensation for his services, and 

 direct his labors in making such investigations, ex- 

 periments, and analyses, as in their opinion will 

 best develope the agricultural resources of the 

 Commouwealth, and render the most effective as- 

 sistance to the farmer. It shall be the duty of the 

 Board to suggest for the consideration of the Legis- 

 lature such measures as the interests of agriculture 

 may require, and report the same with a detailed 

 statement of their transactions and investigations 

 to the Governor annually. 



Resolved, That the members of the Board of 



