AND HORTICULTURAL REGISTER. 



"p^:;i;Il^H^ BV JOSEPH^BRECK & CO., NoT^TNORTtl MARKET STREET, (AoB.cuLTnaAL W^heho.se.) 



VOI>. XVII.] 



BOSTON, WEDNESDAY EVENING. MAY 1, 1839. 



[NO. 43. 



E. FARMER . 



ADDRESS, 



Delivered at the Show of the Berkshire ./Igrieidtural 

 Society, in 183G, by Henry If. Bislwp, Esq., of 

 Lenox. 



(Concluded.) 



There is another topic to which I heg leave 

 briefly to allude, as well because of its connexion 

 'with the agricultural, as with other prominent and 

 permanent pursuits of this eonnty. This is its geo- 

 'logical and niineralogical character and features. 

 The partialities to their own county, of some of her 

 most enlightened citizens, may have led to the adop- 

 tion of an erroneous opinion ; — if they have not, 

 there is no field of the same e.^ctent, which contains 

 more than Berkshire, to animate and reward the re- 

 searches of him who studies the structure of the 

 eartli, and of him, who classifies its minerals and 

 treats of their properties. The relations of these 

 branches of the science of nature, to the cultivation 

 of the earth, are most apparent. The earths which 

 form the basis of the richest soils, are but the ruins 

 of rocks, detached from mountain masses, and re- 

 duced to minute particles, by the powerful or long 

 continued action of natural causes. The earths, 

 therefore, must partake of the character of the rocks 

 upon which they repose, or from which they have 

 been brought. The soils overlaying granite, nm- 

 terially difter from those covering limestone, and 

 both essentially vary from those which repose upon 

 slate. To determine the character of alluvion, 

 which may have been brought from various forma- 

 tions, an analysis of a portion of the mass, may be 

 required. Now, nothing can be more important, 

 and perhaps nothing so important is less understood, 

 than the nature, properties and agencies, chemical 

 and mechanical, of the earths, in the processes of 

 vegetation. Although they constitute, in very 

 minute proportions, only tlie proper food of plants, 

 yet, as the reservoirs of that food, and as its con- 

 d.uc'tors to the organs which take it up, they are 

 deservino- study and examination. Fertilizing sub- 

 stances are almost inert and useless, unless the 

 earths, with which they are mixed, be of the right 

 character and constitution. The earths without 

 putrescent matter, arf barren ; and neither of them, 

 in a simple state, with ever so much putrescent 

 matter, could be made permanently fertile. 



Who but a novice in these matters, would seri- 

 ! ously set himself about creating a permanently good 

 soil, out of slate alone, converted to clay,— or of 

 pulverized quartz, or of lime or chalk, reduced to 

 powder, with ever so much of barn-yard scrapings, 

 or butchers' offal, to mix with either? With all 

 mingled in proper proportions, he might, with no 

 • nail prospect of success, thus busy himself. A 

 very few experiments, accompanied with attentive 

 observation, would teach him that the adhesiveness 

 of clay must be subdued by the application of sand ; 

 and the looseness of sand corrected by the tenacity 

 of clay; and that a little lime, to neutralize the 

 acids, and catch and retain the fertilizing particles 



passing off in the process of decomposition, could 

 be well employed. And more, were he to extend 

 his inquiries a step further, he might learn that 

 plants which have no feet to walk about for food, 

 no hands to put it to the mouth, and no teeth to 

 masticate it, must have water to dissolve and con- 

 vey it to them, and that too at convenient times, 

 and without prolonged intermission. He would 

 likewise learn, that the hardness of the particles of 

 sand, and their loose arrangement, make it incapa- 

 ble of absorbing and retaining moisture, — that the 

 adhesiveness of clay does not permit water freely 

 to penetrate it, and that each in these respects, cor- 

 rects the defects of the other,— and to do so per- 

 fectly, must meet with it in determinate propor- 

 tions. It is an acknowledged natural truth, that 

 vegetables will not grow in a soil, where the ele- 

 ments necessary to compose them are wanting, — 

 and that they will be imperfect, where the earths 

 are not congenial to their nature. The farmer can, 

 it is true, settle by trial the question, whether cer- 

 tain plants, suited to the climate, will thriv^e upon 

 his lands. Plants are undoubtedly the most cer- 

 tain indicators of the nature of soil and its value, 

 for while no practical cultivator would engage with 

 land of which he knew nothing, except the results 

 of a chemical analysis, yet every gardener or far- 

 mer who knew the sort of plants it produced, would 

 at once be able to decide as to its value for culti- 

 vation. Nothing should be permitted to supersede 

 such tests, for probably no adequate substitutes 

 could be found, — yet as their auxiliaries, economi- 

 cal geology might well be employed. Is it not de- 

 sirable to determine the capabilities, and measure 

 the resources of this county, — to ascertain what 

 materials it can furnish for the arts and occupations 

 of life,— to disclose to its citizens, if it may be, 

 new sources of wealth, and Iresh fountains of pleas- 

 ure, to multiply motives to harmony and kindness, 



by creating new relations in business, and inrreas- 

 ino- the sense of mutual dependence, and the neces- 

 sity of mutual aid ? If this be desirable, should 

 there not be a geological survey made of it— min- 

 ute and thorough — under the auspices of this soci- 

 ety, by means provided by the enlightened and lib- 

 eral, if our own be inadequate,— a survey, which 

 shall embrace not only its soils, but its minerals, 

 and fossils. The plan is of easy execution. It is 

 not a scheme of a merely speculative projector : it 

 proceeded from an enlightened, sober source, and 

 has been suggested to him who addresses you, as 

 worthy a place in the paper which he reads. . It 

 commends itself to your attention. Were our re- 

 sources upon the surface only, it might be other- 

 wise. They are below it, — rich, immense, invalu- 

 able. Our meadow lands repose upon beds of 

 iron, sufficient to meet the demands of all the im 

 prov'ements among us, in progress and in prospect. 

 Our mountain pastures are the overlayings of prim- 

 itive lime rocks, worthy the chisel of Praxiteles. 

 From our shops the finest ornamental marble of the 

 country has been taken. The cities have hewn 

 from our quarries the corintliian columns for their 

 proudest edifices. At the east and west of us, this 



valuable material is not, and probably may not be 

 found, in the quantity and of the quality which will 

 justify the expenses incident to the raising and 

 preparing it for the markets. There is little danger 

 of rivalry except among ourselves. Exhauitless 

 masses have already been uncovered, — still further 

 and more thorough examinations should be made, 

 till all is known that can be learned. A survey, 

 under the supervision of some individual of practi- 

 cal science, would hasten and facilitate these ex- 

 aminations,— would ascertain the best localities of 

 this material— its texture— its admixture of foreign 

 ingredients its several varieties, and their respec- 

 tive value and fitness for different economical and 

 ornamental purposes, public and private. Duty to 

 ourselves and our children, requires us to unlock 

 these store-houses. 



This matter, like everything else which gives 

 impetus to industry and skill— like the manufac- 

 turing establishments, with which the margins of 

 our streams are dotted, has close alliance with the 

 interest of agriculture. Well has it been report- 

 ed by one of the most distinguished geologists of 

 this, or any country, " that the inhabitants of Berk- 

 shire cannot but regard their inexhaustible depos- 

 its of marble as a rich treasure to themselves, and 

 an invaluable legacy to their posterity." 



We think too little of the aid and facilities which 

 science has provided,— of the relief from toil, and 

 the rational pleasures, which it has given to every 

 kind of nira! employment. It has alleviated labor, 

 by giving it the right direction and application. It 

 has elevated thought and character. The pleas- 

 ures of agriculture are felt and highly appreciated, 

 because they are the pleasures of intellect. Learn- 

 ino- has given them new charms. Upon the fields 

 are men of learni'.g, pursuing the study of nature, 

 with the utensils of husbandry for their philosoph- 

 ical apparatus. Theory and practice begin to har- 

 monize. While it is admitted on the one hand, 

 that theory, based upon speculation, without fact, is 

 not science, it is on the other conceded, that, after 

 all, science is little else than perfected practice. 

 The prejudices and superstitious fears which for 

 aoes embarrassed the operations of agriculture, 

 and checked its advances, are fast giving place to 

 the practical deductions of truth. Facilities for 

 practice are drawn largely from those sober places, 

 where men of learning sit. IVIind, and mind only, 

 can give confidence to energy and direction to ac- 

 tivity'. The intrepidity of the fearless sailor, riding 

 upon tumultuous waters, springs not from confi- 

 dence in his own physical strength, biit from the 

 means which learning lias provided, of conducting 

 his bark to its appointed haven, " and to the orbits 

 of the stars above him, he looks lor the landmarks 

 of the deep." 



Gentlemen of the Society : The field upon which 

 we labor is of "peculiar features. We have fertile 

 intervals, but they are of narrow breadth. The 

 rising sun, up midway the sky, throws clear across 

 them" the shadows of our Alpine elevations. We 

 have a rude scenery and a rigorous climate. A 

 few favored spots only are e.\empt from the harrfi 



