clays are converteJ into turnip eoil, and even what 

 would formerly have been accounted dry, is ad- 

 vanced in quality. Whole parishes in the vicinity 

 of Stirling are completely transformed from unsight- 

 ly marshes into beautiful and rich wheat fields, and 

 where the plough could scarcely be driven for slush 

 and water, we see heavy crops per acre and heavy 

 weight per bushel, the quantity and quality alike 

 improved." * * * * 



" It is the greatest quantity produceii at the 

 cheapest rate that will ever make a prosperous trade. 

 If wheat is low in price, the fanner must bestir him- 

 self. Let him remember that if he can but grow. 

 one or two quarters more per acre, he will be in a 

 better position, even with the low price, than he 

 was before." 



In speaking of the Highland Society, the writer 

 enumerates the following means which that Society 

 adopted, as contributing largely to the ujighty ad- 

 vance of the agriculture of Scotland: 



"In the days of its youth and feebleness, the 

 Highland Society sent the leaven of the turnip hus- 

 bandry into all the glens and straths of the north, 

 by offers of small prizes to certain Highland par- 

 ishes ; and the same may be said as to the growth 

 of clover and the finer grasses. As it advanced in 

 strength, (as to numbers and to cash,) attention was 

 turned to premiums for stock ; then came offers of 

 reward to men of science to discover better imple- 

 ments and machines, to diminish friction and con- 

 sequently draugfrt, such as in the thrashing mill and 

 other parts of agricultural macliinery. Still ad- 

 vancing in the scale of intellect and of science, pre- 

 miums were offered for essays to bring to light the 

 facts connected with chemistry and natural pliilos- 

 ophy ; and, under the auspices of the society, was 

 set up the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, a work 

 which has been the vehicle of conveying so much 

 useful information to the agriculturist, that we 

 humbly venture to say it ought to appear on the ta- 

 ble and book shelf of every farmer's parlor. After 

 this, the great stock shows were resolved upon as 

 anotiiei' iuik ui' uuiuii beiueen the soi;ieiy auu the 

 practical farmei-, at the same time throwing aside 

 all paltry feeling, and making them open to stock 

 from both sides of the Tweed, [i. e. frorji 'England 

 as well as Scotland.] How well they have suc- 

 ceeded, let the last one at Glasgow bear witness. 

 [This was the most splendid show of fine cattle ev- 

 er exhibited.] Nor has the society forgotten the 

 beauty of the country, as the premiums offered in 

 regard to planting trees and such like subjects ful- 

 ly testify ; and to sum up all, it may be said, the 

 Highland Society has been a point d' appiii, a ral- 

 lying point, to which the agriculturists of Scotland 

 might look, and a fostering mother to all who, al- 

 though strong in talent, were weak in interest to 

 make it public. An ardent lover of the ploutjh and 

 all that can speed it, the writer of this article would 

 advise the society of p^ngland, and all other agri- 

 cultural societies who would be useful to their 

 country, to look into the annals of the Highland So- 

 ciety, and from them to cull whatever m.:y be of 

 use in the advancement of the delightful science, 

 the culture of the fields. 



'•The men 

 Whom nature's works can eharni, with God hiiiisell' 

 Hold converge ; grow faniili .r day hy day 

 With his coneeplions; act upon his plans, 

 And form to his the relish of their souls. " 



The Highland Society have this year offered 

 prizes to the amount of $17,000, under the follow- 

 ing classification : 



Class I. — Agricultiiral machinery, .'iOO sovereigns 

 and a gold and silver medal. 



Class II. — Essays and reports on various subjects, 

 embracing thirtyone subjects of high interest to the 

 farmer, viz : 



1. Geological surveys. 



2. Reports on coal districts. 



3. Mines and minerals. 



4. Products of peat moss, &c. 



5. Comparison between different kinds of ma- 

 nure in raising potatoes. 



6. E.xtended application of water and other pow- 

 er to farm purposes. 



7. Comparative efficacy of the two modes of thor- 

 ouErh draining. 



8. Reports on irrigation. 



9. Forest planting. 



10. Sheep pastures at high elevations. 

 Jl. Improved sheep salve. 



12. Oil crossing the Cheviot with the New Lei- 

 cester ram. 



13. Cultivation of the recently introduced ce- 

 real and other grains. 



14. Feeding farm hotses on raw and prepared 

 food. 



1.5. Early rearing and fattening of lambs. 

 It). Insects injurious to agricultural plants. 



17. Insects injurious to forest trees. 



18. Comparative nutritive. properties of grasses. 



19. Extirpating f irns from pastures. 



20. Thorough. draining. 



21. Subsoil ploughing of thorough-drained land. 



22. Mole plough. 



23. Experiments with manures. 



24. Analysis of bone or rape dust. 



25. On the effects of altitude on vegetation. 



26. Feeding of cr.ttle. 



27. Forests of larch. 



28. On raising improved varieties of grains. 



29. Reports on improved rural economy abroad. 



30. Honorary premium for reports on certain 

 districts in Scotland. 



31. Investigation of certain points connected 

 with tiie science of agriculture, viz: 



An essay or memoir explaining on scientific prin- 

 ciples, the mode in which soil operates in pro- 

 ducing or facilitating the germination and.growth 

 of ■Vegetables. 



An essay or memoir describing and proving, on 

 scientific principles, what is the best admixture 

 of the ordinary elements of soil, for promoting 

 ttie germination and growth of particular vege- 

 tables. 



An essay or memoir describing, on scientific prin- 

 ciples, the mode in which lime operates in ren- 

 dering the soil better adapted for the germina- 

 tion and growth of particular vegetables. 



An essay or Biemoir explaining, on scientific prin- 

 ciples, the effect of drainage in altering the con- 

 stitution or qualities of the soil, and increasing 

 its fertility. 



An essay or memoir, showing the nature of the at- 

 mospheric influences on soil, in promoting its 

 fertility, including the modification of these in- 

 fluences arising from heat and cold, dryness and 

 moisture. 

 CJass HI. — Waste lands— their improvement by 



tillage. 



Class IV. — Crops and culture. 

 Class V. — Pastures — their mmiagement. 

 Class VI. — Live stock— district competitors. 

 Class VII. — Products of live stock — butter and 



cheese. 



Class VIII. — The best kept cottages and cottage 

 gardens. 



Class IX. — Woods and plantations. 



Class X. — General show of live stock and agri- 

 cultural meeting at Inverness. 



Having shown, by our quotations, something of 

 the vast extent of ihe recent improvements in the 

 agrieultufe of Scotland, and the influence which its 

 agricultural society has had in promoting these im- 

 provements, we have given the above sketch of their 

 premiums, as indicating the means they have adopt- 

 ed, and are adopting, to bring about this great and 

 salutary change— to show how vast a field they oc- 

 cupy, and the great bearing which science is made 

 to have in the improvement of tho soil, and in th( 

 operations of the farm. 



^EgKSHIRE AND OTHER HOGS.— HARDI 

 NESS OP DURHAM CATTLE. 



We offered the belief some weeks ago, that the 

 Berkshire hogs, although a very superior breed for 

 family pork or for slaughtering and packing on or 

 near navigable streams, are not good travellers. — 

 This was mere matter of opinion, from observation 

 of the animals, which have remarkably short legs 

 and bodies, as well as from the statement of Mr C. 

 N. Bement, of Albany, N, Y., one of the oldest 

 breeders of them in the United States, concurring 

 in the same opinion, and which was published in 

 the first volume of this work, page 307. We sup- 

 pose a full Idood Berkshire hog has never been 

 driven to the South, and we do not know of a lot of 

 mixed bloods having gone. We think it likely the 

 cross of the Berkshire upon the long legged breeds 

 would produce a fair travelling animal, and one 

 uniting other excellencies. We have received sev- 

 eral letters from breeders suggesting the propriety 

 of a revision of our opinion as to the travelling ca- 

 pability of Berkshire hogs; but, till better advised, 

 we must adhere to the opinion. We would thank 

 the gentlemen to furnish us some facts on which 

 we would be justified in. remodelling our present 

 opinion; and such facts would be exceedingly in- 

 teresting to others too. We have been acquainted 

 with this breed of hogs nearly as long as any one 

 else in this State, and have now a fine lot of mixed 

 and full bloods ; but never heard, till lately, that 

 they were a good travelling breed. But if they 

 are, they have still higher claims to public estima- 

 tion. We can truly say, that on the farm, they 

 are the busie.st hogs we have ever seen ; but do 

 not deem this any evidence of ability to travel to 

 the south on their short legs, bearing such enormous 

 barrels, through the deep mud of winter. Those 

 who are breeding hogs are interested in knowing 

 the trutl%, not only as to this but all' the qualities of 

 hogs ; and we would be glad to have the opinions, 

 but more particularly the experience of others on 

 the matter. 



In point of/ort», the Berkshire is superior, incur 

 opinion, to any other breed we have seen — but this 

 is only our opinion. For thrift we deem them equal 

 to any, and as to haj-diness, inferior to none — two 

 more opinions, based somewhat upon observation 

 and experience, however. We have tried all the 

 popular breeds but the Russia and Irish ; (which 

 we propose yet to try,) and so far as our own pref- 

 erences are fixed, we prefer the Berkshires for fam- 

 ily pork and for slaughtering and packing, but the 

 Woburns or Bedfords for travelling. These are 

 preferences which are based, however, more upon 

 opinion than upon satisfactory or conclusive tests, 



