■?^ 



AND H O R T I C U L T U I{ A L REGISTER. 



PUIILISHEU BY JOSEini BRECK & CO., IVO 52 NORTH MARKET STREET, (Aoricultuiial Warehouse.) 



iroi- X VIII.] 



BOSTON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 13, 1840. 



[NO. 49. 



N. E . FARMER. 



For the New England Farmer. 



SCIENCE FOR FARMERS. 

 The eye was unquestionably formed for seeing^. 

 ts location being placed in tlie most prominent 

 3art of tlie liuman frame, as well as the one most 

 nnvenient to effect the purpose of its formation ; 

 ind, al.-io, the .security with which it is guarded from 

 Janger, goes strongly to substantiate this fact. Its 

 utter uselessnees for ail purposes, unless, indeed, it 

 )e as the fountain from which we pour our tears, 

 )r the windows through which we betray the emo- 

 ions of the soul, is another wherefore of its utility 

 or looking about, and its perfect adaptation for 

 aking up objects and transferring their impression 

 o the soul, where their tjualitics are appreciated, 

 heir beauties adiiiired, and their deformities traced 

 nt, are proofs positive of the design of its creation. 

 The earth is admirably fitted up to please the 

 ye and through that to delight the soul. Its rivu- 

 «ts, streams and majestic rivers, — its lakes, seas 

 nd oceans, whereon man goes in sicips and docs 

 usiness on the deep, — its fertile intervals, broad 

 lains, gently swelling hills and mountains will, 

 heir craggy cliffs, towering fur towards the Bk.4,T 

 ts vegetable productions, the lichen that attaclies 

 tself to the rock, which was once, perhaps, worn 

 ;mooth by the sports of our cliildhood ; the tall old 

 rees that adorn the grove, the meadow and the 

 nountain, giving beautiful variety to the scenery 

 )y their Howers, fruit and foliage; the many and 

 vonderful links that make up the chain ot animal- 

 creation, from the mote that holds kindred with 

 lothiiigness, to 'the llighest and most sagacious 

 :Iass ot living things, — all these, aside from matters 

 )f general utility, were designed to convey pleasure 

 ,0 the mind, through the agency of the eye, and 

 .verc they any of them to become e.ttinct, there 

 ■vould be a hapless void in tlie mass of things. How 

 ortunate that we cannot annihilate them. These 

 Jiings were made for the comfort and pleasure of 

 nan. He might have existed had there been no 

 nountiiins or seas. He might have been endowed 

 ivith a nature to exist iiidependantly of rivers and 

 jlains, and trees and fruits, and the endless variety 

 jf (lowers — of insects and birds, in whose melody 

 •'the outgoings of the morning and the evening re- 

 joice ;" and of the beast of the field. I'lil they 

 were mtidefor man, and in testimony of their utili- 

 ty their Creator pronounced them good. 



There are many other things eonntctcd with 

 man's comfort and happiness which have not been 

 done for him. In fact, every thing in connexion 

 with t)ie earth, evinces its Maker's wisdom in the 

 creation, and all appears as though he had labored 

 for man in doing that for him which his own efforts 

 cannot accomplish. To us it remains to effect the 

 minor changes necessary to rendering earth the 

 abode of beauty and enjoyment. Hence it remains 

 for us to clear away forests, build up tiie old waste 

 places, open fountains, plant orchards, erect' build- 

 ings, and a thousand other things, the importance of 



which are more and more deeply felt as man ad- 

 vances in a state of civilization and refinement, and 

 in just proportion with their progression, wo see 

 the beautiful harmony of order and tasteful arrange- 

 ment developing themselves in all his labors. .And 

 hoiv c9n these be effected without science regulates 

 his [dans? How can his territory be divided into 

 convenient and beautiful fields, unless geometrij 

 draws the lines .' How can the strong and beauti- 

 ful walls which arc to establish these divisions with 

 unerring certainty, receive the impressions or dura- 

 bility, unless the law regulating the proportions of 

 the two surfaces to the lieight and the material 

 used in building, be carried into effect ? 



The emphiyments of the firmer certainly iijake 

 large demands on the science of mathematics in 

 many and various forms for their perfect accom- 

 plishment. We might as well enter into detail of 

 all his labors as to attempt to enumerate the "thou- 

 sand and one " ways in which necessity requires 

 their aid, in proportion as he would do all things 

 well. And as very near akin to them, may be urg- 

 ed tlie importance of the art of drawing, by which'- 

 models may be taken at home and abroad of suo'ft' 

 improvements in all things relating to his profession 

 as the advancements of the age may suggest. 



Farms should al'vays be laid out and buildings i 

 erected with regard to beauty as well as utility. 

 The earth, at least that part of it originally assign- 

 ed to man as his abode, was a garden, and undoubt- 

 edly a well-regulated one ; arranged with taste and 

 order. Every man's farm should be a garden noio — 

 all laid out in the most systematic, scientific man- 

 jier. In laying out fields, reference must be made 

 to the qualities of soil and surface. Straight fen- 

 ces and square fields are in most cases preferable, 

 yet there may be instances where curves are to be 

 made in fences, and the parallelogram and triangle, 

 and for aught we know, the hexagon, are to be the 

 proper forms. Now if circumstances invite to the 

 formation of fields in inanner nearly resembling 

 either of these, or any other shape, good taste, econo- 

 my in fencing, and every other consideration that 

 we have thought of, would require that the best 

 plan should be adopted. The science which teach- 

 es men to make economical fences, by savings in 

 distance, instructs also in planting trees, disposing 

 of rows in cornfields, and indeed in every work i f 

 men's hands where lines and distance are to be re- 

 garded. 



Tlie proper arrangement and location of build- 

 ings, is an object of utmost importance to all who 

 bear the expense of their erection; and how often 

 in passing through the country, do we find them of 

 forms and in situations that would make Comus 

 himself weep for their occupants, if he were to take 

 a view of their localities and construction. It is 

 not for us to lay plans for our fellow farmers in 

 these affairs: we would only suggest the propriety 

 of their making themselves sufficiently acquainted 

 with the science of architecture, to enable them to 

 draw their own plans and manage their own affairs 

 in such a manner, as that posterity, into whose 

 hands they must eventually pass, if built in the 

 thorough manner they should be, may "rise up and 



call them blessed," instead of considering the work 

 of their hands an incumbrance left to them, for 

 which there can be no remedy and in which very 

 little comfort or convenience can be found. 



Farrnprs' .buildings, like tliose of other men, 

 should be built with reference to convenience, tn\4 

 ' they mv.y be in all cases, and at the same time a 

 proper I'gard be paid to their appearance. The 

 house should always be placed (we say) at a re- 

 spectable distance from the highway, and the larger 

 the structure, the greater the distance rocpiired, for 

 what can indicate a want of thought more perfect- 

 ly than R large house standing on the borders of 

 the universal territory, with a little cramped yard, 

 or perhaps none at all between it and the public's 

 empire.' How much more liveable is a residence 

 thrown nt a distance from the more penetrating 

 gaze of the public, and sheltered by a beautiful 

 park. This style of doing things we are aware, 

 may meet the censure of many fanners, who esti- 

 mate the value of their labors by the dollars and 

 cents received, as an unprojitabte way of doing 

 things. But in this, ye calculating sirs, ye are 

 mistaken. Keep the account of debt and credit 

 with your lands, and you will find the plot before 

 your door by far the most profitable of your do- 

 mains- T^iaije it then, not by the random process 

 of gue'ss work, but by a liberal application n( sci- 

 e7ice carried into practice, in giving it due propor- 

 tions and arranging its fixtures in the most agreea- 

 ble way, and bo assured you will not only find 

 your minds liberalised by the process, but your en- 

 joyment will be greatly increased and your "value 

 received " also. Other buildings should likewise, 

 be perfected by the application of science with art 

 in their arrangement and location, not only because 

 a correct way of doing things, is that which is most 

 agreeable to the eye, but also because it is most 

 convenient and useful to those who are concerned 

 in them. VV. B. 



Mount Osceola, April 30, 1840. 



For the New England Farmer. 



ON IRRIGATION AND MANAGEMENT OP 

 WATER. 



Boston, Zd May, J 840. 



Ret. Mu Colman — Sir — Please to accept my 

 thanks for your report containing the remarks on 

 agriculture in England, by Mr Webster and Mr 

 Silliman. 1 am much pleased to find that my own 

 remarks are in accordance with the opinions of 

 tlu'se distinguished citizens; and I am encouraged 

 by this accordance to offer a few more observations 

 on the modes of supplying and using water. 



In my preceding letter, it was my principal ob- 

 ject to draw attention to the constituent and crea. 

 tive powers o! water and air; and liad I known 

 that this fact, (long since familiar to men of sci- 

 ence,)had been presented to our farmers under the 

 auspices of such names as those above, I might have 

 omitted buitheniiig your columns with my own 

 speculations. 



In every science it is necessary to have some 



