18G2. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



109 



ly posted in theii* habits ; others have not the ne- 

 cessar}- time to devote to them the necesary care ; 

 some are too indolent to take the pains needed, 

 and more will not have the means at hand — emp- 

 ty combs, or dividing: boards — to secure them. 

 Hence the importance of some method that will 

 induce the bees to go right every time, without 

 our supervision. To us who now manage to get 

 straight combs, it would be an acquisition ; we 

 cannot as it is, do it without trouble ; it would 

 often be a great convenience to put bees into a 

 hive wholly empty. 



Now let 'Mi: Kidder give us a reliable guide for 

 straight combs ; one that everybody can prove 

 true ; not like the humbug of a swarm being 

 made to store 300 pounds in one season. Or let 

 Mr. Langstroth, Harbison, Underbill, Flanders, 

 any one of the host of the patentees of movable 

 comb hives, exercise their ingenuity on this point, 

 and give us the desired improvement. Although 

 a patent is repugnant to my feelings in a bee-yard, 

 I would tolerate one more in this case, if we can- 

 not have the improvement without. Variations 

 of the movable comb hive are unnecessary to mul- 

 tiply further. Let us have something in the line 

 needed. M. Quinby. 



St. Johmville, N. P., 1862. 



For the l\eic England Fanner. 



MAira"AIj OF AGRICULTUKE. 



Propress in the Art — State and County Societies — the Afiricul- 

 tural Press — Farmers' Clubs — Agricultural Libraries — Manual 

 of Agriculture. 



My Dear Sir : — It is always a pleasure to 

 chronicle the progress of improvement in Avhat- 

 ever form it may present itself, and more especially 

 when it leads to a more thorough and more gen- 

 eral development of the agriculture of the country. 

 Since the commencement of the present century, 

 there have been many landmarks established to 

 show that mind, as well as bodily tod, were essen- 

 tial to the full, successful cultivation of the earth, 

 and the collateral arts. Earliest among these 

 was the formation of Agricultural Societies. It 

 was mind ; dehberate, active mind, was the origi- 

 nator of these. There are many now living who 

 treasure in remembrance the earliest buddings of 

 the eai'liest efforts in behalf of these institutions. 

 Such can well remember how great a curiosity 

 they awakened in the minds of some, as also the 

 bitter opposition they met with in the minds of 

 others, and among farmers, too. But early dis- 

 couragements, in their formation, yielded like the 

 ice before the cheering sunbeams ; so that now 

 we have a United States Agricultural Society, 

 State Societies in a majority of the States in the 

 Union, County and Town Societies almost without 

 number. Had the originator of the fu'st Society 

 had an assurance of the number of such Societies 

 half a century would bring forth, and the amount 

 of usefulness that would follow in their train, what 

 a noble impulse it would have given to his labors ! 



Next in the train came the Agricultural Press, 

 the engine to disseminate the knowledge that was 

 accumulating through the agency of associated 

 effort at improved husbandry. Those who recol- 

 lect the birthday of the old Neio England Farmer, 

 can remember, too, the distnist with which the 

 majority of farmers looked upon it. They did not 

 ■want newspaper knowledge, for they knew better 



than the papers did. This dream, too, has passed 

 away. The Neio England Farmer Hves on, a life 

 of usefulness and honor, and has begot many sons 

 and daughters ; so that now the agricultural press 

 has become a poMcrful press, not only in numbers, 

 but in influence ; and instead of being looked upon 

 with jealousy, as the innovator of strange and 

 fallacious doctrines, it is deemed a household ne- 

 cessity in every former's dwelling, especially if 

 that former loves and respects his calling. Their 

 number is now legion — their influence is inesti- 

 mable. 



The establishment of " Farmers' Clubs " in 

 towns and neighborhoods, where mind meets to 

 hold intercourse with congenial mind, formed 

 another important era in agricultural progress. 

 The advantages that may result from these insti- 

 tutions are too m.any for enumeration, and cannot 

 be too highly appreciated. 



In connection with Farmers' Clubs, the estab- 

 lishment of Agricultural Libraries marks a proud 

 era in agricultural progress. It does not require 

 the memory of great age to go back to the period 

 when such libraries were a thing unthought of, 

 and had their existence occupied a place in the 

 farmer's mind, it would have been a difficult task 

 to have procured suitable books to place on their 

 shelves. Now, such books are becoming abun- 

 dant, as libraries are springing up everywhere.* 



But all these things have occurred for the ben- 

 efit of men — those engaged, or just about being 

 engaged, in the practical duties of active life. 

 They, ever hopeful and young, may, to be sure, 

 have been to some extent benefited by them. 

 But their wants were not met. Their case, of a 

 certainty, has been long considered, but delay suc- 

 ceeded delay in acting upon its claims. At last a 

 star, bright and beautiful, arises upon them, and it 

 shines for all. The rich and the poor can meet 

 together, and study and admire its beautiful light. 



I consider the Manual of Agriculture, prepared 

 by ]\Iessrs. Emerson and Flint, one of the best 

 works on Agriculture extant, and for the purpose 

 for wliich it is designed, as the very best. And I 

 hail its introduction into our common schools as 

 the introduction of the golden age of agricultural 

 progress. It is a matter of proud congratulation 

 that its introduction has been so successful. May 

 it become universal. It has been a favorite idea 

 with me, for a long time, that the study of Agri- 

 culture should have a place in our common schools, 

 and I rejoice that tlris idea is so far approaching a 

 realization. But one thing more is needful. We 

 must have teachers adapted to the work, in order 

 to make it successful. Our Legislature, in the 

 name of the people, should legalize the study, and 

 our Normal Schools must educate their teachers 

 to carry out the work. 



What a beautiful era it will be, when the arts ot 

 rural life are taught in all our schools by thorough 

 and efficient teachers ; when every school-house 

 will have its grounds cultivated by the hands of 

 enthusiastic pupils, and when the library and the 

 cabinet shall be classed among the essentials of 

 school-house furniture ! W. Bacon. 



Itichvfiond, Jan., 18G2. 



* In a communication from J. Raynolda, Esq., of Concord, 

 dated early in October last, he informs me that previous to that 

 time he had established nearly two hundred Agricultural Libra- 

 ries in Massachusetts. I hope and believe the number lias been 

 liberally increased since that time. His Catalogue embraces a 

 valuable list of books. 



