1871. 



XEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



219 



For the New Englayid Farmer. 

 OBJECTS OF AGRICULTTTKAIj SOCIE- 

 TIES. 



OBJECTIONS TO THE AGRICULTURAL HORSE TROT. 



The Turf, Field and Farm'^s criticism of 

 your position on the "fast horse" question, 

 headed Stupid, was certainly a most stupid 

 defence of their pet institution. 



They show that they have no claim to the 

 last word of their title, for they speak of the 

 farm, the farmer, and farming, with undis- 

 guised contempt. They "have nothing to do 

 with carrots and cabbages," and agricultural 

 societies they designate as "Green Pumpkin 

 Associations." Evidently they have added 

 the word "Farm" to their designation in order 

 to catch the subscriptions of a few unwary 

 farmers to a purely sporting journal. 



But what do the farmers think of their argu- 

 ment in favor of the "Agricultural horse trot ?" 

 that "the fact is too plain to be contradicted 

 that the majority of the agricultural associa- 

 tions are kept from bankruptcy by making 

 their fairs attractive through the horse depart- 

 ment." This, c.oncludes the wise editor, is 

 sufficient reason why the trots should be en- 

 couraged. 



Perhaps if the gentleman knew what agri- 

 cultural societies are for, he might have come 

 to a different conclusion, but "the ignorance 

 of some of the sporting papers is really deplo- 

 rable." In hopes that "our city friend" may 

 see this paragraph, we essay to enlighten him. 

 Agricultural Societies are formed for the pur- 

 pose of encouraging agricultural pursuits, by 

 friendly competition and the dissemination of 

 agricultural information. 



The man who makes the greatest general 

 improvement in his farm ; who raises the best 

 crop of hay, grain, or roots ; who breeds and 

 raises the best horses, cattle, hogs or sheep ; 

 is offered a small prize and the neighboring 

 farmers are invited in to see what has been 

 done, and be stimulated to go and do likewise. 

 "When an Agricultural Society ceases to be 

 carried on for these simple objects, its right to 

 its title ceases also. 



Why are not "horse trots" (in the present 

 meaning of that term) consistent with the 

 above objects ? 



First : because they demand the largest pre- 

 miums and the largest share of attention, thus 

 putting true agricultural interests in a false 

 position as being inferior instead of superior 

 to the interests of "the turf." 



Secondly : the trots create an undue excite- 

 ment in the minds of the young, which being a 

 point where difference of opinion is allowable, 

 we will not discuss further. 



Thirdly : the trots attract a low, vulgar, and 

 vicious class of people, as well as an educated, 

 intelligent, and respectable class of sports- 

 men. Blacklegs and prostitutes are not at- 

 tracted by a display of agricultural products, 

 or fine cattle, or even fine horses, unless there 



is a race. But we A-enture to express our 

 belief that the editor of Turf and Field never 

 attended a trot where there were not a large 

 proportion of those classes with whom he would 

 consider it disgraceful for his wife, his daugh- 

 ters, or his sisters to associate. Such is the 

 feeling of the better classes of farmers, so 

 that the fairs instead of being the resort of 

 farmers and their families, have been gradu- 

 ally deserted by those who would gladly sup- 

 port them, were it not for this excrescence. 



Lastly, we claim with the two best authori- 

 ties of England and America, Yoiiatt and 

 Stewart, that under the practices of the Turf, 

 the horse has deteriorated in his most important 

 and useful qualities — strength and endurance. 



Anj' Agricultural Society that cannot be sus- 

 tained without the addition of this "element of 

 weakness," had better be abandoned. The 

 money obtained in this way, eats like a canker 

 into the true usefulness and value of the soci- 

 eties who receive it. c. AV. D. 



Springfield, Mass., March 22, 1871. 



For the New England Farmer, 

 KAISLNG POTATOES. 



For a few years past there has been much 

 excitement in the potato line ; and new va- 

 rieties almost without number, have been 

 crowded into the market, and with what re- 

 sult ? That the majority raise no more, and 

 no better potatoes than before. They forget 

 that high cultivation is the basis of all good 

 farming, and in no crop more essential than 

 with the potato ; also that it is useless to get 

 new varieties, expecting great results with 

 ordinary culture. 



There are different methods of preparing 

 the ground, — indeed almost every farmer has 

 a way of his own. Many farmers plant their 

 potatoes on their poorest ground, and plant a 

 large piece, as they necessarily must, to get 

 their supply. It costs a great deal to plant 

 and hoe and dig them, and when they are 

 finally stored in the cellar they don't make 

 much of a pile after all. The boys get dis- 

 couraged and can't bear to work, as their backs 

 ache trying to dig up the tough, hard, and 

 perhaps weedy ground, and inwardly resolve 

 when they are out from under father's thumb, 

 that they will not be farmers. 



The potato will not thrive a succession of 

 years on the same ground, as in village gar- 

 dens, &c., unless much pains is taken to pre- 

 pare the ground with especial reference to 

 that crop. Where it is necessary to plant the 

 same ground each year, early varieties only 

 should be planted, and as soon as ripe, say 

 the first of August, should be dug, the ground 

 ploughed, a heavy coat of manure spread on 

 and harrowed in and sowed with buckwheat 

 or clover. If we sow buckwheat it should be 

 turned under before hard frosts, and when 

 nearly or quite in the blow. If we sow clover, 



