62 



T H E N E W (i E N E S E E FARMER, 



OL. 



t 



The 



New Genesee Fanner was Ilouorably 

 Commenced. 



"The following letter wc received from Dr. I. W. 

 Smith, of Lockport, who is well known ns one of the 

 earliest friends of the Genesee Farmer, and was a fre- 

 quent contributor to its pages. We had an interview 

 with him a tew days since, and learned that, in com- 

 mon with some of his neighbors, he had got an im- 

 pression that the New Genesee Farmer was commen- 

 ced in an unfair and dishonorable manner, and there- 

 fore was unworthy of their support. We related to 

 hira briefly the facts in the case, and he soon be- 

 came convinced that there was nothing wrong in the 

 matter on our part, but on the contrary, the Sew Gen- 

 esee Farmer was lionorably established and ought to 

 be well sustained. 



Wc informed Dr. S. that we intended to publish a 

 short statement, in order to overcome the erroneous 

 impressions which we find exist in the minds of many 

 of the farming communiiy. This he thought was ne- 

 cessary and proper, but he was fearful that it would 

 cause unkind feelings and remarks, where it was de- 

 sirable that mutual good will should exist. The let- 

 ter will explain itself, and the statement which fol^ws 

 it, wc hope will satisfy the minds of all those who 

 Blill feel any doubt on the subject. 



To the Editors of the New Genesee Farmer — 



''Lei there be no strife, I pray thee, beticeen me and 

 thee, and belwan ntij herdmen and thy herdmcn — 

 for we be brethren." That they were brethren, was, 

 by the patriarch Abraham, deemed a sufficient reason 

 why there should be no strife between himself and 

 Lot, or their herdmcn. 



When the former conductor of the Genesee Farm- 

 er proposed breaking up the establishment at Roches- 

 ter, and going to Albany, and there unite its destinies 

 with the "Cultivator," I freely confess I viewed the 

 movement with regret. Perhaps local attachments 

 and piejujices, had somewhat to do with my regrets. 

 This was natural. From early infancy I have been a 

 resident of thu Genesee country — have mingled with 

 its inhabitants under the various circumstances con- 

 nected with the settlement of a new country — have, 

 with them, known and felt the stings of adversity — 

 with them have rejoiced in our common prosperity — 

 with them I have crossed the Genesee River when 

 not a bridge spanned its waters — and have traversed 

 the long Ridge mad when scarcely a house en- 

 livened the sad sJitude through which it passed. — 

 With them I have seen this Uten wilderness and 

 Bolitary place blossom as the rose — a city rise from the 

 wild wastes of nature as if by enchantment, on the 

 lovely borders of the Genesee — and with delight, bor- 

 dering on rapture, hove listened to the sound of the 

 "church going bells," mingling with the voice of its 

 many waters, where once we heard the sullen plunge 

 of the solitary flood, enlivened only by the scream of 

 the eagle and the yell of the savage. 



It was natural, therefore, that anyindicationa offal- 

 ling ofi' or retrograding, sliould be viewed by a person, 

 ibiis circumstanced, with feelings of regret. 1 was 

 conscious that the Genesee Farmer had done much to 

 promote iheee wonderful improvements; and the past 

 lis well as the future reputation of the Genesee coun- 

 try, was essentially dependent on the continuance and 

 character of its agricultural journal. With these feel- 

 ings, I could not but regret the determination of Lu- 

 ther Tucker to remove the Genesee Farmer from the 

 land of its name and nafimtij, and to merge it into an- 

 other, some hundreds of miles distant. 1 schooled my 

 feelings into submission, however, ond became recon- 

 ciled to the "union" — nay, more, I became a subscri- 

 ber and advocate of the "Cultivator," and oven felt 

 an honest opposition to your "Xew Genesee Farmer." 



This feeling, however, oro e mostly from a belief 

 that sometliing like uvfuirnrss had been resorted to 

 by those concerned in getting up the new poijer. — 

 This view wns strengthened in my mind by com- 

 plaints which I frequently heard from others: so that 

 ou receiving a prospectus from its originalors with a 

 request to lend them my aid, I, too hastily, determin- 

 ed to have nothing to do with it, not even to read it. — 

 1 was led to suppose that it would have but a brief 

 existence, nnd would serve only to injure the cause of 

 agriculture. But in this, as in many other things, 1 

 h»ve btin mistaken; and I am now happily convinced 

 that both papers may be eminently useful nnil well sns- 

 ( oined. While (he one **nibrflees more of science anil 



scientific subjects, suited to the taste of the more edu- 

 coted and scientific portion of the agricutural commu- 

 nity, and to "gentlemen farmers;" the other may be 

 no less useful to another and more numerous class, 

 equally deserving of attention, and more needing such 

 assistance — I allude to the practical, working, every 

 day farmers. Not but that many of these would un- 

 derstand and profit by scientific research as well as the 

 others; but that from the mere force of circumstan- 

 ces, they have less of leisure to attend to the details 

 connected with scientific experiments, however much 

 they might desire it. Another important considera- 

 tion in these limes, is the price — 50 cents a year. — 

 This certainly places it within the reach of all. One 

 cent a w-cek saved from tobacco or some other useless 

 or hurtful indulgence, will cover the whole expense. 

 1 have no fault to find with the price of the Cultivator 

 — it is richly worth its cost, and, for one, I v\'ill here- 

 otier have them both — so say some of my most intelli- 

 gent neighbors. Let every farmer toko one of them, 

 and both will be amply sustained, and the country im- 

 mensely benefitted 1. W. S. 

 Lockport, March 'iOlh., 1810. 



!tl. B. Bateham''s Statcraenti 



The commencing of the New Genesee Farmer, 

 was a matter almost exclusively of my own mana- 

 ging; and if there is any blame connected with the 

 affair, 1 am the one on whom it should rest; and con- 

 sequently I am the proper person to give any explana- 

 tion concerning it v.liich maybe required. 



In order that my conduct may be rightly judged, it 

 is noces?ary that my motiecs should be understood and 

 appreciated: and to do this, it is necessary to look at 

 the circumstances in which I was placed. For 6vc 

 years, I and a partner, had been proprietors of the 

 Rochester Seed Store, and during that time had al- 

 ways been on the most friendly terms with Mr. Tuck- 

 er. The Genesee Farmer and the Seed Store were 

 both calculated to promote one object, and oseist- 

 ed each other. We considered the influence of that 

 paper indispensable to the success of our business; and 

 with that influence in our favor, we found it increas- 

 ing and improving each successive season. 



Rather more than a year ago, my partner desired to 

 remove from town; and I purchased his interest in 

 the concein, and took the entire control of the Seed 

 Store. Last Spring, I found a still greater increase of 

 the business; and I saw plainly that it was necessary 

 for me to make larger arrangements forobtaiuiug sup- 

 plies from abroad, i was determined to make the es- 

 tablishment commensurate with the wants of the com- 

 munity; and observing the increasing and beneficial 

 influence of the Genes3e Farmer, I was fully con- 

 vinced that my arrangements for obtaining supplies 

 were inadequate to the demand which would exist 

 this ond succeeding years. Accordingly I resolved on 

 going to Europe; and after collecting in all the re- 

 sources at commond, I embarked; and spent sever- 

 al montbg, and a number of thousand dollars, in trav- 

 elling, obtaining information, fuming acquaintances 

 and business arrangements in England and Scotlaitd, 

 and purchasing a very large supply of such seeds as I 

 supposed would be wanted here this spring. I return- 

 ed to New York in the fall, and there procured an ad- 

 ditional supply of American seeds, so as to be sure to 

 have my stock complete and adequate to all demands. 

 Thus I invested, not only a large amount of money, 

 but credit also, lor the purpose of extending my busi- 

 ness so ns to meet the increasing wants of the farming 

 community. It may be judged then, vs'ith what feel- 

 ings of disappointment and regret I learned, en arri- 

 ving at Albany, ihot the Genesee Former, on which 

 my business so much depended, and on which I had 

 so confidently relied, was to be discontinued, and my 

 friend Luther Tucker was to remove to Albany. At 

 first, I could hardly believe the report. On my arrivul 

 home, I remonstrated with Mr. T. and endeavored to 

 dissuade him from the arrangement. But be thought 

 it would be for hig interest to go, and it was too late to 

 re-consider the matter. I told him he must not ex- 

 pect that this place would long be without such a pa- 

 per, os some person would dotibtless commence one, 

 if he gave it up; and the paper being almost indispen- 

 sable to the success of my business, I should of eouree 

 assist it if commenced, although I bad enough business 

 on band already, and did not want to undertake the 

 publication myself. 



A day or two after this, to my surprise I was shown 

 a i>rospcctu8 for a " Genesee Farmer, New Series," 

 headed by .1. E. Force and N. (ioodsell. The former 

 I had seen in Mr. Tucker's oflice, but knew nothing 

 of his character or nbilities- The latter was one whom 

 I had good reason to believe would use all bis influ- 

 ence to break down my establishment, in order to 

 liuild up one of bis own (f have sin'.-c learned thai 



he had oidered a supply of seeds from a distance, 

 lodging that he was going to edit the Genesee Fan' 

 er, and open a seed store in this place.) I therefo' 

 saw at once that if this project succedcd, it would 

 decidedly injurious to me, if not to the public. I wtl 

 to see Air. Tucker in relation to it. He complain 

 greatly of Force's conduct in getting out a prospel 

 tus, and said he should caution the public against it ' 

 an imposition — which he accordingly did, as is v. 

 known. 



After Mr. Tucker had issued his "caution," M 

 Force came to me, and asked if I would like to cngaj - 

 in the project with him, either as part proprietor or i ' 

 a compensation; to which I replied, in view of wb '■ 

 Mr. Tucker had said, 1 did not consider that he It ' 

 acted altogether honorably in the matter, and thei* 

 fore I would have nothing to do wiih it, but would a< 

 vise him to abandon it. He replied, that Mr. Tuc' 

 er had misrepresented the affair and had injured hii 

 and he would not give it up, as ho could get suflicip 

 hdp without my assistance: and further, that he ': 

 already engaged an office, ordered type, &c. 



A few days after this, I informed Mr. Tucker v 

 had passed between the and Force. He appco 

 very indignant on. the subject, and said /le should n'^ 

 have complained if any respectable person had coi '■ 

 menced a new paper in an open and honorable ma ', 

 ncr, but this afiair was an imjwsition vpon the puU ■^■;. 

 and he considered it his duty to do all he could too S' 

 pose it. I explained to him fully my situation, ai 

 then told him that some of my friends had advised ji 

 to commence a paper: and I felt much inclined to • 

 sue a new prospectus, in order to defeat the other.* 

 He said he had no objcctuM to tliut, as I had a pcrfei 

 right to do so, if I chose; tho' he was conlident the 

 would soon regret it: and he did not believe I coi 

 make the paper sustain itself. 



I was now fully convinced that I must either f 

 this matter into my own hands, or sufi'or my busin 

 and my credit to be greatly injured. I therefore, ai 

 consulting my friends on the subject, came to the o 

 elusion that duty to myself, my friends and the c- 

 munity, required that I should engage in the en: 

 prise, provided I saw any prospect of success. 1 

 friends of ogriculture with whom I conversed, felt c 

 vinced that the project of J. E. Force was unwor ; 

 of confidence — would doubtless end in failure, 1 1> 

 jirove an injury to the cause it professed to advocate 



I consulted J. J. Thomas and some others, and foi 

 that there would be no great difficulty in obtain 

 Editorial aid and correspondence. In the meantii 

 Mr. Force had been endeavoring to engage help, 

 did not appear to succeed. He again applied to i 

 I told him I could not assist him, but if he would /j 

 iij> his project cntirclij, 1 would see what I could de 

 This he declined, in the belief that he coidd still e 

 ceed: but, learning that I and E. F. Marshall had 

 termined to issue a new prospectus, he came and ol 

 ed to abandon his effort, if we would agree to 

 the expenses of his prospectus and give him a g 

 salary to mail onr papers. This I refused to do, 

 he left me. I then learned that he was beginnin; 

 receive considerable money froni suhscribers in 

 tant places where he had sent his prospectus. It 

 of course desirable that they should not be disappo 

 hd; and as we wished to get the matter out ol 

 handa, I proposed to him, that if he would hand t 

 to us all the subscriptions which he might recei\t 

 his prospectus, we would pay the balance due f 

 him for engraving, and for printing it; ond we wi 

 give him the job of mailing our papers at such ci i 

 pensation as we thou^ut it was worth, or such os ( ' 

 ere were willing to do it for- He finally agrees 

 this proposition, and a contract was signed nccordin 



I have been thus particular in explaining the 

 rangement with Mr- Force, because it embraces 

 principal charge which is brought against us. 

 have been accused of buying out his unjust pm 

 and forming a secret arrangement with him, by wl 

 he fhouUl be interested in the new paper. "To this i 

 reply, ^\iJ\\.tcr never ^are nor agreed to girehim ^*^ 

 f/o//((r,e.xcept whathe should cam by lailhful labor; tt^'t 

 he has no interest irhaterer in the xVcir ilcncsee Fam ^^^ 



It has been further intimated, that Mr. Force t . 

 from Mr. Tucker's ofVK'e a copy of his list of agi ' '' 

 or subscribers, and that it has been used to promote '"J 

 circulation of our paper. We have only to say, liujj 

 we do not believe that he took ony such list, and „ti 

 are sure that no such thing has been used in any 

 to benefit the New Genesee Farmer. Our pai *!'' 

 hove only been sent to I'ost Masters, and such trie fc«i! 

 of the coiise as we happened to know. 



Another ground of complaint is, the name of 

 paper. B\it this also appears to us unreasonaUi 

 We admit thot the name Genesee Farmer of right! 

 longed 10 Mr. Tnoker. so .lone as be eliose to e< otHigj 





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