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1853.] THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. 267 



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\p MODEL FARMS. (V 



What a vast amount of matter has been written, from time to time, 

 on the fertile topic of the cultivation of the soil! Whole volumes is- 

 sue annually from the legislative departments in all countries where 

 civilization is acknowledged to have reached; and every little coun- 

 try newspaper has its column for farmers, of paramount importance to 

 the readers thereof. Can we admit that the amount of benefit accru- 

 ing to the community of agriculturists is commensurate with the pains 

 taken or money expended in thus spreading agricultural knowledge 1 

 Can we rest satisfied that a fair proportion read, and benefit by what 

 is written for them 1 That when they read, they can comprehend — 

 that comprehending, they practise the improvements proposed, thus 

 profiting decidedly in the end 1 I fear that we cannot arrive at this 

 conclusion, for if the earnest recommendations of the friends to im- 

 provement were attended to, even in a reasonable degree, we would 

 not now witness those defective systems of husbandry that in the face 

 of so many other improvements astonish the inhabitants of other coun- 

 tries who visit us. One thing is clear, that immense quantities of grain 

 is produced by American farmers ; that fine cattle are fatted and made 

 available to the consumer; that the farmers themselves are an inde- 

 pendent and energetic class, the firmest friends to our republican in- 

 stitutions. But then when we calculate that the soil of America is yet 

 comparatively a virgin soil ; that as yet the population is by no means 

 dense — that land is abundant, and its tenure certain and secure ; then 

 comparing our advantages with the position of agriculturists in older 

 nations, we must admit that our burthens are lighter, our opportunities 

 vastly superior to theirs. Manual labor alone is not in our favor, as 

 a great difficulty in American farming is the high price of labor. Even 

 here w T e are not to be beaten, for the genius of the American mechanic 

 comes to the aid of the farmer with his machinery. 



We would gladly see a system of agricultural training introduced 

 to this country w 7 hich would impress upon the mind of the agricultural 

 youths of the country the propriety of certain improved systems which 

 both in theory and practice have stood the test of years. Improve- 

 ments based on scientific knowledge and the truths of science; sys- 

 tems in accordance with natural laws and the principles of political 

 economy. It is only within the last fifteen or twenty years that the 

 principles and practice of thorough draining has been clearly under- 

 stood and practised in Europe, a great reformation having taken place 

 in this matter by the introduction of a comparatively new system, by 

 \ Smith, of Deanston, in Scotland. This was accompanied by sub soil 

 Ok ploughing, and for a time the whole agricultural community of Great 

 [•-'Britain was agitated by this man's innovation. But Smith of Dean-; 



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