VoL. 1. 
AUGUSTA, Ga., APRIL 19, J843. 
No. 
PROGRESS OF IMPROVEMENT. 
The fro<rress of impravement in agricuUure, 
though gradual, is yet steady. The importance 
of this branch of industry' is beginning to be 
more and more appreciated. The whole coun- 
try is more or less interested in it, as it furnishes, 
besides what is consumed at home, at least three 
fourths of all the exports of the United States. 
The va.st public domain of unsold lands, too 
will be affected bj' this progress, and its value 
propcujLipnably advanced. It may be well here 
to iriBnon some of the principal .sources of this 
improvement. 
CAUSES OF IMPROVEMENT. 
The geological surveys ordered and in progress, 
or recently completed, in many of the States, be- 
sides the other important benefits thereby con- 
ferred on those States, have contributed much to 
advance the science of husbandry. 
These, in connexion with the experiments of 
agricultural chemistry', by thus directing the at- 
tention to their analy'sis, are deyeloping the na- 
ture of the soils and their adaptation and means 
of increased production, by different seeds, pro- 
ducts and methods of cultivation and manures, 
and so enable the farmer or planter to use the va- 
rieties of his land to the best advantage. 
The increasing number of agncuUural perio- 
dicals and treatises, and the.ir cheap and more 
extensiv'e circulation throughout the land, are 
also producing a happy effect. The fanners 
and planters in the various sections of our coun- 
try are thus brought acquainted with each oth- 
er’s operations and success, and also with the 
methods of cultivation and rearing of stock, 
&c., common in England and on the continent, 
new products and the result of their trial are 
noticed, and the knowledge of many useful dis- 
coveries thus extended. The prejudice against 
“book farming,” as it has been termed, which 
has so long proved a barrier to the adoption of 
valuable improvements thus suggested, is grad- 
ually w'earing awayq and a hap'py combination 
of science and proctical skill i.s thus secured, 
the results of which are every' year becoming 
more and more apparent. 
Agricultural societies also exercise great influ- 
ence in furthering the progress of agricultural 
industry. These are of but comparatively re- 
cent date, and their institution and increase in 
number and prosperity serve to mark the pro- 
gress of improvement in agriculture; and if 
still further aided by an efficient board of agri- 
culture, like what exists in Great Britain, they 
would no doubt be yet more successful. It is 
only about fifty years since that board was there 
established, and it has proved of e.xtensive ben- 
efit to that active empire. By means of these 
societies, great numbers of the agriculturists of 
our country are brought together, to compare 
notes, as it were, to obsen'e each other’s suc- 
cess, and to converse on the topics connected 
with this branch of industry. They examine 
the machines, implements, animals and pro- 
ducts offered for exhibition, and are induced to 
be.stow more care and labor in the .selection of 
their seeds and stock, in the preparation of the 
soil, and in their tillage and han'esting. Every 
year new and valuable improvements are thus 
made known and introduced, by which many' 
are e.s.sentially benefited. Premiums also en- 
courage to effort, and a highly salutary incentive 
is furnished, in the honor to be acquired ol suc- 
cessful and approved farming. A similar ef- 
fect, too, results from the bounties given by the 
different States to encourage the culture of .some 
particular product. These have never been of- 
fered without a new impulse being stirred, and 
h'ading to increased attention to the pursuit. — 
Some of the States in these respect* are far in 
advance of others, but almost all are beginning 
more to appreciate their true interest, and seek- 
ing to extend their true prosperity. 
While adverting to the causes of general im- 
provement in the agriculture of our country, it 
may not also be improper to allude to the in- 
ereased habits of temperance and, sobriety of the 
laborer, by which the condition of the fann- 
house and farm is so essentially benefitted, and 
domestic happiness and effective strength pro- 
moted. A clear head and a vigorous frame, in 
combination, will ever be most succes.sful in 
tillage, as in every branch of industry'. The 
lengthening of life and the repair of health, thus 
secured, render many who have been but drones 
and mere consumers, also active and efficient 
producers, as well as healthful consumers. The 
amount added, too, in the increased skill, as 
well as the saving from le.ss breakage of tools 
and machinery of labor, and the actual effect- 
ivene.ss of such laborers as have heretofore 
been drawn from the intemperate class, now re- 
formed, constitute no .small item of gain in this 
view of the subject. No little damage has been 
thus sustained in the “inebriate” management 
and cultivation of the land, which is now avoid- 
ed. Were this the proper place, some most in- 
teresting deductions might be made as to the 
phy'sical force and efficiency thus added to the 
various branches of industry, and the bearing 
of the whole on agriculture, as a source of our 
national wealth . — From Mr. EUsicorlk’s Report. 
I.MPROVEMENT OF FARMS. 
Plants as well as animals require food, which 
they obtain from the atmosphere and the soil.^ — 
When land is naturally barren, or is impover- 
ished by severe cropping, it can only' be improv- 
ed by good tilling and manure. In looking over 
our farming districts, we find as a general rule, 
that farmers do not appreciate the value of ma- 
nure; but few take the trouble of informing 
themselves of its true nature, and upon what 
its peculiar effects upon the growth of plants de- 
pend. 
Manure is made up of certain gases, a few 
chemical salts, and some other less important 
substances, which, when placed under favorable 
circumstances undergo certain changes, which 
fit them to afford what is requisite for the perfec- 
tion of plants. When the chemical changes in 
decomposing substances are taking place, gases 
are formed which are sensible to the smell; up- 
on these the most valuable quality' of manure 
depends; we consequently see the importance of 
putting manure in a situation w'hcre the gases 
may not be lost, either in a compost heap well 
covered with substances which have an absorb- 
ing power, such as charcoal, common earth, 
&c., or with something that will by' a chemical 
change give off what would be u.^elcss or hurt- 
ful to plants, and take up what is beneficial in 
its place. Plaster of Paris, pota.sh, soda, com- 
mon .salt, &c., act in this way'. Sometimes there 
is contained in the soil in a latent .state, as much 
nourishment as would supply' all the plants that 
could be raised on it for a long time, providing 
there was employed some chemical agent to li- 
berate it. This acceunis for the wonderful ef- 
fects of lime in some cases. 
All animal and vegetable substances contain 
the elements of plants; nothing therefore on a 
farm should be lost. If a farmer wishts to add 
.speedily to his productions, he must convert ev- 
ery refuse substance into manure. The mcie 
manure he has, the greater will be his crops, 
and after a faim is once in good order, it is very 
easy to keep it so. Hundreds of substances are 
thrown aside and wasted, which Avould add to 
the quantity and improve the quality of the ma- 
nure heap. 
Manuie is the laborer’s friend; it makes the 
ground more easily tilled, and pays invariably 
for itself. In other countries they use much ma- 
nure, for it is the only way they can jtroduce tl e 
abundant crops that reward them for their labor. 
Every farmer should have a compost heap, into 
which he could put all his manure from his sta- 
bles, and also deposite all his weeds, a.shes, 
house slops, dead animals, feathers, rags, mor- 
tar, shavings, leaves of trees, &c.; and this should 
be constructed on a side hill if passible, that ev- 
erything could be thrown in easily from above, 
and an opening left from top to the bottom on the 
low'er side, so that it could be clo^d w'ith boards 
shoved in proper grooves, which could be taken 
out separately', to facilitate the removal of the 
compost. Land is always best when it contains 
a proper proportion of clay', lime and sand, with 
a suitable quantity' of animal and vegetable ma- 
nure. When either of these is wanting, it 
should be added, for it has been found that such 
additions have produced the most beneficial ef- 
fects. 
Our un livided attention should be paid to the 
improvement of the land we have under our 
care. If we employed more thought and reflec- 
tion in our farming operations, and used the 
means in our pow'er with more sound judgment, 
then could we expect to see the best results fol- 
lowing our exertions. If farmers would com- 
mence a serie'' of experiments on a .small scale 
at first, and when they ascertained what Avould 
best answer their purpose, then pursue it, they 
w'ould soon find how' much more valuable and 
productive they would make their farms. There 
is no question but that one of our greatest mis- 
fortunes is, that we have too much land; we do 
not value it sufficiently; we do not properly at- 
tend to it. There are but very few who have 
ever put their lands to the test, to show what 
their pow'ers are. A system of robbery' exists 
over the fairest and mo-st eligible land in our 
country'; and when the land becomes partially 
exhausted, the husbandman, instead of improv- 
ing his farm by' good cultiv'ation, and the appli- 
cation of a proper kind of manure, concludes 
to -sell out and purchase another farm w here land 
is less expensive and more productive — a very 
bad practice, frequently bringing, sorrowful dis- 
appointment from the severing of family ties 
and old associations, and also from bla.sted pe- 
cuniary expectations. 
Such a spirit is manifested in every' part of 
our country'; even in Dutchess, one of the most 
productive counties in this State, we find that 
many farmers are becoming dissati.sfied w'ith 
theii healthy and favorably situated farms, and 
are emigrating to other Stales, where much un- 
certainty exists whether the climate will agree 
W'ith them, or if they will ever receive sufficient 
