AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS. 
85 
ciples of the science in which he is about to en¬ 
gage ; I call it a science, for, to be a good farmer 
requires more scientific knowledge than is gener¬ 
ally admitted. Some imagine that farming is so 
simple a matter, that the veriest dolt might be a 
good farmer; this is erroneous. To be sure, they 
could give orders to plow, and sow, and reap, and 
follow other people’s examples in the general gov¬ 
ernment ; but to be a good and successful farmer 
something more is needed. 
I have been induced to make the foregoing ob¬ 
servations in consequence of having several appli¬ 
cations to take young men, and instruct them in 
farming. I have refused to take them, 1st, on ac¬ 
count of my inability to teach them, and 2d, on ac¬ 
count of the difficulty which generally arises from 
jealousy of the common laborers on the farm. 
They are very apt to imagine more favors are 
shown, and they receive better fare, &c. Besides, 
it is no object for a farmer to take one young man 
for merely the labor he would perforin; for it can 
not be expected that he could take hold at once, 
and earn even his board. They must be brought 
on by degrees. I am well convinced that if some 
competent farmer would undertake the manage¬ 
ment and instruction (in practice as well as in 
theory) of a certain number of young men at a 
reasonable charge per annum, he would make it 
profitable to himself, and advantageous to his 
pupils. 
In the absence of such an establishment in this 
state, I most cheerfully recommend the “ Eden- 
Hill Farm Institute,” on the river Delaware, 12 
miles above Philadelphia. Mr. James Pedder, the 
able editor of the “ Farmer’s Cabinet,” who is well 
qualified, has connected himself with J. Coperth- 
waite, Esq., the owner of the farm, which, “ in 
every respect is well adapted to the purpose, has 
established an institution for the reception and in¬ 
struction of young men, in the principles and prac¬ 
tice of agriculture and horticulture. He will oc¬ 
cupy the elegant mansion, which for healthfulness 
and beauty of situation can not be surpassed; and 
it will be the study of himself and family to tender 
to their young friends the convenience and comfort 
of a Home. 
“ The exercises of the institution will embrace 
the practice of agriculture in all its various branch¬ 
es and details; the cultivation of the best crops, and 
the rearing of the choicest stock; the best animals 
having been selected, and the most improved im¬ 
plements obtained. The management of the plow 
will form a leading feature in the course of instruc¬ 
tion ; subsoiling will be adopted on a regular scale, 
as well as a system of draining, the formation and 
application of composts, &c., &c. Horticulture 
will occupy a large space of attention, the students 
having the advantage of studying and practising 
this branch, the care of which will be under a pro¬ 
fessed gardener, having the charge of a range of 
houses, with an enclosed garden of more than two 
acres in extent.” 
I will also take this opportunity to inform the 
readers of this journal, that an “ Agricultural 
School” has been lately opened in Tennessee, at 
“ Elm Crag,” by T. Fanning, the able and talented 
editor of the “ Agriculturist.” The school was 
opened on the 2d of January last, with six students, 
and I am now advised that there are eleven young 
gentlemen in the establishment, and preparations 
are making to take a few more this spring. In 
addition to the different operations incident to hus¬ 
bandry, gardening, &c., their studies will embrace 
spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, English 
grammar, geography, algebra, geometry, and other 
mathematical studies, and everything necessary to 
an English classical education, together with some 
of the most important sciences, such as botany, 
geology, chemistry, cultivation, &c. Sacred his¬ 
tory and music are also studied. 
C. N. Bement. 
Three Hills Farm , April , 1843. 
Accompanying Dr. Philips’s last article on cotton, 
he says in a private letter:— 
“ I have gathered here 2,500 pounds of cotton 
on strong cane-land, and from a single acre 1,700 
pounds, the year it was cleared. But is 5,989 
pounds of cotton a greater product than 100 to 190 
bushels of corn ? All appear incredible to one who 
has no experience. Many say the product of cot¬ 
ton can not be increased. Why not ? Can we 
not increase the product of all grain, roots, &c. ? 
of beef, pork, mutton, and wool ? I have gathered 
myself, from a single stalk 50 to 60, and even 100 
open bowls, or the cotton from them, to speak 
strictly. Now suppose a crop could average this. 
My rows were 5 feet apart; admit the stalks were 
3 feet, there being 2,904 stalks, we would have 
2,500 pounds or about, or even more; as much of 
the weight depends on size of bowls. I heard a gen¬ 
tleman of my acquaintance say, he had counted of 
bowls and forms about 500 I think. Suppose the 
stalk could be nourished to bear these to maturity, 
we should then have at even 5 feet apart each, 
way, 1,742 stalks, and full 8,000 pounds of cotton. 
There is one fact as mentioned by a friend of mine 
on the Mississippi river, General Hugh W. Dun¬ 
lap, that he gathered (I think) 7 pounds from one 
stalk ! Could any mode of cultivation bring a field 
to this return, we could afford to plant cotton 7 
feet 6, by 4 feet, which gives 1,452 stalks on hills, 
and a product of 10,000 pounds. But this will not 
be done soon; though I have said for months be¬ 
fore Dr. Cloud’s article came out, that as the science 
of farming spreads, it will give, to even us cotton- 
planters, results as astonishing as any yet develop¬ 
ed. A hog weighing 600 to 700 pounds, would have 
been a fortune to a man 20 years since in the Uni¬ 
ted States. Many even now laugh with incre¬ 
dulity at the idea of making 120 to 130 bushels of 
corn per acre. Suppose a man had stated he had 
done so in 1820 to ’24, his friends would have 
blushed for his veracity, or rather want of it. One 
must not run off at any big tale, but pursue his 
usual course; at the same time let us not shut our 
eyes to the light, try experiments on so small a 
scale that we can not be injured, and then having 
“ proved all things, hold fast to that which is good.” 
There are large tracts of meadows in New Jer¬ 
sey opposite to this city, ditched and embanked as 
