AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
Dmjitfft to iingroto \\)t farmer, % planter, airxr X\z (Sarfrmr. 
AGRICULTURE IS THE MOST HEALTHY, THE MOST USEFUL, AND THE MOST NOBLE EMPLOYMENT OF MAN.- WiSHisaroa. 
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY ALLEN & CO., 189 WATER ST. 
YOL. XI.] 
iOT-YORK, WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 19, 1853. 
[NUMBER 6. 
m^FOR PROSPECTUS, TERMS, §c„ 
SEE LAST PAGE. 
HOW SHALL WE ADVANCE THE INTERESTS 
EOF AGRICULTURE ? 
There is so groat a diversity of opinion as to 
the most efficient means of advancing the in¬ 
terests of agriculture, that we deem it proper to 
state briefly our own views on this subject, and 
the principles by which we shall be guided in 
conducting this periodical. We are essentially 
practical and scientific farmers; but we would 
not be understood by this to mean that we are 
chemical farmers, theoretical farmers, or book 
farmers. 
Mr. Webster gives as one of his definitions of 
science, “an assemblage of the general principles 
of an art, as the science of agriculture.” In this 
sense we are aiming to be scientific farmers; 
to study and investigate, and reduce to practice 
all the known principles of the art; and to care¬ 
fully question every new statement or theory, 
whether from chemists or others, which claims 
admission among these established principles. 
We think that in the various and complicated 
operations of the farm, every one may learn 
something from the experience and practice of 
his neighbors. Butin this pursuit, unlike almost 
all others, every man necessarily works by him¬ 
self. The mechanical professions bring different 
workmen in continual contact and intercourse, 
and a comparison of methods and a constant 
competition leads to the highest improvement 
of each individual; but the broad fields of the 
farmer separate him from a close examination 
of those in the same pursuit, and his practice is 
guided by paternal example, and by his own in¬ 
dividual experiments and improvements. 
On this account we consider it highly im¬ 
portant to every tiller of the soil, that he fur¬ 
nishes himself with a printed sheet, chiefly 
devoted to his own profession, in which he may, 
from week to week, learn how othei's, both near 
and remote, are carrying on their operations 
more successfully than himself, and through 
which he may in return communicate to others 
his own profitable experiments. Few can doubt 
that a medium for free exchange of facts and 
opinions results in profit to all. Several years- 
since we had sown a ten acre field with wheat, 
and were about to sow an adjoining one in the 
same manner. Our agricultural paper chanced 
to come to hand, and while reading an account 
of the Editor’s visit upon the farm of one of his 
subscribers, we noticed a single hint as to liis 
practice in sowing wheat. We acted upon the 
hint thus derived, at a cost of one dollar and 
twenty-five cents for a field of ten acres, and 
mark the result. Our second field produced 
6J more bushels of wheat to the acre, than the 
first field which was similarly situated, and 
sown with the same amount of seed but four 
days earlier. Here, then, was a direct increase 
of 62£ bushels, which brought us $1 12-J per 
bushel, or $70 31 for the same labor and seed, 
and the one dollar and twenty-five cents extra 
expense—a direct profit of $69 06. In after 
years we derived hundreds of dollars from the 
same hint, which would have remained forever 
unknown to us but for our agricultural paper. 
We could give many similar instances from our 
experience and observation. A mechanical 
friend of ours subscribed to a paper devoted to 
mechanics; and in casually reading an article 
in that paper, a train of thought was set in 
operation which resulted in the invention of a 
machine that has yielded him a princely fortune, 
and proved an invaluable blessing to the world. 
And so it is in every calling. These fleeting 
thoughts, when recorded upon the printed page, 
arouse and set in motion other trains of thought 
in other minds, which lead to new developments 
and new practices, and ultimately prove a wide¬ 
spread blessing. 
We believe there is a broad field for improve¬ 
ment in the profits of labor expended in tilling 
the soil. The greatest means of improvement 
is a free interchange of views and methods be¬ 
tween those of the same calling. A paper de¬ 
voted to this object, directed by skilful, practical 
men, is the best medium for this purpose. By 
combination a paper can be furnished to each 
of a large number of individuals at a small cost, 
and convey during any week or year a large 
amount of information, some portion of which 
may benefit every individual. 
As editors of the Agriculturist, our aim is to 
diligently examine, and carefully criticise all we 
can find written upon agriculture, whether in 
this or foreign countries, and to place in the 
hands of our readers such articles as we think 
will convey instruction, and suggest new and 
profitable modes of practice. In such selections 
we shall be guided by our own experience in 
most of the details of agriculture, and by ob¬ 
servation of the experiments carried on by 
others. We shall also carefully watch and in¬ 
vestigate the daily practice of our agricultural 
friends; make various experiments from time to 
time on our own farms and gardens; and all we 
can gather new or interesting, either from ob¬ 
servation or from the communication of others, 
we shall hasten to set before our readers. 
SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE. 
The different branches of science we believe 
will yet furnish much aid to the practical farmer. 
Chemistry treats of the elements out of which 
bodies are formed, their sources, and the laws 
which govern them in their change from one 
body to another, and we think this branch of 
science has already done much, and promises 
vastly more in the future, to advance agriculture. 
by pointing out the true relation between the 
cultivated plant, the soil, and tl*e atmosphere; 
and by showing what operations will produce 
the most rapid and profitable transformation of 
one into the other. But of positive, certain, 
practical knowledge yet derived from chemistry, 
we arc less sanguine than many who have, per¬ 
haps, spent much less time in the careful study 
of this subject. 
We have of late been less amused than pained, 
at the positive conclusions and dicta of men 
of high scientific pretensions, who have set 
themselves up as teachers of agricultural 
chemistry, and by their plausible statements 
are inculcating wide-spread errors in the com¬ 
munity ; errors calculated by their future de¬ 
tection, to lead the unskillful to doubt the utility 
of all science. We have more than once called 
to mind Pope’s saying, that “ a little learning is 
a dangerous thing,” as we have seen such men 
apparently dazzled by a few illuminated peaks 
that have shot up above the surrounding dark¬ 
ness, and supposing themselves all-wise, have at 
once offered themselves as guides to others 
through the wide, dark, and hidden rallies that 
yet lie between these few and widely-separated 
hill-tops. Their superficiality and scientific 
blunderings too plainly indicate that they 
will prove “blind leaders to the blind.” We 
highly appreciate the suggestions of chemistry 
to agriculture, and our advice is, seize and set 
upon these suggestions; but first, prove all 
things, then hold fast that which is good. 
JAUNT IN DUTCHESS COUNTY-No, 4. 
Farm of Mr. Thorne. —This is at Washington 
Hollow, and comprises an excellent tract of three 
hundred and sixty acres, lying partly in the 
valley, and partly on the rich, sloping hills on 
either side. Mr. T., unfortunately for us, was 
not at home when we called; but Mr. Stephen 
Bull, his farmer—an excellent manager and very 
intelligent man—was so kind as to walk over 
the premises with us. 
Mr. Thorne inherited most of this property 
from his father; but he has made great improve¬ 
ments upon it since coming into possession, 
which we believe was only about four years 
ago. He has erected a fine, large, commodious 
house, and new and convenient out-buildingg • 
drained a wide meadow in front of his residence, 
and laid it out partly in lawn and partly in park, 
with a pretty rivulet meandering through with 
its pellucid waters, where before they rested in 
marsh and stagnant pools. New fences have 
been made, ample gardens laid out, a great 
variety of choice fruit trees planted; and he has 
commenced a general system of ameliorating the 
soil, which, when fully carried out, will make 
this one of the most productive farms in Dutch¬ 
ess County. 
Like most of bis neighbor*. Mr. 
