AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
291 
that those labors be properly directed. It is 
true, that many of our farmers do labor, and 
that severely. But how, in numberless cases is 
that labor directed? Not intelligently, but far 
otherwise. They read little, even in what ap¬ 
pertains to their vocation. They delve along as 
tradition or example has taught them, steeled 
against what they choose to call innovations. 
Draining, improved implements, better breeds of 
farm stock, better seeds, they ignore as the vis¬ 
ionary theories of pretenders. If they accumu¬ 
late surplus capital, it is invested in objects for¬ 
eign to their occupation. From the want of in¬ 
terest in their pursuits, their sons, such as have 
natural mind and enterprise, leave the homestead 
for something more congenial to their tastes, and 
farming, in the estimation of the world, judging 
only from the example before them, is a dull, 
unprofitable employment, fit only for dull, un¬ 
thinking men! Am I right?” 
“ I am not sure but you are. These suggest¬ 
ions are new to me. I’ll think of them. And 
now, as it occurs to me, I know a worthy, active 
young man, with a small family, the son of a 
clergyman in the neighborhood of our farm. 
He has been brought up a farmer under his fa¬ 
ther’s instruction. He would not serve with me 
as a hireling, but would gladly engage with me 
as a tenant. His own means are slender, but I 
can provide the place with the best of stock, im¬ 
plements, and seeds. My father will give me a 
carte blanche for that. Suppose I secure him, 
and live with him as a learner. Having a direct 
interest in the management of the estate, with 
his skill and acquirements he will be sure to 
succeed. With diligent application, the aid of 
books, and my own efforts, I can accomplish the 
trade of a farmer, and the fault will be my own 
if I fail. Good bye, my dear sir.. You shall' 
hear from me again.” 
And with a hearty shake of the hand he left 
us. Now there is hope of this young man. He 
will succeed. The farm for which his father in 
its present rude state paid forty dollars an acre, 
with its marsh, swamp and rock, upon it, will 
in a few years be worth a hundred—its additional 
value all created by the knowledge and applica¬ 
tion of a young man, whose only thoughts hith¬ 
erto were to while away his leisure hours on the 
estate, in idle amusement, under the senseless 
appellation of “A Gentleman Farmer!” 
There are numbers of such young men around 
and about us, and we meet them almost daily, 
in want of occupation, with abundant means; 
and if properly encouraged, a disposition to be¬ 
come useful, both to the world and to them¬ 
selves. Parents, and young men ! In the want 
of a business for your sons, and yourselves, which 
does not readily and advantageously offer itself, 
rely upon it, there is none that presents more 
substantial and permanent inducements than 
well-directed agriculture. 
-»<>•- 
NEW-YORK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Tiie regular monthly meeting of the Society 
was held at the rooms, 600 Broadway, on Mon¬ 
day evening, Jan. 10th. 
Mr. E. A. Leggett in the chair. 
The principal business before the meeting was 
the report of the Executive C.ommittee with re¬ 
spect to the financial condition of the Society, 
and the best means for carrying out its objects. 
Some documents were read, and a statement 
made of the sums received as donations, to¬ 
gether with other private business matters. 
The report was referred back to the committee. 
A resolution was passed directing the Exe¬ 
cutive Committee to apply to the State Legisla¬ 
ture for a portion of the money appropriated 
for the encouragement of horticulture in the 
county of New-York. Mr. J. C. Parsons ex¬ 
plained the propriety of this course as the best 
they could adopt for the promotion of their ob¬ 
jects, since this Society was justly entitled to a 
portion of the county fund designed to aid the 
very work in which they were engaged, and to 
which they devoted a large portion of their 
time gratuitously. 
Mr. Tiros. Hogg, although not offering any 
opposition to that resolution, yet questioned 
the propriety of appropriating public money to 
the use of any societies, and would prefer that 
they should support their society themselves; 
as the money was granted, however, they cer¬ 
tainly had a claim on it. 
The Secretary read the list of premiums 
drawn up by the Premium Committee, which 
after some discussion was adopted with a slight 
alteration. Three months was substituted for 
one month, as the time necessary for plants 
being in the hands of competitors. Ordered to 
be printed. 
Mr. P. B. Mead placed at the disposal of the 
Society a goblet—value $25—as a premium for a 
new seedling grape, to be competed for at the 
September exhibition. His object in doing so 
is to encourage the growth of native fruits, and 
as an example, with the hope that some of the 
wealthy merchants of this vicinity might be in¬ 
duced to patronize this branch of industry as 
did those of Boston, Philadelphia, and other 
cities. 
Mr. Wilson G. Hunt also expressed his de¬ 
sire to contribute a similar goblet; the particu¬ 
lars to be arranged by the Premium Committee 
subject to his approval. 
The reports of the Fruit and Flower Com¬ 
mittees were then handed in. 
Mr. J. E. Rauch read the awards of the com¬ 
mittee on Plants and Flowers, which were ap¬ 
proved of. 
Mr. Thos. Hogg, Jr., read the reports of the 
Fruit Committee. He was sorry there had not 
been more fruits exhibited during the year; 
the display was not what it should have been. 
Below is the report of the Committee on The 
Livingston Pear, exhibited by R. S. Livingston, 
Esq., at the meeting of December 12th, 1853. 
“Apparently a seedling of the Seckle; form, 
round, approaching obovate; skin, yellowish 
brown—with brownish red cheek; stalk, f inch 
long; little or no cavity, basin small, flesh fine, 
juicy, buttery, and of a rich, high flavor, similar 
to the Seckle. Owing to its being shrivelled, in 
consequence of being kept in too warm a place 
to ripen, its qualities could hardly be fairly 
tested; but your committee are of opinion that 
it promises to be one of our most valuable pears, 
having the unsurpassed flavor of the Seckle, and 
keeping till winter. They propose to name it 
the ‘ Livingston Pear.’ ” 
A vote of thanks was passed to those gentle¬ 
men who had contributed to make up the de¬ 
ficiency in the funds of the Society. 
Adjourned. 
-*-0-0- 
Keep your shop, and your shop will keep you. 
AGRICULTURAL TOUR IN GERMANY. NO. 16 
BY COUNT DE GOURCY. 
Translated for the American Agriculturist from the Journa 
d’Agriculture Pratique. 
In addition to the stock already noticed on 
the estate of the Duke of Saxe Coburg, a large 
number of pigs are constantly kept and fatted. 
They are poorly fed, however, and do not attain 
their full size till towards the end of the third 
year. If properly fed, they would reach this 
point twelve or fifteen months sooner. The 
Servian breed is in most common use; they are 
a short-legged variety, round and plump form, 
with thick hair, a little curled. 
The manure produced by the cows owned by 
the employes, is i"propriated to the use of the 
estate; a large quality is wasted over the pas¬ 
tures, as many of the animals never enter the 
stable. During the wunter the refuse of a large 
potato distillery is used to fatten from 100 to 
150 oxen, as well as a number of swine, and 
contributes also to supply the extensive piggery 
already mentioned. Much attention is given to 
the breeding of sheep; and this is conducted 
with a view to the increase of the fleece and 
length of the wool. Some of the meadows 
which most require manure have sheep folded 
on them. A space of 45 ares , or a little more than 
an acre, is manured by folding 10,000 head on 
it for ten days. I was surprised that there were 
no houses provided for the protection of the 
shepherds. I was informed in answer to my 
inquiries, that the shepherds of the country 
never sleep under a roof. With their long 
sheepskin cloaks drawn around them, they 
sleep on the ground in all weathers, and some¬ 
times even on the snow. During the late war 
these shepherds formed cavalry troops, bearing 
arms peculiar to themselves, which were very 
effective. 
I am informed that the Duke of Saxe Coburg 
takes a great interest in farming. He inspects 
his numerous and extensive estates with much 
attention. Uncomfortable as he generally finds 
his lodges when he visits them, he spends sev¬ 
eral days at each. When he entered on the 
estate there were no buildings erected. Seven 
temporary farm-houses have since been con¬ 
structed en fisc; [termed in this country 
“gravel walls.”] This course was pursued at 
the time to avoid sinking too much capital. 
Each year new buildings have been added, 
chiefly for sheep houses. Stables and granaries 
are also in course of erection. Stones for build¬ 
ing are scarce, and large bricks are made to 
supply the want. Straw is mixed up with the 
clay, and they are hardened by exposure to the 
sun; burnt bricks are made for the fronts and 
corners. These structures are covered with 
shingles, tiles, straw, or rushes. A large build¬ 
ing, five stories high, is exclusively appropriated 
to grain lofts, and near it there is a large crib 
for storing the maize crop. 
One of the farms visited in the vicinity, had 
been placed under the charge of a student of 
the Hohenheim farm-school, a twelve month ago. 
He was absent at the time of my visit, which I 
regretted, as I desired to talk with him. He 
farms entirely according to his own judgment, 
being at liberty to pursue whatever course he 
thinks best. I visited the distillery, which is. 
on a large scale, the fixtures alone have cost 
61,200 francs. The company which manage it 
buy up the potatoes raised in the vicinity, and 
