“to improve the soil, and 
THE MIND.” 
New Series. 
ALBANY, DECEMBER, 
1850. 
Vol. VII.—No. 12. 
Close of the Volume. 
The close of the year brings us again to the point 
at which it becomes necessary, in accordance with 
our established plan, to commence our subscription 
list anew. The present number completes the 
seventh volume of the new series of The Cultiva¬ 
tor, making the seventeenth from the commence¬ 
ment. Concerning our past course, we have little 
to offer,- our work has been long before the public, 
and has been judged by its merits. We have no 
desire to appeal from that judgment, but shall labor 
assiduously, as we have hitherto done, to “improve 
the soil and the mind.” The past year has 
brought many circumstances of encouragement, and 
that upon whose threshold we are about entering, is 
not without hopeful and cheering prospects. The 
taste for agricultural improvement is on the increase. 
The number of farmers who read and study —who en¬ 
deavor to trace the connection of cause and effect, 
in the various phenomena which pass under their 
observation, is being gradually but constantly aug¬ 
mented. Thirty years ago, there was one, and 
only one, regularly issued agricultural periodical in 
the United States; that was commenced in 1819. 
Three years later a second was started: it was a 
subject of doubt, with some, whether the two would 
be sustained. Now, no less than fifteen are issued 
monthly, in the States, and one in Canada, besides 
five weekly papers in which agriculture is the lead¬ 
ing subject. There are also two or three periodi¬ 
cals specially devoted to horticulture. 
These publications wield a great influence. They 
have awakened a large body of the farmers to the 
importance of their calling,—-and realizing the great 
fact that agriculture feeds all and clothes all, they 
have been led to a just appreciation of their position 
in the social and political organization of society. 
They perceive that an art which lies at the founda¬ 
tion of all other arts, is inferior to none in dignity j 
and as they investigate its principles, they see that 
it affords ample scope for philosophic investigation, 
and the exercise of the powers of the mind. Men of 
intellect and ability have become convinced that 
agriculture presents a field worthy of their labors. 
The erroneous notion formerly entertained by many 
of our young men, that honors were not to be found 
in the pursuit of agriculture, has been in a good de¬ 
gree discarded. Many of the most intelligent class 
have applied themselves to farming with energy. 
We are witnessing the ultimate effects of this influ¬ 
ence on the husbandry of the country. Farm ope¬ 
rations are carried on with more system, cultivation 
is practiced on more rational principles and with bet¬ 
ter and more certain returns. 
Our object will be, as it has always been, to en¬ 
courage and carry forward this spirit of improve¬ 
ment. Our work will contine to be a medium for 
the dissemination of principles and facts calculated 
to benefit all who are engaged in rural pursuits. Ib 
this labor we are happy in being permitted to say 
that we shall receive the continued aid of Prof 
Norton, of Yale College, and the Hon. F. Hol 
brook, of Vermont-—men whose scientific and prac 
tical knowledge of all that pertains to agriculture, 
places them in the first rank of writers on that subject. 
Our terms will be the same as heretofore—Single 
copy $1—Seven copies for $5—Fifteen copies, $10. 
Present to Subscribers for 1851.— A copy of 
“ The Pictorial Cultivator Almanac for 1851,” 
prepared and published expressly as a New-Year’s 
Present for subscribers to The Cultivator, will 
be sent to each, with the January number. It is 
greatly superior to any thing of the kind which has 
yet appeared in this country, not only in the amount 
and richness of its engravings, and in its typopraphi 
cal finish, but it has been the aim to make it emi¬ 
nently useful, by presenting as large an amount of 
valuable condensed reading as can be compressed 
within the allotted space; and to give nothing in 
the shape of facts or practical directions, the cor¬ 
rectness of which has not been thoroughly proved. 
It is printed on the same size sheet, and intended to 
form the first thirty-two pages of the volume of The 
Cultivator for 1851, with which it should be bound. 
0“ For Premiums to Agents, see last page pf this 
number. 
0“ We have not thought it necessary to re-publish 
our list of Agents,* but we shall be glad to have 
all who are disposed to aid in promoting the circu¬ 
lation of The Cultivator, consider themselves as 
especially appointed Agents to receive subscribers 
for our next volume, and for any aid they may ren¬ 
der us, they will receive our hearty thanks. 
K7“ Prospectuses and sample numbers will be sent, 
on application, to all who desire them. 
