1852 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
187 
Suggestions for the State Agricultural Society. 
Eds. Cultivator —That the State Agricultural So¬ 
ciety has accomplished much for agriculture, no one will 
deny—that it might do more, is, I think, equally evident. 
Its annual fair, the premiums on farms, and essays on 
subjects of vital importance to farmers, and experiments 
to settle disputed theories or establish new facts, have 
each in their way tended to impart knowledge to the 
reading and thinking portion of the community. But 
there are others, and I regret to say that I fear the most 
numerous class, who are little benefitted by all this; they 
must have knowledge thrust upon them or they will not 
heed it; and it must be afforded them almost , if not en¬ 
tirely, free of expense, or they will even then reject it. 
They grudge the smallest expenditure, unless they can 
see clearly its return with a profit; the one dollar a year 
for the 11 Cultivator,” or any other agricultural journal, 
is money so completely thrown away, that they feel them¬ 
selves insulted if asked to subscribe. 
It is in behalf of this class that I wish to say a few 
words. “ The greatest good to the greatest number,” 
should be the motto of the Society. The publication of 
tracts for gratuitous distribution, on subjects of direct 
practical benefit to every farmer, where the profit of the 
experiment is clearly portrayed, seems to be a proper 
initiatory step. These being received and read, the ice 
is broken; the mind has been turned in the right direction; 
an inquiring spirit is provoked, and the way opened for 
the introduction of agricultural periodicals and books. 
It is not necessary here to enlarge upon the topics to be 
treated of in this way; they will suggest themselves to 
any member of the Society; suffice it to say that they 
should have a direct practical bearing, and be on subjects 
of importance to every farmer. 
The system of popular lectures, is another mode of 
disseminating knowledge. The Society could, at a small 
expense, procure the services of a few gentlemen, who 
should devote the winter months to travelling to the 
principal towns in each county. The state should be 
districted, for the purpose, and each county supplied, 
which would agree to pay the travelling expenses of the 
lecturer. These would be inconsiderable, for enough 
could be found I trust, who would take their horse and 
cutter for one day, and deposit him safely at the next 
town; or if the distance be too great, to be met by a 
committee and divide the space between them. In this way 
he could travel from town town throughout his district, at 
a mere nominal eost to any one. At the end of each lec¬ 
ture, a collection might be taken,—the sum raised to be 
forwarded to the State Society towards defraying its out¬ 
lay. 
Perhaps the most difficult part of the undertaking 
would be the selection of suitable persons to perform this 
duty. To combine a thorough knowledge of practical 
agriculture, with so much of theory and science as shall 
be suited to the capacity of those for whom the lecture 
is intended, is the great desideratum. Ultraism, Mr. 
Editor, is the curse of our country. I care not on what 
occasion it is manifested; whether in abolitionism or dis¬ 
union, red-republicanism or absolutism, it is equally to 
be deprecated. The case of agriculture is not different. 
The mere mechanical drudge, who toils day after day, 
exercising but little more judgment than the cattle he is 
driving; the man who undertakes to reduce farming to a 
science, and who, fresh from his laboratory, issues his 
orders, and expects every thing to go on according to 
theory, will neither of them make a successful farmer. 
It is by a proper blending of the two, and studying na¬ 
ture in her various changes, accommodating onesself to 
the circumstance of soil and climate, and taking advant¬ 
age of every new suggestion, testing the same by actual 
experiment, that we can hope to succeed in our profes¬ 
sion. It is this ultraism, which should be avoided in the 
selection of lecturers. If proper men be chosen, I have 
no doubt a great benefit would be experienced, not only 
by the farmers themselves, but by the community at 
large. I have noted down these ideas, as they suggested 
themselves to me; the plan is worthy of consideration, 
for I desire that agriculture should adopt the motto of 
the State, “ Excelsior.” 
Agricultural Journals. 
There is no better proof of the rapid progress which is 
making, both in the improvement of the minds and the 
s(^ls of our farmers, than is found in the increasing de¬ 
mand for agricultural works, both books and journals. 
Though we have, more or less new books on rural mat¬ 
ters eveiy month, the market is by no means overstocked. 
There is also a constantly increasing demand for agricul¬ 
tural journals; quite a number of new ones have been 
recently established, and all, or nearly all, both old and 
new, appear to be in a most healthy and vigorous condi¬ 
tion. These facts show that our rural population, not 
perhaps as a body, but in large numbers, have had their 
prejudices against “ book-farming,” dispelled, and are 
now earnestly seeking for that information so necessary 
to enable them to manage their business most advantage¬ 
ously. "We rejoice to see this spirit, and trust that it will 
extend itself until all our farmers shall esteem the aid 
afforded them by the press, as highly as do the members 
of the various professions. 
The following have been added to the list of agricul¬ 
tural journals, since the commencement of the present 
year: 
The Farmer’s Monthly Visitor, Manchester, N. H., 32 pages, 
octavo, monthly, Si per year. Edited by C. E. Potter, and 
published by Rowell, Prescott & Co. Agricultural, biographi¬ 
cal and miscellaneous. 
The Green Mountain Farmer, Bradford, Vt., semi-monthly, 
quarto. SI. L. R. Morris, editor; Morris and Bliss publishers. 
The New-England Cultivator, Boston, 32 p. octavo, $1. R. B. 
Fitts & Co., publishers. 
The Plow, New-York, 32 p. octavo, monthly, at 50 cents, has taken 
the place of the American Agriculturist. Solon Robinson, 
editor; C. M. Saxton, publisher. 
The New-York Farmer, Rome, weekly at SI .50, and monthly at 
50 cents. Elon Comstock, editor and publisher. 
Northern Farmer, Clinton, N. Y., monthly at 25 cents a year. T. 
B. Miner, editor and publisher. 
Western Reserve Farmer ane Dairyman, Jefferson, Ohio, semi¬ 
monthly, Si- R M. Walker and N. E. French, editors; G. 
B. Miller publisher. 
Ohio Farmer and Mechanic’s Assistant, Cleveland, weekly, $2 
Thomas Brown, publisher. 
The whole world has taken the place of Rome in grant¬ 
ing indulgence to the rich. 
