152 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
In Britain, where the plough may be used at almost any season of the 
year, there are professional ploughmen, who do little else but plough. 
Hence this branch of farm labor is there performed in a very per¬ 
fect manner. But it is in the mechanic arts that the division of labor 
is capable of being carried to the greatest extent. In the manufacture 
of pins, there are seven different processes, and seven sets of workmen 
are employed to perform them, neither knowing any thing of any pro¬ 
cess but the one in which he is engaged. The laborers are adapted to 
the work, and while the man who tins the pins earns 6s. sYerl. per day, 
the boy employed in twisting and cutting the heads is paid but 4£d-— 
Were the first to be employed at 6s. per day, in performing the whole 
of the processes, the pins would cost, as Babbage tells ns, three times 
and three quarters as much as they do by the present division of labor. 
Every purchaser of pins, therefore, is benefited by this division of la¬ 
bor. In the manufacture of watches, this principle is perhaps carried 
to the greatest extent. It was stated before a committee of the House 
of Commons, “ that there are a hundred and two distinct branches of 
this art, to each of which a boy may be put apprentice; and that he 
only learns his master’s department, and is unable, after his appren¬ 
ticeship has expired, without subsequent instruction, to work at any 
other branch. The watch finisher, whose business it is to put together 
the scattered parts, is the only one, out of the hundred and two per¬ 
sons, who can work in any other department than his own.” These 
facts suggest to the farmer the propriety of a division of labor, as far 
as is practicable, upon the farm, and of employing each laborer upon 
that branch which is best adapted to his strength and skill. 
NOTICE OF CORRESPONDENTS. 
Hay-Press and. Plough —A correspondent wishes to purchase a first- 
rate hay-press, and he asks us the cost, when fitted up for use. He 
also wants the name of the plough “ best calculated to turn a large fur¬ 
row completely over, and to a depth of at least four inches.” Anthony 
Van Bergen, Esq. of Coxsackie,has in use an excellent hay-press, made 
in his neighborhood, and we beg to refer our correspondent to him for 
information, as we have had no opportunity of judging personally of 
the different kinds in use, or of knowing the price at which they sell. 
We have had several ploughs in use, and we are free to say, that of those 
we have tried we think the Scotch plough, as made by Mr. Craig, of West 
Galway, the best for turning green sward handsomely, when guided by 
a good ploughman, though it does not turn a very broad furrow, nor turn 
the furrow “ completely over,” two qualities which we think should not 
be desired except on the unwrought prairies of the west. 
A. Dey, Esq. 63 Cedar-street, New-York, wishes to hire 300 acres of 
meadow land ploughed early in the spring—particulars in our advertis¬ 
ing sheet in February. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
T'm following communication is from a farmer, whose pen has eminently con¬ 
in’: i:ed to ihe improvement of our agriculture. Wecommend it to the careful 
perusal of our New-York readers ; and bespeak for the proposition with 
which it closes, the cordial support, and prompt action", of all who would 
“ Speed the Plough 
LEGISLATIVE AID TO AGRICULTURE; 
OR, AN APPEAL TO THE FARMERS OF NEW-YORK. 
The United States exhibit the singular spectacle, a spectacle which 
foreign nations behold with amazement, and are utterly unable to com¬ 
prehend, of a great people not only free from debt, but with some fifty 
millions in the treasury for which the government has no possible use. 
Whatever may be thought of the policy of continuing a state of things 
that by its natural operation shall produce such a surplus revenue ; or 
the expediency of distributing such surplus when it happens to arise; 
none can doubt the propriety of the several states making the best pos¬ 
sible use of the part allotted to them respectively, when such part comes 
into their possession. 
The state of New-York set a patriotic and successful example in the 
career of internal improvement, by adopting plans, which, though for 
a time seeming severely to task the resources of the state, have even¬ 
tually shown the wisdom and far-reaching forethought of the men who 
carried that system into effect. Through the agency of the “ Erie ca¬ 
nal, that glorious monument to the glorious memory of De Witt Clin¬ 
ton,” and his able coadjutors, a debt of twelve millions has been paid 
_the salt and auction duties have been restored to their original des¬ 
tination of meeting the civil expenses of the state, and the still accumu¬ 
lating revenue is fast placing New-York in th'e situation of the United 
States, that is, with a surplus beyond any reasonable, or probable ex¬ 
penditure. 
At such a moment, with a full treasury, and increasing means for a 
continual supply, New-York is called upon to receive her quota of the 
surplus money of the United States; a sum, according to the most pro¬ 
bable estimates, of at least six millions of dollars. 
The important questions are now forced upon us ; what disposition 
shall be made of this large sum of money; and to what uses shall it be 
applied ? Shall the money lie idle in the treasury, or shall the state 
take and use it as its own? 
It should be remembered that this money is not given to the state ; 
it is only deposited with it, or rather loaned to it; and is of course lia¬ 
ble to be called for at any time, should the policy or the wants of the 
general government require it; and though such a contingency is not 
probable, the possibility of such an event should not be lost sight of, in 
the distribution. In taking the money, the state will undoubtedly use 
it as its own, appropriating it to such purposes as shall most benefit the 
whole state, and at the same time best ensure the means of repayment 
if ever called for. 
Shall this six millions be devoted to the prosecution of our system of 
internal improvement? We think not: certainly not the whole. The 
works at present under the control of the commissioners, are already 
sufficiently extensive for their proper management by the state; which 
ought not to run the risk, as has already been done to some extent, of 
hazarding the resoures already existing, in unprofitable and unneces¬ 
sary constructions. If an extension is required, let it be done by com¬ 
panies ; the state reserving the right in all cases, of assuming the direc 
tion and control of such works, at any time; a right to be vigilantly 
guarded and rigidly exercised, whenever occasion requires. 
There is but one remainining work properly belonging to the state, 
and which should be entered upon without delay, and that is a ship 
canal around the Overslaugh:—a work for the interest of all/and for 
which an appropriation from the surplus money would, we doubt not, 
meet the cordial approbation of all. 
Some months since, when there was a prospect of receiving only 
some one or two millions of dollars, it was proposed in some of the lead¬ 
ing journals, to add the sum to the Common School Fund, and thus de¬ 
vote it to the great purpose of education: a proposition, we believe, re¬ 
ceived with universal favor. Two millions added to that fund, would 
enable the state to distribute more than double the sum that is now di¬ 
vided ; or in other words, would defray about two-thirds of the expenses 
of the common schools. Would it be politic or useful to do more than 
this? In nothing is the maxim, that “ that which costs nothing is va¬ 
lued less,” more true than in education; and we think experience 
shows that much more could not be done without lessening too much 
the interest which parents and guardians should feel in the expenditure 
of their money. If you would interest a man in any cause, touch his 
pocket. For the state to pay the whole expenses of our common schools, 
would have a direct tendency to ruin the whole system. While there¬ 
fore education should be viewed as all important, we think that the ad¬ 
dition of two or three millions is all that can at present profitably be 
employed by the common school fund. 
Provision, at the time deemed fully adequate to the purpose, has 
been made for a full survey of the state, with a view to the develop¬ 
ment of its resources, geographical, geological, mineralogical, and agri¬ 
cultural; and we hope that no ill timed parsimony will prevent the exe¬ 
cution of the whole plan in the most complete and thorough manner, or 
hinder the results of the examination from being given to the world, in 
a form worthy of the subject and the state. 
But after ample appropriations for the above mentioned object*, one 
or two millions will remain to be expended, a bone for factions to con¬ 
tend about, or such is the selfish tendencies of our natures, an induce¬ 
ment to the creation of new offices, or the bestowment of exorbitant sa¬ 
laries. 
What interest then remains upon which the surplus in the treasury 
can be worthily and profitably exerted ?—what department of industry, 
which more than another demands and deserves the effective aid of the 
state ? The true and ready answer is, agriculture. 
The situation of New-York—her facilities for internal communica¬ 
tion—the habits of her citizens—and above all, the excellence of her 
soil, mark her as an agricultural state. Here is the great secret of her 
power, the source of her energy and wealth, and to that point must her 
legislators look, if they intend she shall retain the proud title of the 
Empire State. 
Agriculture lies at the very basis of all prosperity; of civilization 
and social order. Without it neither can exist to any extent. On it 
commerce is mainly depending; it furnishes between nations the ob¬ 
jects of barter and exchange ; and on its success, the merchant, the ma¬ 
nufacturer, and the professional man, are alike dependent. 
Such being the facts, and such the importance of agriculture, we may 
ask, whether what the state has hitherto done for the farmer, is in any 
degree adequate to the real magnitude of his claims. By a policy, as 
wise as it was beneficial, several years since, a few"thousands annually 
were distributed among county agricultural societies; and for every 
thousand so divided, the statistics of the state show that millions have 
been returned. Provision has been made for one agricultural school, 
and here our legislators, as if they were fearful the treasury would be 
exhausted, or frightened at their own unwonted liberality, have al¬ 
lowed the matter to rest. Has this course been just to the people ; has 
it been generous ? 
