104 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
our incorporated academies and colleges receiving these funds, to the en¬ 
tire exclusion of schools of agriculture. This consideration appeals to our 
sense of justice and equity, with great force. It arouses our feelings of 
philanthropy and patriotism, and calls up the republican principle, that 
government is instituted for the good of the many, and not the few. 
Why, I ask, should institutions already endowed, and whose benefits are 
enjoyed mainly by the aristocratic few, receive this boon, to the exclu¬ 
sion of that great body of the people, whose interest is identified- with the 
successful cultivation of the soil? 
Demonstrations too of public opinion have long and often been made on 
this subject. And we all profess to be governed more or less by public 
opinion, especially when acting in a public capacity. Convention after 
convention has been held in this hall—resolution after resolution has been 
passed by the people in the several counties of the state—petition after 
petition, without limitation as to the number of signatures, have been 
prestnted to successive legislatures; and all asking for an appropriation 
for this great cause. ■ Report after report has been made in favor of this 
subject, by committees of each house, arid still, for want of time, or un¬ 
derstanding, or some other cause, it has not been brought to a.successful 
result. And while on this subject, I cannot but notice with respectful 
acknowledgments, the situation of that public sentiment, in the enlighten¬ 
ed view that was taken of this subject, in two successive messages by the 
present executive of the state. In touching upon this topic, his language 
is so happy, and his deductions so clear, that I will take the liberty of pre¬ 
senting to the convention the following extracts:—In 1833, he says— 
“ From the consideration of these important subjects, I pass to one of 
greater and more general interest, lying more directly within the reach 
of our legislative action, and demanding from- us a particular attention. 
Agriculture was undoubtedly the primitive pursuit of man in a civilized 
state of society, and seems to be indicated to them by Heaven, as their 
best employment. Vigor of body and purity, of mind are eminently en¬ 
joyed by the husbandman. Without meaning to disparage any class of 
men, or to deny a due proportion of public virtue to all, history and ex¬ 
perience warrants the assertion, that the cultivators of tha soil have ever 
been among the first to cherish, and the last to abandon free institutions. 
It is not, however, for this reason that agriculture presents peculiar cliams 
for your guardianship. It not only furnishes occupation to a much great¬ 
er portion of our citizens than any other department of labor, but it sup¬ 
plies the materials for all others. It must be regarded as a matter of some 
surprise, that an employment in which so great a number of the human 
family are directly engaged, to which all look for their daily bread, and 
upon which commerce, manufactures and the mechanic arts—indeed, all 
the various pursuits of mankind—so necessarily depend, should not have 
risen to a still higher consideration than it has yet attained, and received 
from those entrusted with power of legislation, more liberal aids. 
«< The numerous agricultural societies organized in the several counties 
in this state, inconsequence of our legislation, flourished fora season, 
then languished, and are now generally dissolved. The interest of agri¬ 
culture was, to a considerable extent, promoted by these societies. The 
contributions from the public treasury, distributed principally in premi¬ 
ums, gave a sudden impulse to agricultural industry, and induced many 
laudable efforts among farmers, not only to excel in their productions, but 
to introduce valuable improvements in husbandry; yet it has been ques¬ 
tioned whether the benefits derived were of such an extensive and abid¬ 
ing character, as might have been realized by a different application of 
the fund derived from the government Agriculture is a science as well 
as an art; and both must be systematically cultivated and widely disse¬ 
minated, before it w ould attain a high degree of improvement. The ge¬ 
neral intelligence and individual enterprise of those devoted to the pur¬ 
suit, have carried the art as far, perhaps, as could reasonably be expected 
without a better knowledge of the sciences connected with it. With a 
salubrious climate, and fertile soil; with extensive regions but partially 
brought under the power of cultivation; with using manufactures and a 
flourishing commerce, demanding the surplus produce of husbandry; with 
a population full of enterprise, and distinguished for native skill and prac¬ 
tical talents, we may reasonably expect great advantages from the culti¬ 
vation and diffusion of the sciences connected with the art. The subject 
appears to me in every respect worthy of your attention , and to merit a 
liberal encouragement .” 
In the annual message of 1834, we find the following language:—■“ The 
subjects connected w ith the business pursuits of our constituents, next 
claim our notice. Among these, agriculture stands first in the order of 
nature, as well as in the rank of importance. It contributes so essentially 
to wealth, that the early writers on political economy regarded it as the 
only source of wealth. It furnishes the means of human subsistence, and 
supplies most of the materials for manufactures, and the chief articles ol 
commerce. When the labor of the farmer is bountifully rewarded, all 
other kinds of industry partakes of its success; whatever therefore, is 
doRe by the government for the agricultural interest, redounds to the be¬ 
nefit of every other. There is no other occupation which is so diversified 
in its objects, and requires such various knowledge to conduct it skilfully, 
as that of agriculture. This knowledge results from experiments in all 
climates, soils and seasons, and is consequently to be derived from diffe¬ 
rent countries. It receives large contributions from the mechanic arts, 
and from the science of botany, chemistry and natural philosophy. The 
patronage of the government can scarcely be directed to a more useful 
object, than furnishing the means of collecting information on this sub¬ 
ject, and of spreading it among the agricultural population. A board 
composed of practical farmers and men of scientific attainments, would 
possess great facilities for concentrating the scattered information; and 
the best means of disseminating it among the people, would be afforded 
by a public institution, under the direction of such a board, when agricul¬ 
ture should be.taught as a science, and practically illustrated as an art. 
The general interest felt for this branch of industry, will recommend it 
to your favor; and its intimate connection with the permanent prosperity 
of the state, will make you desirous of contributing to its advancement.” 
Thus you see, Mr. President, that in accordance with an enlightened 
public sentiment, has the attention of our legislature been recently called 
to this subject. Subsequent messages have, in substance, reiterated the 
above sentiments. It is to' be hoped, then, that the legislature will sus¬ 
tain the governor, and respond to the manifestations of public sentiment, 
by adopting a wise and liberal policy with regard to this important interest 
of the community. f*' 
One more view of this'subject, Mr 1 President, and I close. We come 
not before the constituted authorities of the state as pitiful beggars at the 
foot of a throne, nor are we yet reduced to quite thatstate ofvassallage and 
degradation, as are the boors and feudal serfs of the more despotic govern¬ 
ments of Europe; but we appear as the lords and sovereigns of the land, 
asking, in most respectful terms, “ nothing but what is strictly right, un¬ 
willing to submit to any thing that is wrong.” We are the source of all 
political power, executive, legislative, and judicial. We constitute the 
great body of the people—the sovereignty of the land. We bear the bur¬ 
thens of government in peace, we are its shield and defence in war. It 
is to be hoped, then, that an interest thus important, will receive that at¬ 
tention and fostering care, from the constituted guardians of our rights, 
that the prosperity of the whole community so imperatively demands. 
Let the empire state, justly proud of her march in internal improvements, 
and her splendid monuments of art, also lead the way, and set an exam¬ 
ple worthy of her sister states, in the encouragement and advancement of 
agriculture—the only true source of wealth—and soon will the entire face 
of the country be changed. Our fertile valleys will double their increase, 
our barren plains become productive, our swamps and marshes be re¬ 
claimed, the “ deset and solitary place be made glad, and the wilderness 
blossom as the rose.” 
MANAGEMENT OF CLAY FARMS. 
beatson’s system. 
Knowle Farm, in the neighborhood of Tunbridge Wells, which was a 
few years ago in the occupation of the late Gen. Beatson, contains about 
300 acres of land, of which 112 are arable, and is described as abounding 
with clay, and retentive of surface moisture, but when dried by the sum¬ 
mer heat, it becomes as hard as a brick, and impervious to the plough, un¬ 
less with a great power of animal exertion, particularly as the general 
mode is to plough deep. The established rotation in that part of Kent 
and the neighboring portion of Sussex, is fallow, wheat, and oats, with 
occasionally clover and rye-grass; and the husbandry appears to have re¬ 
mained unaltered for many ages, with the single exception of substituting 
lime for manure instead of marl. Upon this system the farm was manag¬ 
ed during the General’s absence, while governor of the Island of St. He¬ 
lena; and finding on his return, in the year 1813, “ that he had no cause 
to boast of its profit, he resolved to trace the whole progress of the ope¬ 
rations, from the commencement of the fallow to the close of the rota¬ 
tion;” the result of which was, that “having made a series of experi¬ 
ments, to which he devoted his attention during five years, he determined 
upon the total abolition of fallows.”* 
In order to effect this, he adopted several new implements, chiefly of 
his own invention, for a description of which we must refer to his “ New 
System of Cultivation,” as we have only seen the scarifier in use. This 
is of a light construction, and certainly performs well; though upon land 
* His experiments were extended to various objects besides the working of 
the land; particularly to the combinations of different kinds of manure, and 
the burning of clay, (tor which, see our vol. i. chaps. 16 and 17;) but our pre¬ 
sent extracts only extend to the subject of fallowing, the charges of which ho 
states to have amounted to £16 per acre, thus:— 
Labor, breaking up the clover ley and 3 subsequent ploughings, £3 12 6 
Eleven harrowings at ten acres per day,. 0 9 0 
Manure, one and a half wagon load of lime, between the third 
and fourth ploughings,. 7 10 0 
Carting and spreading ditto,... 0 6 0 
Seed, two and a half bushels of wheat at 10s. 1 5 0 
Sowing and rolling, .. 0 1 6 
Rent and taxes for the year of fallow. 1 10 0 
Ditto for the year of crop,. 1 10 0 
£16 4 0 
