THE CULTIVATOR. 
119 
■jeets the societies above mentioned had to accomplish, was to point out 
the evils in this system, arid the advantages that would accrue from the 
granting of longer leases, and the holding of land severalty. In Scotland, 
most of the land not cultivated by the proprietors is now held in severalty, 
and on leases varying irom fourteen to twenty-one years. In England, 
the practice of granting long leases is not so universal, and much of the 
land is yet held in common. To this is justly attributed the slower ad¬ 
vancement of agriculture in some parts of that kingdon^than in Scotland. 
With long leases, attention to rotation of crops became more general— 
greater pains were taken to prepare the soil for the several crops, by tho¬ 
rough ploughing, the removal of weeds, stones and bushes, the making ol 
suitable drains, and the application of manures, where the soil had become 
exhausted by successive crops. 
In the agricultural districts of Scotland, those who are there denominat¬ 
ed farmers, are generally men of considerable capital and education—who 
have made the theory and practice 6f their important art the subject of 
particular study. 1 he district most improved by art, though not natural¬ 
ly the most fertile, is that of the Lothians. But no part of Scotland is so 
remote as not to have felt the influence of the spirited exertions of indivi¬ 
duals and associations within the last half century for the improvement of 
rural operations. 
Within my own time, in an extensive district amidst the Grampian hills, 
on the banks of the River Tay, and the lake of the same name, the change 
in the face of the country and in the character of the people, has perhaps 
not been surpressed even in this wonder working country. 
Within a century, that district was occupied by a semi-barbarous peo¬ 
ple—“ the Children of the Mist the cateran followers of Rob Roy, oc¬ 
cupied a part of it, and lawlessly roamed through the rest. The agricul¬ 
ture was scanty, and of the worst kind—the breed of cattle was so poor as 
scarcely to be worth stealing—the people had little industry—were ill fed, 
and worse clad. Now, the picture is very different: No part of the em¬ 
pire possesses a more industrious or a more moral people. They are well 
informed and well clad, and their farms yield crops scarcely equalled by 
the fields of the Lothians. The breed of cattle, too, has not been less im¬ 
proved than the farms. All this has been accomplished since the com¬ 
mencement of the present century, in a district of country less favored by 
nature than the despised and neglected regions of the northern paits of 
this state. I mention this to show what wonders can be accomplished un¬ 
der persevering industry, guided by correct principles, and encouraged by 
the influence of men of property and information. 
I believe it is generally conceded that the theory and practice of agri¬ 
culture are, at this time, as well understood in England and Scotland, as 
in any part of the world. It is well known that few countries have been 
less favored by nature, either as to soil or climate, for agriculture or horti¬ 
culture, than Scotland; and yet few countries have done more for the 
advancement of these branches than she has done. My time will permit 
me merely to enumerate the leading means by which this eminence has 
been attained;—some of the causes which retarded improvement, I have 
already mentioned. 
The direct causes of the advanced state of Scotch husbandry, are chief¬ 
ly referable to the following: 1st. Careful tillage—thorough ploughing, to 
pulverize the soil—the removal of weeds, stones, stumps, bushes, &c.— 
the proper draining of fields, and the use of manures to such soils as were 
exhausted by long tillage, or were naturally poor. 2d. The regular rota¬ 
tion of crops, varying these according to the nature of the soil. 3d. The 
general introduction of turnips and clover. 4th. The use of lime, marl, 
alga marina, and compost manures. 5th. The introduction of improved 
implements of husbandry—as the plough, the cart, the threshing machine, 
the fanners, the rollers, harrows, &c. &c. 
The triumph of modern over ancient husbandry is due to the introduc¬ 
tion and use of these improved implements, more than to any other cause. 
The ancients separated their grain on a threshing floor erected in the 
fields, by means of the feet of oxen, or by rude instruments, which in¬ 
jured the grain, and consumed much time; and they depended on the 
winds for winnowing the seed. The construction of mills for grinding 
grain, also distinguishes modern husbandry from the ancient. The modes 
ractised by the latter were exceedingly rude: the grain was pounded 
etween stones, or in some kind of mortar. It is not very long since this 
practice obtained in some parts of Europe, and is probably prevalent at 
this moment in some of the new settlements of the United States. 
Having given this sketch of the progress of husbandry in the old world, 
I hope the society will indulge me by permitting a few remarks on the 
agriculture and rural economy of this state. 
When the province of New-York came into the possession of Great 
Britain, agriculture was in a very low state at home. Most of those who 
emigrated from Europe brought with them little skill and less capital. Land 
was of little-value, and therefore easily obtained. Every body could be 
(what in Europe is still considered a great distinction) a landed proprietor. 
Most ot the emigrants, therefore, preferred hardships, as proprietors, to 
comfort as domestics and laborers. The great mass of farmers became 
lords of the soil, and managed their farms themselves, aided by their child¬ 
ren, seldom being able to find people to hire, even if they possessed means 
for paying them. The virgin soil, however, was rich, and yielded freely, 
without much labor or expense of culture. Some extensive estates, or 
manors, existed, in which the farms were in the possession of tenants 
holding leases, some of which were perpetual—or, as long as water ran or 
grass grew. The rents were almost nominal. I believe these were the 
worst managed farms in the province; and the remark is as applicable, so 
far as I have seen, at the present day, as at any former period. 
The revolution, and consequent separation from the mother country, 
made no change in the gr neral method of farm management. The farms 
have, until within a very few years, been cultivated with little attention 
to the improved agriculture of foreign countries. Crop after crop was ta¬ 
ken off, as long as the produce was worth the trouble of cultivation, until 
the soil became exhausted. Little care was taken to preserve manure- 
no attention was paid to rotation of crops—stones and stumps were left in 
the field unmolested—if there existed a wet spot of ground, the plough¬ 
man went round it, leaving possession to weeds and frogs—if a small 
stream traversed a field, it was permitted to meander in serpentine cour¬ 
ses, to ornament the landscape by its luxuriant growth of bushes—drains 
were hardly thought of, and when made, were scarcely ever covered, no 
matter how abundant stones to fill them might be in the contiguous fields. 
The effect of this system has been, that in almost all the old counties of 
this state, the soil has been exhausted, the culture of wheat is given up, 
and many extensive districts are now chiefly abandoned to pasturage, be¬ 
ing no longer fit for profitable tillage. On many farms, the wood has been 
destroyed, while no attempt was made to remedy the injury by planting. 
The fences, or enclosures, were of the rudest and worst kinds, while 
hedges were in many counties scarcely ever seen Thus beauty and 
utility were alike disregarded. 
Within the last few yeais, in several counties, much improvement has 
taken place in every thing that relates to agriculture; but it is far from be¬ 
ing general in any county, and many of the remarks already made, are 
still applicable, in the fullest extent, to much the greater number of farms 
in the districts immediately around us. 
The great ends contemplated in the institution of this society, were, the 
improvement of the various branches of husbandry, and the several arts 
connected with them. Much may be accomplished by a concentration of 
efforts. We have a great deal to encourage us in the success which has 
attended the exertions of other associations for the promotion of various 
useful arts and sciences. It is to be wished that gentlemen largely inte¬ 
rested in landed property would unite with us, and by their purse and 
influence, as well as example, aid in promoting objects by which their 
private interests and the good of the public at large will be simultaneously 
advanced. 
It is desirable that there should be union and uniformity in our efforts. 
To promote this, I would suggest the propriety of organizing in each coun¬ 
ty an auxiliary society, and that at the annual meetings of this society, in 
addition to the permanent members, there should be a delegate from each 
of the county societies. I would further suggest, the propriety of appoint¬ 
ing an executive committee here, at the seat of government, to act dur¬ 
ing the recess of the State Society in its behalf, to carry into operation 
such plans as may be adopted for advancing the cause in which we are 
engaged. 
At the last session of the legislature, an act incorporating a state agri¬ 
cultural school was passed. Considerable progress has been made in pro¬ 
curing subscribers to the stock of this school. It is intended, should the 
necessary amount be subscribed, to select a farm in this vicinity, of the 
extent of at least five hundred acres, on which are to be erected, on the 
most improved plans, suitable farm buildings. It is also in contemplation 
to procure specimens of the most improved implements of husbandry; and 
that the management of the farm should be conducted upon the most ap¬ 
proved-principles. Teachers are to be attached to it, for instructing pu¬ 
pils in the theory and practice of agriculture. It is intended, in short, to 
make it a school for the education of skilful and scientific practical farm¬ 
ers. At present it is uncertain how far these objects can be realized. 
That such a school is wanted, no one will deny; and that such a school, 
properly conducted, would be of incalculable benefit to the farming inte¬ 
rests of this state, admits of as little doubt. 
Something more is necessary than can be obtained at such a school as 
the agricultural is expected to be. If it be intended to make the pupils 
of the school work on the farm, for the double purpose of earning enough 
to support themselves, and of making them skilful in the practical details 
of farming, excepting in the winter season, little leisure will be afforded 
for study. 
It appears to me, that there ought to be established here, at the seat of 
government, an institution founded by the state, and liberally endowed, 
wherein a thorough education could be obtained in the liberal arts and 
sciences. The means of the state are ample for the purpose; and as no 
such institution at present exists within the bounds of the commonwealth, 
it would seem that no place is so suitable for its location as the seat of go¬ 
vernment. 
At such an institution, 1 c.tures on the science, of agriculture might be 
given during tffe session of the legislature, so that all who took an inte¬ 
rest in the subject might have the benefit of them. The kindred scienqe3 
of chemistry, mineralogy, geology and natural history, could likewise be 
