THE CULTIVATOR. 
rotation"of crops, and to improvements in onr grain, fruit and cattle. The 
reader will find his time well employed in the perusal. 
ROTATION OF CROPS. 
“ It is an observation universally known, that the ground on which flax 
has been raised, is not fit for the same use till after an interval of> several 
years. With the physical cause of this phenomenon we are yet unac¬ 
quainted, and perhaps will remain so for ever. But although the arcana 
of nature lie far beyond our comprehension, we may profit by attending to 
her operations; and we are allowed to frame theories, although demon¬ 
strations ot their correspondence with realities surpass our capacities. I 
shall therefore venture lo make a guess at the cause of the fact just men¬ 
tioned 
“ I will suppose that there are as many distinct principles, or combina¬ 
tions of principles, engaged as agents in the work of vegetation, as there 
are species and varieties of vegetables; that these have their residence in 
the atmosphere, and are capable of being absorbed, changed and regene¬ 
rated by the earth, especially when by the labors of the husbandman it is 
bared and exposed to their influence. I will next suppose, that general¬ 
ly an equal quantity of these are imbibed and ready to administer to the 
rearing of any correspondent vegetable, whose seed may be deposited in 
the earth. If then only one kind of seed be sown on a given quantity of 
ground, it will exhaust that particular principle which nature has provided 
for its growth. This ground will then become unqualified for the raising 
of a similar crop, until time be given again to the soil to absorb from the 
air that principle which has been thus diminished in the quantity, which 
the soil has a tendency to receive, and the capacity to hold; in the mean 
time any other vegetable will there find its appropriate principle undimi¬ 
nished, and ready to do its office in raising it to maturity. What has been 
observed of flax, is supposed to be true, in some degree at least, as to 
most other cultivated annuals. Besides it is further supposed, I may say 
it is proved, that a crop of one kind, so far from unfitting, will rather 
qualify the earth the better for the production of another, if the succession 
be conducted as experience directs. 
“ If this theory then be admitted to be well founded,' the advantages o. 
rotations of crops can be sufficiently proved a priori; but there is no need 
of depending on persuasives of this kind; the experience of Europe, 
where necessity more eminently than in this country has become the mo¬ 
ther of invention, has proved to the full conviction of all its practical far¬ 
mers, that this is to be numbered among the best of modern improve¬ 
ments. A difference of climate and other circumstances does not present 
objections to our following them in this, that it does in other respects. I 
wish therefore to see my countrymen observing these rules in this parti¬ 
cular with more exactitude.” 
IMPROVING OUR CRAIN, FRUIT AND CATTLE. 
“ That certain species of the productions of the earth may be improved 
as well as degenerated, experience and observation satisfactorily shew us. 
Wheat, rye, oats, barley, and maize, or Indian corn, are here mostly en¬ 
titled to our attention. Can we improve the qualities of either of these? 
That we can is perhaps not an absolute certainty,—but while there is a 
probability let us not lose sight of it. If we reason from analogy, there is 
no cause of despair; and if it can be done, the value of the acquisition 
will be incalculable. I shall here make a remark, which if true, will be 
granted to be of some importance. It seems to be one of the law's of na¬ 
ture, that specific changes in vegetables, as well as animals, can be ef¬ 
fected, but only by a slow and giadual process.* What at first is a mere 
accidental property, and not sensibly inheritable, may, by a repetition of 
impressions, from generation to generation, become at last confirmedly 
hereditary. That this is the case with regard to animals, many occurren¬ 
ces prove. Indeed we cannot in any other way rationally account for the 
varieties even of our own species, distinguished by color, size and other 
peculiarities, observed of nations, tribes and families. No one will pre¬ 
tend to say that such distinctions were brought about in a day or year: 
they must therefore be produced as has been asserted, by the contmual 
and uniform action of their causes. The properties impressed on.one ge¬ 
neration being thus inherited in some degree by the next, which receiv¬ 
ing additional and stronger impressions of the same kind from the same 
cause still operating, will transmit them still further with increased effica¬ 
cy, till at last the effect is carried to its ultimate point. 
“ Such considerations will suggest to us the means of improving our 
varieties of grain. If they possess, like animals, the faculty of inheriting 
properties, of which there is little doubt, we should from year to year se¬ 
lect the best for propagators, and from their produce again choose the 
best, ajid thus continue without intermission. By such means pursued 
for a length of time, it is more than probable we would accomplish the 
desired object; and who knows to what degree of perfection such things 
may be carried by unremiited application and care. The middle states of 
the union, of which New-York may be considered the chief, are without 
* This has been satisfactorily demonstrated by Bakewell, Collins, Coke and 
others in cattle, by Van Mons in fruits, by Baden in maize or corn, &c. while 
Knight and others have effected a more speedy, and equally certain mode of 
change in lruits and vegetables, by artificial crosses of known varieties. Many 
of our garden productions have been thus artificially unoroved _ Cond. Cult. 
195 
question not exceeded by any on the surface of the globe, as a country fa - 
vorable to the raising of wheat. We have therefore nothing to apprehend 
from soil and climate, in opposition to our endeavors to bring it to the 
highest degree of perfection of which it is capable, and this being the 
most valuable production of the earth, we should spare no pains to improve 
it to the utmost possible pitch. # 
“ Fruit, by which I mean what the word signifies, in its most common 
or limited sense, may be improved chiefly by making selections of the best 
kinds that occur, and preserving them by grafting, innoculation and other 
well known methods of obtaining the qualities of the parent vegetable un¬ 
degenerated, if not meliorated, in its progeny. What valuable acquisi¬ 
tions lie within the range of possibilities, if we pay due attention to this 
article, may be gptly illustrated by simply pointing to simple occurrences. 
The Spitzenburgh apple, which may challenge the world to match it, was 
first discovered as an accidental production, in the neighborhood of this 
city; fortunately it fell into the hands of a man of taste, who made its su¬ 
perlative excellencies known toothers, and gave perpetuity to its kind; 
but for this accident it most have again retreated into eternal oblivion. Its 
compeer, the Newtown Pippin, though not so exquisitely high flavored, 
yet perhaps superior in its ambrosial delicacy, is of so late an origin, that 
facts relative to the r place and manner of its birth, are not yet obscured by 
the length and uncertainty of tradition. Other kinds, that sprung from Ame¬ 
rican soil, and even from this state, need not shrink from a comparison with 
the best that Europe can offer. Among the infinite varieties of fruit of 
which the seed ot the apple produces, how many that would enrich the 
choicest catalogue, must perish forever with the limbs that support them, 
merely for want of notice! It cannot therefore be-improper to recom¬ 
mend to the members of this society to be observant of what nature does* 
she, like an indulgent mother, holds out to us her favors in every varied 
shape, as if intent on gratifying every eccentric whim, as well as all the 
innate appetites of her children, however innumerably diversified they 
may. be; mixed with her coarser works frequently a jewel is to be found. 
Let us not then through mere inattention lose such invaluable prizes when 
thus gratuitously offered to us ” 
Mr. De Witt next adverts, in his address to the improvement of our 
stock, and the subject of live fences, and then to the utility of an experi¬ 
mental garden, or farm, as follows: 
“ The only way by which we can systematically and effectually do our 
business, is by establishing an experimental Agricultural Garden. 
This tons will be the same thing that a laboratory is to the chemist. He with 
his apparatus in his room has dissected earth, air and water, chased nature 
through all her intricate flights, and formerly deemed inscrutable mazes, 
penetrated to her secret hiding places, explored her dark recesses, un¬ 
locked her cabinets, rifled them of her richest jewels, and filled the trea¬ 
sury of science. What would he, or could he have done, if his depen- 
dance for information had been altogether, or chiefly, ori the labors of 
others ? It is to be presumed that a cloud of darkness would yet enshroud 
that most useful and delightful of sciences. In the same manner an agri¬ 
cultural garden, properly conducted, might be made a little representa¬ 
tive, a miniature of the world, and furnish in a short space of time, more 
facts relative to the history, nature, disposition,constitution, laws, govern¬ 
ment and general economy of the republic of vegetables, than could by 
any practicable means be obtained from all America in a large portion of 
a century. Here exotics might be collected and naturalized, our wild in¬ 
digenous plants tamed, and their useful qualities investigated, every mode 
of culture tried, and the best accurately ascertained,—experiments made 
of whatever promises fair in theory, or may lead to future discoveries, and 
proofs of all these exhibited to the eye, so that no one should have occa¬ 
sion to risk any thing by venturing on doubtful projects.” 
How much weight would be added to these considerations of utility, by 
combining with these experiments, a school of practical instruction in 
the business of husbandry, and enlarging the garden to a good sized farm ? 
The practice of our farmers differ fifty to one hundred per cent on the 
score of profits. A school of practical instruction, connected with the ex¬ 
periments and with the science, could not fail to introduce the best mo¬ 
dels, and greatly to advance agricultural improvement. 
The address closes with the following appeal in behalf of the society, 
and the great objects which it sought to promote: 
“ While millions heaped upon millions are expended to protect the in¬ 
terests of the small proportion of Americans who have chosen navigation 
as a trade, certainly a little bestowed, or even thrown away, with a good 
intent, for the promotion of agriculture, cannot be deemed a misapplica¬ 
tion of money; so far from being.considered a partial bounty, it would go 
some way to obviate the too justly grounded imputation, of an overstrain¬ 
ed bias in favor of commerce. 
“ And what other institution can there be conceived more deserving, 
the patronage of a legislature than this? Has it any thing for its object 
that does not directly aim at the happiness of mankind ? The lessening of 
labor, that first curse pronounced on man after the loss of his innocence 
is its principal view. It aspires to the procuring of every enjoyment which 
the earth presented in the golden age, as sung by poets in strains the most 
enthusiastic and sublime. * * While passions like demons tear the 
breast of the politician, gnaw like vultures on. his vitals, spread a gloom. 
