The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-09-24


ncuIturaI Exhibitions u Cattle Fairs let them con-
slider their practical results forth in the fol-
lowing article:
THE AGRICULTURAL STATE OF SCOT.
LAND.
We find a valuable essay in the Edinburg Guar.
terly journal OF Agriculture, showing what Scot
iand 1c"S, and what she IS, in regard her agri-
cultuie. She was, in 1854, two years after the
close of our revolution, as poor as church mouse
She IS maze, perhaps, the richest, in agricultural
products, Of any portion of Great Britain, at least
so far as regards her arabic lands. The writer do.
scrbes the face OF the country, at the middle OF the
last century, emo better than that of bleak howl.
ing wilderness"
Hardly any wheat was attempted to be grown
oats tuil of th!stles the standard crop. and
this was repeated the greater part of the arai,
land, while it would produce twice the seed thrown
into lt;-turnips, us part Of the rotation of crops
were unknown few potatoes were raised, and no
grass seeds or clover We're sown. The whole iva.
nure OF tie farm being put a little bit Of ground
near he iarmstead, aud there they grew some bar
ley of Tie coarse sort, termed here. wherewithto
make baunocks, broth and small beer, or peradvcn.
iure, ii the farm lay at the foot of the Gampans
brew portion of mountain dew = Since the
writer can rGcollect, great part of the summer
was employed in the now fertile shire of Fife in
pulling thistes ont of the oats, and bringing them
home for the horses, or moving the ruslcs ard
other aquatic plants tliat grew on the hogs around
the homestead Such was the state of Scotland
lT02."
In speaking Of the Highland Society. the writer
enumoracs The following means which that socie.
cie'y adopted as contributing largely to tie mighty
effort 10 advance the agriculture of Scotland
In the days of its youth and icebleneSs, the
Highland Society sent the leaven of the turnip
husbandIy into all the gens and straths of the
north, by offers of small prizes to certain Nigh
land parishes and the same may be said as to the
growth of clover and the finer grasses. As it ad-
vanccd in strength, Gas to numbers and as TO casll
tn far han
came offers OF reward to men of sciences IT, dis
cover better implements and machines, to diminish
friction and consequently draught, such as in the
thrashng mill and other parts Of agricultural ma
chinery. still advancing in the scale of intellect
and of science, premiums offered fer essays
to bring to light the facts connected with chemistry
and natural philosophy and, under the auspices
of the Society, was set up tho Quarterly journal
Of Agriculture, work winch has been the vehicle
Of conveying much useful information to the az.
cuIturiS, that, we humbly venture 10 say, it
ought 10 appear on the table aud bookshelf of
ry farmers paror. Afer tins, the great stock
shows We're resolved upon, another link ofunion
between the Society and the practical farmer, at
the same time throwing aside all paltry feeling,
ard making them open to stock from both sides of
tho Tweed, Il. c from England as well as Scot
land.I How we'll they have succeeded, let the last
one at Glasgow bear witness. This the
splendid show of fine cattle ever exhibited, Nor
has the society forgotten the beauty Of the county
as the premiums offered in regard to planting trees
and such-ke subjects fully testify ; and to sum up
ALL it may be said, The Highland Society has been
a 'Potmt a 'pP@I, a rallying point, to which the
aSricuiturists OF Scotland might look, and foster
ing mother to all who, although strong in talent,
were weak in interest to make it public. An
dent lover of the plough and all that speed it,
tho writer of this article would advise the Society
OF England land all other agricultural societies who
oud be useful to their countrv1 to look INTO the
annals of the Highland Society, and from them
cu whatever may be of use in The advancement
or the delightful SCIENCE the culture Of the fields
Whom natures works eau charm, with God him.
self
Holds converse ); grow familiar day by day
With his conceptions act upon his plans,
And form 10 his the relish of their souls "
The Highland Society have tins year offered
prizes 10 the amount of $7 900, under the follow
ing cassihcations -
Glass l.-Agicutural machinery 800 sovereigns
and u gold and silver medal.
Glass lI.-Essays and reports various sub
jecs, embracing thirty-one subjects of high inter
est to the farmer viz
[. Geological surveys.
2 Reports coal districts.
3. Mines and minerals.
d. Products of peat moss, NC.
5, Comparison between different kinds of ma
nure in raising potatoes.
6. Extended application of water and other
power TO farm purposes.
z. Comparative efficacy of the two modes Of
thorough draining.
8. Reports on irrigation.
9. Forest planting.
~ sheep pastures Mt high elevations.
IL Improved sheep salve.
IL On crossing the Cheviot with the New
Leicester Ram. ae
ID. Cultivation of the recently introduced &C.
real and other grains. ... s. ..-.
ID. Feeding farm horses on raw and prepared
food -.. -. ."e 1852 .f' .a s.t :
l5. Early rearing and fattening of lambs.
10 Insects injurious to agricultural plants
IL. Insects injurious to forests trees.
IL. Comparative nutritive properties of grasses
-. Extlrpating ferns from pastures
20. Thorough draining.
81. Subsoil ploughing of thorough-draned
land
80. Mole plough
23. Experiments with manures
"a. Analysis of bone rape dust
55. On the effects of altitude vegetation
20. Feeding of cattle.
81. Forests OF larch.