Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-03-06
VERMONT PHOENIX.
SATURDAY FEBRUARya9, 1910.

farmer as well as legislator. He is at home
in talking Of soils, and the different modes Of
farming, as much as when expouoding the
constitution ia the Senate Of the uniieo
States. While on his recent tour in Europe,
he paid attention not only to the political ins'i-
tusions Of the old world, but he paid particular
attention to the subject Of husbandry /; partly
no doubt, from patriotic views, and also be-
cause he has himself taste for agricultural in
formation. He occupies one Of the finest farms
in the state Of Massachusetts, at Marshfeld-
II contains nearly 1000 acres. He has brought
over variety of English Improvements, inclu-
ding seeds, the different kinds Of sheep, &c.
At the first of a series of Agricultural Meet
ings got up in Boston, by Mr. Colman, State
Commissioner for Agricultural Surveys, Mr.
Webster spoke more than an hour, and his re-
mark swere listened to, with the deepest interest.
We have not seen full report of his speech,
but we collect few ideas advanced on the oc-
casion, from the newspaper sketches OF his
speech, which we presume will be interesting
TO our agricultural friends
He remarked at the commencement that the
primary elements, in the consideration of the
agriculture of country, were four; climate,
soil, price Of land, and price Of labor.
The climate Of England is essentially differ
ent from ours. They were on the western
side of the eastern continent, and we on the
eastern side Of the western. Our winters are
much colder, and our summers much hotter
shani 10 England. The climate Of each coun-
Try is materially affected by their respective
situations 10 relation TO the ocean. Il may be
supposed that our climate must resemble that
Of China, in the came latitudes and this fact
may have an essential bsarihgen one branch
ofagricgIiyre, the production ofsilk.
The second point lies in the soil that Of
England is mainly argillaceous; soft and
unctuous loan on substratum of clay. The
southern parts are of light loan, resting on
deep beds Of chalk. The rocks are Of different
formation: ours is a granite soil. This species
Of soil prevails in Scotland, which more resem-
bles our own country. Our soils are stony,
which are not found in England.
The price Of land is three times as high 10
England, as in Massachusetts. The price Of
labor is much higher in this country than in
that.
Agriculture in England has strongly at,rac-
ted the attention of men Of science. They
have studied particularly the soil, more than 20
years ago. Davy treated the application Of
chemical knowledge 10 agriculture in the
chemical analysis Of soils aud manures The
same attention has been continued TO the sub
ject, and has produced very beneficial results
in agriculture.
Another material feature In their agricul-
ture is the rotation Of crops. II is a settled
principle that two white crops should moi
come in immediate succession. White crops,
are grain crops,-wheat, barley, rye and oats.
These are succeeded by, or alternaied with
potatoes, vetches, tares, turnips and clover
which are green crops.
The great improvements 10 English hus-
handry are all traced 10 the introduction, from
go 10 80 years ago, of the cultivation Of tar-
aips. Before that time when lands became
exhausted BY the repetition Of grain crops, they
were left fallow, that is not cultivated al all
This occurred as often as every 4th year.
Turnips are now substituted Cor these fallows
and the land in turnips is considered as iallow
The exhaustion of land takes place mainly
when the seeds Of plant are allowed TO per-
feet themselves. The turnip does not perfect
It's seeds before it is consumed. The leaves
expose wide surface 10 the atmosphere, and
consequently derive much Of their subsistence
from il, besides preventing the exhaustion from
the sun and air.
A very large amount Of land is in turnips-
frequently 500 acres in field. Since their in
PRODUCTION, bullocks and sheep have uebled in
numter-turnips furnishing an abundance o.
food. For one bushel Of oats, ten of turnip:
may be grown at the same cost. The grea
difference Of the two crops is to be found ia
the barnyard. Here is the test of their value
The turnip crop returns vast amount Of nu
triton matter to the soil. A large portion of th,
turnip crop is consumed on the land where i
grows. The sheep are fed ont doors all winter
Theturnips are not usually dry until they ar,
wanted to be fed out--uness it is wished 10 en-
rich field at some distance from where the,
are grown. The Swedish turnp does not sui
fer even by being frozen in the winter 10 th,
Lotbiaps ofScotand, where turnips are large
ly cultivated, they are usually housed.
Another important Improvement in Englisl
agriculture istheir system of irrigation,--no
flowing back Of water TO stand upon the land
but trickling Of water from canals, or carri
era, that keeps their light and sandy lant
suthcientiy moist to supper, vegetation. On