Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-07-24
From the Cutivator.
MIR. WEBSTER AND ENGLISH AG-

lean on the state of foreign agriculture, or
scarcely SO much as allusion TO the topic by
any one. This may in part have arisen frcrn
the fact that few tourists are acquainted with
agriculture at home, and theftfsi incqhifet
tent to describe its situation or proco Sscs
abroad; or that in rapid transit over re-
gion there is little opportunity for accurate
observation; still to whatever cause it is ow-
ing, it cannot be otherwise than subject of
regret that the cultivation of the soil has at
tractcd so little notice by those who have wit
messed the state of farming and its improve
mcn,s in other countries. We should know
what others are doing, that we may deter
mine whether our course is the most benefi-
cial; if we buy our bread of our neighbor
wlio has no larger or better farm than we
have, it becomes an important inquiry to us,
how he. manages to sell while we are COM
pelled TO buy.
OTherc are, however some honorable ex-
ccptons to this apathy on the part of the
American travellers in Europe; men of the
first standing, who have not thought it be-
meath them to attend to the farming opera
tons of those countries, the methods of agr-
culture pursued, the influence which eli
mate has on productions of the earth, and
the causes of that general superiority which
their husbandry exhibits over ours. One of
the latest of this class of observers, is Mr.
Webster, who approaching the importance
of the agricultural interest to the country land
the necessity of advancing it by every prac-
ticablc method, gave to the subject much of
his attention during his late residence abroad.
The results of his observations, which he pre-
scented before one of the agricultural meetings
of the Massachusetts legislature last winter,
and which has been revised by himself be-
fore publishing, now lies before us, and is
an interesting and instructive paper, fully
proving the discrimination and extent of his
observation, and the benefit which would en-
sue, if those who travel would avail them
selves of their opportunities as successfully
as he appears to have done. As we cannot
find space for Mr.. Webster's remarks in CT
tense, we must be content with giving brief
abstract of the most important points alluded
to by him.
"The primary clements which enter into
the consideration of the agriculture of a coun-
try, as four; climate, soil, price of land, and
labor"
In all these points England differs from
this country. The climate of each country
is materially affected by its respective
situation in relation to the ocean. As
the prevailing winds in both countries are
from the west, the cqualizing and modcratine
influence of the ocean is continually expert
enccd on the temperature there; and the
consequence is, that our winters are colder
and our summers hotter than in England
| This alone creates "A material difference
between their agriculture and ours.
"Thc soil of England is mainly argillacc-
Gus; and soft and unctuous loan on sub
stratum of clay"
This was the predominant characteristic
in the parts he visited. The soil in thi.
country is generally harder, containing more
stones, and in that respect more difficult tc
work, than in England.
The price of land in that country is anotll-
er important element in agricultural calcula-
tons; it may be stated three times as higl
there as in Massachusetts,.
The price of labor differs, in different o.
parts of England; but on an average it may
he set down at one half the price it com.
mands here.
| English cultivation is more scientific, moro
systematic, and more exact, agreat deal thar
ours. 4 great population is to be supported
on small surface lands are dear, rents arr
high, and labor cheap; careful and skiltu
cultivation is the natural result of this state
of things.
1t is on the fundamental idea of constan
production without exhaustion, that the sys.
tenn Of English cultivation, and indeed of al
good cultivation is founded. England is no
original in this. Flanders, and perhaps TIA
ly, have been her teachers. This system i,
reduced to practice in rotation of crops
White crops are not allowed to follow on,
another. White crops are wheat, barley
rye, oats, DC. and in this country corn is tC
be included, though not as exhausting as some
of the others. The green crops are turncp,
potatoes, bcets, vetches, tares, &c, but til,
turneP is the great green crop Of England
and its cultivation has wrought such changes
that in fifty years, it may be said to have rev.
olutonIzed English agriculture. Plants de.
rive large part of their nutriment from
the air. The leaves of plants are thci
lungs; and the larger the surface of leave,
exposed, the greater the supply of food from
this source, and less exhausting the crop.
large proportion of the turncps arc fed of
where they grow, and thus the earth receive,
the direct benefit of the manures, both solo
and liquid. A large amount ofland is cult.
waited in turncps, and fields of three, four
and even five hundred acres, are met with
The rotation of the white and crops judici.
ously arranged, keeps the fields continually
productive, and constantly improving.
Draining is anothcrpart oftarming in which
the English have made great progress. Gov
cred and tire draining preferred, and if cx-
pensiye at first, the increase Of the crops,
and the permanent ameliol alton of the soil,