The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-04-12
The II a Il. INN e n,
From the New Genesee Farmer.
ENGLISH AND AMERICAN AGRICULTURE
COMPARED

O~~~~
Y COMPARED.
n. Edition. To improve the condition of the
Elevators of the soil, and increase the productive
1.-The eerth-are objects we'll worthy the at
II .,ao of the phianthropist and statesman, and it
.H,hIy gratifying to see the increasing interest
,ho sblest and best part OF the community are ta
tioo in these pursuits We in this country can 81
.,sderiying much benefit from the many and valu-
AHA improvements and useful experiments made
IN England Yet in introducing them here 1t is
,v essential that we should at first test them on
small scale and prove them thoroughly before we
.dontthem as our own for there is much differ
eoce in the situation of the agrcuturists in The
two countries that what answers for the one well,
will not do foi the other.
The length of the season for agricultural labor,
,be shortness and mdness of the winter, the low
urice of labor, the great value Of land and the high
price oflts products, place the English farmer in
very different circumstances from US here. Our in
ouiry must be, how can we cultivate SO as to give
US The greatest return for our labor.
There il is, how can they increase the products
Oft soil, regardless OF the expense. / am fully
aware that The farmers in this section run over
much ground for the labor they have to bestow up
on it. Yet am equally confident five were to ap
ply The labor and expense by that is generally
done in England in cultivating, we should not be
compensated ,the crops would not pay the expense.
Here roots can be Gu ltivated on small scale to
advantage, but never extensively in England.
Our requen; drouths in summer, which cause so
many failures Of the crops, the severity of our win
nn which makes i: necessary to secure them all
from the frosts, and the shortness of our au.umns
all Gu operate against the extensive cultivation of
root crops. How could the farmers in Western
New York manage to raise so or 60 acres Of roots
sNNNaNy: Yet more than that ratio is profi,ably &
~ easily cultivated in England The horses which
81 considered to their purpose best,are not
suitable for US. they generally keep two distinct
breeds, the for draft and the other for speed
Here it very essential that should unite both
properties in the same animal
Our sheep husbandry too differs very essentially
There The value of mutton and The low price of
wool make the the principal object, and the
fleece but minor consideration. Here the fleece
slhe principal value, and the carcass Of little
sequence. There the primary object is TO increase
The size of the animal, and aptness to fatten, here
the value of the fleece. Yet think it would be
we'll for US to unite both properties in our sheep,
viz fleece and mutton.
10 The breeding and feeding of neat cattle, the diff
ference between the two countries is yet greater.
The certainty and case with which they soon raise
abundance of seed and food, the cheapness of la
Dor, the great price Of animals and high price Of
beef, make the heavy and fine breed of Durhams
very profitable to the BREEDER for it matters not
what quantity of succulent food they consume, nor
what amount of care they require-if they do but
Increase their weight the producer is remunerated.
but it is verv different with the husbandman here.
The expense and difficulty in raising roots com
pei us to them sparingly; and the high price Of
labor will not allow US to bestow on them that
care which these heavy and delicate animals re-
aure and if we should sell these animals for beef
81 'A' market value they generally SO low that
sOey would, not pay the expense.
fAe tough and hardy animal that can feed in a
p'y and often scanty pasture, and i've coarse for
"se, is Inc most profitable one for us. Our neat
'psh nave 10 consume our coarse forage and give
10 s'methng for that which we cannot otherwise
lake 10 MARKET
-. .,""0ush we require hardy animals that can live
"'''out much expense, yet l am confident that
@a"y' yes very many of us do not pay that atten-
"0n 10 them which ought, even for profit, to
IVY no'hlng OF the cruelty Of causing them to suffer
''sfe'y from hunger and cold. The better we can
"'D win The food we have TO give, and the more
'I''i'aole that we can keep our stock, the more
profitable they will be to us.
Yours respectfully,
w,. w. GARBU1T.
wheatland, Mon. Co., 1s42.