Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-03-25
agricultural.
From The New World
AGRICULTURAL TOUR
IN THE U. STATES AND U. CANADA
BIZ CAPTAIN BARCLAY.

From habltua pursuits, the writer, ia his
visit 10 the other side OF the Atlantic, would
mos probably have found his attention pecu-
iiarly attracted by agricultural matters. But
one OF the principal objects of his visit having
been 10 assist a near relative 10 determine
whether an intended purchase OF land, for ner-
tmanent residence, should hp made in the Uni.
tel States or in Upper Canada, he was still
The more particularly induced TO inquire into
the situation of rural affairs in these countries.
He accordingly investigated them with con-
siderable care, and noted those more prominent
and important points which appeared sufficient
10 convey general view of Transatlantic Ag-
riculture.
Ia the following RACES will be found rccdr-
ded. the facts he asceuained aud the obServa-
tions they elected; and he Will feel amply
Igratifed if the result ofhis Iabors. in this res.
pect. prove inter, sing to aeritutuIlSts at
home, or, II these. pages reach the hands of any
OF his Transatlantic friends, be deemed worthy
Of their consideration.
An acquaintance with the soils and seasons
of a country, with lis laws and customs, and
the habits and even the prejodIces Of lis peo-
pie, more intimate and extensive than can be
acquired by stranger in a passing visit, may
be thought necessary TO authorize and give ef,-
J tCt W tuG pIopOSdl 81 material ClldUHbS III lIG
practice of its agriculture.
| But such an observation admits of great
qualifications; For in the practical agrlcul-
iure of a country, there may be defects which
are oh 7ious at first sigh, to the agriculur~ts
OF any country, even where local circumstan-
ces are of the utmost dissimilarity. Bot VIXEN
there is proposed, a comparison Of the rnral
ECONOMY of the two countries. in which the
/ cnltiyatoJ q,
stock reared, vi here the soils bear a near re.
semhance, and the dissimilitude of climates is
not SO great as TO preclude a notion Of their
distinct effects, il does mol seem that the prac-
tice OF the one may not properly enough be es-
"psted by the practice ofihc other.
Such. IN degree, are the ,i.~"."s,..ees
| which attend comparison of the agriculture
of the United States, with the agriculture of
| Britain. and therefore The writer did not appre
bend tina, he was guilty Of any anomaly, in
an endeavor to measure the former by The stan
dards Of the later.
II he had entertained any donbrs on this
point, il would have been removed BY his hav-
Line, since his observations were committed 10
writing, had an opportunity ofperusing an ably
conducted American periodica', The NeW Cen
esscc Faymer, in which he finds the mos incl
| ligent aoriculurists il the States, hold up
British farming as guide to their country.
men.
! or this a sufficient example is Furnished by
The following passage in powerful address BY
Mr.. Dddle, chairman Of an agricultural meet.
ling al Philadelphia. After epumeraiing The
many ad, antagcs possessed by the farmers Of
Pennsylvania, he expresses himself in these
words:
Having thus spoken Of the advantages
an, DronooJ to- lo Loo 10
but more profitable inquiry, why our farms are
rot SO productive as they ought TO he-and |
make the comparison between Pennsylvania
and England. because ] think England. on the
whole. the hest farming country in Europe; and
our English friends mus, understand, that
while we amuse ourselves occasionally with
some of their peculiaries.* we pay them HE
highest compliment re can. by proposing them
AS THE CONSTANT MODELS OF oUR FARMING >
This sufficiently corroboraies the propriety Of
the criterion BY which the writer formed his
opinions OF practical agriculture in the United
States.
But, as 10 certain extent confirming these
opinions, it may he useful to notice that, in
his address, Mr.. Bidlle gees on to inqnire.--
tcbyis II that uih all The natural n9rGafagcs
The farmers Of Pennsyirania possess. THE ENC
LIsH FARMER BEATS THEal and he aScrihrs
this mainly. frs;, 10 want Of taste for agrcal-
ture a. q profession, and secondly to the Penn
sylvania farmer, not employing suiiicleucy Of
capital in his business.
Now these. il will be found are included BY
the writer among the causes to which he i'm
puies the imperfect condition of agriculture IN
the United Safes, iDasmuch as he has inrul-
Gated the proprieiy of granting there what IN
this country are termed importing lcnses. in
order that thereby the expenditure Of capital
may be encouraged and rendered safe. and. i
race Of farmers by education and profession,
may be established.
Ii NAV also be observed that among the va
rious striking advantages possessed by the
American farmer. in spite Of which the skill
of the British agriculturst tIiumphs. Mr.. Bid
die instances the following: That land which
lin England could not be rented under ten OF
Twelve dollars an acre. may he rented in The
States al Two or three dollars; and that 4 on
en- English farm of 200 acres. the. rent and
charges would amount 20 5000 dollars, the
same tent and charges would in the States. he
only 700 dollars, making in favor of the A.
merican farm, difference Of 23OO dollars per
annum.
IN his estimate. insofar as relates 10 an Eng
lish farm. Mr. Bidde is no doubt below the
marx, but his local knowledge il Sufficient Ia
warrant the accuracy Of his statement in the
other case; and thus it will appear. the wfiter
IS supported TO the fnll in the opinion he has
prornul gated. az 10 The increase in productive.
ness which would be effected by the introduce
ton into the States, Of the British modes o.
sNr. Biddle here n some measure, e7uiohueat