The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-04-18
The Farmer.

& ,'. Of Henry Colmun, delivered before The Annual
ri, and Cattle Show Mt Rochester N. Y, in October
d I., It isa sound, practical dicourse on "the i'm.
,,ovementof agriculture as art or profession Mr.
r,m,u holds to tho doctrine, that s'the perfection
agriculture is when the earth is made to produce
h, it is capable Of pruducingat the least expense,
\ and without irreparably exhaustng its powers and
4. shows from abundance Of facts, that our farms,
N ,puerally are capable of being made vast deal
mare productive than they now are, without exhaust
4 mo the SOIL The following extract is worth noticing:
9" have been exceedingly surprised when inform
\ d hy farmers in Western New York, whose good
pdemont and intelligence cannot be disrusted, that
\ gHe average yield Of Indian corn does not exceed
\ twenty five bushels to the acre. Now fifty bushels
n are not an extraordinary crop. have known seven
f,e bushels per to be the ordinary yield Of one
Y smer whose cultivation was extensive. / have
n had authentic information ofthe crops Of Indian
ofOnc farmer, having for years exceeded one hun
N red bushels per acre, shelled and measured accu-
ny in the half bushel in the spring have known,
upon the most undoubted testimony, one hundred
a md twenty eight, and one hundred and thirty-two
,hes per acre produced in localities which seemed
n ros inauspicious.
In respect grass, the crop ofhay does not prob
ally average than one and half ton per acre.
Now | have known many crops Of three tons per acre
u on extensive fields: and in one case knew more
than twenty nine tons to be taken in the same
Z year in cuttings upon six Of land. In re-
ect potatoes, the yield is probably not more than
wOhundrcd bushels per acre. have produced crops
more than four hundred and eighty bushels, and
( have known repeatedly seven hundred bushels per
acre and in one instance, at the rate of more than
4 twelve hundred bushels per acre.
might instance other crops; but it is sufficient to
have referred these to show that husbandry in
general respect TO its productveness, is far infe-
ior 10 what it may be. In many soil is not
Inferior to any which the shines upon. There is
nOw climate no intolerance to the highest measure
n 5Yuduction The large crops to which refer, are
5 hnsult of skilful and superior cultivation. They
+ dnO come by chance. They show what skill and
lO can effect 1t will be said that they involve an
I aPensive cultivation, but in every within my
i knowledge, they have rendered ample return for
Ill the labor and expense incurred. An observing far
ner will perceive that in most few extra bush
esin the yield, constitute all the profit ola crop.
Thirty bushels to the acre may barely pay the
pcnses Of cutvation but fifty bushels, without any
Increase of land, labor in planting, culvating,
harvesting, may leave clear profit of twenty bush
els per acre. it will be said that such cultivation
hausts the soil. 1t does not exhaust the soil any
than poor cultivation exhnusts the soil; and it is
followed with this remarkable difference that it af
otds the of enriching the soil and restoring its
exhausted energies which poor cultivation does not
III
good cultivation. Whose farms in the best con-
ttOn; the farms of those who grow the poorest, or
hose who raise the largest crops? Farms may lie ex-
aued by growing the crop too often in imme-
date succession on the land; by carrying off the
Foducts from, instead of consuming them, on the
m, and thus returning thing to replenish the soil
the form Of manure; but under wise and skfu
md liberal husbandry, it would be difficult to find
1aa;S;; exhausted of its fertility BY production.
Tnproportien as we cultivate and nrich our lands
fam their own resources. under jrdcious arrange
nst and management, they constantly become more
Nauore fertile.-By the benefcent constitution Of
Divine Providence, the earth, wheit contributes to
n hsmpport Of man and beast, is designed to become
more productive. or to keep up its richness from its
vi
md beautifully emblematical of the Divine bene-
'ence- the more it expends the more its abundance
acrease. 1t is also like the human mind-the more
cNe it is rend cred, the its powers are invig-
Naed-the more it does, the more it can do-and the
its treasures are poured ont the more its full
'als enlarged. The great object of the art of agri-
'a'ure is therefore yet to be achieved
AHoRsEs Foor. The foot Of horse is one of
ae most ingenious and unexampled pieces Of me-
nanlsm in the animal structure, and scarcely yield
4 ~g 10 any in regularity and in completely OF parts
Na simplicity Of design. The hoof contains
%rcs of vertical and thin amine Of horn SO numer-
'a as to amount to about 500, and forming COM
rf'e lining to it. In this fitted us many lamln@
'OOgng to the coffin bone; while both sets are e'as
and adherent. The edge Of quire ofpaper' IN
'Nd leafby leaf into another, will convey sufh-
Ss@ idea Of the arrangement Thus the weight OF
W. animal is supported by as many elastic springs as
.l.nnH