Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1846-09-24
6eralo Of the Qimes,
RHODE ER;
NEWPORT:
Thursday Morning, Sept. 81, 1916.
NEWPORT:
For the Herald Of the Times.
To the Farmers of Rhode Island.

To the Farmers Of Rhode Island.
I hear that an Agricultural Meeting and
Fair, are TO be holden at Kingston, on the 3Oth
Of this and the lst Of next month. l trust
that the attention Of the Farmers in the South
part Of the State will be awakened to the i'm
portance of the event, and that they will hearth
ly cooperate with the managers of the Society,
in promoting their laudable objects.
In point of usefulness, Agriculture stands
decidedly at the head of all other business pur-
suits-and needs only being reduced to a
science to make it the most honorable.
The great variety of soils and climates of our
globe, furnish boundless field for experiments,
and free interchange and discussion Of their
results would doubtless prove of great ad-
vantage to the practical Farmer Perhaps
there 10 no science to the aid Of which so many
elements may be brought as the apparently
simple calling of tiliDg the earth. To reach
perfection in the art it is necessary that the
Farmer should be acquainted with every
property that exists in the Animal, Vegetable,
and Mineral kingdoms. He should be capable
Of anal ysing the soils of his Different fields, in
order to apply understandingly to them their
proper manure, or appropriate them to the cul-
ture Of such products, require for their
growth, the peculiar properties contained in
the soil. He should be capable Of estimating,
in parts, the qualities of every kind of manure,
in order to apply them to the proper soils or
crops. He should know what kinds Of grains
or vegetables, are best adapted for feeding of
stock, regard being had to the desired results,
tallow, of bone, of wool, milk, or other purpo-
ses. In short so many and various are the
elements that enter into agriculture, as a
science, that although many important princi-
Piles but little understood at present, may be
successfully established-still it would in all
probability be progressive in its developments
to the end of time.
As far as my limited observations have ex-
tended, | have thought that less attention has
been paid to the nature and application Of ma
nurc by most agricultural societies than the
subject deserves, especially in New England,
where the soil requires such constant feeding.
More public discussion of the subject, think,
would be of much service.-Would it not be
well to ascertain, by experiments,the compare
tive value of the different materials most gen.
orally used by our Farmers for manure p
When this country was first settled, agricul-
ture was but little unde rstood, the soil was
new and fertile, and our ancestors paid but lit
tie attention to the cnriching their lands; each
successive generation have tenaciously adhered
to the practice of that which preceded it, aud
have been slow in admitting real improve
nents--especially such relate to manure
They too generally believe that as the products
Of the land are heavy and bulky, so must be
the manure that assists in their production
whereas, in reality, it is probable that the
heaviest crop that grows from the soil does
not in the least diminish its weight. ! have
known Farmers keep heavy and expensive
teams and cart sea weed from six or eight miles
dstance--nine parts in ten of which are simply
fresh water-who would expcnd their own and
their cattle's labor in removing from their fields
into the highway, and by.places, corn stalks,
potatoe vines, weeds, &c. one ton of which
would probably make as much manure as sew
eral tons of the sea weed carted at so great a
cost of time and labor. | have known small
onions gathered from the fields by cart loads
and deposited in the high way. Onions ex-
haust the soil to greater extent than most
other crops, and consequently if returned to it
will restore the fertilizing qualities in the same
proportion. Many kind of weeds that exhaust
the soil by their growth, are disposed of in like
manner-whereas if they were carefully dried
and housed, they would not only return to the
land great amount Of nutriment, but prove
valuable food for stock--There is perhaps
er than wild wormwood and Charlock. am
inclined to believe that the former weed is
real advantage to any farm, however rich its
sol. Charlock may be nconvenient on lux
urous soil, but perhaps beneficial to poor one.
Its seed is probably worth far more as food for
shep and horses, than the like quantity of
Oits--and when the land is poor it adds to the
value Of the crop.-I am aware that this idea
Will be secuted by most Farmers, but let expe-
riment prove it false, before they too decided
ly condemn it,
Salt, especially at distance from the sea, is
a highly valuable manure, and certain guam
tity used in Haying or Harvest time will four
fold pay it's oost.--one peck psr ton will save
hay sweet and good when but partially cured
two pecks per ton will save clover, put up
few hours after being mown. A few pals
full of brine, sprinkled on ton of oats, will
preserve them in good order when put up quite
green, and thus enable the farmer to save his
fodder from the effects of a threatening show
er or storm, or the contingencies incident to
nights exposure in the feld.-An average
of from to quarts per ton for all the fodder
on farm, will not be a greater quantity of
salt than will probably be beneficial to the
health Of the Stock.-The manure from sated
provender will not so readily dry, and when
dropped in the field is much easier beaten fine.