The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-10-12


| twenty dollars, 10 the increase Of agricultural
products which It has caused; and so salts
| fed ar the inhabitants Of the benefits of the
expenditure, that an increased spirit is annu
ally manifested, by all classes, TO maintain
and perpetuate these nurseries Of Industry Il
improvement.
The Highland Society OF Scotland affords
another illustrous example of the utility oil
agricultural association, when conducted with
a view to public improvement. This socie-
ty was organized 10 1884. but so few were
its members and so limited its means, that il
attracted but little public notice, nor effected
any great Improvement in husbandry TILL the
commencement of the nineteenth century.
Yet it has sown the good seed which never
fails, under proper management, TO yield TO
the busbandman a bcuntiful harvest. Nor
did it fail in this case.-The society now num-
bers twenty-five hundred members, embra-
cling most ofthe opulent and influential men
in the country, Of all professions, and dIstrio-
utes annually in prizes, about seventeen tnou
sand dolars.-In no county or district has ag-
ricuIture made more rapid strides IN improve
ment, than il has in Scotland, since the or
ganization of this society; and although 1t
NAV not have been the only. it most assured
" has been principal cause oil this wonder
full and ealutary change. Up to 1872, the ag-
ricuIture of Scotland, to adopt the language
of the Edinburgh Quarterly Journal OF ASri-
culture, was wretched-execrably bad IN all
its localities Hardly any wheat was at
tempted to be grown; oats full oil thistles was
the standard crop, and this was repeated on
the greater part of the arabic land, while II
would produce twice the seed thrown into 1t;
turnips, as part of The rotation of crops. was
unknown, few potatoes were raised, and no
grass seed or clover were sown. A great part
ofthe summer was employed. in pulling this
ties out Of the oats. and bringing them home
for the horses, or moving the rushes, or 9th
er aquatic plants, that grow on the boys a
round the homestead But a change soon
came over the land.-The seed which had
been sown by the Highland Society has ger
minated. and its luxuriant foliage already
covered the soil. In 1915, according TO the
authority am quoting-'beautiful fields OF
wheat were 10 be seen.-driled green crops
every where abundant, the bogs had disap
peared,-the ihstles no longer existed, '-na-
ked fallows were abolished, draining was en-
tensively introduced; wet lands were made
dry; poor weeping clays were converted in
to iurnip soil: and 'whoIe parishes were COM
pletely transformed from unsightly marshes
into beautiful and rich wheat fields; and
where the plough could scarcely be driven
for slush and water, were heavy crops per d.
ere and heavy weight per bushel.' The i'm
provements in Scotch husbandry have con-
tinued to advance, until according TO The es-
innate of SIR John Sinclair, aud Professor
Lowe, both high auihority.-until The accre-
able products of her soil more than double
those of our Atlantic States.
As evidence of the utility Of horticultural
societies in multiply ing and improFeing the
products oil our gardens, ard IN promoting
rural embellishments, | would refer 10 the
neiqhborhoods Of Boston and Philadelphia
where societies OF this kind have long exis-
ted. and 10 the Horticultural Society Of Lon
don. In the first named cities, and theiT
environs, the progress Of horticultural I'M
pro sement has been maniiestly great Many
new and choice fruits. culinary. vegetables
and ornamental plants have been inirodu
ced, culture has been much improved, the
markets better supplied, and prices cheap
eneG. The London Society, although lis
garden has been established but about TWEEN
" years, has contracted in it from boil
| continents, and from the Islands OF the sea
G bracing ever cline, more than five thous
and varieties OF elibe fruits, including
| fnurieen hundred varieties Of The apple, anc
sexen hundred of the pear. and an innumer
| able number of ornamental plants, many o
them before unknown IN our catalogues. III
collection of pears, which embrace hun
dreds of recent origin frem Flanders anC
| from France, have been already broadly
spread over these States, and supply, ou
dessert with & succession OF this deliciou
ruit.