New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-06
IMPROVED FARMING.
SYNOPSIS OF H0RACE GREELEY's ADDRESS
Mshe Franklin County. Penn. Agricultural Fair,
October L. 1851

substance, a. follows:
always feel embarrassed in rising to speak on
occasions like this by the thought that many of
my hearers are doubtless better qualified to dis
eus the topic Of the occasion than / am. l
would very gladly ait still and listen while some
experienced and observing farmer should explain
TO us how land may be renovated and harvests in
creased. Indeed, have hoped that the day
must soon come when the best farmer In the county
be who had been awarded the frs, prize for the best
cultivated and most productive farm-should there
upon be called up 10 tell tho gathered thousands by
What skill, science, or sheer hard work. his hon
orsble had been achieved. II he were one
30 whom speaking is difficult, would be willing to
have the truth elected by questions from the Pres-
dent Of the Society or by others 90 that whatever
excellent In his methods, or thorough in his ex-
ecuiion, might be understood and ad ,pted by all.
For IL 10 TO little purpose that we come here to gaze
on fine Cattle and Horses, or noble Fruits and man.
moth sqpa'hes, we are not thereby inspired with
the determination to equal surpass these produc-
tons and be supplied with the knowledge needful TO
their growth. | say, then, would like to BEE the
mob Of Honorables, Generals and Politicians, who
ere too commonly required TO aid in drawing crowd
by delivering Addresses such occasions, stand
back sDd listen while some practical farmer told us
bow these things are done. But | am here at your
summons; i shall speak 20 the best Of my ability;
and IL fail 70 interest or instruct YOU remember
that did not seek this position, but yielded 10 the
request Of your Society or its Managers And at all
events, be that shall stick my text and dis
cuss OF ly Agriculture. Politics National Economy,
Temperance, and many other topics are most i'm
portabt, sno ought 10 be freely discussed bat not
from The platform Of an Agricultural Fair.
GIORGf III, OF England had eonceit that he was a
cspi'al violin-playtr-a notion which his couriers
very unlikely 10 resist and dissipse But their
preste, though sweet failed to satisfy aud when the
great niui iciaD, HANDEL was in England, His Majesty
would insist on play ing before him. and taking his
opinion Of the morit Of his performance. HAsDEL
anxious not to offend, but he would be false to
bic integrity and bis art. There three sorts of
"yiolbists, be replied 10 the Kings inquiry thOse
"woo play well, those Sbo play badly, aud those who
"csnt play at all. Your Majesty has ad ganced from
the third 10 the second clsss"
A. the King among folders so am among farmers
once belonged TO the third class; have raised my
i farm badly; but | see 80 many trying TO live by
Agriculture who don farm a. all, that ! am encour
aged to say what think and know.on the subject.
Ard here let me, before giving yOu the fruits of my
own brief experience as farmer, suggest few crit
icms on your action a Society, and especially on
your Pr MUM List / would prefer fewer premiums
and tbose few more likely to provoke emulation.
do not here fpo single Premium inviting your sons
the farmers Of ten and twenty years hence-to com.
petition. would suggest Premium of el0 to the
Franklin County youth Of eighteen or under who
pillow it with his own hands, and 10 do all the work
hence forward 10 harvest except he might need
friendly hand to drive bis team-and to take no man
counsel respecting it after he has begun the work
gsiheTIg much wisdom previously as he could.
could wish that two or three Premiums were offered
in this spir. for the benefit Of boys alone. think
the Agriculture Of your county twenty years hence
would show the benefit Of these Premiums. and that
more Of YOUR elderly citizens would have their do
hill Of life smootbtDed by the settlement of their
CHILDREN about them instead of having those children
scattered from New. ork TO the Sacramento.
Ard think you should offer Premiums for the con-
petition Of Girls aso These feats Of female horse
man. hip by which you have just been delighted, are
wen enough in their place. but do you think the best
thing lady can do in the way Of Agriculture is 10
ride GROUND a ring on horseback | believe Women
can Increase the Effectiveness of your Fairs in other
yays than this ALLOW me TO suggest one. Surprise you
were TO offer Premium for the best tub OF Butter,
another for the beet Cheese &c. for the competition
exclusively of girls under eighteen years OF age-land
believe The unmarried ones are all under eighteen
do you not think that more OF these necessary arti-
eles Al OF better quality, would be produced IN your
county hereafter Remember that scarce as are
good farm, r. good farmers wives are scarcer, aud
irusf you may remember these suggestions and I'M
prove upon them ne much a. possible
Ard now 20 my general subject:
belong 10 the class of New Farmers, as contra
distinguished from the Old SCHOOL, Dung Amerlcs
against the Old FOeies. am relatively green at toe
business and new converts proverbally overflow
with epthu,iasm. Admit that we OF the new school
are not so good farmers Gay as are our od'scnool
p.ighbors we have still grest advantage IN this,
that we know own Deficiencies ana are iuly re-
soiyed 10 oimipish them. Admit that we are poor
farmers il is still something in urfavor that we ireey
confess il and are Try ing 10 be better AT the worst
we do OF belong to that class who know nothing ana
glory in IL. ,.,,...,,o
Let me here say word TO that highly respectable
class Who think 1t safest and wisest to follow 10 the
maths h. aten plain for as by ancestors. Deslra'
bic or not this is not done, because IL cannot oe'
AsL The man who praises the good old ways TO use
biz grsndfa hers pOw and be VIII revolt AZ oGcG !;
1hof article won't answer for blowing at ALL though II
did very well in iis day The first man VINO
crotched stick so that il might be used IN tearing up
the earth shortening and sharpening one prong ior
what we now call coulter and leaving the other long
that be night fasteu his cow bullock TO it as BEAM
this man was bold and sansuine innovator 10 his
day-more daring than any MAPS or MECH OF our
tine Doubtless, Old Fogies shook their heads at
him. and eravely pesdcted that he would come to no
GOOD end wondering why he could not dig up his
ground BY hand with sharpened stick IN the good
old way. Yet the sons OF these very conservatives
gradually adopted his Invention, though struggling
Snsrnlv against just such inventors who succeeded
him ~, Old Fogy keeps about q generation be-
hind the p.coressiye-,hat l. ALI lie coule nov %
induced to use po like bic grandfather out he is
,p,e that This sub soing is all humbug. His son or
eTsn6 SON will sub-so but will be jsst as stubborn
n his resisterce TO the fresher improvements oil ms
own dsy We mutt have patience with the fogy,
and remember Il at the faster 80 ahead the faster
he will be constrained to follow.
The PIow, say, is the perpetual argument and as.
surapce Of the farmer IL has been greaty
inuroyed in our oay and is s undergo ne rapii l1,
movement We no longer expect one pho" 20 os al
kinds of work-to bresk up swamp ana Weeu inu'a ~
Corn. We have different pillow for each KIM oil
work have myself balf-a dozen on my little place
ard have itil fewer than need we shaIl yer Lay
msch,pes 6riven by steam or klnored power, gu. .
breaking 10 the earth 10 depth OF three or iur Iee'
a, ,bs ,ste 81 an acre per hour Grain and ~ are
4 a. h Mn