Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-01-25
AN ESSAY
Upon Agriculture In General, to
which was Awarded the Second
Premium, by the Franklia County
Agricultural Society, ct its Annu.
al Fair for the Year 1855.
ny A. n, LINE. rae.

Agriculture. taken In the common
acceptation Of the term, Is the cultiva.
ton Of the earth. In the early history
Of society. when ia wants were few,
and those wants supplied by the
chase. both a., to food and clothing,
and a. q consequence, but little was
done 10 cultivate the carth--and
when II was done. the mode Of culture.
as well as the .implements--were
Of the most simple character. But as
tho population increased. the wants Of
society appear also to have increased
and the precarious chances Of the
chase. as well as the more reliable
supplies OF pastoral lie, appear not
to have been sufficient TO meet the
wants Of man, though ono Of tho great
princes OF the east had 1000 sheep.
5000 eamels. aud 500 yoke Of oxen.
and 500 she asses, and very great
household, yet this no doubt was an
exception to wealth In olden time. and
| ID is probable that for the subsistence
Of this vast herd, that agriculture was
carried on to some extent at least,
but as population increased, the wants
Of man appear also to have Increased.
and thus acting reciprocally upon each
other. led to something like q system
attic mode Of cultivating the earth, and
It Is certainly an interesting field for
the antiquarian to travel in to
observe. as history developes ii,
the progress that the different nations
Of the earth made in the science Of ag-
riculture. and we think we are not
saying too mnch when we say that the
progress has been onward, down to
the present day; and that it will still
I've onward. until the subject Of Agri.
culture shall be raised to as high a
point as man with his limited powers
of mind can push il. And not only Is
the subject Of the simple manner in
which the ancients cultivated the
earth. n matter Of interest, and curl
osity, but the simplicity Of their i'm
plements Of husbandry is also sub.
ject TO which we may tarn, for the
purpose Of learning how far the arts
have been subservient to the progress
Of Agriculture. Compare our fine
inlshehed, steel moulboard plows OF
the present day. primitive" pillow de-
scribed by Capt. James Riley, when
east on the sterile lands Of the Great
Saherah Desert. and then we may
faintly appreciate what the arts have
done TO promote the science Of Agri.
culture. But dissertation, however,
long upon the subject Of Agriculture.
in Qldcn times, whether In abstract
speculation or In detailing facts, Is 100
cold and uninteresting TO satisfy
"Young America" bat TO treat Of the
subject Of Agriculture. M Il Is In this
country. at the present day. andImake
such practical suggestions as shall be
adapted 10 the wants and the wishes
Of the farmer Ia this latitude IL what
| fstartod out with the intention Of do.
ing. and I promise myself. and | think
l shall keep that promise. that my re-
marks shall be. not only Of aplain.
but practical character Then we
shall commence with the man, wheth-
er young or old, who Is just going to
commence n farm in the forest. Now
l know that In the various work OF the
farmer Just commencing in the forest.
that ills very difliculf to observe
strictly any particular rule. But al.
though this may be the case. YET !
feel confident that there may BE- some
general rules observed that may les.
son his labor. aud facilitate his bust
ness.
ist. Thon. for the purpose of les.
soning your labor IN the clearing ol
Of your land. make your dcadening,
girdlc or cut down everything cx'
cept what you want for timber, OF
building purposes. and II Il Is possible
do this IN the month Of May. I say,
girdlc or cut down all except you,
timber. do not leave the small bushes
IL you do they viii grow with incrcas
ed facility. by letting the sun In upor
them. and ondoavor TO anticipate with
proper judgement, the amount you
can clear each year successfully, tha
your deadening may not get moro thar
three or four years old before yot
clear them up. This viii not only
improve tho quality Of your soil, bu
obvia,o that which every farmer q
will say hates with perfect hatred.
the plowing OF new lands. and my
word against the world that there Is !
n saving OF from 90 or 100 por cent Il
1.-THE clearing. Your lands being clear
ed. your next step is tho fencing. ant
this In oil forest lands. II done by th'
common worm rail fence. (except tha
In some cases brush one IL substtu
ted, because IL II tho cheapest. an,
| the easiest made In the building O
your fence. II your rails are ten fee
long. the most usual. as we'll rs th'
most suitable length. four feet worn
IL sufficient. II eleven feet long.
should be four and y half feet worn
and u good stone or chunck place,
under each corner. will we'll pay 70
the trouble Of putting II there. An
every field or lot should have q pal
OF bars or gate--the latter is mos
convenient. though rather more costly
And now tha, your land has bee
deadcned, and cleared up. your fence
built. your bars or gate placed. this Q
course has all been donc with a vie,
to the cultivation IL the only coaditio
upon which tbs earth will pay yo
back your principle with usury. Ire
peat. that let your crop be OF wins
kind II may, that your cultivation
should be deep and thorough. Th
next subject to which ! shall direct tn
silenIion Of the farmer Is that Of th
orchard. The time was when II wa
difficult 10 get the choicest varieties ,
fruit. But a little industry and pei
severance will now overcome that d
hculty. Then, we say. select the Yer
best vnrieties--set your trees Nv
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