The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-02-12

Delivered before the Agricultural Society OF
HIllsda'e County, 5y r. F. TOMBSTONE, on
tie l1M Of Octo5er 1855.
Mr.. PRESIDENT and Members Of the Agricultural So
ciety of IIillsdale County:
meet you here to-day under the disad-
vantage of having recently suffered from Sc
we're illness, from which | am not yet entirely
recovered; and ] can assure you that nothing
less than the strong desire | had to make
your personal acquaintance together with the
promise | had given your representative,
Judge Emery, that would most certainly
visit YOU on this the occasion of your annual
fair, could have induced me to leave home at
this time.
Last summer made sort of flying visit
along the great inland thoroughfarc which
runs through your beautiful county, and the
momentary gIimpscs which such ride only
affords of the farms, openings, small prairies
and groves of timber, gave me ve'y favor
able impression of the agricultural advantages
of Hillsdale and Of a large portion of South
ern Michigan
Hillsdale COUNTY, according to the latc
state cciis,is, in point Of population, area of
improved land productions and manufactures
stands about in tho rank of the seventh or
eighth county in the state. From the great
preponderence of such articles as wool, wheat
corn, pork, butter and cheese, and the small
amount of capital invested in manufacturing,
it is very evident that nearly the whole wealth
of this county is centcred in the hands of
those engaged in farming. 1t also appears
that the kind of husbandry which mostly pre-
walls is that usually known under the style of
''mired farming"
There are, as l suppose you all know, sew
cral kinds of farming, such as stock and gra-
zicr farming, where the whole economy of
the farm consists in raising on extensive pas
lures, large herds of cattle or of sheep, and
where the profits arise from yearly sales Of
cattle, sheep or wool. This is the most sim
pie of all kinds Of farming, as well as the
most primitivc; being that which prevailed
when the hoar Chaldee watched his focks
and the rolling stars, together by night on
thshill sides of Mesopotam's and sold his
feeccs and his herds in the marts Of Mime
veh and Babylon. 4e bra .ssaa.l
The next kind is where the object is to
render the dairy and its manufactures the
great source of profit. This needs more cap
ital, more skill, moro labor, and a higher de-
gree of managing capacity than the former.
Again, a third kind Of farming Is that which
dispcnses with Ill animals except such arc abb
solutely required to perform the necessary la
Dor, and for household use; the marketing
produce in this instance consisting of hay,
grain, straw. and such vegetables as may be
raised for sale. Each of these systems has
its advocates; each is sui able to certain To-
calities, and viii prevail according to the ma
ture of the soil, the climate, and the general
character of the country and its inhabitants.
But the highest and most prevalent kind Of
farming among civilized nations is that which
combines in greater or lesser proportion,
parts of all these several kinds, according to
tho judgement of the farmer himself and
which is called "mixed husbandry' lie who
would carry on this kind of frrnIing success-
fully, must be good workman with the
plongh, be acquainted with the art of raising
ali varieties Of grain, grasses and roots, with
the management of land, with the rotation
Of crops most suitable for il, and the ART Of
amcliorating il by the application Of manures.
lie must also know how to manage sheep,
and be able 10 jndge whether il is most for