Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-01-30
The Agricultural socfcty-its
faults-Its objects.

The Agricultural socicty-its
faulss-Its objects.
If we tramp on any body's toes, in
these articles, it must not be charged to
our fault--it is because their toes are
where we want to tramp. not because we
want to tramp where their toes are.
It Is useless to try to be very nice
about it We want to say that the Frank
lin County Agricultural Society is hum
bug, and We know Of no way of saying it,
but to say it right out, so as to be under
stood. It is a humbug, because it is cost
ing great deal of money and doing but
little good, if any. We like the fairs,
well enough, as far as they 60. They are
excellent shows-cheaper, on an average,
than the menagerie or circus, and not half
- mischievous. We like them so well
that VIC would DO sorry to see them dis
continued. 1t is most agreeable to meet
old and young, rich and poor, Democrats,
Wings, Free-Soilers, Republicans and
Know Nothings there, on common plat
form-even the Do Nothings and Have
Nothings are tolerably welcome, if they
don't put on too many airs. We hope
the Fairs viii never be abandoned, though
they are entirely worthless, except for the
social advantages derived from them.
There have been five fairs in the last five
years, and yet who knows any more about
raising hogs or horses or cattle, or sheep
than did before ? The experiment to
Enoch McCarty, in regard to raising pota-
toes, which we reported about year ago,
is worth all the information ELECTED at the
fairx This was made wholly indepen-
dent Of the society, unless discussion, on
the raising Of potatoes, at one Of the
monthly meetings, some three years ago,
led him to try the experiment. Scoby and
Hinckly and Tomson and Everett and
Linck have exhibited lots Of fne hogs,
but who knows from which stock Of hogs
500 pounds of pork can be made in the
shortsst time and with the least corn?-
Rucker and Crist and Everett and Harvey
have exhibited good horses, yet who knows
what strain of horses is best adapted to
the wants Of the community I?
We have seen big potatoes, big squashes,
big pumpkins, big cabbages, and big simost
every thing else, but how to raise them,
the exhibitors themselves could not tell.
Seeing some big potatoes, last fall, we
asked the exhibitor howit was done in
such dry season. "Well" said he, II
planted some time in April or May, and
plowed 'em once or twice and then just
them alone till digging time" OF cours,
va were enlightened as to the modus OF
raising potatoes Now the laws Of vege-
tation are a. unalterable as the laws Of
ersvitation. A given kind Of soil, will
produce q uniform crop, with uniform
culture, weather &C., and the object Of
our association is to learn what difference
earlier or later planting. deeper or more
shallow blowing win make. These are
experiments that one man can not make,
in regard to every thing. Hence tho law
requires exhibitors to tell how they pro-
ducs the articles on exhibition.
The women may skip this pam graph,
- they do the moral Of story, for we
do not wish to offend them, though We
don't care copper how mad they get Il
they disobey orders and read what follows
Il il our opinion that II few hundred
dollars heretofore spent in premiums OF
coverlets that arc out Of fashion, on quilts
that show that the makers had but little
to do. on hearth rugs, that proclaim the
same, and sundry domestic articles Of
. equal value, were appropriated towards
the expense Of testing different modes o.
culture, the profits to the society would b
greatly enhanced. Thus, give $40 cur
to every farmer, who shall cultivate ter
acres in corn; one half Of which shall b
plowed in the ordinary way-szin'met
about three inches deep, and the othe
half subsoiled to the depth of ten inches
with the cost, per acre Of subsoiling ans
the difference per acre, from accurat
msasument of the yield. Here will b
fact, If tried by some half dozen, witt
q uniform result, that will be worth al
the fine quilting, heavy coverleting, ant
nice embroydery that dozen Fairs cal
produce Let another offer Of $40 cu]
be made TO every man who shall raise tel
acres Of oats. one half plowed in the 9th
OF sowed, on plowed ground. and harrow
cd in. Another premium of $40 to ever,
farmer who shall raise 10 acres Of whea
one-third sowed in corn, one-third broad
est. ons-third drilled, &C., When tn
attention Of farmers is turned in this di
Tection We may hope to improve our az
rinltuzal and not till then.
Kssp eool-we have more on this sub
jet which we viii say at another time
After we have done our say, our column
are open to every one who objects to on
views; Meanwhile we hope they will nc