, 1858-11-12

O moments DOUBT. Underdralnmg is per-
manent Improvement, and the increase OBJ
tanned from it is not profit. We know Of
instances where the increase Of the first crop
of wheat after undertaking has paid tn
whole cost of constructing the drains. 1t
seems impossible to make farmers believe
this. We could wish that every town and
county agricultural society in the State
would appoint a committee, consisting of
two or three intelligent practical farmers, to
visit such thoroughly underdrained farms as
those Of John Johnston and Robert ]. Swan,
near Geneva, N. Y, and have them report
at subsequent meeting. Such is the force of
example in agriculture, that We believe such
visit would lead to much good. Wemake
the suggestion entirely on our own respon-
sibility, feeling confident that Messrs. Johns
ton and Swan would cheerfully ALLOW such
persons to examine the results of their sys-
TEN of cultivation.
1t is quite evident that since the prevalence
of the midge in this section, a better system
of cultivation, in many instances, has. been
introduced. Less land is sown to wheat,
and more labor is bestowed in its prepaTa-
ton. Farmers are inquiriug for the earliest
varieties Of wheat, and many are sending
south for their seed. Mr.. Cox, Of Scots
vile, informs us that he obtained Blue Stem
wheat from Kentucky, last year, end it ri
pened this season as carly as the Nediterrd-
mean, and was consequently little affected by
the midge. These indications Of the general
interest felt in the subject of wheat growing
lead us to believe that we are on the eve Of
great improvements in our system Of farm.
ing.
One of the most notable facts in regard
to the growth Of WHEAT in the United States,
is the immense quantity Of land that is sown
to produce comparatively small quantity
of grain. We believe the wheat crop of
the United states does not average ten bush
els per acre. Where land is cheap rnd labor
high, what has been denomnated "high
farming" will seldom pay; still, with our
unrivallcd facilities for the transmission Of
produce to the great markets Of the world,
the time has come when more thorough
system Of cultivation will be profitable.
More labor and less land must now be the
rule among farmers, with perhaps here and
there an exception. Few Of US can manure
our land as highly as we could wish, but
nearly all can develop the latent fertility of
the soil by better tillage, thorough cultiva-
ton, and judicious system of rotation.
BY so doing, we can gradually increase the
quantity and greatly augment the quail
ity Of the manure made on the farm. There
is, too, on most farms, more or less low
land of great natural fertility, which, by
draining and good culture, may be made to
produce immense quantities of grass and the
coarser grains. These will enable the farmer
to keep more stock, and thus to enrich the
poorer, wheat growing, upland portions of
the farm.
Agriculture is complex art. The wiscst,
the most persevcring, the most skilfhl, and
tho most experienced, will find ample scope
for oil his energies. This Is peculiarly true
of the American farmer. A fairer field,
moro encouragingprospect, was never offered
to the farmers Of any age or country. Let
US provo ourselves worthy Of it, Genesse
Farmer.