New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-09-14

produced in farm labor, II am nightly informed is 30
small as TO be Immediately filed up by the floating
population of the country without the slightest sensible
drain upon the other calhngs.
| On the contrary those branches OF manufactures
and trade, which suffer by the war, VIII furnish an
ample supply of hands, if they are wanted 10 NIL up
defcsncy of agricultural labor. II it should be the
effect of the present state Of things in the great COM
mercial capitals to essen the inclination OF our Young
men TO abandon the country for the town; Tue
of in some branches Of trade and manufactures snouo
lead OF the rising generation TO turn tno9gh.s "
that great agricultural interest which lies at the very
basis OF the social system II they shoud md out tnas
stout broad baud bronzed by sunshine ana naruened
by toll becomes generous manhood as wen as y:o
covered with white kid glove and manly employer
twirIing an ivory handled walking stick; that noe
and SPADE in their place are as respectable as the
measuring tape or the pocket scissors, the country
would gain by the discovery. intend, however, ~
disparaging comparison between the diiereht pursuits
in the community where all in their place are bohors
bic and praiseworhy though / own think there mas
been an unwholsome preference Of town lie. lbs
has taken place. doubt, under the influence OF TIE
mistaken opinion that the path to certain riches hes Ia
that direction; whereas careful observation has estap-
ised the fact that the highest prizes IN trade are eX
tremely few, and that the great majority OF young
men who leave their rural homes TO engage IN what
called business pursuits draw nothing but Dianhs
ia that lottery.
But though there is not the least to appehend
any scarcity the result of the causes alluded to- the
effort to improve our agriculture must never be lost
your Society in with others of the same char
acter was Instituted and toward which the thoughts
of the intelligent husbandman should be stea9liy
turned. 1t has, think, generally been the reproach Oh
our farmers that they too much inclined 10 perse-
we're in the old routine, and through Jealousy OF WHAT
ia called book farming neglect TO avail themselves oi
the light which science and ski iiul experiment nave
thrown. upon many OF the operations OF husoanary'
am disposed however, to think that this reproacb,
though not without foundation, has been carried TOO
far First experiments I'll departments Of art and
industry generally fail The Of our farmers have
no capital surplus labor, TO spare for doubtful ex-
periments and il is in the nature Of things that i'm
portant changes in that which has existed IRON
time mmemorl should be gradually and cautiously
made and somewhat timdly admitted by those no can
not afford to put much at risk In the meantime, by
the agency of agricultural newspapers and larger
journals through the reports Of boards OF agriculture
and other official publications. and by the aid OF meet
ngs like the present, much practical information mas
been and constantly is disseminated IN our farming
community. appeal to you gentlemen, whose reeoi-
lection covers period Of twenty thirty years, that
within your observation corresponding improvement
has taken place in amost every branch oil husosnory
the artificial enrichment Of the soil, the Introduction
of choicer varieties Of the principal vegetable pro-
ducts Of superior breeds OF the domestic animals
horses cows, sheep, and swine; in many OF the impe-
ments for ng and Teaping the soil, and IN several
agricultural operations, such s sub-sol pOWlnB ana
draining. In these, and several other particulars,
there is no doubt that Swits prOyerbal and often
quoted test of public benefactor that OF making two
blades Of grass grow where only one grew before has
been much more than realized III many departments o.
modem agriculture.
That more has no. been done in this way is by no
means TO he ascribed wholly 10 a want OF knowledge
or enterprise the pat OF our farmers. IN new
country where fertile Land Is abundant ard cIeap,
and labor scarce and dear, there il Of necessity u
question Of economy between tLen and the natural
tendency ia ather 20 large farms With smaller pro-
due. to the acre than to more sk!uul husbahdry Oh
smaller farms. Iu come Of the Western States, l
have been informed, that there are grazing farms
consisting Of Entire township, puFchased from
the Government a, dollar and a quarter per acre
The number of cat 10 could OF course be rised
on a much smaller space, but tie expense OF fenc-
ing, sbclgeT, attendance and forage might outweigh
the profit The average yield Of wheat varies greatly
in different parts u country. In the State OF
Ohio which produces one-htth OF HE whole amount
the average yield, Az j learn from Mr.. Flint, the in
telligent Secretary OF the Massachusetts Board OF
Agriculture is fifteen bushels to the acre. In some
parts Of this State the average yield greater, and III
others much lees, and that lands formerly Yielding
twenty bushc h the acre The average yield in England
is accordingto Mr.. Column usually stated 90 70 BUSH
els the acre. (which is perhaps about the average OF
Weaieru New-Yorkl though be adds, that under good
cultivation he has rarely found it lees than -. The
difference oeTtaibly great between AN average OF 10
and Of g. but II does not follow that, IN the State
Of Ohio, it would be good economy TO try to get an
average of 81 busbels. Mr.. Colmsn goes TO remark
that he has frequently found the yield in England 10
be 60 bushels per acre, and there was we'll known
instance the county of Norfolk IN iSi-i5, where ~
bushels aud three pecks were produced npon an acre.
Mr. Flint Informs that crop. Of 40, 81 aud even 90
bushels per acre are every unusual on the best cu
tiyated lands in Western Aew-Iork, IN years Tree
from the ravages OF the insee; and other casualties
Any attempt, however, even in England where capital
If abundant and labor cheap 10 raise the average prod
uct OF the kingdom 10 SO even 20 % bushels per acie
would probably prove AN expensive failure.
But although systems and methods Of agriculture
adapted TO old countries, where iand Il dear and
labor cheap, cannot always be initiated here where
uf .fsI vat fhsE
ia no doubt that our agriculture taking tie country
through, admits OF great and rapid improvement to be
followed by immediate and lropor'lonate increase
in prodGctveDess and this without Withdrawing labor
rom any of the other great pursuts. In this respect
~ seems TO me, husbandry differs from the other
leading occuI ations, such commerce aud manuiac-
lures. These occupations are, suppose at present
carried ON as advantageoRly as they can be, ~
should say 10 merchant manufacturer, il
is la your power, without any increase Of
capital TO render your business twice us productive
10 it isto turn of twice as many yards OF cloth
from yoar looms-twice as many tuns OF iron from
your forges-twice ~ many vessels from your en- p
wards a. you now do would be considered an idle
and exravagsnt suggestion. All that these pursuits,
generally speaking, admit is steady and gradual ni-
proyemeut with he advancement OF the arts and the
acquisition of skill; not of course meaning that great
revolutions may not sometimes take place III these, as
in oil other branches OF industry, by important discove
res ana inventions, such as those oil the stea-enne,
the machinery for spinning and weaving and steam
navigation. But such present is the state of agrcu
ture at least in this counrythere il 30 much land
of which the fertility might be indefinitely increased
by judi,ious treatment, much waste OF the mate
rS for eniching the soil; 80 much neglect, In word
to emplyoy in the best manner the principles
and elements of the physical world which work oge-
Their to produce the kindly fruits OF the earth in their
season, that l believe you intelligent farmers will
agree with me, that, taking the UnNed States az
whole the sum total OF It's agricultural products might
be doubled. or course there are many farms skiuly