The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-01-11

Professor James j. Mapes, tho Model
Farmer.

Farmer.
For years past the farm Of Professor James J.
Mapes, near Newark, n j., has been known the
garden spot" OF the State and every agrcuturst OF
any pretensons knows its history In 1s4s 1t was about
the most sterile barren and unpromng piece OF ground
that could have been found among the sand plains and
hills of the Stae but of late years had become highly
ferzed under the cultivation of Professor Mapes and
at this time is said annually realize income of
about 500 0OO Our readers will regret to learn that
this model farmer who created this model farm, is
dead The story OF his experiment is perhaps better
known than that OF his life which the less inter
esting
Professor Mapes born in New York May 20, 1906.
In very early youth he developed a mind of great
activity research and invention. The early develop
mepts Of his intellect would have naturally led
suppose that in after life he would have proved not
farmer but soldier; for 1t is stated OF him THAI when
only seventeen years OF age he delivered fall
Of lectures in this city Military
Tactics, varying the interesting exercises on tho
closing night by the exhibition and explanation Of a
model machine Of his invention illustrating with
figures &c. the ADJ of Napoleon on Moscow and
the subsequent retreat This model is represented to
have been curious machine, but IL is not known that
its principle was ever applied TO any useful purpose.
This invention and these Ideas the crude ones OF
youth He began soon after to apply his inventive
faculties to more useful subjects and became interested
in the refining OF sugar. business In which, after being
engaged for six years, he failed financially This life
had led to the close study of chemistry, and he
divided his attention this study and that Of
tural history. He had some knowledge OF civil enPi.
neerng and is said to have been the first person who
opened an Office In this city consulting engi-
On the profits OF this profession he lived for nearly
twelve years, devoting his spare time to his studies
His q student OF natural history great
and OF his articles attracting attention he
madea permanent member Of the New York Lyccum,
Of Brussels, Royal Society OF ST. Petersburg
and Geographical Society of Paris. while one Of
our State universities conferred bin the degree
of LII. u. He had begun as early 1912 10 attract
attention chemist particularly by his analysis
in report to the State Senate of beer ana wines but
still more so by his able papers on scientific subjects
published IN the american Rep STORY Of Arts Sciences
and Manufactures of which he subsequently, made
the edto when he for time injured his reputation by
publishing n work agriculture which full Of
what regarded as wild and visionary schemes Of
disordcrcd mind that he everywhere met WITH derision,
from tie American Institute, before which he
had ectured Professor Mapcs' reputation
trely recovered from these attacks though it was soon
after found that he and DR.. Liebig the great German
authority similar subjects agreed with singular ex.
their philosophy regarding the progression OF
prmar So and other theories. His success farmer
had however, much more TO do with the rc-osabl sh-
ment Of his character sound chemist than the cir
cumsance OF the correspondence of his ideas with those
of the German chemist.
As a Turner Professor Mapcs has given hundreds OF
useful discoveries to the world and not few important
inventions The sub soil plough, rotary digger and
spade now in such common use, are his inventions,
while his advice and experience in regard TO chemical
manures accepted as authority all over the country
Shortly after his removal 10 Newark Professor Mapes
organized the franklin Institute OF that city, and its
first lecturer As early 1874 he President OF the
Mechanics Institute OF this city, aud has always taken
prominent part similar institutions Ter the diffusion Of
knowledge. He was for long time n Professor OF
Chemistry and Agriculture IN the American Institute OF
this 'ity and at time was the joint editor OF the
american Fhrmer, paper published in Boston. Al the
tine OF his death he the editor and proprietor Of the
Working Fdrmsr. agricultural journal published ia
this city Socially Professor Mspes highly interest
ing aid popular He possessed exhaustlcss fund OF
anecdotc and incident and had considerable reputation
"A q "A "A
MON with the spiritual fraternity He leaves widow,
three daughters and Mrs. NJ +. Dodge, well
known popular authorcss. and contributor to liar
pers the Cornhu Magazine and other publications. is his
daughter