The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-09
AGRICULTURE.


HORACE eREELEY's ADDRESS AT THE DUTCH
Ess COUNTY AGRICULTURAL FAIR.
Horace Greeley is not only a practical
printer, a successful editor, distinguished
author, but he is also u practical farmer
1.-THE Philosopher of the Tribune" as he is
aptly called from the theoretical character
istics of his mind, is at the same time
practical man in an eminent degree. When
it is known that he passes much of his time
on his farm, near New York city, where his
great mind is busy with the theory and prac-
tice of agriculture, his opinions ON that sub
iect possess peculiar value. At the agricul
tnral fair held this year in Duchess County,
New York, Mr.. Greeley delivered an extern
pore address, in which he made suggestions
well worth the attention OF farmers North or
South
Mr. Greeley said Most Americans who go
to Europe return to disparage their country.
He had been twice to Europe, and found
that in one noted particular we surpass the
agriculture of all nations; and that is in the
style and variety of our agricultural imple
ments. He met foreigner at the Paris Ex
position who exhibited scythe three feet
long; and he asked him why he did not
make it longer, so as to accomplish more
work. The man replied that laborers were
many and work scarce whereupon Mr.. G.
recommended him to cut his blade down to
two feet, end make necessity for more
work STILL Fe doubted, however, that there
was scarcity of work When the sewing
machine was invented, people prophecied
ruin to labor; but the result was exactly the
opposite.
More product from the same labor il
achieved on our Western praries than any
y-0rl1 Nbo, -l,o, ,/loc
on his moving machine is never satisfied
with one step in progress, but will go further.
A pillow by steam, going two feet down, is
yet to be made; and the pillow will do it all
yet, carrying the seed and narrowing it in.
You see improved hay-forks to-day pitch off
hay. They will soon pitch it on. They
pillow by machinery now in England, and We
shall soon do it here
Scion Robinson told the speaker that
moving machines would yet~be so adjusta-
bic as to pass freely over stumps and rocks
but he did not want such an Improvement
as this The farmers would then get lazy,
and let their stumps and rocks alone. He
priced the moving machine chiefly because
it cOmpels us to be better farmers.
90 We do not pillow deep enough. We should
subsoil. He understood why we had got
into the habit OF shallow blowing. We are
the descendants of the English, and Dutch,
and various other peoples in Europe, who
have IA moist country, where Dad blowing
can be better tolerated. Such blowing was
never meant for our dry climate He be-
Eeved the crops OF Dutchess County would
be increased one-third by sending the pillow
down deeper, and doing the work more thor
oughly.
1t should be done intellectually, too. Prof.
Mapes' farmer Pat. Quinn, is the best farmer
Mr. G. is acquainted with. He raised large
crops of tomatoes on the Jersey soil. Mr.. G.
went over to his farm early one morning.
hoping to catch him asleep; but didn't do
it. Pat made large profit from his crops;
but complained one year of losing fifteen
hundred dollars for want of brains He en-
ployed two teams to take the crop to Brook
Ign, and they were not sufficient. If he bad
sent one to Newark from the farm, and
another from the jersey City ferry boat to
the canning establishment, the whole crop,
large part of which rotted, might have been
secured. .
Moist. swampy lands suffer more from
drouth than uplands. Good ploughino
would help these. A side-hill will be wash.
ed worse by heavy showers when plowed
shallow than when plowed deep. In Bel
GUM he found the cultivation of the soil
= better than in any country OF the world
There they pillow three feet deep. Mr.. G. is
willing to begin with two feet. but thinks
We shall not stop with this. Farmers ought
to sell off half their land, and till the re-
rnainde- twice as well. They should increase
their acreage downward rather than side
ways. Farmers pay more to fence their
crops than they pay for all other expenses
beside, taxes included. The fences of
Duchess County are more costly than all
the fences in France; for there are scarcely
any farm fences there.
Mr.. G. hates q pasture. He hardly saw
pasture on his twelve miles ride from Pough-
keepsie to the fair that was not weed bed.
1.-The could have his way, he would not have
pasture in the State of New York. He
would have cattle kept out of doors in sum-
mer, with sheds to which they could retreat
from sun and storm A sufficiently large en-
closure should be made in the center of the
farm, which should be shady and supplied
with water
We poison our lands by fences. They are
a shelter for weeds as well as vast useless /
expense, We make another serious mistake
in not raising our own bread Mr.. G.. does not
ike to see farmer going, from Pough-
keepsie with barrel of flour in his wagon.
1t is poor policy. That is bad farming
which will not raise its own bread. Beside
you cannot get in a barrel as pure, and sweet
and everyway rs good bread as You can make
from your own careful raising He knew all
the objections. The insects eat up the crop.
etc; but he would not give much for farm