New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-04
AMERICAN INSTITUTE FAIR.
ADDRESS BY DIR. G. b. LoRING.

I&e following address on Agriculture and
no Progress in this Country" delivered the Amer
san Institute Fair on Saturday afternoon, by Dr. Geo.
g. Lorsng of Salem, Mass:
MR., PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN American aGricu
lure is yet liz its infancy. Covering 1t does large
section OF the earth surface devoted every variety OF
SOIL influenced by great diversity of climate, Obedient
TO many different markets. 1t has hardly yet been sys
tematzed as TO present on many the most ecODom
cal and profitable husbandry to which those acres
adapted comparatively new civilization, an
abundance OF new lands, the attractions OF
other branches OF business, are undoubtedly the
causes Of this tardy development. And We now
record behind us suddenly confronted by the imperative
system Of husbandry in Which our extensive labor and
capital may be probably employed. and in which all the
tive insects, the diseases of vegetable life all unknown
to onr ancestors may be overcome. We have already
agricultural operations and In many important lnven-
tons. For instance. American reaping and moving
Their superiority is generally Acknowledged aud the
credit of having for the first time made the principles
applicable TO snch machinery practically useful I'M
doubtedly belongs TO our ingenious mechanics some
years ago the American machines brought TO trial
ii the exhibition in PARIS in competition with the world;
and after long ana careful experiment, N We're
Of other nations The enthusiasm Of the spectators
unbounded IAN the laarels" says the report Of
French agricultural journal eve free to confess have
been won by the Americans and this achievement can
not be looked upon with indifference as plainly iole
shadows the destiny of the new world" The estimates
Of the actual of agricultural products are
extremely interesting The summary OF the agrcnltnt
that time s4s2322 bushels Of wheat 12S0ll S 0nSess
Of oats S75Sls5 bushels of corn, 55so24 pon5ss o Of
wool aud that the total value of the pnepai eSor
that year was 1886 900, considered at that i
the yield of twenty of our loyal state, alone lar
exceeded this estimate, the WOOL 'H ~ 70 H"1 nnx
2oOoooo pounds and the value H0r SI s S s SrSS ~
exclusive OF the vast amounts OF COTTON Ice sugar
aud which entered into the ejaculation of And if
we examine the cotton crop the periods shall
ind that IL had increased from 9O4926 POUNDS III Iolo
70 pounds hereabouts in $780, just previous
10 the breaking ont OF the war Guided by these figures,
what have a right TO estimate for the 20 years follow
ingi In the states upon whose crops the computation
of the crops OF 1862 has been made may estimate the
grain crop of 1889 TO be worth n
counted the hay crop and the root iruI ana garden
Ir0ps which are constantly increasing. Ana nave no
doubt the cotton crop will be more than doubled in the
hands of the small farmers of the South The aggregate
value of the crops OF 1865 is estimated at 66S9lo
sS9ls9O the hay crop at SS5l9 $50, and the cotton
crop AT s22 100000 have stated that We are evidently
the intelligence and ingenuity of man are to be
taxed in their efforts to bring this art 70 a sys,
tematjc and welldreced basis. The difficulties which
may be by scientific investigation are, how
ever not the only ones which 6eSet our eat ee
of perfection aud prosperity There are IN our MODES o
farming IN America certain practical defects when must
De overcome practical In everything which re-
lates of labor and means we are lamentaOy
deficient We use and apply ouI means in too
wastefua manner to for ourselves constant and
liberal reward do not aude to the ordinary wastes
OF the farm called such the loss Of manure by eX
pOsure 10 the weather, the neglect 10 use all articles
which may converted into fodder, etc. But refer to
the-1 msdrection OF the labor Doh mana ana machine
labor TO the expensive modes of preparing and using
manures to the iDiudcOus selection ana manipulation
of Soils A. TO bad choice ana PAD Ieedhg Ol annas o.
TO the prevailing indifference with regard TO the
crops raised on the farm whether 1ru TOOLS grass OF
grain suppose IL IS haruy necessary lor o 10 asue
here that 1t is special farming which has become most
satisfactory, interesting, and prohtaDle Mixed farm
ing may be necessary to a certain extent every
where for feeding Of the family and the supply
sueai crops in the Northern States crops adapted to
each locality, from which the farmer now draws ms
largest revenues. The economical production OF mix
near large cities the growing of tobacco IN the valley
of the Connecticut yer the cultivation OF cranperles
~ Gn1 ~ r0puV al
s in Maine of fFuts large and small ia New.York
and NewJersey, of the onion crop in many localities
have become sure and reliable modes OF obtaining an
ordered efforts been made IN these directions
in vain. The earth and the animal king
dom are sure TO respond iayorap!y,, wien ILe
appeal made TO them in proper form And SO the care
fu breeder of cattle horses and sheep-the skiul eu
vaor of onions, or carrots or t9oaeeo-the accurate
manager of hOtbeds and green-hOuses-aH prosper
Now, IN order make TINS prosperity more lIM
IS We need more accurate dlrectioh OF farm aDol
than We now have, and improved ana adultona IaIl1
machinery. The application Of skilled labor TO the land
Is becoming an imperative necessity IhG te ~ PaSS, ,
away when man who is ut for nothing else Is nj LOT Tue
that two men should be directed 10 do what Just
well be done by one Theproper distribution OF skilled
ty And Ills labor s66uld he aided i'm every way by
the best machinery. Urging upon our mechanics the
t~i,b fbe hest materials of metal and wood without
own reputation, would remind them that agriculture
still demands the application OF the best machinery
TO many OF s incest operations. Not only moving
mocInres aud hOrse-rakes, and hOTse-fOrks, and
rOok-Hfters. and stumPpulers required but machines
that will puverZe the SOIL clean it Of roots and weeds,
and perform expedtiOusly aud thoroughly what is now
done in tedious, expensive, and rude manner by such
unsatisfactory implements the pillow and grubber We
need a better implement for turning the sod than the
Ilow-u implement more easily handled and more effect
i've We need seedsOwer which VIII be more accurate
and economical in the distribution OF seed, ana whch
termination viii be uniform, and the effects Of heat
and cold and drouth aud water on inc seed VIII De less
and imperiOus we need implements LOT Weed
Ing ana thinning crops especially roots ana many garden
vegetables without the use OF SLOW ana tOsOme ana ex
leisve hand labor. We substitute perpendicu
lar for horizontal labor IN our onion heids Ana haven
(ug6t that we shall ultimately be enabled to reduce ma
teay the cost OF labor on our most expensive crops by
the of skill and machinery, ana 70 make easy and
sye Is il too much 10 expect that the progress Of pTac
teal agriculture Will lead TO tins ere longs Inc expense
obstacle i'm the way Of profitable agriculture 1t Is not
only OF producing the manure which We are to
meat or milk or labor OF the animal fed-but it IS the
amount Of labor involved in placing the manure IN the
pedeu for all this But We have not yet found sub
sttutc baryard manure In the production OF our
largest most valuable crops How 10 use TINS eco
nOnncaly then. the important question: Reduce the
upon to the lowest possible ponths rs he hrst
rcguse the barnyard or cellar to the crop
IL is to nOush in as small bulk as possible thoroughly
decOmposed for some crops and Leaving IL 70 dec0npose
post materials. Muck is undoubtedly useful in some
soils, and in certain amount, but never, as be
Iieye beyond the limit Of a mere absorbent, when
mixed with barnyard manure; Beyond that point IL
adds nothing hut bulk aud weight and expense IL can
nor he thrown out OF the bog and cared the
cellars and ont again, without considerable outlay OF
labor q nd money. Expend OF these any
asf fhan Is absolutely necessary Rely upon it, the
action of unadulterated and unduted manure on the
So is not 10 be lost sight Of Choose for composing that
,natcriaI i'm which your soil deicent-muck for light
lands sand for caysand nave allD IN the Ieftzng
salts of the manure aud in their immediate and econO-
cal application, and generally IN composing with the
soil 10 which the manure is apphed Remember that
manure should be placed within the SOIL so AS to avoid
vaporation and prevent the escape OF gases aud at
suc depth not to be beyond the Immediate influence
not take place. that decomposition which, N0rker has