Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-06-08
Journal OF the American Agricultural
Association.

Association.
We are much indebted to Joseph Ii. Reall,
secretary, for handsomely bound copy Of
the first number of the above publication.
We are glad to be able to say that its con
tents are worthy of handsome binding. We
have long desired to see the establishment
of first-rate agricultural quarterly. Mr..
Real has given in this first issue of the
journal of his society close approxima-
tion to the idea of such a work Great
credit is due him for the time and intelli-
gent labor he has bestowed upon the task.
We observe an announcement of the time of
future issues. This one bears upon its title
page, "Volume l., No. l." We hope funds
will be forthcoming to give us successive
numbers at three-monthly intervals.
The contents table of the issue before us
embraces thirty-six topics. Many of them
are by firstrate men in the profession of ag-
riculture, and the questions discussed in
them are of the first Importance. Professor
c. V. Riley, the eminent agricultural
eutomologist, treats of agricultural ad-
vancement in the United States, discussing
chiefly those means of advancement to be
secured through the department of agricul-
ture and the agricultural colleges. The use
Of the former as part of the political ma
chine (now again painfully illustrated by
the appointment of DR.. Loring, just as his
predecessor, appointed on similar prin-
ciple, or want of principle, had fairly
learned and got down to his work0 is
strongly deprecated. We differ entirely
from DR.. Riley, however, when he says that
congress is disposed to be liberal to the pur :
poses of the department in proportion as it
is efficiently managed. The large appropria-
ton for printing reports, with the small
sum expended in making these reports what
they should be,-the large expenditure for
seed distribution, and the small care ex-
ercised as to what is distributed and where
it is sent,-point directly to the fact that
members of congress value the department
almost solely as means Of compimenting
their constituents with a free book and free
garden seeds at the public expense. All the
appropriations that do not further this pur-
pose are niggardly in the extreme.
DR.. Sturtevant's article on Fertility, Seth
Green's on Fish Culture, and Charles
Houghton's on Dutch Cattle (wherein, how
ever, the absurd trademark name "Hol-
stein is persisted in, though partially apol-
ogized for0 are all useful papers. Mono.
graphs upon Jersey cattle by Richard Good
man, Jr., and on Ayrshire cattle by j. d.
w. French, show thorough acquaintance
with the writer's favorite specalties, Joined
to very commendable spirit of fairness in
regard to other breeds. Land and Agricul.
ture in England, by Professor Sheldon, and
Increasing the Fertility of Pastures, by DR.
Lawes, are notable contributions from the
other side of the Atlantic. Productive In.
dustry the Source of National Wealth, by
DIR. T. P. james of Georgia; The Foreign
Cattle Trade, by Colonel Robert Beverley OF
Virginia; and Culture of Watermelons, by
Cassius M. Clay of Kentucky,-are useful
papers from the south. The Bovine Lung
Plague, by Professor Laws of Cornell Is
it Cholera that Kills our Hogs, by Benjamin
Rose; and Trichina Spiralis, by II. F. At
wood, contribute each to the illustration of
great hygienic questions. X. A. Willard has
an excellent article on the Dairy, its Profits
and Prospects. DR.. Loring undertakes The
Problem Of American Land Holding, and
treats it with his usua. sounding superficial
ity. DIR. John A. Warden of Ohio gives us
almost if not quite, the best paper, in his
Relations of Forestry to Agriculture. Arthur
r. Jenner-Fust of Canada treats the topic
of Wheat Culture intelligently. Albert
Chapman, Secretary of the Vermont Sheep
Breeders Association, discusses the Merino
Sheep of the United States with ability bred
of long experience and clear head and
DIR. A. r. Ledoux has timely and truthful
article on the Quality OF American Seeds.
Really the most characteristic and thought
provoking paper of all, however, is Edward
Atkinson's essay upon The Railroad and the
Farmer. We have lately given our readers
a touch of Mr.. Atkinson's quality in a no
tice of his recent article in Scri6ner's
Monthly upon industrial schools. This writer
is student and thinker, aud whatever he
writes deserves respect. He has the ear.
marks of an honest as well as an industrious
and intelligent publicist. We by no means
agree with all his premises or all his conclu
sions, but we see in him no hireling writer
no mere paid advocate of corporate interests
His words are words of honest conviction
however unconsciously biased by the prepo
session of mind inevitable in man who SC
fully realizes the great work effected on this
continent by corporate effect.
Mr.. Atkinson deprecates all interference
with and control of railroads by Legislative,
bodies. He even seems to question the righ
of control by governments over associated
industry based upon charters and vestet
with the vastest public interests. Blu
whether so or not, he firmly opposes tn,
policy of legislative attempts at controlling
or regulating the operation OF railroads il
any particular. lie bases this opposition
upon the fact that no legislatures ever have
and on the assumption that no Legislature
ever can, frame law for the regulation o
railway management that has not and will
not do more harm than good, both to th
railways and the public. The only logica
conclusion from these premises is that il
chartering such corporations we have pro
duced Frankensten,-a monster we eau
not control, but which must control its Gre
ator and supposed master wherever their in
terests conflict, or seem to conflict. Tn
same doctrine, extended to banks and manu-
featuring corporations, would give us fin
oligarchy of corporation presidents in plac
of our republic. We should much prefer
landed aristocracy, after the pattern of Eng
land. A senate of corporation bosses woul
be an effective brake indeed upon the pre-
gress of the so-called "co communistc " idea
banded down 10 us from jefferson and hi
compeers, and, az we have fondly hoped, 81