PROFESSOR MAPES ON HIGH FARMING.

To the Editors of the Plough, the Loom, and the Anvil :

IN the Plough, Loom, and Anvil for March, appeared an article on "High Farming," from the Journal of Agriculture, by Professor Mapes, in which a system of what he calls "thorough farming," as practised by the best European and English farmers, is held up as a text for us to look at. Now this is all very well in its way, and probably many of the English farmers can better afford to farm high, than they can to go on a cheaper scale, as their rents must be paid at all events. That there are some English farmers who make fortunes out of this system of "high farming, with enormous rents and taxes," we do not doubt. But that the mass of such farmers make much money, or large fortunes, we do not believe; although, in their case, if any kind of farming can pay, with all their "taxes," it must be an improved system of farming, as we can better afford to be slack with our farming than they; and yet with us, this kind of farming is not just the thing to pay well. And if high tenant farming in England pays so well, why is it that so many of them are discontented, and wish to emigrate to this land of "slack farming and improvidence?" It must be to avoid these high taxes and enormous rents.

From a Parliamentary Report, it appears that there are in England now sixteen millions of acres of barren land, which might easily be made productive; but before they can be made to pay, they are covered with tithes and taxes. If we mistake not, the late Henry Colman says: "If the barren land of England could be brought into as high cultivation as some of the best counties are now, it would support the present population, crowded as it may be." But to return to "English high_farming," (and without doubt this system is carried to a greater extent in England than in any other country,) that the "soiling system," or cutting all the food and feeding it to cattle in stalls and stables, is practised to some extent, both in England and in Scotland, may be correct; but that the mass or majority of our "high farmers" practise this plan, we have no good reason to believe. Be that as it may, we are satisfied that the "soiling system" can never be made practical in this country to any extent. It is only near the large cities and towns, with a few acres of land, that this is practised; and even there, it would require more time than most men would give it. It would be well for every farmer who has different kinds of soil, to have his soil analyzed on his farm by a good agricultural chemist, as this may be done at a small expense.

The truth is, Professor Mapes depends a great deal too much on his "chemical knowledge," and not half enough on a thorough practical knowledge in farming, to succeed. He says in substance, "Let no man attempt [high farming] who thinks a fact becomes a falsehood by having it printed, and he must even read books enough until he can answer the following questions, &c." "Do plants receive the whole of their nourishment from the soil, or part from the atmosphere? and how much from each? Do those elements from the atmosphere enter the plants above or below the surface of the soil; and if in part below, what conditions of the soil are necessary for their reception? By what means are these conditions of the soil to be obtained? How does moisture affect the vegetable economy? To what depths will the roots of plants enter the soil if properly prepared? To what depth do the solutions of manures penetrate the soil; and if not to an indefinite depth, why? In what manner and from what causes do plants, receive the constituents of manures below the surface of the soil? Of those solutions of manures VOL. IV.-42.

which filter downwards, what portions are lost to plants? Of those which rise as gases, what portions escape into the atmosphere without being absorbed by plants, and why? What modes may be adopted to arrest them until the plants can make use of them?" We tell Professor Mapes, in a few plain words, that no agricultural chemist in this country or in any other country can answer these questions in the strict sense of the term, because no chemist can take these questions and carry them out into the field with the practical farmer, and apply them and make them work satisfactorily. They may make them read very well on paper to the uninitiated, but those farmers who have had much practical knowledge, and who are governed by common sense, pass them by as being of no particular consequence. For one, we are perfectly willing that Professor Mapes should make just as many scientific farmers by reading a few books, giving a course of lectures, analyzing some soils on their farms, &c., as he may choose; but we know well that no thorough-going practical farmer can be made in any such way as that; for it is only after a long series of years of diligent practice and study, that a farmer can be successful in this business. The analyzing of his soil is only a small part of a farmer's process. There are ploughing, harrowing, hoeing, sowing, mowing, planting, all to come in their turn, and of these it is necessary that they should all be done in the best manner. There may be some men, who, having made a fortune in other business, have retired to a farm, and have made thorough-going, practical farmers, having previously made themselves acquainted with the business by reading agricultural books and papers; but this only forms the exception, and not the rule. Of those who thus retire from business to a farm, we believe that six fail where one succeeds; and the reason is, they have not got the thorough practical knowledge necessary to carry on the business, and so, after a few years of trial and disappointment, they leave the farm in disgust for the town or city. They are, in fact, experimental "book farmers" on paper, without the necessary practical knowledge, and so, of course, they make a failure of it. That some men will learn more

on a farm in five years' practice than others will in fifty, is true; but this only forms the exception, and not the rule. Generally speaking, only those farmers who have made a life-business of their calling, with their minds made up for all improvements that come within their reach, are really successful. In all that the Professor says about laying out money on land for improvements, instead of bond and mortgage, we agree with him, and we have maintained that doctrine for years; and that a system of high farming will pay in this country a great deal better than in any other, we are well satisfied. But that this can be brought about by a few experiments in analyzing the soil, and applying some special manures, &c., we do not so readily believe. These may be all necessary, but the best "consulting agriculturist" that the farmer can consult, is his own practical experience, together with his agricultural books and papers, always obtaining all the useful information he can, touching his business, from whatever source it comes. But Professor Mapes will pardon us if we tell him in a few words that we think that he makes "thorough practical farming' too much of a sing-song operation; that is to say, that any man, whether in city or country, after going on with a few "analytical experiments" in the soil, and a little practical knowledge, can go on successfully. And another thing we believe; that is, the Professor makes a great mistake when he makes use of so many chemical terms in talking to farmers. When he talks to a chemist of his own cloth, he is understood, but plain farmers want every thing told in plain language, making use of as few chemical terms as possible. When farmers read "scientific articles," if they are obliged to go to a Chemical

Dictionary to find out the meaning of the words, most of them will give it up as a bad job, although we are not sure but that some such training would be best for them, after all. If by this method they could be induced to study, it might prove of benefit to them.

Derby, Ct., April 19, 1852.

L. DURAND.

HOW BRITISH FREE TRADE PROFITS THE FARMER WHO HAS

TIMBER TO SELL.

UNTIL recently, Great Britain, in recompense to the colonies for denying to them the advantages resulting from bringing the consumer to take his place by the side of the producer, gave to their products certain advantages in her markets; but such has now ceased to be the case. The result is seen in Ireland, whose agricultural product diminishes from year to year, and whose population has fallen below the point at which it stood more than thirty years since. On this side of the Atlantic, it is seen in the enormous increase in the import of Canadian lumber, the old market for which is now closed, by reason of the vast mass that is poured into it from the North of Europe, forcing down the price so far below our own, that the people of Canada are compelled from year to year to look more and more to this country for a market, granted to them by the act of 1846, under which a nominal duty of twenty per cent. is converted into a real one of little more, we believe, than five per

cent.

The London Times congratulates its readers upon approaching prosperity as a consequence of the low price of every description of produce-to wit, cotton, tobacco, sugar, rice, hemp, lumber, &c., &c.; but how far low prices, consequent upon a necessity for forcing upon the constantly diminishing market of England so large a portion of the raw products of the world, are to bring prosperity to the growers of those products, we must leave to our freetrade friends to explain. Meantime, we commend to the perusal of such of our agricultural readers as have timber for sale, the following extract from one of the late British circulars, in which is described the manner in which British free trade affects the lumber-producers of the world:

"After the opening of the Navigation Laws, and the recent reduction of the dircriminating import duty, it was not easy to foresee the operation of these almost simultaneous changes, and doubt hung over the future. Whether the wood of the North of Europe would displace the colonial or a large portion of the present supply? Whether our consumption, which had remained at a reduced average since 1847, would now increase? And, if so-as the supply had diminished in rather a larger ratio than the consumption-whether supplies could be increased without a rise in price sufficient of itself to check consumption? Cheapness has solved all doubt and dispelled the cloud of uncertainty; the North of Europe has yielded such abundance, that the English consumer gains, in a broad sense, more than the difference of reduced duty and cheaper transit. British America continues to have her large export in wood, with some variation in sorts and markets, participating in the transport at lesser freight through the influx of United States and other foreign ships in her waters, and still retaining the better half of Great Britain's wood trade; while home interests have prospered through all these changes in obtaining the unrestricted supply of cheap wood.

"From the foregoing report we are justified in concluding that the year 1851 has widely expanded the trade in wood; that while the colonies have increased their supply in proportion to our wants, the greater extension of the European supply has thereby given the full advantage of reduced import cost to the consumer of the United Kingdom. If from the too sudden augmentation in the supply of the produce of Prussia, and of some parts of Sweden, loss has been sustained by the growers or shippers, to the same extent that loss is for our benefit here, not only by cheapening wood, but by stimulating consumption, with abundant supply in reserve to meet the growing wants of the community."

COTTAGE DESIGNS.-No. V.

In the present number of the Plough, Loom, and Anvil we present our readers with the elevation and ground-plan of a cottage erected in the vicinity of New-Haven, Connecticut, beautifully and tastefully executed in the light Gothic style of architecture, and combining simplicity with elegance, convenience, and economy in its construction. This cottage is a good specimen of the arts of design and architectural taste, and is admirably adapted to the wants and convenience of a moderately sized family. It is constructed of wood, the sides being covered with the best clear white pine boards, one inch thick and four inches in width, smoothly planed, tongued and grooved, and the joints carefully and thoroughly filled with white-lead paint as the covering is put on. The roof is shingled, but it may be covered with felting, canvas, or paper, well coated with mineral paint, or otherwise, if desired. The principal story is ten feet in the clear; the chambers, eight feet six inches, with the exception of one corner in each wing, which is cut off by the roof. In the ground plan, A is the entrance-hall, occupying, with the stairs, twelve by fourteen feet, opening into the parlor B and dining-room C, each fourteen by eighteen feet in size; and also (if desired) communicating with the kitchen D, which is twelve by fourteen feet. E is a bed-room, fourteen by fifteen feet, and F a library, eight by fourteen feet. I is a small back passage with a closet, and K the dining-room closet. H is a pantry, and G an entry or sinkroom communicating with the kitchen. It will be seen that there are no fireplaces either in the parlor or dining-room, the building being warmed by hot-air furnace in the cellar; but it can be conveniently warmed with stoves if the furnace is not desired. A building of this description, well and neatly finished, can be erected at an expense of about twenty-four hundred dollars.

DESTRUCTION OF CATERPILLARS AND THE PEACH WORM.

To the Editors of the Plough, the Loom, and the Anvil :

I TAKE leave to communicate for your invaluable journal the following prescriptions for the destruction of caterpillars, and the prevention of the depredations of the peach worm.

FOR CATERPILLARS.

Apply coal-gas tar with a painter's brush, inserted in the end of a long, light pole to the nests, on their first appearance. This tar is so obnoxious to caterpillars that a single application expels them from their nests for the season. I have used this remedy frequently, and never knew them to rebuild, as they will after almost every other application.

FOR THE PEACH WORM.

Apply common tar, that has been boiled until it becomes pitchy, to the stalk of the young peach trees before the worms have entered the bark. In planting a young orchard, the tar should be applied before the trees are put in the ground, from the junction of the root and stalk some nine or ten inches upward. This application should be repeated annually, by removing the earth near the body of the tree, and applying the tar, not hot, but warm enough to be put on with a brush or swab. It may be observed that the peach worm, whether hatched from an egg, deposited on the leaf, or the tender