themselves, to test the value of these novelties? Each one for himself can try them, on as small a scale as may suit his convenience, before he enters more largely into any article of cultivation, and at a very small expence of time and money. A small field, of a soil similar to that of his farm in general, appropriated to experiments would be the most proper. The introduction of improvements would be facilitated, if the money expended, and the quantity of labour bestowed upon them were always accurately stated, in all communications made to the public.

There is no way of making improvements in farming, but by experiments. If the farmer is informed of, or has conceived, a different and better method of culture, or management, in any branch of his farming, he is to test the goodness of that method by experiments; and, if these prove successful, he may congratulate himself, on having performed an act which is serviceable to his country and honorable to himself.

Having urged the utility and even necessity of accurate experiments, we will enumerate a few of the more important objects, on which those experiments ought to be tried.

The proper selection of seeds is of vast importance. Experiments should be made to ascertain what kinds are the best of all the grains, grasses, &c.and how far they are susceptible of improvement. Next what quantities of these ought to be sown or planted on an acre, and, in what manner, whether in drills, in hills, or broad cast. Careful experiments should be made on the all important article of manure. We ought, without loss of time, to ascertain how far lime, plaister, and ashes may be used to advantage; and in what manner the good manure may be best increased and applied; how many crops will each sort benefit, &c. The best sea

son for ploughing and sowing-what depths and what number of ploughings-what mode, whether level or ridge, the most advisable mode of tilling the ground, so as best to ensure the three great objects of tillage, which are the production of useful grains, roots, and grasses. Experiments should be made to ascertain what kind of soil is best adopted to each particular sort of grain &c; whether any, and what new grains, roots or grasses might be advantageously introduced; the most efficient mode of destroying or guarding against the ravages of noxious insects; the stocking farms with the most approved breeds of domestic animals; the cure and prevention of the diseases to which they are subject; the kind of food most proper for them, and the best mode of preparing it, &c.

These suggestions might be multiplied to almost any extent, but the few here mentioned are sufficient to show that experimental agriculture is yet on a wavering footing, and considerable time will be required to establish by experiment, some important points in the science.

The entertainment which may be received, from an enquiry into all the powers and operations of nature wherein husbandry is conceived, is one of the most noble that can be proposed to the mind of man. The subject is so vast it can never be exhausted; could he live, and spend ages in agriculture, he might still go on in his researches, and still make fresh discoveries that would excite afresh bis admiration of the wonderful works of God.

NECESSITY OF CONSULTING BOOKS.

It is a saying sanctioned by the authority of Bacon, that knowledge is power." Of all the various sorts of power enumerated by that great philosopher says Sinclair, this seems by far the most important. What gives one man any real superiority over another, but the knowledge he possesses? What enables some individuals to produce abundant harvests,-to carry on a prosperous commerce,-to establish successful manufactures, to excel in mechanism, or any other useful art, but the acquisition, and judicious application of that knowledge in which others are deficient?

That the power and prosperity of a country, depend on the diffusion of useful knowledge, can hardly be questioned; and there is probably no art, in which a variety of knowledge is of more essential importance, than in that of agriculture. The extent of information necessary to bring it to any thing like perfection, is far greater than is generally supposed. To preserve the fertility of the soil-to free it from superfluous moisture to cultivate it to the greatest advantage—to raise its productions at the least expence to procure the best instruments of husbandry-to select the stock likely to be the most profitable-to feed them in the most judicious manner-to secure the harvest, even in the most unpropitious seasons-to separate the grain from the straw with economy and success—and to perform all the other operations of agriculture in the most judicious mode, require a greater extent, and variety of knowledge, than might at first view, be judged requisite.

It is not many years, since chemistry was brought to the aid of Agriculture, and this will eventually prove one of its principal pillars. Systematic rotations of crops

-improvements in breeding cattle-the use of plaister of Paris-soiling of cattle--the extensive field culture of roots, for the purpose of feeding stock-artificial grasses, &c. are of modern date, and have brought about great revolutions in the theory and practice of farming. The practical farmer, especiaily in the older and more populous parts of the country, must understand, and in some degree practice these improvements, or he will not only neglect to make the most of his means, but probably make so many backward and down-hill movements in the journey of life, that ten chances to one, old age will find him in the vale of poverty. The cultivator who does not keep pace with his neighbours, as regards agricultural improvement and information, will soon find himself the poorer, in consequence of the prosperity that surrounds him. He will be like a stinted oak in the forest, which is deprived of light and air by his more towering neighbours.

There are farmers who feel unwilling to consult agricultural books of any description for information, because disappointment has attended some attempt they have made to follow the directions contained in them. Let such men recollect that the editors of periodical and other publications, do not consider themselves responsible for the correctness of the statements, or the soundness of the theories of the various writers, whose essays they publish. Their rule is to admit every essay, which appears to contain any new hint. It is impossible for them to judge of the correctness in point of fact, of any statement, made by a correspondent. They believe that a free and unreserved communication of all experiments, whether the conclusion drawn from them are erronious, or not, is of use. The cautious farmer, if he is struck with their novelty, may try them for himself. If they are found to fail, he will not re

peat the experiment, but he will be very careful to inquire whether he has faithfully followed the instructions of the author. Whether his soil was the same as that in which the first experiment was made, and wheth er he has taken the same pains to produce the proposed result.

We believe that thirty years since, it would have been believed impossible to raise the great crops of corn and roots which within a few years, individuals in all parts of our country have succeeded in raising. How has this been effected but by circulating accounts of individual success?

It is well known that there is scarcely any part of the country in which there may not be found persons engaged in agricultural pursuits, anxious of improvement, and capable of every rational inquiry. At the same time it must be admitted, that there are too many still labouring under the most obstinate prejudice against what they call book-farming, conceiving that they know as much of farming as is necessary, an opinion pregnant with much self-sufficiency, and exposing those who entertain it to the greatest possible disadvantage.

Our farmers have not advanced in any degree in proportion, either to their natural intelligence, or the progress of the arts in other countries. They pay but little attention to the rotation of crops; their orchards are as neglected as their woodlands; and after you get at a distance from considerable towns, horticulture is scarcely known. New-England probably can furnish bread stuff for the whole of the United Siates, and is dependent on the southern states for flour!

Every farmer, who has natural understanding, ought to be a well informed man, in reading and thinking, in theory and practice. But some farmers tell us that they never knew any good result from what they called