The improving hand of culture must be continually upon them, or they will lose all their good qualities and become worthless. 3. The natural cross-breeding of different varieties with those of inferior qualities is a very frequent cause of deterioration. This is often observed in gramineous, leguminous, and curcubitaceous plants, which are raised annually from their seeds. All the varieties of maize are very liable to detoriorate in this way. Those of the Sorghum saccharatum intermix so freely that cultivators have found it almost impossible to obtain pure seeds. From the same cause it is extremely difficult to preserve any of the varieties of the melon pure for any considerable time. No one can have any security of obtaining pure seeds unless they are planted many rods from all others, and the perfect flowers from which seeds are to be raised are covered with small tents of gauze of sufficient size to inclose each and protect it from insects. The judicious cross-breeding, however, of individuals of the same variety, when taken from a distance, will, as has before been observed, have a tendency to improve it. The mingling, even, of the sap of different trees, as in grafting, is sometimes not without its deleterious effects on the fruit of the engrafted scion; and the influence becomes more and more apparent the further we get from the purity of the parent stock. "It seems allowable," says Professor J. Lindley, "to infer that the goodness of cultivated fruits is deteriorated by their being uniformly worked upon stocks whose fruit is worthless. The common apple, when grafted upon trees bearing very austere fruit, is injured by the crude and bitter sap of the tree on which it has been grafted. On the contrary, it is improved by being grafted upon a stock superior to its own. A scion, also, taken from a young tree which has never fruited, will be hastened in its growth when grafted on a mature tree, and bear sooner than it would if it had been left to itself. 4. They may degenerate from effect of climate. A vine, for instance, which produces very delicious grapes in Ohio or Missouri may become very inferior in New Hampshire or Maine. Certain fruits cannot be perfected except in certain localities where the climate is particularly adapted to their growth and congenial to their nature. There are only a few countries where the grape will grow in perfection. There is no doubt that the climate has in many instances more influence than the soil in causing degeneration of plants. We look to the sunny skies and bland atmosphere of Italy, France, Palestine, or California, for the highest development of the grape and the pear, but for the apple perhaps there is no better region in the world than New York or Massachusetts. Plants, then, should be selected that are adapted to the locality in which they are to be cultivated, or otherwise degeneracy must be expected, labor will be thrown away, and no satisfactory results can be obtained. 5. The opinion is generally entertained by agriculturists that varieties which are raised from tubers and from scions or buds become weakened or degenerated by age. This is stoutly denied by Professor J. Lindley, and as firmly maintained by Mr. T. A. Knight and others. Whatever the truth may be, the fact is obvious that varieties do degenerate by long-continued cultivation; but the change may generally be ascribed to other causes than to age. In the case of the potato the various elements of the soil that are peculiarly adapted to its growth may have been abstracted by frequent planting on the same ground, so that the plant is actually starved from year to year, and thus weakened in constitution and dwarfed in size. It is often induced, also, from selecting for seed small tubers that are imperfectly matured, and have not secreted starch in sufficient quantity to give adequate nourishment to the new plant before its roots have been sufficiently developed to enable them to draw the necessary nourishment for its support from the soil. Or, when the practice of dividing the tubers has been adopted, they may have been cut into pieces so small that they do not contain enough of the necessary elements to produce a healthy and vigorous plant. In order, then, that there should be no deterioration, tubers should be selected of good size-some of the largest, if they are sound and well formed-and cut into two or three pieces, if that plan is preferred to planting whole, according to their size. In this way the size, vigor, and mealy qualities would be kept up, and a good and healthy crop be secured each year. Varieties of wheat, too, often degenerate for the same reason. A person who originates a new variety selects the ear, as we have before shown, which contains the best seeds; and he sows them from year to year, and keeps sowing and selecting them and no others, and soon he gets a variety which is much improved. But as soon as it goes into the hands of the cultivator, all the seeds, the perfect and the imperfect, are sown promiscuously and constantly, and the consequence is degeneration in a few years. Mr. Charles Darwin in "Variations of Animals and Plants," &c., volume 1, p. 379, says that "Colonel Le Couteur, in his persevering and successful attempts to raise new varieties by selection, began by choosing the largest ears, but soon found that the grains in the same ear differed so that he was compelled to select them separately, and each grain generally transmitted its own character." From this statement it is evident that the largest grains should be selected for sowing each year. This might be done at a trifling expense by sifting the grain through a sieve so prepared that the small kernels might pass through, and the large ones be retained in the sieve. Should this plan be pursued yearly there would doubtless be less complaint of the degeneration of this crop. The soil, no doubt, has very much to do with keeping up the size and vigor of the plant both in the case of the potato and the wheat. The necessary elements, such as lime, &c., which conduce to their growth, should be supplied with watchful care, and the labor would be rewarded by most ample and satisfactory results. crops. He Too much stress, in every department of agriculture, cannot be laid on the importance of providing the proper elements for the food of plants, whateve kind may be cultivated. One person, perhaps, finds his orchard going to premature decay, while his neighbor's is thrifty and produces abundant supposes that the location of his own is more exposed to the cold winds of winter, or that by some singular fatality injurious insects infest his trees more, but the thought never occurs to him that they are starving for the food which their nature demands, when at the same time his neighbor's are well fed. It may be true that neither orchard is enriched by manure from the stable, but one is so located in a valley as to receive a good manuring yearly by the hand of nature, while the other is on an elevation froin which all the elements of growth wash away. I have witnessed several instances of this kind; and probably one great reason why trees grew better in the early settlement of the country than at present is that the excellent manuring which they received from the rich, vegetable mold that had been accumulating for ages, and the heavy coating of ashes derived from the burning of the forests, were the elements most congenial to their growth, and supplied their principal food; and if the same health-giving manure could be applied now they would probably grow as well and produce as great crops as then. They must have food to live upon or they will die, more from neglect than from age. The amount of nourishment required to make the large quantity of fruit which a healthy orchard produces every year is very great, and * The late Mr. Chancey E. Goodrich, of New York, whose knowledge of the physiological structure and habits of the potato was probably greater than that of any man in this country, or perhaps in any country, having been acquired by long experience in originating and culti vating new varieties, says, when speaking of the practice of planting potatoes whole or cut; "After practicing both methods for years, am undecided which is best. Small potatoes and those cut very small, are certainly very objectionable in a physiological point of view." Mr. L. S. Abbott, of Ohio, says that he has made the experiment of planting alternate rows with whole potatoes and those which have been cut, and that those planted whole invariably produced the greater crop.-See Transactions of New York State Agritultural Society for 1817, p. 457. only a small part is supplied by the air. The annual coating of leaves which enrich the forest is blown away from the orchard, and of course the equivalent must be supplied by the fostering care of man. Orchards have been saved in health for many years by proper cultivation and manuring, and others can be preserved by a similar course of treatment. In concluding these remarks, I would say that the field of the agriculturist is large, comprising in its area the animal, the vegetable, and the mineral kingdom. It is full of variety, and presents a multitude of objects calculated to call forth the grandest ideas, the most lofty sentiments, and the most profound reverence for the great Architect who made and controls them all. It is his duty to make himself acquainted with the great laws of nature so far as his opportunities will permit, that he may apply the forces which are placed within his grasp to his own pecuniary benefit, and get a more exalted view of creative power and wisdom, and of the real dignity of the profession which he is pursuing. OUR INDUSTRIAL COLLEGES. It is proposed to give in this article a summary of all available information relative to the establishment of industrial colleges under the act of Congress approved July 2, 1862. The subject has so great an interest for farmers throughout the country, and is so intimately connected with an intelligent development of our national resources, that we hasten to show what has been done to secure the advantages arising from the munificent grant of Congress. It will be observed that several of the States, which fully appreciate the value of this gift, have not as yet matured plans for establishing colleges, while the southern States, in their unsettled condition consequent upon the rebellion, have not yet been able to signify their acceptance of the act. The history of these institutions will, therefore, be continued in future reports of this Department. On the 14th of December, 1857, Hon. Justin S. Morrill, of Vermont, chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, introduced in the House of Representatives a bill appropriating to the several States a portion of the public lands for the purpose of encouraging institutions for the advancement of agriculture and the mechanic arts. Opposition to the bill manifested itself at once, and, instead of being referred to the Committee on Agriculture, it was referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Four months afterward the chairman of that committee, Mr. Cobb, of Alabama, reported the bill adversely. Having been thus brought before the House the subject was discussed, and the bill finally passed by a small majority. In the winter of 1859 it was reached in the Senate, and was strongly advocated by Senators Wade, Harlan, and Stuart, and as strongly opposed by Senators Davis, Mason, and Pugh. It subsequently passed by a majority of two, and went to the President, but was soon returned with a veto by Mr. Buchanan. In 1862 the same bill was introduced in the Senate by Mr. Wade, was reported favorably by Mr. Harlan, and passed on the 10th of June by a vote of 32 to 7. The bill then went to the House, and on the 17th of June it passed by the decisive vote of 90 to 25, and on the 2d day of July became a law by approval of President Lincoln. the The purpose of the donation is thus stated by the originator of the bill : The bill proposes to establish at least one college in every State upon a sure and perpetual foundation, acceptable to all, but especially to the sons of toil, where all the needful sciences for the practical avocations of lite shall be taught; where neither the higher graces of classical studies nor that military drill our country now so highly appreciates will be ignored, and where agriculture, the foundation of all present and future prosperity, may look for troops of earnest friends, studying its familiar and recondite economies, and at last elevating it to that higher level where it may fearlessly invoke comparison with the most advanced standards of the world. The bill fixes the leading objects, but, properly as I think, leaves to the States considerable latitude in carrying out the practical details. The following analysis of the act presents its important features: I. Every State may receive a quantity of public land equal to 30,000 acres for each of its senators and representatives in Congress, under the census of 1860. II. No State is permitted to locate its scrip within the limits of another State, although its assignees may do so: Provided, That not more than 1,000,000 acres shall be located by such assignees in any one of the States. III. All expenses of location, management, taxation, &c., must be paid from the State treasuries, that the entire proceeds of the sale of the lands may forever remain undiminished. IV. The proceeds are to be invested in safe stocks, yielding not less than five per cent. per annum, and the interest "shall be invariably appropriated by each State which may take and claim the benefit of this act, to the endowment, support, and maintenance of at least one college where the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts, in such manner as the legislatures of the States may respectively prescribe, in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions in life. V. The grant is made on the following conditions: 1. Each State shall guarantee the entire capital of the fund it receives; that is, if any portion of the fund, by any contingency, shall be lost, it shall be replaced by the State to which it belongs. One-tenth, however, of the capital may be devoted to the purchase of lands for a site for an experimental farm. 2. No part of the fund, nor the interest thereon, shall be applied directly or indirectly, under any pretence whatever, for the purchase, erection, or repairs of buildings. 3. Any State receiv ing the grant must provide an institution within five years from the date of filing its acceptance of the act with the Commissioner of the General Land Office. 4. An annual report shall be made and distributed. 5. If lands improved by railroads are selected, the number of acres will be diminished. 6. No State, while in a condition of rebellion or insurrection against the government of the United States, shall be entitled to the benefit of this act. 7. No state may receive the grant unless its legislature formally accepts it within two years of its approval by the President. The following table shows the number of acres to which each State is entitled [provided Congress removes the disability of States that have not complied with the provisions of the bill] under this act, and other general facts relative to the acceptance of the grant by the State legislatures and the location of colleges, so far as they have been established: Acres in 6 240,000 3306 Mar. 31, 1866 480, 000 Jan. 25, 1867 Designation and location. Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanic Sheffield Scientific School of Yale Feb. 28, 1867 Illinois Industrial Univer'y, Urbans, 16 13 30 31 8 11 390, 000 Mar. 6, 1865 Mar. 29, 1806 77 210,000 7 7 Indiana Agricultural College. Ames, Story county. State Agricult'l College, Manhattan. Agricultural and Mechanical Col lege, (Kentucky University) Lexington. 210, 000 Mar. 25, 1863 Feb. 25, 1865 State College of Agricultural and 1863 Mechanic Arts, Orono. Amherst. State Agricultural College, Lansing. Agricultural College of Minnesota, with State University, St. Paul. Number of acres to which each State is entitled, &c.—Continued. Acres in ance. Date of accept- Date of estab- Description and location. 7 11335 33 120,000 Jan. 23, 1863 10 6 180,000 10 300,000 180,000 5 90,000 Oct. N.Hampshire College of Agriculture, (Dartmouth College,) Hanover. Rutgers' Scientific School and Rutgers' College, New Brunswick. Cornell University, Ithaca. 780, 000 May 1, 1863 April 13,1854 Agricultural College of Pennsyl 150,000 Nov. 11, 1863 Nov. 22, 1864 University of Vermont and State 300,000 150,000 Oct. 3, 1863 Feb. 7, 1867 8 240,000 Apr. 2, 1862 Apr. 12, 1866 Agricultural College, Burlington. Agricultural College of West Vir ginia, Morgantown. University of Wisconsin, (College of Arts,) Madison. A digest of all accessible information relative to those States that have accepted the grant is here presented, as follows: CALIFORNIA. 1. In March, 1866, the legislature passed an act establishing a college under the name and style of "The Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College." The design of the college is to give "thorough instruction in agriculture, mining, and the natural sciences connected therewith." To effect this object most completely, "the institution shall combine physical with intellectual education, and shall be a high seminary of learning in which the graduate of the common schools can commence, pursue, and finish a course of study, terminating in theoretic and practical instruction in those sciences which bear directly upon agriculture, mining, and the mechanical arts." The act provides for the purchase of a farm of not "less than one hundred and sixty acres" of land. 2. In addition to the congressional grant, the legislature gives to the college "all interest accruing from the sale of 15,000 acres of land, granted to this State by Congress, in 1863, and the interest that has accrued, and that may accrue, from the sale of 72 sections of land donated to the State for a seminary of learning, and all money arising from the sale of the 10 sections granted to this State for the use of public buildings." 3. The site of the college is not determined. The trustees of Oakland College, across the bay from San Francisco, have offered a site, and have further proposed to surrender their own charter, and to merge their institution in the proposed agricultural college, provided that the State shall found the University of California there, and bestow upon it all the grants which have been made for higher education in California. The proposition is to modify the plan proposed at first, and to unite in one institution the classical culture of the college with the practical instruction which relates to agriculture, mining, and the mechanic arts. The advantages of the location, arising from its vicinity to the most populous city on the Pacific coast, from its central position, and from its equable and healthy climate, are urged as reasons for accepting the proposition of the trustees. |