IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /. ^.«^i 1125 ■ 50 '"^™ ■■■ Itt lU 122 r U& 1 20 1.4 fV >^ %> // FhotogFaphic ScHioes CarpoFation ^ 13 WHT MAIN tTHIT WlMm,N.V. UIM ( 71* ) 171-4 «03 \ , signifie "A SUIVRE ". le symbols ▼ signifie "FIN". Mapa, platea, charta, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratioa. Thoae too large to be entirely included in one expoaure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many framea aa required. The following diagrama illuatrate the method: Lea cartea, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent Atre fiimAa A dea taux de reduction diff Arents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un aeui clich*. 11 est film* A partir de I'angle supirieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de heut en baa, en prenant le nombre d'imegea niceaaaire. Lea diagrammea auivaiita illuatrent la mAthode. 1 2 3 1 a a 4 5 6 yf-'v '%: >-. ^1^ .'•I- ERRATA. ■ '*** l;'j'ThL- ilfuarr wiii j lea^c correct the following thcei^p if /ore thci'crutaly with the foUoiviiig errata. PHKFACi:. J\i;,c. J.ific. Word. . ' ^^- ;' h a Head \\ou\i\ for could. I i £ 'k f^uantity ybr quality. II V 1 positiuus/or pusitioa. J 2 b w 1 have ybr I. COxMPARATlVE AGRICULTURE. I 'i 17 I for without it /or for. i;7 S Si the better /or the latter. S.^ fi 2 fi'jriii /or fiarin. i^^ 111 5 spoilu /or Soils. lr>S CT I of possession /or pott^suon. 45 21 3 drains/or urins. 45 21 8 dig /or viz. 4S S / 6 factitious /or fictious. ^'> I 8 factitious /or lictitiuus. .^0 6 5 therefor then. .^l 14 6 ever ^or even. .'1 f> 1 After constitution add lo it is with planta. ."5 2ti 2 i?earf wheat /or what oft 23 10 Note 1, form /"or from. 59 9 6 surmounting /or surrounding. HI 2-i 4 where /or when. <2 2 4 Pastime ./or pastu' 70 2) 8 finishes /or furjaiih 50 2:> 6 to /or or. Si 6 7 . /fovr om( wil!. 51 11 6 leax^e out a. S4 6 8 Head sow thus /or sow. K4 16 4 the /or one. 84 10 S Turnip/or Turnips S."* I 7 July /or Fcbi-uary. H 11 ) 2 6 would /or could. l)} 2'.) 1 /tf^/vt' out and not certain. Vl 21 6 put a full stop after ground. *;2 QuiJ de homlnnm gcoere dicjim " Qui qwasi tMtorrs tpri-:» cniisiituti, Doa putiuntur eum^ neo iittrnauiutii b«UuAri;a itTcrariy utx alirpium jtspcriute, vMtaii. — C ir. \ \ ♦ 1 1 ■ •;•'.' • MONTREAL: I'RINTED AT THE MONTREAIi OAZETTK OriKT. 1828. \ . ^ » « • ♦ ' . '• . . • • • t. • . /• ' *XJ TO THE PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT, AND MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY, ESTAULrSHED AT QUEDEC, FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OP ARTS AND SCIENCES IN CANADA, THIS ESSAY ON COMPARATIVE AGRICCLTl RE IS INSCRIBED WITII THE MOST PROFOUND hespect by their very obedient IIUMBLS servant, THE AUTHOR. . I f^'i^o ADVERTISEMENT. It may appear extraordinary, to some of my friends, or perhaps to others, that in presenting myself before the pubHc, I have not, in the first instance, elected a theological subject. To apologize, in some measure, for this 5 I beg leave to state, I have something of that nature in operation, which is not as yet suffi- ciently matured, for exhibition ; and which, I propose bringing forward, in the course, of this year, or the next, — Having seen in the papers a proposition, on tlie part of the Society, established at Quebec, for the purpose, of patronising the Arts and Sciences ; to receive a trea- tise, on the best mode, of regenerating the Canadian system of farming } I have VUl resolved to make, an humble attempt, to effectuate an object, of such vital canse- guence, to this colony. The period for producing this little treatise, being by the Society, limited, to the first day of March next, I am necessarily compelled to give, Comparative Agriculture a pre* cedence. li'^ PREFACE. Agriculture is certainly one of the most important and interesting subjects to any nation : because it is intimately connected, with its prosperity. — A certain learned author has affirmed that, a man who could invent, any method by which, two grains of corn might grow, where one only grew before, could evince hiln- self, a valuable member of the commu- nity to which he belonged : more valua- ble, than the most subtle poHtician, or the greatest warrior. Progressive im- provement in the agriculture of a nation, necessarily implies, the general progres- sive prosperity of that country at large. This idea is adventitious : however, it is the united sentiment, of the best authors^. who have written, on the subject of poh- tical economy. And that this is no ex- aggerated encomium on agricnlture, will appear, from the following brief consid- erations. Augmented improvement in agriculture, furnishes the farmer, with augmented capital. For if the farmer produces, upon a given quantity of land, by a reformed system of agriculture, double the quantity of grain, he has pro- duced before, under an inferior manage- ment, he thereby doubles his capital : and this capital, so multiplied, diffuses itself, as a copious salutary stream, through every branch of the community. For example, by this improved system, the agriculturist employs more labourers : and thus the labouring classes are bene- fited by the farmer, in his career of me- lioration. By the same rectified system, the agriculturist fetches, more grain to the merchant : and thus, tiie merchant procures, a lucrative exciiangeable com- modity. The farmer carries, an increas- ed portion of his redundant cash to the mechanic and manufacturer ; tliereby aggrandizing them. He pays, the pro- fessional man, with additional prompti- tude and liberality : and the landlords rent is liquidated by him, with more punttuality and satisfaction. Moreover, by a redundant quality of grain being produced in a country, through the in- strumentality of the farmer, exportation is increased : the ship owner is benefited ; and the revenue is multiplied, from the same source. Hence it must appear evi- dent to every imprejudiced reader that, the position advanced above, are correct and founded in fact — namely, that pro- gressive improvement of agriculture in a country, necessarily presupposes, the progressive melioration of every depart- ment of ^jciety : and consequently, that agriculture, is one of the most important and interesting subjects, that can engage the attention, of the statesman or philan- thropist. Should the writer of the following sheets, prove so fortunate, as to contri- bute, in the smallest degree, to meliorate the agricultural interests of Canada : and thereby promote, in a measure, the pros- perity and happiness of a magnificent country, he has adopted, and to which he is sincerely attached, he will feel himself abundantly remunerated, for any little trouble he may havetiiken, in putting his thoughts hastily to paper, in the accom- plishment, of so desirable and gratifying 211 an object. It has been alledged that, the Canadian habitant, heedless of every instruction, and regardless of every use- ful precedent, will trudge on unchange- ably, in the paths of his forefathers. But this is a libel on the Canadian char- acter — for in my own neighbourhood, where I resided only seven years, many little changes for the better, in agriculture and other respects, have taken place, un- der my personal observation : and this emboldens me to expect that, under similar circumstances, similar effects will be produced elsewhere ; and to cherish, the fond hope, that ultimately, a com- plete and scientific plan of cultivation, will be universally adopted, and diffused through the Canadas. ESSAY OH Comtiaratfiie as^vitultuvt. 1 CHAPTER I. The tuperior cullivafion, and consequent beautij of Great Brila'uu I THINK I may assert, without fear of confutation, that Englaiul, is one of the most beautiful and flourishing countries in the worKl. 1 iiis is owing principally, tho* not altogether, to ils superior culti- vation. Every posilio]) of that opulent and happy spot, is an augcd and managed, agreeable to tlic ruL s 'mmX prinrnples, of the niost approved and scientific agricul- tural knowictlge. Enter that fascinating place, east, west, nortli, or south ; in moving along, it presents y^V, in every di- rection, with the |)lcasing j)ic'ture, of a widely extended garden, richly inter- spersed, with cottage:?, villas, mansions, hamlets and cities. As you advance, the heart of the benevolist is gladdened, at the view of such complicated excel- lence, exhibited on every side : such elegant and judicious arrangement in the farms: such tasteful simplicity in the farm houses: such profitable display of fruits and vegetables in tlie orchards and gardens: such neatness in the villages : such industry in the manufactories : such bustle and alacrity in the transaction of business, in the cities. Thrice happy England, may thy robust and florid sons, enjoy uninterruptedly and unmolested, the sweet fruits of their toils and their labours! In Ireland too, agriculture has arrived, at a great pitch of excellence. Of late years, the English mode of farm- ing has been introduced, a^ far as it is practicable with the greatest advantage. The implements of husbandry, which formerly were, as they are now in Cana- da, rude and ponderous, are exchanged iov light, but eflicacious tools : and there- by auimal labour is much curtailed^ and capital saved. Such of its rich and fer- tile plains, as are not applied to sheep walks, and pastures for bullocks, and other black cattle, arc skilfully and pro- tlauly cultivated, with white and green «. , the i, at xcel- such lithe the ly of 3 and iges : such ion of lappy sons, estedy their re has lence. farm- IS it is itage. ^hich ICana- mged Ithere- and id fer- |sheep and pro- Igrceii • crops. In this w^iy reland has become, a sort of granary, to her sister kingdom: and her exports also, are far from being inconsiderable. Dearest Ireland ! what pity, that the cold hand of poverty, or the fierce arm of bigotry, should for a moment, freeze the talents, or paralyze the exertions, of thy highly gifled and energetic sons. Scotland also is pro- gressing rapidly in agriculture. The Scotch persevering and indefatigable in- dustry, has effectuated much, in that art, generally, tlirough the land of cakes. In the neighbourhood of Edinburgh and other large towns, the soil is cultivated, in very superior style. The Scotch plough is proverbial for its elegance and efficacy. Were the same species of cultivation ad- opted in a country^ such as Canada, where the soil, if not better, is at least on a par, with that of Great Britain, such an ad- option, would unquestionably issue, in the most beneficial results. Agriculture would necessarily improve, and ultimate- ly flourish ; and capital freely and abun- dantly circulate, througli all the branches of the community : giving life and ener- gy to the body politic, as an increase of wholesome fluid in the veins, gives spirit and renovation, to the human frame, a2 CHAPTER II. General Arrangement and Management of a Farm in Great Britain. When a farmer, of skill and judgment, undertakes to rent, or manage a portion of land in Great Britain, his first object is, to divide, and subdivide it, agreeable to the general plan, he has in contem- plation. His fences are repaired, or newly made, so as to correspond, with this division, and subdivision. In case, a house is to be built, he will take care to erect it, upon the most eligible scite : and will observe the same rule, with re- gard to the erection of his offices. He will not build too near the high road, for that would subject him to annoyances and inconveniences : nor too iar from it. because that arrangement would cut up, and waste his land, by his approach being too extensive. He will derive further advantages also, by the judicious adoption of an eligible situation. Heing placed, not very far distant, from the centre of his property, he is convenient to his til- lage, that always requires manure ; and Ruch oth?r portions of his land, which require perioiiical dressing. And he will ices it. up, ?ing Itber Ition :ed, of til. land ch ill It w be in a position, from whence he can view, with facility, at all times, any tres- pass that may be committed upon the premises. Suppose his farm to consist of sixty acres of land, the same extent of most of the Canadian farms, he will make, if not exactly, one very similar, to the following arrangement. He will appropriate thirty acres to grass ; and the other moiety to tillage. He will di- vide his grass land probably, into three equal portions. Ten acres, he will set apart for meadow : ten acres for general grazing : and ten acres for a change, or reserve.* The latter he will partially plant, in all probability, provided he has a long or permanent tenure, with such timber trees, as may best suit hereafter, the purposes of agriculture. The ten acres that have been in meadow the first year, he will have in grass the second year : and the general pasture division, that was occupied with his cattle the greater portion of the first year, will be converted into meadow the second year, and this process, of alternate cutting and grazing, of the same twenty acres, will *Of thit rcMrvt he will probably ict Mid« two ncrct for t^ MiU uf m boitto anJ oiRoM and Tor » garden aud orvki»rd. Ad G I I i ^ i' continue for a lengtli of time, say ten, fif- teen or twenty years ; unless some un- favourable circumstances occur in those divisions, which demonstrate the neccs-- sity, of making some alteration in this system. It is a w^ell ascertained fact that, the older meadow or grass land is, the better ; provided, it does not run into moss — overrun with tveeds — or be- come, what the farmers call, hideboundf In such cases, it must be broken up im- mediately : and continue in tillage, a few seasons, until the malady is removed, by skilful management : and another divi- sion,* in the mean time, substituted in its place, for the purpose of affording, the usual annual supply, of hay or grass, for the cattle. Two divisions should never be broken up together ; as this ex- tensive change in the general plan, would * The division that is to be <;ubktitutcd in tlic place nf (lie dittoascd division is that hercaflcr to be dci^cribcd which is dcittined to p'ow pcai or beans. The crop of peas or ItcaiiK inuit be sowed early in spring and when niutured niu»t be re- moved quickly and altogether from the Held, the field is then to be ploughed without delay and laid down with timothy seed, or with jonio of that and red ciovcr, or white clover or trefoil. The meadow seeds nuist be shook on or ininicdiutely after the fint of 8ept«nilcr. If sown after the twentieth the land will not afl'ord nicaduw the following season. The diseased division alter it yields its rrop is to be ploughed in aiituinn and to \ t lie rrgulur roiution of i;rop«. I«i V-T' ni, fif- e un- those neccs^ n this 1 fact mi is, 3t run or be- houndf up im- j, a few ed, by ir divi- uted ia brding, ^ grass, should this ex- , would ►lace of llie cd which is JUS or bcaiiK nimt be re- field is then uotliy seed, er or trefoil, y after the he land will ised diviiion 111 and to !'<■ iig bO rt!» to derange altogether, tlie economy of the farm. These evils never advance how- ever, so rapidly, as to prevent the provi- dent farmer, from taking his measures in due time. In case two or more divisions are infected, about the same periotl, the better way would be, to break, one di- vision every year, until the farm is again restored to its usual train. Some pastures have remained in grass in Ireland, with advantage, for a period of one hnndred years. Should no sensible deterioration take place from the above causes in the meadow or grass divisions the herbage will every year, become more delicate in its pile aoa more nutritive, and of course, more profitable ; provided, after every second or third cutting, that is txevy fourth or sixth year, a reasonable coat of manure is bestowed upon each division* If however, the land is naturally good, and deep, a profitable loam, or a rich clay, for example, it may be cut for meadow^ by pursuing the plan of alter- nate cutting and grazing for many years, to great advantage; without applying one pound of stimulus or manure of any kind. I have seen land in Ireland, man- aged in this way for many years : and laud too, of rather an inferior quahty j M* 8 certainly below, the medium standard of land in Canada ; and instead of its be- coming impoverished by this sort of rou- tine, it was rendered, every succeeding year, more profitable. It may be relied upon then, as a general principle, subject to some few exceptions, that the longer, land remains covered, with the beauteous green, nature has bestowed upon it, the more valuable it will prove, for meadow or pasture. The third grass division, a portion of which, I presume to have been planted for the construction, of farming implements, is resorted to for the animals, when — the weather continu- ing dry for any length of time — ^when the sun and parching winds absorbing the moisture of the soil — or the cattle eating the general pasture division too closely, render it unfit, for the purpose of grazing. By this occasional change, many advantages are attained. The animals get an abundant supply, when they want it most, in the second grass division : and accordingly, thrive apace. They are removed from a spot, that they begin to loath, from its being trampled by their feet-— polluted by the dust — and rendered fetid and nauseous, by an accumulation of evacuations. The nrst grass division. t) by this movement, gets time for reno\a- tion : and becomes fit, shortly again, for the reception of the stock. Thus the farmer procures, a continual supply c^ good and wholesome herbage foi* his cat- tle, consequently they improve rapidly, in bone and flesh ; and amply reimburse him^ for his judicious arrangement. CHAPTER III. ISubject of the Jarmer Chapter continued The British farmer, having divided hii -thirty acres of grass Jand into three equal portions, and having arranged in his inind, which was to serve, the first year, for meadow; and which for common pasture ; and which, for reserve; he next turns his attention, to an aarangemen^ with respect to his tillage land, lie will, in all likelihood, divide the thirty re- maining acres intended for tillage, into three equal portions ; as he has divided, liis other thirty acres, that are to remain unbroken : ion of these, he will put un- der wheat: ton under peas or beans: and ten under green crops and jardinage. The wheat croj) is, if possible, always to be preceded, with two melioratiniJf or en- f;i m mi riching crops, the peas and the jardinage: as wheat requires land itl good heart, and well manured. If his pea land is very poor at first, he would do well, to plough it up, the previous autumn, to enrich and cleanse it : giving it another ploughing, the following spring, previous to the pro- cess of harrowing in the seed, and after the peas are mowed, he would give it another autumnal turning, so as to kill the weeds and grass effectually : and ren- der it altogether fit, for the reception of the green crops and jardinage. The green crops and jardinage, which suc- ceed the pea or bean crop, are potatoes, bagaruga, alias Swedish turnips, red or white norfolk turnips, mangle wurzle, carrots, beans, &c. &c. These are all cultivated in drills: and manured or dressed exceedingly well : and any of the above named, according to the farmer's fancy, may either be prefered altogether to the rest ; or the quantity of any, aug- mented or decreased, according to ex- isting circumstances. Whilst those crops are growingi and until such time, as they are separated from the soil ; the land must be kept clean with the plough; and with the hand : with the plough in the .furrows, and with the hand, between the L mM^tmmmm^mm age: and very ough land hing, J pro- after ive it :o kill dren- ion of The ii suc- tatoes, red or rurzle, ire all ed or of the rmer's , ;ether » aug- Ito ex- crops IS they land y and lin the Icn the ii plants. And when they are removed, - there will be then, ten acres of soil, in the very best condition, ready to receive the succeeding crop of wheat; which will produce, as much grain under those circumstances, as would be produced upon double or treble that quantity of land by a dissimilar process. The same routine follows again, the peas or beans succeed the wheat, and the green crops and jardinage the peas, and the wheat the green crops and jardinage, and so on ; ^ and this rotation is applied to each of the three tillage divisions, in regular succes- sion, so as to afford* the farmer, in this way> every year ten acres of peas ; ten acres of green crops and jardinage j and ten acres of wheat. In process of time, ^ should the land become too rich for peas, oats, barley, rye, flax, or some of all, may be substituted in their stead. From the general sketch 1 have given of this mode of cultivation, as practised in Great Bri- tain, it must be obvious to every rational man that, it is highly productive, for the support, both of man and beast. The wheat, in one of the three tillage divi- sions^ being produced, in great abun- dance, will supply the family of the cul- '■■ '! tivator. with best bread ; and furnish di large surplus quantity, for the market. The peas, in the second division, yield- ing well, are excellent for culinary pur- poses ; and will feed a vast number of swine and poultry. And the straw, with that of the wheat, assist, in maintaining, during the winter and spring months, a number of cattle. The potatoes, in the third division, will serve, as a valuable staple commodity for the household : and the superfluods portio-i can be blended with advantage and economy, with the peas, in feeding the swine : or may be transported to the market. A portion of the red or white norfblk turnip, will be served at table; and the redundancy, given in small quantities daily, in the be- ginning of the season, to the sheep ; to preserve some fat, and keep others, in health and strength. And when the nor- folk is deteriorating, or expended in the spring of the following year, the Swedish, which is a better keeping vegetable, than the noifolk, will naturally supply its })lacc. The mangle wurzle, in the siune division, in conjunction with any sort of fodder, will alibrd abundance of milk and but- ter from the cows j during a severe win- L 13 rnish di narket. yiekl- :y piir- iber of ^, with :aining, nths, a in the ahiable d : and )lended ith the nay be rtion of will be .lancy, lie be- ep 5 to ers, in le nor- in the rcdish, , than })Iaee. vision, odder, I but- e win- IC ter, when those comfort^ cannot be pro- cured in the country, in any* other way BO well, save at an enoimous expense. The carrots can be applied to culinary purposes ; and are an excellent whole- some food for wording horses. And the beans are applicable to the sarme end. In case, it is an object .with the farmer to fatten bee^ he can .do so profitably with his reserve grass division to a limited ex- tent in summer : and satisfactorily in winter, with his superfluous peas; or with his spare potatoes; or any of the productions growing ivith them in the third tillage division, the beanst except- ed. Thus, I think, I have satisfactori- ly proved my former affirmation that, a farm managed, a la mode ang]oise, is abundantly productive and beneflcial. It will not onlv directlv aggrandize the in- dividual^ wno is chiefly concerned ; but will indirectly extend its utility to all the various branches of the community, in that way, I have already described in the preface. -^... ■ "Chopped turnips are escellcut food for milch cows, united with bay or othor fodder. 1 1 am oonfident that beans, if ground, would ^ttctt beef w«Ui u thejr aoatain a krge quantity of lariiuw B ^. r. *. ,c ^^ H CHAPTER IV. ^ '•■>: ii'i ; t General arrangement and management of a Farm m Lower Canada, It is with the greatest pain and reluc- tance, I am obliged to say, that the ar- rangement and management of a farm in Lower Canada; when cultivated by a habitant, furnishes nearly, a complete contrast, to the arrangement and man- agement of a well regulated farm, of equal quality and quantity, in Great Britain. The habitant has his arrange- ment : but alas ! it is one of the worst that can be imagined. Having selected a spot for his house and oflices, immedi- ately* adjoining the high road, he lays himself open thereby, to a series of in- conveniences. His household are liable to be injured by all sorts of passing ani- mals : and are subject to be impeded, in the prosecution of their avocations, by saucy tiavellers and gossipping neigh- bours : and his property is more exposed. 4 I am happ)r to see there are lome exceptions to this g«ae- ral rule and that some Canodiaiu cuincidiiig in opinion with ma have thrown their houses l>ack from the chemin de front toma acrev. This should be adoptad gcaerally hereafter and tht •diiicct ihromi bach fiurthcr, "v: Farmm reluc- he ar. farm I by a nplete man- m, of Great range- worst lected imedl- e lay» of in- liable g ani- ed, in IS, by leigh- posed tit ncene- with in* 'ont toin* Midtkt 15 it night, to every unprincipled marauder, than if he had chosen a more central bi- tuation. In dependant of these incon- veniences, damage from the farmer's own cattle, and trespass by the neighbouring ones^may be committed unperceived, to A considerable extent, at one extremity of the land, whilst the farmer apprehends no evil at the other. He is too distant, from the seat, of his principal operations. Locating himself centrally, he ought to have his divisions, that require peculiar care, and demand annual and other dress- ings, immediately in front and to his right and left. In this position he could cart out his manure and his dressings with more facility and expedition : and perceive from his window, any incroach- ments; seizing without loss of time, those animals, that invade the most valuable part of liis property.- I'he next mal-ar- rangement to which I shall advert, is the manner the habitant disposes of the two principal divisions of his 'farm- namely, the divisions he appropriates to his tillage and grass. Having set apart' an acre or an acre and a half at most for meadow ; a very small patch for his gar- den ; none for an orchard ; and a fair proportion, say ten acres for his wood j B H IG Jic applies all the remainder of his sixty acres, to the above two denominations. What he calls his grass division, is per- liaps, one of the most melancholy spec- tacles in nature. No grass growing ; but a few tufts here and Ihere scattered, that have forced their way through the til- lage, to its injury, the preceding year : and which are not capable of ieeding, any sort of cattle sufficiently. The rue- fuf consequences are, that the black cat*^ tie are stinted in bone and flesh : tho sheep, in weight, condition and wool : and both kin£, gr?^du£^lly and progres- sively dwindle. To renaer the case still more deplorable, the swine in summer^ are let loose without rings or remorse, upon this ill fated allotment, which they tear up in various directions ; finishing the picture of this wretched scene. And it is not, until late in the year, that the cattle, thus stinted, get into any sort of condition ; by being admitted into the uflcr grass of the tillage division. In spring and summer, the time, that all sorts of cattle in Great Britain, and other parts of the civilized world, are im- proving in bone and condition, the stock of the Canadian, are absolutely starving of a dry year j and jialf famished in a 17 tall Itlier im- Lock ing In a moist or favorable one. But were the Canadian, to convert his wood division, into a grass reserve ; and shift his cattle according to circumstances, tiiey would, of course, thrive uniformly like the cattle of other nations, I have observed be- fore, that the European farmer, always removed hi^ stock, from the general grass division to his reserve— either, when the former is eaten rather close— or when it 13 scorched by the wind or sun— or is ren- dered arid and jejune, by the absence of dews and rains. This the inteligent ha- bitant: ought to do also. And the man- ner in which he is to convert his wood division into a grass reserve,. I shall now endeavour to explain*. I have already supposed the habitant to have ten acres of wood land. Tins lie should brush with care ; cutting down everv shrub and small tree of six inches diameter and under ; and notice above that size. Having burnt the whole of these, and any rotten stuft or rubbish, that may be found in the way, he must harrow in, from the first to the twentieth of September, half a bushel of best tim- othy seed to the acre : or if the soil is naturally adapted to the seed, he may decrease a quantity of the timothy, and 18 add some red or white clover or trefoil. This compartment, must not be grazed, imtil the grass has established itself well in the ground : and when it is so estab-* lished, in the course of nine months or thereabouts, it will be a most valuable acquisition to the farmer. He ought to commence eating it with sheep.* It may be doubted, whether it will grow^ to ad- vantage under such circumstances : but that it will, I have only to refer, to fre- quent exemplifications in Upper Canada and in the States ; where, the advantages of the woods and the champaign are comprised in one and the same place. I liave sometimes seen, in Lower Canada,, an abundant sugary, produce good grass : and the farmer, in order to accompHsh this most desirable object — that of con- verting wood land partially cleared into grass, has his choice — cither to pursue the direction given by me rbovc— or to follow the example of his successful neighbour, who has converted his suga- ry into pasture. The farmer will require to cut down every year, of his wood j ^ Whfii land i» first laid tlou'n with pniss seeds or clover it vlmu'd not he fed fi)r sonic time with horses or nny heavy cuttle lis th-y tear up with their foft the tender blades of herbage ItM'urv their root« arc suff)cif r;?M^. '^It tr^U'S^T This ability is to be obtained, by a change from one good pasture to an- other equally good : by manqriug or dressing the* meadow Tot, which is to serve for pasture the following year : or by light dressing one grass department, whilst the cattle depasture tne other. The next step towards regeneration in Canadian agriculture is to set apart, a considerable portion of the farm, for ha\v Without a plentiful supply of hay in winter and spring, it is almost impossible to support the strength, and preserve the health of working cattle. For if the animal is wintered badly, he will not have the ability to perform his work in the npring, and early part of summer, when his services are most requisite and valua- ble. The Canadian farmer must there- fore resolve to appropriate, nine or ten aipentii to meadow, iuitead of the liberal tarn TSC o{ ore tom rricul" )f ilu^ latter t tliey ength' nme it by a ;o an- tig or is to \r : or ^ment, other. on in art, a V haw ay in >ssible ve the f the have the wlicii ;^alua- ;here- r ten beral 21 supply, -of one acre, or one and a half; for Without a plentiful fund of this valua- ble commodity, his beasts cannot work as they ought* Even of the gay little hay patch that he has, dressed by nature's hand, with little or no cooperation of his own, in livery splenditlly green, oft doea he lop oiF A portion, for the completion of an object comparatively insignificant; a9 if) he isn vied the very existence, of the most beauteous and vmuable spot of his farm. This blunderinf^ will not do, the Canadian must appreciate as he ought, tjie merit of the fertile little mead hp has, and then, instead of curtailing, ha will gladly augment its qus^ntity, pind im^ prove its quality, to the best of his abili- d^ ,■«.«.* . k J c .•rti -r ■ CHAPTER V > < ..-' O.,! i \.f^'. t "7. ri' . ! J v; Subject i)fth$ last ChapUr continued, Ud^'i Having in the last chapter paid some attention, to the best mode of producing a plentiful supply of good grass and * F'or feeding horst ^ of $. year that hay u scarce, carrot* {trc a wholesome and nutritive lubstltute fur it. These unilt'4 with any kind of straw and oats, or beans, w^l Keep ih»k% gencruui; animals in gqod plight and spirits. ^u the wurd ftuluw ixi tuc bciuv it is generally ihadc uiie of in Kurope^ i uik^j uicua Ij tLkl term a late au- tiiumai ^lou[j;hiu£. the hich ing- are I the jre.* :rop, iter's soon pro- ;o be s not uce a ating aug-; liseu. mode iltho* more rding p his and as to occu- ing the iffectiou je. i.ei-ally 27 p6tform, i«, to run a light plough, three or four times through his furrows, with one horse or |3ullock, if the land is mel- low ; or v/ith a pair of steady horses, or with an equal number of steady bullocks, if the land is heavy, in summer time, when he has little or nothing else to do. He must manure his tillage, he will say, ivith a shrug, the second year, during this rotation : but would he not himself recommend to manure, potatoes, cab- bage, Indian corn, onions, and his gener- ous care : killing, sociable, n arc o tick, to- bacco, whenever he would plant them. . 1 presume, when his eyes are open, he will have no objection, to eradicate thfe weeds, that prick his fingers so confound- edly, when he is preparing to collect, and thresh his corn. This desirable object, of national regeneration in tillage, can therefore be thoroughly accomplished, by a little horse hoeing,* and manuring, and by employing his children, now and again, in gentle exercise, that will pro- * IIors« hcinpj is the operation of earthinj^up plants to tl»« ri{;ht and left with the action of a plou;;h drawn with one or two aniina!s, 1 prefer havinj^ the w into action. When you furnish a new bed of earth, for tiie growth of plants^ late in the year, it is not brought at once into operation^ and so much the better^ Ill: : I; I L I ! A I li;! 54 for it is rooted up by the plough, in a state, at first, almost entirely incapable of producing vegetation. This is a fact, well ascertained by experimsnt,* andean be easily explained. The earth derives its fertility principally from the atmos- phere ; and the influence of the atmos- phere, does not penetrate, more than a few inches into the earth. Wheff there- fore clay is turned up, from a bed below this influence, it comes up, in a crude, wild, barren, unproductive state, which requires time, to alter and meliorate its nature. This opportunity is afforded by deep autumnal ploughing* And afler it has continued, a few months idle, under the joint influence, of atmosphere, frost and snow, it becomes capable of fructify- ing, in a mast extraordfnary degree. But if, having the same object in view, you plough deepl^r in spring, you will meet with disappointment: as the new bed of clay, will not have time sufficient to alter its wild and savage nature : and you will deteriotate, instead of improving • If you sink with a ipade into the ground four fert rimI take from below a given quantity ol any sort of clay and im- mediately shake some seed intnit, the Need will not i^ernu'nate t)ut when tht daj hu b«cn luoUliud bj the air it viAl do iu in d pable L fact, dean grives tmos- triws- han a there- below :rude, which lie its ed by fter it under frost ctify- gree, view, will new icient and ►ving rert rimI md im. rniinate do iU 35 •'%< your crop. The best working, plough I have ever seen in Canada, was, of the following dimensions. The beam one yard twenty one inches. The handles one yard fifteen inches. The low rail, connecting the handles, twelve inches. And the top rail twenty-one inches. The sole and cross were proportioned to the above dimensions. And the sock and cutter not more than half the weight, of the sock and cutter of a Canadian plough ; say twenty-one pounds. There is a little contrivance, which I have per- ceived in the Canadian plough, to render it durable, of which I highly approve. This is a small rod of iron^ of about a Siarter of an inch diameter, that fastens e beam of the plough firmly to the soal. This prevents a very common ac- cident, that occurs in Europe, the burst- ing of the soal from the cross: and when this mishap takes place, of course, the operation of ploughing is altogether sus-^ pended, until the machine is organized anew* The accident is daused, either by coming in contact, with a root of a tree, a stone, or a rock. Sometimes it takes place, in heavy land, without the presen- tation of stones or roots ; when the in- strument is too much pressed, by the motncntum or weigfit 6i heavy cattler The chagrin, that rises in the mind of the ploughman, when this paralyzing ac- cideiU; ^occurs, in a hurry, and late in the seed season, can only be conceived, by the agriculturist,, of methodical ha« bits, who anxiously palpitates, to have €very operation upon his farm, accom- plished in due rotation. I do recom- mend then, in the strongest manner, that this eligible little provision may never be omitted, by the Canadian : and that, the old country farmer, as he in sometimes called, may adopt, so rational and useful an improvement. In a wood farm, this contrivance is indispensably necessary : for in that place, no plough but one of iron, could last an hour, but of a wood farm hereafter.* Besides this short light plough for spring sowing and general use, the farmer ought always have at his hand, the long plough, after the fashion I have described, for the purpose already men- tioned. And he ought to have one gen- eral principle uniformly impressed upon his mind — that the oftener he stirs his * In CMC I find that this little treatise has been of any bene- fit to the Canadian population, I will endeavour to tei-ve them farther by ftirntshing them hereafter with another essay on the beiit mode of nianaging a wood farm. stttler id of gac- te in iived, il ha*> have :com- ;com- , that ^er be t, the itimes useful , this sary : »Be of wood light 1 use, landy have Imen- gen- Lipon his ly bene- le them Ksay on 37 land intended for tillage, tr\-T with the plough, the harrow, the spade, or any other tool, the latter, as I have already stated, every time the earth is moved it derives from the atmosphere an augmen- tation of fertility and accordingly in every country, where agriculture is well un- derstood, the moment one crop is out of the ground, the land is tossed up again, by some process or other, to enrich it for another. - .4'S-' ■ ' - ' ^ 1 • -, , f ■ -t . ■■ :^:>^ CHAPTER VII. t" HarrotoinS' «.*' . ■•if The ploughing of Canada generally speaking, as far as I have seen of it, is badly executed : but the harrowing is still worse. Indeed, the bare inspection of the instrument of which, they make use, will be sufficient to convince,- any man of experience, of the truth of this asser- tion. There is not a morsel of iron in the whole of it. The teeth are con- structed of hard wood, which could be somewhat improved, were they roasted in the fire : but even this obvious little improvement has not as yet been adoptM ed. When this imperfect tool, is applied J: ' !" * ,88 to a soil, by nature friable and crumbly, it answers the purpose pretty well j pro- vided, the land is not much infected with strong weeds, or impregnated with strongly matted gras^ses ; such as scutch and ^arin : but if thistles, and stout per-* rennkl weeds, or a vigorously spread- ing pile of any species of grass, usurp the tillage land, the ground derives no benefit, from the operation, of this wretched instrument ; and the crop very little. The harrow so constructed, can make no impression, upon the soil thus circumstanced ; because, the weeds and grass that hold the, clay together, are stronger than the teeth of the instru- ment; consequently^ the earth, cannot be disturbed sufficiently, to tear up the dirt, that monopolizes and soils it. The seed is not covered enough. Some is devoured by vermin ; and the rest, being too much exposed to sun and wind, by not being buried sufficiently below the surface of the earth, and havidg power* ful competitors, in the weeds and grasses, to contend with, that have had priorily possession of the sod, cannot possibly arrive, at any degree of perfection. Thus the tillage land'is comparatively injured, and the crop lost, or debilitated, in a 59 jmbly, 5 pro- ifected d with scotch ut per* spread- usurp ives no of this op very ed, can 3il thus eds and ^er, are instru- caiinot up the The lome is ^, being ind, by >w the power* ;rasses, iriorily iossibly Thus ijured, ill a g(*eat degree, by tiie ineffectual efforts, of this ridiculous tool. If this harrow is ill calculaited to do its duty, in some cases, when loose and loamy land is in question ; how much worse, is it calcu- lated to act with advantage, when soils of a more ponderous and stubborn nature are to be managed. What impression ^ can it make upon a stiff white or yellow clay, or upon a clayey loam, although such soils may b^ altogether free from every intruder ? But if, they happen to be, circumstanced differently, covered like the light soil, with filth of every kind, you might as well make use of a pick- tooth to plough them efficaciously, as to think, of n)aking any beneficial work upon them, with a, Canadian harrow. Let this worthless toy then be explode*! altogether, and something rational, sub- stituted in its stead. There are two sorts of harrows of which they make use in Ireland and elsewhere to advantage : the small light harrow with hinges in the middle : and the large Jieavy harrow called a hreah^ both armed with iron pins or teeth of different dimensions. And no farm having a variety of soil, can be worked satisfactorily without them. Some i:rops, such as turnips and peas, require D 2 ..«v 40 ! I j I ■■'>l to be covered lightly whereas others such as wheat and oats love to be covered deeply. For the former purpose, the light hinged harrow is well calculated, as it accommodates itself readily, to the shape and configuration of the land, by the action of its hinges : and does not bury the seed too deeply, from the short- ness of the teeth ; at the same time, that it combs all the land evenly and equally. The heavy break without hinges, is of an unbending nature; the opposite of the former in every particular, with the exception, that the teeth of both as above stated are iron. It lacerates the soil, and the intruding weeds and grass, with ex- traordinary force and efficacy. It is al- ways drawn by two horses or steers, as the frame is heavy.. Whereas the former harrow, demands only one. Its use is particularly beneficial, when the land, argillaceous by nature, and ponderous from dampness, an d withal grassy and weedy, requires to be deeply fallowed bv the plough, and afterwards torn well asunder by the harrow. Any of the large clods that are not dissolved, by the rains, dews, or frosts, thoroughly, are pulverized quickly, by its instrumentality. And the grass and weeds are forcibly I ! ers such covered ose, the lated, as , to the and, by loes not le shoTt- me, that equally, es, is of )osite of with the as above soil, and with ex- It is aU ■eers, as former use is le land, Inderous issy and >wed by irn well of the by tlie ily, are fntality. [orcibly 41 torn from their beds, and their roots ex- ' posed without nourishment, to the parch^ ing windp, and direct rays of the sun. In this way, tfee stubborn nature of one of the best of soils is vanquished, and the competition, between the intruders, and the rightful owner of the sod, is destroyed. The weeds and grass thus exposed a while, become fit for combus- tion ; and the ashes produced by burn- ing, furnishes a dressing. The corn is thrown, into the oeiierous bosom of the earth-— well plouii^hed-^well harrowed— well cleansed— well pulverized — and well sprinkled with manure — and it amply re- pays the anxious and laborious husband- man, for all his toilf?v What I have seen practised, to sqch advantage at home, it is my pleasing duty, to advise f^trongly here. Let every habitant then in Cana- da, have his two harrows, as aT)ove de>% cribed, as well as his t\^o plouiglis : and these, with a pair of good horses, or good bullocks, will enable him, with a Utile as- sistance of cattle,furnis!ied occasional I vb^'* his neighbourSj^ to execute, all the avoca- tions of his farm, with increased credit, facility and profit. In every ordinary case, his own pair of beasts, will be able to perform his work well : and when an . d3 . A I * i I 1 1 II 4^ extraordini^ry one occurs, the Canadians^ lyho arc obliging and friendly to all, will freely lend to each other. rieiti:n.:.v[r- >■ -y* 'ij>p\y 'r' '^ \ J If-^- ■ fj-j ',•■'% i' '•<* .« On CHAPTER VIII. i Manures and Dressings .-^ -{■■» ft Tlie Europe! .t.iViL # ..W Vi system of husbandry, cannot be conducted at home, or here» without a considerable quantity of stable manure and dressings. By stable manure, it is evident, J must mean, the dung of horses, cows^ sheep, bogs, &c. By dress- ings, I mean, every other species of fer- tifazing stu£^ as gypsum, aslies^ lime,, marle^ virgin or black earth, clay, sand, &c. In Canada, there is plenty of manure, and most of these dressings : but they have not made, nor do not make, the t roper use of them. Stable manure, has- een seen formerly in this country, ac- cumulate for yearsi before the ofhces or out-houses of the farmer : until by its accumulation, it had become a complete nuisance ; by preventing, the ingress and egress of the husbandman and his cattle. When tl\is serious inconvenience had taken place, he has been obliged to make, an extraordinary effort, to rid adiana^ 11, wiU * ''■ .^ a'- -■^ .. {■■*: jandiy, )r here^ r stable oanure, lung of y dress- of f er- ^ lime,. V sand* nure^ t they Le, the ire, has^ r, ac- ices or by its iplete ngress Inu his Inience |ged to to rid 43 himself, of his sopposed iticumberance ; and he has transported it, to the next large river or stream, wid buried his wealth in its waters. Were the Canadian aware of the injury, be was infticting upon himself and his famOy^ by tbi# ab* surd waste of the most precious eommo* dity of his fa»*m, be womd not, of course have d^ie so. And that no one of science or agricultural knowledge^ had not ex- postulated with effect, long since, npoB this most destructive and ruinous prae* tree, it astonishing. At present, the habitant does not view, the manure of his farm yard, as so formidable an enemy to him, as he did some fifty or sixty years ago. He turns out, a considerable quan- tity of it upon his potatoe plot, vndian corn, and tobacco: and finds this trans- port more ben^cial, than that, to the deep ravine or the devouring cataract. He has no idea however, of appljing the residue of his manure, to any eiigibie ob- ject. His corn fields lie pining in hunger, whilst this would feed them. His little meadow patch is never manured nor dress- ed, although its native ^beauty invites^ the tenderest attention. His pasture is left, to the feeble exertions of exhausted nature -, and what would gladden 'them 4'l» all, is allowed to tc% m iiseTess insfg^ nificance, , He should collect manure, as he would gold, for is not manure as valuable as gold, when it produces gold ; and he ought to deal out one, as he would the other, with liberality, but with judg-- ment. The stable dung, having been increased, every way, by keeping, as much cattle, during the winter as possible ;' and by bedding them down plentifully with the least valuable straw, of the farm it must be applied, not only to the potatoes, iniiian corn, and tobacca plant, but also, to all the drilled crops^ as I have aj ready described in the former chapter of tillage: and if any of that valuable stuff should re- main, it ought to be bestowed upon the meadow or grass divisions. However,, it is not likely, there will be a surplus of manure for the latter purpose ; ais ten acres of drilled crops, will take a very considerable quantity. It is more pro- bable, there will not be a suUlciency, to serve the tillage alone : and in this case, we must have resource to dressinrja. There is a certain period of the year, that the habitant Iras little or nothing to* do. I mean the interval, between the sowing anil raising of his crops, This^ tiiuc miglu be valuably employed, iii s mure, ire as gold ; would judg- been ; much J ;' and y with arm it itatoe?,' 3t also, ij ready tilla^r^e: >uld re- K)n the wcver, lufl of as ten very e pro- cy, to s case, ssinrfst. year, liitig to* m file i< Thi» id, \vt 45 procuring dressings of various kinds for. his farm, which must be doncy in case, he^ is resolved to follow up this plan of luis-*^ bandry : a plan which, if properly pur- sued, he will assuredly find, most profita- ble. If he does not wish to* purchase gypsum or lime, he can perhaps procure, fresh ashes from a wood farm ; or pur- chase ashes, that have been previously used for potash at a cheap rate ; and this latter, will answer, the purposes of drill husbandry uncommonly well: for experience h « prove(J, that the stimulate' ing qualitie' ' ashes, are very little de» teriorated by the process of leeching. In case he calculates, that he will not have enough of fertilizing stuff for hia tillage, from his stable manure, and the ashes so procured, he can, in the interval, to which I have alluded above, scour his nrins or water courses for mud : vizi' the head lands of his tillage fields for the earth that has been idle : open pits of marie, clay or sand, and use the product as auxiliaries to his other dressings and stable dung. The farmer should take especial care, to prepare, always enough^ of fertilizing stuff to manure and dress the whole of one tillage division : for should his resources fall short in this par* 46 II : iicular» the regular routine of crops must necessarily be interrupted. He should abo provide, every year, a light dressing, for two acres and half of his meadow, or general pasture division ; for by so doing, the whole of these valuable com^ partment^ will be dressed, in the course of eight years *, and thereby preserved in exceUent tilth,. As for the wood past way to ascertain accurately the na- ture of a soil is, by chemical analysis : but the experienced farmer, can readily discover, the component parts of a soil, and their proportions pretMr accuiately, by ocular examination. Clay is hard, heavy and tenacious ; and when a small piece wet is rubbed between the fingers, it is perfiectly smooth and slippery— Sand is loose friable and heavy, and when united with some water, feels rough and !■ ■ ■ i ' ill It ' . ^ it 1 W { I gritty to the hand. Vegetable earth of as some call it, maiden earth, is dark light and porous. If these three pre- dominant earths are,in equal proportions, it is the best of soils, in the most exten- sive sense : m other wordi^it is the best land for either meadow grass or tillage. Equally proportioned loam then being the first quality of soil, the farmer has this as a criterion by which he is to judge of the intrinsic V2^1ue of every other soil. If hi9 land is defective, in any of the three principal ingredients, he will of course obtain, if he knows his own inter- est, that sort of earth, at any expense or trouble. For example, if his farm is a soil, compounded of clay and sand, he will procure black vegetable earth, and blend this with the land, to make it a loam. If the soil is compounded of sand and vegetable earth, he will obtain stiff clay for the same purpose : and finally, if the land is compounded of clay and vegetable earth, he will furnish sand : and thus, /le will create a new soil. And to finish the whole system of ameliora- tion, he will enrich his fictitious lands periodically, with stable dung. At other times he may add stimulating dressings I 1 ^ • i * 49 rth or \ dark 56 pre- >rtions, exten- lie best tillage. I . being ner has judge ler soil, of the will of rn inter- pense or :m is a ind, he ;h, and ike it a of sand in stiff finally, lay and sand : And eliora- is lands t other essings to his fictitious* soil: and with any of those, of which I shall treat in the next chapter, he will furnish an admirable mould, fit for all the multifarious purposes of vegetation. To this system or^s"^ ring, there cr'^ be but one possibL obj ;tion ; the aa- ditional trouble it will cause. But let it be considered, that the farm will become, by the prosecution of the meliorating system proposed, every day cleaner and richer : consequently, it will gradually require less labour and less manure. In Ireland, a large portion of the year, the whole of winter and the early part of spring, until the sowing time commences, is appropriated, to the useful occupation, of making compost, and fertilizing large bodies of earth, for the purposes of til- lage : and the best farmers in that coun- try, are fully aware, of the utility, and necessity of this provision. The drains are scoured for fine mud : the head lands are ploughed or dug with the spade, to produce clean good earth ; which they * To make a soil and dress a soil are diflferent things in inak. ing a soil you must always supply the diflicient ingredient to dress a soil you can use any very rich earth without refcruace to its nature or quality but it would be better to have it cuutiatt- viX with the component parts of the laud. 50 ,1! I Hi i' i Jil' ! I'i. li I 'I ■I keep continually turning : the bogs and moors are laid under contribution for immense quantities of black vegetable earth. Kilns of lime are burnt to use alone, or to form compounds, or com- j)ost, as it is then denominated, with the above earths. The weeds in summer, are cut or pulled all over the grass and tillage compartments, to reduce to ashes : and the branches of small streams ran- sacked, for fertilizing stuff of every des- cription. Pits are opened that contain rich gravel, sand, clay, loam, marie, &c. Near the sea coast, the sea weeds are ap- plied ; which by their primitive com- pound nature, produce extraordinary ve- getation. Sea weeds, stimulate and fer- tilize. The salt they contain, stimulates plants to grow ; but does not feed them : and the vegetable matter they contain, feeds them abundantly ; but does not stimulate. Thus vegetation is produced, in a double ratio. By menus such as these, the industrious Irish, contrive not only to produce an humble subsistence for themselves, but tend much, to serve the parent country, by their productions. Now, let me ask the active minded Cana- dian, why he should not make a similai exertion ? Does he wish to appear lesi> i \ and a for stable o use com- th the miner, IS and ashes : IS ran- y des- jontain le, &c. are ap- g com- ary ve- d fer- ulates them : jontain, es not duced, Inch as live not listence serve ctions. Cana- similai ar lesb 51 industrious, less spirited, less intelligent, than the Irishman ? The Irishman, has many difficulties at home, with which he has to struggle, that do not impede the Canadian here. He has heavy taxes and heavy rent to encounter. He is not so well fed, not so well clothed. He is more deficient in capital, than the Cana- dian. Labouring under all those disad- vantages, he contrives however, to live, although the prices of grain, and some other commodities, produced by the far- mer in Ireland, are not higher than they are in Canada. Be it even rememberec}, that the Canadian, has less to pay for his whole farm, than the poor Irishman pays, for one solitary acre. Let these weighty and interesting considerations then, sti- mulate the calculating Canadian to ac- tion ; and he will soon swell his little purse to a magnitude, that will delight him. The Canadian may rest assured, I would not wish to deceive him in any particular: and I hereby assert conn- dently, that if he will only alter his sys- tem of agriculture, which upon the whole, is very bad, to that which is suggested, he will shortly double his comforts and his capital. Let him consider, that if the trouble is great, so is the profit : and that 5^ the profit is, in a greater ratio than the trouble. Let him remember that it behoves a man of spirit, to improve his condition, by every justifiable means, that a bountiful providence, has put into his hands. That he owes this, to him- self j to his children, and to the public. How much time does he waste at the chase, at the fishing lake, and perhaps at the tavern ; let this valuable time then, wh^ch once lost can never be recalled, be applied to purposes, that suit and be- fit him better^ to the additional purposes of rational and approved agriculture. *Tis true the Irishman can avail himself of the winter season, which the Cana- dian cannot do, to procure all his dress- ings ; and to turn his enriching earths over and over again, which he will do, to great advantage, upon the principle al- ready explained. However, the Cana- dian can employ himself, in the same way, at the latter end of summer, after his sowing and planting are over, and in the autumn before his harvest commences as already mentioned if not to more, at least, with equal advantage, with the Irishman. I trust therefore, ere long, we shall see, the habitant, digging his earths, sinking his pits, and mixing his 53 1 the lat it e his beans, t into I him- ublic. It the aps at then, :alled, id be- rposes iilture. jiimself Cana- dress- earths do, to pie al- Cana- same after .nd in ences re, at Ih the long, ig his ,g his composts, in summer and autumn, for the crops of the following year : for this alteration in his plan, united with a few more equally feasible, would change and embellish the face of the country alto- gether : and practicallt/ supercede the dis^ graceful imputation^ under which at this moment some of his brethren seem to crouch, that in agriculture a Canadian is incapable of improvement. CHAPTER IX. Stimulating Dressings. A dressing that stimulates or excites to growth, by its sharpness and pungency, and furnishes little or no pabulum or food for plantSj may with propriety, be called a stimulator. Such are gypsum, salt, dif- ferent sorts of lime, and various kinds of ashes. I have considered, and I believe with some reason, that those substances, which contain, in the greatest degree, pabulum or food for plants, are the best au;wiliaries to exhausted soils : such as, rich vegeta- ble earth, rotten leaves, &c. * •Hcff^Ver, a stimulator may be made use of occa- sionally with advantage. The best way e3 -»• "I I 54i to support and uphold the animal frame, is to furnish wholesome and nutritious viands^ however, a Utile stimulus judi- ciousfy administered^ from time to time, will certainly promote the vigour of the constitution. Of gypsum I cannot say much experimentally or practically. It is highly extolled by some, whilst it is as much abased and defamed by others, as a catch-penny. I have heard it said, it sometimes proves a superior dressing for grass and meadow : and I have also, heard it said, it is superlatively fine, for raising good tillage. It has evidently two advantages attending it:, in common with its fraternity ; it is portable, and not subject to evaporation at any season. Stable manure of every kind, laid on meadow and grass land, at a season of the year, when evaporation is great, as in summer and the beginning of autumn, is, of little or no value : but the stimu^ lating class of dressings, and also all fer- tilizing earth (save argillacious) are as efficacious in summer, and all the warm season, as in the fall of the year. I have excepted argillacious clay, because it becomes so hard, when baked by the sun and wind, it cannot blend with the sod ; and of course, will not, at least for the 55 raine, itious judi- time, >f the )t say y. It t is as irs, as lid, it ng for t also> le, for dently inmon 5, and eason. lid on son of at, as tumn, timu^ 11 fer- re as warm have se it esun sod; r the first year, perform its duty. In Canada, were I to see, a season, had set in with very warm sun and parching winds, and consequently, my meadow or grass lands prove very backward, I would undoubt- edly have recourse to gypsum in case I had no fertilizing earth or ashes previous ly prepared, both of which I think better. The expense of the material is little ; and that of spreading it less. If it did no good, it certainly would do no harm. Some who extol its values assert, it must be laid on very sparingly : for if you do not observe this precaution, it will over stimulate the land, and eventually ruin it. They tell you, half a bushel to the acre, is a plentiful supply but I cannot assent to this quantity, for half a bushel shook ever so evenly, is scarce percepti- ble upon tlie land. One bushel or two per acre, I'm confident, is the smallest proportion, that can be made use of t > advantage.— Lime, I know by experience furnishes an excellent stimulus for til- lage : it produces excellent potatoes ; and what that follows, is peculiarly abun- dant and fine. — It is however, not by any means fit for pasture lands or meadow alone J but if compounded, with any m: !■ ti'i , • #-' (' 56 earth, save sand* or gravel, it forms with them, an excellent compost. Salt affords a very superior stimulus, and is to be used with advantage, either upon the tillage or grass land, in the proportion of four, six or eight bushels to the acre, ac- cording to circumstances. If used in tillage, it ought to be brought as nearly in contact with the plants as possible ; by shaking it, when the crop is over ground, or immediately under or over tlie seed. If sunk much below the plants it will do little or no good. Besides be- ing an admirable stimulator, it gives to grass, a peculiar flavour, of which all sorts of cattle are extremely fond. — It also has the faculty, in an eminent degree, of des- troying grubs, flies, worms, &c. which sometimes infest land, and spoil it, and particularly the lands of Canada. — Ashes act as a good stimulus, they are useful both in tillage and pasture. They shouUl be used also like other stimuli in small proportions.t From what has been said, * Lime cannot be compounded with sand or gmvui hs it would in that case Mrith any kind of moisture from mortar which in this state would not serve the land. f Ashes if applied to grass land in large quantities would ciikc upon it and become so hard as to kill vegetation. It must be applied gradually. The best way is to dress lightly with it now and again \ with iFords to be n the ion of re, ac- ed ill nearly isible ; I over • over plants les be- ves to II sorts Iso has f des- which , and Ashes useful hould small said, ivul lu it mortnr [s would ^on. It iigUtly 51 on the subject of manures in this, and the foregoing chapter : it is abundantly evident, that the agriculturist has, a great variety of substances, easily procurable in this country, and at a cheap rate, to serve him, upon all occasions, in fertiliz- ing his land. It behoves him then se- riously and steadily, to " put his hand to the plough, and not look back" " until a consummation devoutly to be wished for,'* a national reformation in agriculture, is thoroughly accomplished. CHAPTER X. On Weeding*. In every country where agriculture has arrived at any degree of perfection, particular attention is paid, to the extir- pation of weeds. In England, Ireland, and Scotland, you seldom or ever see a weed, annual orperennial, in a field of grass or corn. The industrious farmer, deems it the greatest disgrace, to have the curse, of his great progenitor, con- stantly reproaciiing him, face to face, for his frailty. It is not so however, with the Canadian \ for he seems to exult, in that placid philosophyi which makes him t iU "V ■I ■*!;.: 58 overlook altogether, the thing and its^ consequences. If you ask, why he al- lows such nuisances unmolested to iti' /est the land his own and his neighbours.* He will sav with a smile, indicative of the contempt he holds you in for your particularities. Mon Dieu, il me coute tropt a les toucher^ avec Us doigts. In the first place, the trouble to take them away is little, but the damage they do, if leit, is great : and in the second place, al- though fingers were made before pincers, yet a pincers is by far, a better instrument to remove them, than fingers. To lay jocoseness aside, I must now gravely as- sert, that weeds are extremely injurious to land ; and especially to land in a state of tillage — I have seen a meadow so much overrun with thistles and golden rod in Canada, that it was not worth, cutting ; altho' the crop of hay would have been good, in case, those vegetable leeches had been prevented, from sucking the blood of the land. I have seen also in Europe a meadow, so completely de- voured by ferns, that it produced scarce * It !!> an absurb thing for a man to injure his own farm with weeds that arc so destructive but it is an unprincipled and unfeeling omission to hurt your neighbour by allowing their seeds to extend to him. 59 ind its^ he al- to ifi' bours.* tive of )r your le coute In the m away if leit, ace, al- pincers, trument To lay vely as- ijurious a state ow so golden worth, would Igetable ucking n also iy de- scarce I own farm principled lUlowiug any thing. I have likewise beheld here, the rasberry monopolize the major part of the grass land : and the cotonnier do the same. And I appeal to all, who re- side in this colony, have they not fre- quently seen the greater part of a crop of wheat, that had been in other respects well cultivated, and the soil originally good, completely starved, by a surround- ing crop of thistles. What an unpleasant reflection is this, to the philanthropist, and how much more unpleasant is the consideration, when we know, that all this devastation, might be prevented, by a simple process, requiring very little trouble. In Europe, a farmer is sure to get a good crop of wheat, upon land na- turally adapted to that grain, provided, he can clear the soil to his satisfaction, from all weeds and grass j altho* his fields may have been very considerably exhausted. This well ascertained fact, speaks volumes, in favour of keeping land free from all intruders. Grass of every kind growing in the tillage land, ought to be deemed here, as it is in Europe, for the time being, in tiie light of a weed — In short every thinff that en- ters mto competition wit ;h the proposed crop, whether weeds, grasses, shrubs, or '! I'M :J^* ■■' V! 60 \i m V « trees, or any thing else, ought to be ac- counted, by the intelligent farmer, as a plunderer of the crop ; and should of course be eradicated. Weeds, and espe- cially the larger ones, require and derive a great deal of nutriment from the earth. "When it happens, that the land has not resources enough, to nourish both weeds and crop, the latter, must necessarily suffer, in a greater or less degree ; and sometimes perish altogether; It should be remembered tooj that weeds of a larger class, if not properly eradicated, having a priority of possession in the ground, spring up quicker than the crop itself; and may easily, in a short time, van- quish their feeble competitors. Thistles are removed in Europe, in the following way. The weeder puts on a stout pair of gloves, and takes an iron pincers in his hand, and with this tool, he extracts the weeds by the root. The process is simple, efficacious, and expeditious. And could be performed here, by careful boys, of ten or twelve years old. The golden rod can be pulled by the hand when young ; and this operation performed twice or thrice, will enable the crop to get the mastery and keep its ground. The rasberry is destroyed in a great be ac- , as a lid of I espe- derive earth, as not weeds issarily i; and should I of a icated, in the 61 measure, by cutting it, with a hook or scythe once or twice, when the sap is rising, in the early part of the year. The cotonnier may be pulled with the hand, like the golden rod ; or cut like the rasberry. Let the habitant, feel only once, the necessity, of destroying weeds, those greatest of all enemies to his crop, and his purse ; and his native ingenuity will soon furnish him, with means for their extirpation. CHAPTER XL Canadian Stock. The Canadian horse, is a fine, though not a very handsome animal, answering well, the purposes for which he is intend- ed — for a good working animal in the field — and a safe smart stepper on the road. The Canadian horse stands well on hisrlegs, which are stout and clean: is short pasterned well up before : short backed : bottle ribbed : and well turned behind. His head is rather large. He is neither too high blooded, nor too low. In a word, no horse can be better cal- culated for Canada, wlien we cannot en^ joy, as they do in Kiirope, the exquisito 11 ■"5! F, 1 62 sports of the field, and are little acquaint- ed with the refined pasture of the turf. The Canadian ox is rather a fine ani- mal also. In the neighbourhood of River de Loup, and Isle Bourdon and other places in Lower Canada where the lands are excellent, 1 have seen that doubly useful animal, attain a respectable size ; from four to five hundred weight. In general however, it is not found to weigh, irtore in this province than three hundred. As it is well known, that a large ox, or large cow, or large sheep, consumes if any, very little more than a smaller ani- mal of the same species, every man ought, to improve the size of all his animals, to the best of his abiUty, Some excellent oxen and cows have been introduced into this country from the United States : and it belioves us all, to imitate our indus« trious and intelligent neighbours, in en- deavouring to bring our own breed of cattle, to the highest state of perfection. There are many comj)arative advantages, resulting from keeping black* cattle of a larijre size. We are to treat of them in two dili'erent points of view ; as beasts . * Bu'ls, oxen, cows and cahci> of all kinds uic culled blucU cuUlc ill Ciicut Lntuia. aint- urf. i ani- [liver other lands oubly size ; ;. In ireigh, idred. 3X, or mes if ;r ani- ought. Is, to client dinto : and lindus- in en- ?ed of iction. |tiigos, :tle of lem in (beasts c c ullctl 63 of burden, and as animals for consump- tion. The large animal, as a beast of burden, or working animal, is more va- luable than the small. His strength is greater, his momentum or weight is great- er, and his legs being longer, his step is faster. When you kill him, his hide is larger, his flesh heavier, and in all pro- babilityf his fat more abundant : for a thrifty beast, that grows to a large size, is likely to have fat in proportion to his bone and muscles* He hrs more room for fat, a wider surface over which it may diffuse, than the lesser animal. Hence it appears, that whether we consider the larger animal, as a working beast, or as an article of consumption, he is, caeteris paribus, much more valuable than the lesser. The same reasons that would induce one, to prefer the large ox, to the smaller, would induce a person likewise, to prefer the larger cow to the smaller. It is said, the small Canadian cow, gives more milk and butter than the large. But I have never heard this asserted by any, but those who liad small cattle of that description to sellj and therefore I do not feel much disposed to believe them. But supposing, that the small give as much and as good milk and butter, as the F 2 11 G4> III large, and further we cannot presume with propriety, still all the advantages already enumerated, as belonging to the large, are exclusively their own. The preference therefore we must yeild to the large Canadian cow. And upon the same grounds, that we prefer, the large Canadian cow, to the smaller one, we miist prefer, the half breed, between the States and Canadian cattle, to the large Canadian ; and the whole or full blooded States breed again, to the half blooded. The Canadian sheep, is a wretched brute indeed. The eye furnishes instant testimony to this remark. — It is misera- ble in bone, flesh, fat, and flcGcc. It is a reflection on the species. I'lic merino of Spain, which is only worth tlie fleece, is a more respectable animal. The best favoured weighs only thirty pounds, tlie fourth part of the weight, of a good sheep in Europe. Yet I'm confident, it eats as much forage as the English or Irish sheep. It carries, the ponderous weight, - of a pound i)nd half, to two pound of coarse wool : whereas, 1 have shorn, eight pounds of fine wool, fiom a yearling- sheep in Ireland. The European, sheep, has as much advantage over a Canadian sheep in fat, as it has, in meat and wool. i,'t esume ntages to the The iM to )on the 3 large le, we 3en the 2 large flooded )oded. retched instant niiscra- It is irxrino fleeco, e best s, tlie sheep cats as sheep, .of a coarse eight :arhng sheep, ladian wool. 65 In truth it has much more. This being the case, and to every man from the old country I appeal for the accuracy of I this calculation, I ask, why are not a number of good sheep imported without delay from England, Ireland and Scot- land ? Why do not spirited individuals take this business up ? Why do not farming societies do so? Why do not the legislature embark in so meritorio is an undertaking ? As a sincere friend to Canada,! would rather have, one liundred good Leicester or South down sheep from England, or one hundred of Mr. Wade's fine sheep from Ireland, that w uld not cost, when landed, more than ten or twelve dollars per head, introduced here, than to have, one thousand pounds disposed of in any other public way, for the benefit of this province. His Excel- lency the Governor in Chief, has been kind enough to import some admirable black cattle and hogs, into the colony ; and has been extremely liberal, in pre- senting many of them to individuals, who were likely to make the best use of them : but a breed of good sheep is now much wanting, and has always been more so, than a good stock of black cattle or hogs. An old statute passed in the time of f3 i m 6G Charles the second, as well as I can re- collect, had prohibited formerly, the ex- portation of sheep from England, into any of the colonies. This prohibition however, grounded upon a mistaken and absurd policy, injurious both to England and its dependencies, has been, I under- stand, of late removed. No impediment then now remains, to the importation of a valuable acquisition to the Canadas but a want of a becoming spirit in the com- munity. Some person or persons of res- pectability ought therefore to take this interesting affair in hand. And that in- dividual or persons, who would be instru- mental in conferring this great public benefit upon Canada would in truth, de- serve well of the country. A Canadian sheep costs for a year's keeping, from one dollar to two, fed in the most economical manner. When a farmer keeps a sheep, which he has bred for a year, and sells it at market or else- where, he must dispose of it for the same sum it has cost him to keep it what profit then has he? None: on the contrary, he has lost the interest of his capiiiil ! But a good Leicester sheep, can be sup- ported, I will contend, at the same ex- pense, as a Canadian sheep ; and the ■;l' an fe- he ex- 1, into tbition jn and igland under- iiment tion of las but e com- of res- ke this hat in- instrn- piibHc h, de- I year's lied in [hen a Is bred else- same profit Itrary, jpil;il ! sup- le ex- Ihe C7 Leicester, producing four times more flesh, four times more fat, four times more wool ; will pay when introduced into this colony, three hundred per cent profit the first cost not being taken into calculation more than the Canadian sheep. But it may be said that such sheep as the Lei- cester breed will not thrive so well here, as in Great Britain : but I contend again, that this is not the case, on the contrary, that this country is, a better sheep coun- try than England, Ireland or Scotland. And of this 1 will furnish direct practical proofl Sheep are not subject here, as they are in Great Britain, to scab, mag- got, and rot, disorders which destroy many hundreds of them there* Every man in Great Britain, who has extensive sheep walks, that is large tracts of grass land (where they thrive best) appropriat- ed to sheep, must always be furnished with quantities of mercurial ointment, mixed, with other medicinal ingredients, a portion of which he is obliged con- stantly to employ upon his sheep ; and were it not for this indispensable preven- tion, his flocks would be devoured by that terrific disorder, the scab. But the scab is a malady not known in Canada. -Again the rot wliich is very common and I, , 68 flestructive in Great Britain, is not, I am credibly informed, in existence' in this country. This exemption here, must be owing, to the great briskness and elasticity of our salubrious atmosphere* When an atmosphere is damp and dense, it certainly predisposes to liver com- plaint : and rot in sheep, is analogous to liver, in the human species. Many flocks therefore in Great Britain, where the at- mosphere is notoriously thick and humid, owing to the influence of the ocean which surrounds it on all sides, fall victims, to that terrible disorder emphatically there called, the rot. But sheep are subject to another very troublesome disorder in Great Britain, from which I know they are entirely exempt here — namely mag- got. I have seen a sheep in England, entirely devoured by these insects in forty eight hours — Sheep in England, Ireland and Scotland, are subject to this disorder, through the whole of the summer months^ and must be examined daily, to avoid this calamity. Now, if the farmers of Great Britain, paying heavy rents and taxes, find it beneficial, to keep large flocks of sheep, under all those disad- vantages, how much more advantageous would it be for the farmers here, to pro- not, I ice' in ;, must ss and jphere. dense, ' com- gous to y flocks the at- humid, tt which ;ims, to y there subject rder in w they mag- ngland, in forty Ireland isorder, onthsv avoid ers of ts and large disad- tageous to pro- 65 cure at any moderate expense, a good breed of sheep, and keep those valuable animals in this country ; where they are altogether free from so many evils — If the Canadian Parliament do not take this business in hand, or some Agricultu- ral Society, let some spirited individual open a general subscription, for the pur- pose of conferring such a substantial and permanent benefit upon the commiAiity. — Abstracted from the consideration of all beneficence, philanthropy and public spirit,it would be an excellent speculation, for some calculating long headed wight to adopt, for such animals, when intro- duced into the country, and well known, would undoubtedly sell, by auction, or by private sale, at an enormous profit. The Canadian hog is of a very bad des- cription : he is as wretched in his own way, as the sheep is in his, and this is altogether inexcusable, for there are some excellent hogs in and about Quebec, and in the vicinage of Montreal, the breed of which, I presume, the farmer could easily obtain. We cannot bhune the ha- bitant much, for having so bad a breed of sheep : but we must censure him ex- ceedingly, for not procuring a valuable breed of hogs. I do not wish to investi* ) t 70 gate too closely, the cause of this neglect, but I trust, he will ere long improve in this particular branch of management, as well as in many others. There is an admirable breed of hogs, in the posses- sion of Mr. Judge Burton near Quebec ; and another, in the Seigniory of Lache- ney, in the possession of Mr. Lancelot Robinson. I could recommend to every person a cross of these. Such a breed as this, would furnish pork for the mar- ket of Montreal and Quebec, if well fed, that could not be exceeded for good- ness or size, in any country — It is a pity the habitant has not a good breed of hogs, for he feeds the miserable brutes he has, with very great care and judgement — he begins to fat generally with pumpions or pumpkins as they are vulgarly called or bran, or both united, and he furnishes with oats or peas, and nothing can be better than this management. The ani- mals swell and get sizeable with the soft food, and they are subsequently rendered hard and firm, by the oat and the pea. There is nothing so useful, as a good ex- ample, especially when exhibited by per- sons in high station. Let the Seignieurs then procure n breed of the above des- cription, or one as good ^ and point out leglect, rove in ement, e is an posses- iiebec ; Lache- ancelot every 1 breed he mar- if well )r good- is a pity pf hogs, he has, ment — mpions called rnishes an be Ihe ani- e soft Indered le pea. )od ex- ►y per. rnieurs re des- (t out 71 to their less informed, and less enlighten- ed neighbours, the great advantage re- sulting from this improvement. The same observation, I have made, with respect to large black cattle, aud large sheep is ap- plicable to large hogs ; they do not eat more, than their inferiors ; hov/ great then must the profit be, to fieed the large animal instead of the small, I am most deeply interested in this subject, because I feel a perfect conviction, of the great benefit that would accrue to Canada, this adopted fqster parent of mine, were this improvement in swine quickly or even gradually introduced amongst us. The habitant would at all times have plenty of pork, of which he knows well the value, for family use, at a reasonable rate : and he could turn out a large sur- plus quantity for the market. And pro- tected as we are, in this commodity, aa well as in many others, by the paiental hand of England, our trade in poik, would flourisii to an extraordinary degree; and this trade, united with those of pot- ash, pearl ash, timber, and whcnt, iride- })endant of the hemp trade, which I hope to see established here yet, woidd soon swell Canada into the imposing im- portance, of ii trading nation. . . I 72 * ■ CHAPTER XII. Canadian Drainivg, The process of draining their farms is conducted in the best possible manner by the Canadian husbandmen. In case, a river or a rill passes through his land, the habitant directs to them, all the su- perfluous water of his farm, whether of flats or of springs. Without any science but that which nature has taught him, he discovers a fall, and that he keeps clear, with the spade or the hoe, when the best one is found he makes no change; but passes it down, from father to son. If there is no evacuating river or rill, he constructs a main drain ; and in this is deposited, the redundant element. From hence it is conducted, to the parochial outlet, and from thence it flows, from the stream to the ocean — Tins regular and methodical evacuation cf the lands, is indispensably nccessaiy in every country, but especially in Canada ; and more par- ticularly, in the spring season, when the flood, caused by the dissolution of so much ice and snow, renders the whole countrvi for a few days, in appearance, a movuig world of fluidity, Grnss nor arms is nner by case, a is landy the su- ether of science hi him, e keeps e, when change; to son. rill, he this is From arochial Vom the lar and nds, is ountry, pre par. Ihen the of so whole jarancc, t'ASS nor 73 grain will not germinate where water ac* cumulates and rests,'* for any considera-< ble length of time. The knowledge of this phenomenon induces the intelligent agriculturist, to free his lands of super- fluous water, to prevent them from what is termed — rscalditifjf. When a drain or outlet of considerable {nagnitude is ne« cessary to be established pro bano puhllco^ the parish is notified, and it is most grati« fying to behold, with what ^eal and acti« vitv, the habitants couverge, to the sqeno of operation. The above succinct sub^ ject having been now completely drained^ I shall forthwith turn, the current of ntif thoughts, to that of fencing. The Canadian fences his farm reniark, ftbly well, Although the configuration of the fenc^ is any tbi"g bMt pictiiresque, still the reguljirity of iti conveys a plea- sumble scnsatipp to the jniflcj, This fv^ncg * In Kiiglaml imp;atinn is y^^ry f^oncmlly ppntiscd in ilji^ ftrunt di^fii ts jjut tluy tn\i'\ care not 10 i|;ou' [\\f^ «a*cr t« rfst Itinj; on the \nm\ us t\y\\ '.vouUl ruin n U'lttr rcu'Uu'^ jjjiUi't bv utiimiauon »lrMro\ > vc.*<;taU"U, \ if i* 74i is made in general of cedar wood ; whicla is remarkable, although a soft wood, for its durability : is easily split, and worked, and these circumstances, recommend its use. 'J'he perpendicular pieces are called piquets, and the horizontal ones perches, and when the former are well joined to- gether, with pins of the same material, the fence is said to last seventy or eighty years. The farmer generally takes down the horizontal piece in the fall ; and is of opinion, they last longer by being covered with the snow during the severity of the winter. Every spring, the fence under- goes a general repair ; and by this wise precaution, the crop is protected from the moment of its appearance. Were the habitant to achieve all the other oper- ations on his farm, with as much dexteri- ty and skill, as the foimation of his fences, it would not be in our power to censure him, in the execution of liis labours. And were all his maxims of ])iisbandry, as judicious, aa the principle of upturn- ing iu autumn, all his land, intended lor tillage, the ensuing year ; we should have ample ^Wi/ for commendation and praise. ., , , '^3 /hiclj , for rked, id its :aUed rches, ed to- terial, eighty down d is of jvered of the under- Is wise I from Were oper- lexteri- ences, nsuie boiirs. ndrv, ptun^- ed lor hou!d 11 'iXiA eilAPTER XIV. Potatoes^ When I commenced this short essay, it was my intention, to confine myself al- together^ to general arrangements and general rules. However, in the prosecu- tion of it, I have found it impossible, to pursue this plan accurately, without de- feating the primary object I have had in view, namely— the practical improvement of the farmer. This improvement, I am new convinced, can he accomplished best, in a treatise like this ; by occasional! v blending detail or special instruction, with elementary principle. In perusing the foregoing sheets, the farmer will perceive the propriety, of inculcalinr; that para- mount principle, of makiuij; one crop subservient to the benefit ot the other by judicious ''otation : but in order that, he may derive the greatest bejiefit, irom a work that is didactic, he ought to be told also, the exact j)ericds, for putting thor.o crops into ground ; and the exact periods for taking them out ; as well as the besl mode of cultivating them respectively. ♦ There are at present so many J^iglishp Idsh and Scotch in this country, who g2 70 know the value of the potatoe, and the Canadians are now becoming so fond of that root, I tliink, I need not make any apology, in furnishing, a few practical ob* servations> in addition to what I have formerly written, upon the peculiar cul- tivation of this valuable and excellent vegetable. The potatoe was originally an indigenous production of South Ame- lica, from whence it was transported to ^>Main, and other parts of Europe. There aiC thirty-six species of it all of which I'^a e, their characteristic shades of pecu- ii^rity. »Some are best ior eating by man ; others are only fit for cattle consumption. Some are good only in the bt?ginning of the season. Others are good for keeping over J and will continue fit for culinary purposes, until the next crop sets in. Some are mild and mealy others stout and farinaceous. Some delight in heavy soil ; others in light. Some require to be heavily covered, others should be lightly buried in tlss e i tlu It is evident, all of^ these must be treater' somewhat differently ; according to their respective properties and peculiarities : and the best way, for a man, who is not well acquaint- ed with the management, of the particu- lar kind he is about to cuUivatCi is to ob- 1 the nd of e any al ob* have ,r cul- ellent finally Avne* ted to There wliich pecu- r man; fiption. ling of eeping iliuary is in. stout heavy ire to Id be identy ewhat ective e best uaint- rticu- toob* n fain instructions from those persons, who are in the habit of tilling it to advantage. That there are as many sorts of pota- toes as 1 have mentioned, can be proved by experiment, an experiment or process that should be often repeated, as will ap- pear in the sequel. If tiie • npples or knobs, which gi'ow on the stalks of pota- toes, are collected in due season, before they are disorganized by the frost ; and sliced in two or three pieces and put up in a place neither too hot nor too colcf, and the seed carefully separated and sown in the following spring or summer, in a rich bed ot earth ; it will producCj the whole number enumerated. The seed is to be sown broad cast, and covered light- ly with the spade. The plants in moist weather will soon come over ground ; and when they are pretty stout, they ought to be transplanted elsewhere, five inches asunder every way. By the adop- tion of this process of transplanting, the cultivator, will gain a full year's growth ; as they will attain the size of a large walnut, the first year, which otherwise, would be the growth of two : nnd after the second year's cultivation, similar to the first, they will be large enough for cuts, aod consequently for use. It is a pleasing g3 ': < 78 task, to collect the different species ; and separate them from each other, when taken the first year out of the bed ; and recognise as it were, your old friends, in the faces of their progeny — The above is, the only method of changing altogether the potatoe : and the following is, the most expeditious mode for its partial re- generation ; an exchange of yours for that of your neighbour. It is not a bad plan to exchange with one, whose soil is contrasted with yours : but generally speaking, the farmer ought to procure, cuts from land which, is rich deep black and triable ; because potatoes, although they thrive well in any soil that is not poor or dirty, grow to (he best advan- tage, in land such as this ; and cuts taken from those, are better than cuts, procured from a less luxuriant kind. The farmer should often change his seed and cuts : as the potatoe, fond of variety, soon gets sick oi' th\) same soil ; and tlien begins to dwindle or diminish in number. And lie shoulil always select, the largest and freshest for planting; contrary to the old pernicious customs, of taking those of middhng size for the purpose. He ought to make his cuts large as possible also. Take a few small potatoes, by way and when , and ds, in ve is, ether ;, the ial re- rs for a bad soil is erally 3cure, black lough is not dvan- taken ured Lirmer Icuts : gets [egins And and the those He bible way 79 of experience, cut, and sow them, and put an equal number of cuts of the same dimensions, taken from large potatoesy into the same ground ; and the latter, will produce a better crop than the former. Take also, large cuts and small, from the same potatoe, and the first, will far exceed the last in the produce. The cultivator must, not only change potatoes often, by breeding his own seed, and ex- changing cuts with his neighbour, and select the heaviest, and make the cuts large, but see, that his field intended for this crop, is altogether fj-ee, from weeds and grass of every description : as doubt- less, no potatoes ever flourish, when put in competition, with natural or artificial antagonists of any kind. T!ie field must be exceedingly well dressed with stable dung, a stimulator, or fertilized earth : and above all, he must be particularly careful, to commit this valuable root to the earth, in the best season. In Eng- land, Ireland and Scotland, the fittest time for planting is, from the twentieth of April to the twentieth of May : but in Canada, one must plant a month later. The great difference of produce, accord- ing as you plant sooner or later than the proper period, is truly surprising. I have m ■■I- 'iCi g' ' cultivated seven crops here ; and have always paid much attention to their cul- tivation, amongst my most experienced neighbours ; and I am satisfied, I am warranted in aflirming positively, from the latter end of May, to the latter end of June, is the most cligil)le period for putting, the ma'.n crop of tiiis most use- fuland deliciousvegetableinto the ground. The crop, wlien put into ground in the middle of June, if not altogetherj will nearly double in quantity that, put intO' the clay, early in April or Way. This fact, may be accounted for, in a measure, by the frosts checking, the early crops ; and by the powerful vegetation^ we have m this chinate in summer. Suffice it then to S'jy^ that if, the old country people, do not imitate the Canadians, in planting this favourite root in mid-sum- mer, tiiey will suffer severely in the pro- duce, of this valuable commodity. — I have already advised to cultivate this crop in drills •; the drills are to be,, three feet asunder ; and the cuts in the drills, six inches. A crop cultivated in this way, and well dressed, and planted in due season, and preserved unilbrmly clean, will certainly produce, from two or three hundred bushels pei* acre : and this re« B1 heir ciil- jerienced d, I am jly, from alter end period for most use- le ground, md in the jther, will ;, put into lay. This a measure, irly crops; ij we have Suffice it d country adians, in mid-sum- lin the pro- hiodity. — !• |te this crop three feet |; drills, six this way, ed in duo mly clean, vo or three nd this re- turn of an acre, at a^lling a bushel j will pay, the rent of twenty Canadian farms, of sixty acres each, for a year. How happy then, is the lot of the habi- tant, who has an opportunity by cultivat- ing one acre of his farm well v a, not only to pay his own rent to the ii< i^iuor but liquidate the rent, of all the b iches of his family ! CHAPTER XV. Indian Corn, Indian corn or maize, is a beautiful useful profitable plant j growing in a great luxuriance in Canada. Almost every ha- bitant, makes it a point, to have a cer- tain proportion of it, in his garden, or upon his farm. The best cultivation for it is, in drills ; one yard apart, every "Way ; well manured with old stable dung or ashes. It is particularly fond of the latter. You must drop two or three grains in each spot, as they sometimes fail, of a dry season. I have seen one piece of land in the woods, when cleai*ed, and burnt with a running burn ; furnish, three and four crops, afler each other uninterruptedly j simply by changing the IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 !^l^ 1^ ^5 u liii |22 1.1 s.-^isa ■■25 III 1 4 11.6 ^''V ^W ■ ""'■ * 'Z 9 Fhotogra{Jiic ScMices CarpQratiQn ^ \ V 13 WIST MAIN ITtllT WIUTM.N.Y. USM (7I*)I71-4I03 c^ m position of the i)1ants every year ; atiS by keeping the land at al! times free of weeds and brush. Indian corn makes tolerably good bread when alone, for working men : but it contributes to make, superior bread, when mixed with flour, in the proportion of one to three; Bread made in this way, is shor.t light palatable and wholesome. It can be made use of profitably also, in some other -Ways ; and is likewise excellent food for cattle. Many persons prefer, the cultivation of maize to that of wheat, for the following sub^ stantial reasons. A very small quantity ©f seed, say two quarts, will serve an acre. An acre of it, produces double the quantity of food that, an acre under wheat; will furnish : and it grows in sandy and other light soil where, wheat will not come to perfection. The best season of the year for sowing it, is the tenth or fifteenth of May. It takes a long time to ripen ; so tliai it must not be plan.ted later. If nown much earlier, it may be injured by iiost; but not to any great extent, for it is, in the early part of its existence, a hardy plant. At the end of the year however, it may be ruined altogether by it, when put inta the ground, too late in the season, Ai 83 ree ot makes B, for iTiak€, I flour, Bread klatable 5 use of s; and , Many f maize ng sub^ quantity erve an double e under rows in I, wheat he best ,, is the takes a ust not earlier, t not to lie early Int. At may be ut into |ion« Ai •certain portion of the cones, should be set apart for seed ; and not dried so much, as that destined for the mill ; for in case they are exposed to miicli draught, they will not germinate the following year. Upon the whole, I think maize, an ad- mirable crop : and therefore, 1 strenuous- ly recommend every farmer residing in this country, to till annually a considera- We quantity. "-■f !• .>■ CHAPTER XVI. Rye although it makes inferior bread when alone, is considered by some, a pro- fitable crop, under certain circumstances, in Canada. There are considerable tracts of light sandy soil observable here and there in this country j which are certain- ly better adapted, to the growth of this grain, than to any thing else. When a farmer has, such in possession, he will do well, to cultivate rye extensively. Rye mixed with wheat flour, half and half, furnishes very good wholesome bread, although rather dark, liye does not ex- haust land, like some other white crops ; as wheat, barley, oats : and may be sown, B4 year after year, in the same place to ad- vantage ; a quality, unquestionably pecu- liar to itself. This peculiarity is handed dovrn to us by tradition, in the form of an adage, contrasting it, with wheat-*^ •' Sow r^e after rye until yow die : sow wheat, It will you cheat." There are two kindai of rye winter and spring rye. The winter rye can be sown any time in the fall i before the frost sets. in. Spring rye may be sown in April or May. A bushel of seed is the quantity to an acre« It is to be shook broad cast, and harrowed in lightlyt If you wish to make it sub- servient to a rotation of crops, it will grow well, in one pea or bean division ftfter wheat, and will not injure the land* CHapt5:r XVII. J^trnipt^ Carrot»t Cabbage, Onions, Mangle WurstK The turnips i nn excellent esculent roota fit for tne I .supiption both of ^lai^ and beastt As I have {ilre^dy described the niost profitable manner or Msipg it, I shall con* line myself at presenti to the relation, of a few particulars respecting it, The best period, for powing the gener^il crop 8 to ad-* pecu- landed arm of heat-^ ^ : sow jre are ng rye. time III Spring ay. A an acre, arrowed e it sub- , it will division the land* tfe IVurstK esculent h of x^m the ipost \h9\\ con» latiop, of The jyjil crop in Canada, is the first of February, when the black fly, has partly or entirely disap- peared ; for if you sow it sooner, it will certainly fall a victim, to this destructive little insect. It will take from three to four months to come to perfection; and if some frost should occur, before that j)eriod has elapsed, it will probably do no harm ; as this root resists it remarkably well. If the fly should annoy, after it comes over ground, the best mode to pre- serve it is, to scatter, broad cast over the field, large quantities of common light dust, taken from the roads, when perfect- ly dry; so as to cover entirely, the leaves of the little plants ; for in this situation^ they are disgusting* to the fly, and it will feed upon something else. This opera- tion, should be repeated early every morn- ing, when the dew is upon the plant; un- til it throws out, the third leaf, when it will become too strong, for destruction. *• I have read some months back an ndvcrtisciiKMJt in nv.c of the pupero us well us I cun rccolltet Innn the Montreal lunii- la^' soeiely (tnirin'^- :i inccliil or preniiuin to any piiMin whu tMuld discover a mode for deitioyinj{ tlie turnip l!y. I liavc (Vt- •[ututly made the uhove experinient in (.Jreat Britain afid it never failed, and 1 atn sure if a fair trial is made in thi^ loiic- tiy I shall l)c deemed worthy of the proposed honor, whith ( hereby demand. The reeoipi is not to be dispisfd lieeau e. it is simple. The ^I'^-'ittest discoveries arc cluiaHteriiifd by Mnii)liclty. H ■it *5- \i >■■ ■ -,! |(' 86 It would take a volume to describe ac- curately, every particular sort of turnip, and their particularities j as well as an- other to describe, all the various species ot })otatoes. I shall therefore content ray- self, in this brief dissertation, by recom- meiuling a few turnips, which I consider, the best adapted fv^r this climate. The red Norfolk or white Norfolk are best for culinary purposes in the beginning of the season : and the Swedish turnip alias ba- ga nuga, is best for the same end, and for cattle, in the latter part of the year. The seed of these, should be sown in drills, two and a half feet or a yard asunder, by ci drilHng machine, or in case one cannot be procured, by the fingers. It ought to be sown thinly. In case the plants are too thick in any place, and have escaped the fly, some of them can be removed by the hand ; so as to leave them, from four to five inches apart ; and in case they pro- mise to attain a large size, they may be thinned a second tim^f using those that are pulled at table. The drills, li^e ai! other drills ought to be kept accuratel} clean from weeds and grass by the plough; and under such circumstances, there ii reason to expect, an abundant cropi However, it is my duty to appiize thi be ac- urnip, as an- ;cies ot nt my- recom- nsider, . The )est for r of the lias ba- id, and e year, n drills, ider, by I cannot »ught to ants are escaped oved by om four ey pro- may be ise that like ai< curatel) plough: there i' t crop; lize thi 87 fanner, the turnip, is an uncertain crop in this hemisphere. The carrot is tilled in the same way with the turnip. The only difference is it should be sown a month or six weeks sooner ; as it is not so subject to the fly as the turnip. I have before described its purposes. Its antiputrescent quality causes it to be a very wholesome vegeta- ble: and the large quantity of sacharine matter it contains, renders it highly nutri- tious. I have only to say it is worthy of extensive cultivation in this countrv. Cabbage may be tilled like turnips and carrots in well manured drills, in the field. The plants must be previously raised in rich seed beds ; the seed sown the mo- ment the snow disappears, about the tenth or fifteenth of April. Vegetation is so great then, the plants will be ready for removing to their destination in a month. Afler they are transplanted, they must be watered plentifully every even- ing, until they are well established in the ground. Canada is not however, a favor- able country for the growth of cabbage. It appears to me its vegetation is too ra- pid for cabbage and turnips. The early york and sugar loaf are the most delicate h2 88 for culinary purposes : and the drum heati is the best for cattle. Onions may get the same management •with the former vegetables ; the seed to be sown evenly and thinly on the tops of the drills, between the finger and tiiumb. They grow to a large size ; are a profita- ble crop y and have a fine flavour in this country. Mangle wurzle is never cultivated in any way but in drills. This is a very be- neficial crop ; as the produce wiien it succeeds, is immense. 1 have before ob- served, it is excellent for milk : and it fattens also remarkably well. Its culti- vation therefore deserves the attention of the farmer. CHAPTER XVIII. Wheat, Oats, Larley* Some persons who affect to be great connoisseurs in farming, afiirm that, the best season, for sowing wheat, in this country, is the fall. Wliilst others assert with equal confidence that the best pe- riod, is the spring. Some crops that have been sown in the fall, within the last se- 1 head ement eed to ops of liumb. )rofita- in this ted in ery be- hen it ore ob- and it s culti- tion of |e great lat, the lin this Is assert )est pe- lat have lh\st se- 89 ven years, thirty miles north of Montreal^ have failed altogether : and it is equally certain, it is difficult to find a good grain, growing from that which, has been put into the ground, in spring. As far, as my experience goes, I would prefer til- ling this valuable crop, as the Canadians do, in the commencement of the year. In my opinion, the lands of Canada, are not as yet sufficiently drained, nor the climate sufficiently warm, to cultivate wheat in autumn. However, I could not wish to speak dictatorially, on a point, which is, certainly problematical: and which must be eventually decided, by a se- riesof well conducted experiments. What- ever season, this indispensable commodi- ty is committed to the ground, it will be necessary to observe, the following ru'es— to have the land well drained- — well work- ed—well cleaned — and well dressed or manured, for otherwise, the product, in some cases, will scarce pay the labour, in a country, where labour is dear — ^The seed should be selected with the greatest judgment. — It ought to be plump bright, and free from all seeds, and admixture of every other grain. The bearded wheat of this, and every other country, is bad in; return 5 it should be avoided therefore for h3 /;)! ■' ii 1. LP ' t > 1 90 seed. A careful farmer will do, as they are in the habit of doing, in Europe — Y'lch out all the bearded stalks and weeds, before he begins to thresh liis sheaves for seed. Wheat is a crop that requires to be a considerable lengtli of time in the gromid, in order to bring the grain to maturity and weight. It sliould be sown therefore, the moment the snow disap- })ears, and the land is found sufficiently dry, to harrow the seed. I take it for granted, the land has been ploughed the preceeding fall, for if that was not the case, the operation of sowing would be postponed too long, and the land less rich. In case the wheat has been pro- ceeded by a regular routine of meliorat- ing crops, in the cultivation of which, tlie land has been both cleaned and en- riched, it will probably yield, an abun- dant return, proving the good eflfect, of uniting, industry, judgment and science. The avena or oat is now pretty gene- rally cultivated in Canada. The meal of it, can be converted, into wholesome coarse bread : or formed, with the addi- tion of w^ater, into what is called, stir- about, a repast much admired, by many in Great Britain. This is not t)ie only modification of it, for it forms liummery, A\ 91 ls tiiey rope — weeds, ves for ires to in the rain to e sown disap- ciently it for led the ^lot the )uld be id less en pro- el iorat- which, nd en- abun- 'ect, of cience, gene- e meal lesome e addi- , stir- many e only merjr, a most grateful acidulated substance^ when used in warm weather : and gruel, a delicious beverage. The oat has a pe- culiarity, not belonging to any other grain, well known to medical men. A coffee made of the coarsest part of the meal, burnt brown, will sootlie the irrita- bility of the stomach, when neither me- dicine nor any other substance, will do so. The oat furnishes, the best nutritive food for horses. It improves the wind ; and accellerates the condition of the animal. The little bean, is much used for horses in England : but it is far inferior to the oat, as it is found often, to injure the sight, of this noble animal. The oat is not sown in time in Canada ; and that is the reason, it is so much dwindled. It is sown all through the month of June, and not certani ; whereas, it ought al- ways be shook in May, By changing the time of dissemination, the oat would obtain once more its original size, and become flir more productive, when ground oats exhaust the soil very much : and should not therefore be sown successive- ly, many years, in the same land. How- ever, upon the whole, it is a tine crop ; and worthy of general cultivation. The ,1 •'il 92 seed of an acre, is from one bushel to two ; and is always shook broad cast. Barley is not much cultivated in Cana- da. When shelled, it is excellent in soup and forms a gruel very palatable and wholesome. When matted, ground, and fermented, it yields a large quantity of good mild spirit. It is good food for horses : and from what little has been said, it is evidently worthy of cultivation. A bushel is the quantity of seed for an acre. It is shook broad cast, any time in June ; and thrives well in this conti* nent. . ik I CHAPTER XIX. Tobacco, Tobacco is a plant, so much admired', by the Canadians and others, in this country, I cannot possibly think, of clos- ing this little work, without bestowing some slight consideration upon it. It can be reared, in the best style, in drills, like potatoes and Indian corn. The seed is raised principally in small boxes, kept in the habitant's house ; and is, when cultivated in this way, forty days j before 93 shel to ;ast. 1 Cana- in soup )le and nd, and ntity of bod for as been tivation. d for an any time ia contU adraired'T in this of clos- >estowing m it. It in drills, I The seed :es, kept when before IS, it appears. It rfterwards tnkes fifteen days to become sufficiently stout, for the purpose of transplanting it to the field. The growth of the plant, can be greatly accelerated, in the first stage, by putting the seed in a hot-bed, covered with boards. — Although it is a powerful narcotic, it is sometimes attacked with the fly and grasshopper, when young, and in order to prevent this mischief, it is inveloped, whilst transplanting, in a large maple leaf, in the form of a cone. It must be fre- quently watered at first, until such time, as it has established itself well in the ground. The best time for putting out the plants, is the fifteenth of May : but when the first crop of plants fail, from any cause, the second crop is transplant- ed, often late in June, and the beginning of July. The plant when established, grows \ery rapidly, so much so that, it is always necessary to curtail it, more or less those plants, which are intended for use, to prevent them from running into seed. The few tiiat are allotted for seed, are never pruned. The plants are to be set a foot asunder in one way, and a yard distant, from drill to drill. An English acre will support, and bring to maturity, fourteen thousand seven hundred plants ■'I' m 94 and calculating every plant, at one half penny each, the acre will produce in cash, thirty pound twelve shillings and six pence. This is, a large sum of money, for so small a portion of land to produce, in one year ; particularly in a country where farms are so cheap. This calcula^ tion, 1 trust, will stimulate the farmer to augmented, exertion, and induce him to cultivate, not only a small portion, for tlie consumption of his family, but a large quantity for foreign use. Tobacco, potatoes, wheat, and onions, being the most profitable and productive crops, the Canadians ought always to propagate them extensively : and this cultivation conducted with European skill, upon a soil naturally good, would elevate themi iar above, tlieir present condition. n i' r" CHAPTER XX. Conciution* Every honest man speaking or writing upon any subject feels himself indispen- sablv bound to declare and publish tiic truth — having this principle strongly im- pressed upon my mind, my Canadian 95 ne half in cash, ind six money, n'oduce, country calcula- armer to e him to tion, for jt a large d onions, roductive ilways to and this uropean i, would r present )r writing lindispen- kbUsh the jnglyUn- iCanadian neighbour, or friend, must not be offend- ed, if I have been obHged occasionally, in the prosecution of the plan of this little essay, to put forward some unpalat- able truths. When 1 thought, I had justifiable grounds for finding fault,! have done so unreservedly and freely ; con- scious that my intention in doing so was good ; and presuming that, a proper con- struction would be put on my candour. I have found by experience, that putting a thing, appearing objectionable, in a lu- dicrous point of view, was the best and most efficacious mode, of making a last- ing impression upon the mind— that such a style of speaking or writing was more calculated to be profitable in the end, when addressed to the individual or to a community, than if the same ideas were differently conveyed, gravely, in the form of the most unanswerable logic, or bril- liantly, in the witching garb of the most embellished eloquence. I have therefore made merry occasionally, at the expense, of the ignorant husbandman, certainly, not for the purpose of insultiwg or hurt- ing his feelings, but in the fond exj)ecta- tion, of eventually guiding and perma- nently serving him. The object ol the foregoing sheets, has been fully developed m i: m tPi: 96 in the concluding part of the preface ; and I'm confident, every honorable Cana- dian will give me ample credit, for the sentiments of liberality there exposed. The generous reader will recollect like- wise, when 1 had solid grounds to praise, any national process, principle, or inven- tion, I did so with impartiality ; and evi- dently, it must be allowed with gratifica- tion to myself. As a citizen of the w^orld, I have wished to do justice unto all ; and consistently with the same char- acter I could not have wantonly, ffiven umbrage to any. I shall add no more, but fervently hope, that what has been written, may permanently serve my Cana- dian brethern. i riNis, ^^wi reface ; e Cana- for the xposed. 5Ct iike- o praise, )r inveii- and evi- cratifica- lof the ;tice unto ^me char- ily, ffi^'^^^ no more, lias been my Cana" , . « .-I " V CONTENTS- PREFACE. Agriculture an Important subject to uny country.-— Improvement in agric^l XnxQ implies ge^ieral prosperity of ^^ nat ilon,-^Why It doofii ao.Wlno author'? obn lect is to serve Cfu>acla.-T^Aml if he A^^^^ lie ^111 be amply pai4 for his troublG.«fli Itfany changes ior \h^ better have ta^^n place in Canadq, ^nd M^!^ encourages, (ho f^lithor to 0xpec( regcnef^itQ^ in (igricult (;HA1?TC1U J, Page ^ Jhe siinerlor ^^iHtv^^tloT^ of JEiigland,« Thw \^ tne principal ^^psfe pf ftai pr^M^ ip 98 So is Scotland. — The lands of Canada are excellent and if a rectified system of agriculture was introduced such as is es^ tablished in Great Britain the country would thrive. k CHAPTER II. Page 4, • General arrangement of a farm in Great Britain.. — The division of it. — ^The fencing of it.— The position of the house and offices. — The farmer's appropriations to meadow and to grass.<— Routine for producing meadow to the best advan- tage. — Also grass.^-^Old meadow is bet- ter than new,old grass is better than new— with some exceptions, — Meadow should be manured or dressed every fourth or sixth year— so ought grass. — In case land is very good, it will not require this —change of stock from one pasture to another indispensably necessary occasion- ally. — Meadow or grass lancls must be broken up with the plough when they be- come diseased. , J i" i, 99 Canada astern of as is es-j country i- , * CHAPTER III. Page 9. 4, farm in •it._The the house ppriations utine for st advan- ow is bet- an new — w should fourth or —In case uire this asture to occasion- must be n they be- The British farmer's division of his til- lage land. — His rotation of crops. — He manures or dresses each tillage division once in three years, this keeps his tillage in excellent condition and his tillage land progressively improves. — He ploughs often this keeps the land free from weeds, *— In consequence his crops are abun- dant—The mode of applying the pro- duce of his farm to the best advantage. CHAPTER IV. Page 14. Arrangement of the habitant's farm in Lower Canada. — He diviiles almost the whole of his sixty acres into two divisions one for grass another for tillage. — Al- ternate ploughing and grazing ruins both grass and tillage. — His cattle are half starved by this unhappy rotation. — And the crops of wheat, &c. are bad His wood compartment ought to be convert- ed partially into grass ^s a change for his cattle. The mode of doing this. — It is 80 managed elsewliere. — First step to- wards regcn^r^ion :i4i f avmipg in Canada ' • .f o ' > • « • > I I « • I • >..^ — ..^ a.. ^..^ I'T-ir i I ■ nn- i i - fe f h. i ■1 loo td procure a plentiful supply of grasd/of the cattle— second step to afford theoi* plenty of good hay. CHAPTER V. Page 21. The Canadian ploughs all the land h^ Sntends^ for tillage the following spring in the preceding autumn.-— This is an ex- cellent practice. It is owing to this prac- tice that tiie old lands of Canada are not quite e5i:hausted — and that we have bread cheap* Thid process united with- Kng:lUh eultivatlon wuuld pay on& hun« dred or &l\y per cent at leait profit be» ildei ttll additional expenses, when it ii the interest of the Canadian to adopt this change be ought to repudiate all preju* dice. Canadians, English, Irish and Scotch living in the same country and enjoying equal privileges under a liberal and impartial King ought to be united in the bands of friendship. . ' CHAPTER VL Page 29. Canadian ploughing badly executed. The inBtru.iyicnt-iniftlC" uSe ^f'^otiit foi III • • • • > • • • > I ft « t ' t r • ■ t « ' • 101 rf asd fof d theor land U r spring is an ex- his prac- a are not ire haver ted Vrittt- one hun« profit be» fhQti it ii dopt thii ill prcju- sh and ntiy and a liberal united 29. 'xecute(f» ot fit foi general use. A light two horse plough without wheels made after the English fashion the best. The Canadian plough has some advantages and will answer to plough land deeply. . CHAPTER VII. Page 37. Harrov/ihg in Canada badly executed ' owing to the j tool made use of. — ^The ■ English hinge harrow fit for crops that should be covered lightly. The Irish break harrow fit for heavy soils. The Canadians ought to adopt both. . CHAPTER VIIL . Page le. For the proper cultivation of a farm J inanui*c and dressing are indispensably necessary. — Formerly tho Canadians al- lowed the dung to accumulate till it be- came a nuissance^ — It was then thrown into the naxt river. — The Canadian makes partial use of it • at present — Manure must be procured and > augmented in . every possible way and applied generally to all farming purposes. — Stable dung-1 rich . earths of every kind— and 8timu«^ ' I MAUiHiMiiHifiMMI .,15: 102 lating substances are all fit for farming operations — A criterion to guide the farmer to make soils and dress them to the best possible advantage. — Irish far- mers are fully aware of the utility and necessity of procuring manure and dress- ings in abundance. — The Canadian has as many substances to enrich his land as the Irishman.— He has more encourage- ment to do so. — ^He has more capital. — Less rent to , pay. — If he will alter his system as advised he will soon double his comforts and his capital. CHAPTER IX. Page 53. Stimulating dressings may be used to advantage as auxiliaries to stable dung and rich earths, gypsum, lime, ashes come under the head of stimulators. CHAPTER X. Page 57. . Weeds a disgrace to the farmer — they injure the land and the crop. — How to eradicate the weeds of Canada. farming uide the them to [rish fai- :ility and md dress- idian has is land as ncourage- capital. — alter his louble his '3. e used to ible dung shes come 57. . ner — they —How to / '.J 103 . CHAPTER XI. Page 61. . The Canadian horse a fine animal— so is the bullock. — ^The sheep are egre- giously bad. — ^I'he hog little better. — How to improve the breed of the hog, &c. CHAPTER XXL Page 72. The Canadians drain their land with judgment how it is conducted. M '■4 CHAPTER Xm. Page 78. ' Canadians fence well — how it is ex- ecuted. CHAPTER XIV. Page 75. The potatoe a valuable and delicious vegetable. — It came first from South America. — Thirty-six species of it.— The way to breed new seed potatoes. — ^The way to regenerate them partially.— It is a valuable crop when tilled lightly*— Worth fifteen pounds per acre.-^This is T04f ii the rent of twenty Canadian farms.— What an excellent opportunity it affords the farmer to aggrandize himself and fkmily. I ft 1, ;;■; ::!i:i CHAPTER XV. Page 81. Indian corn a beautiful useful plant.-— Its cultivatiom -—Ashes the best dressing for it.— Land -\s*ell burnt has produced four crops running. — Its uses. — Many persons prefer the cultivation of it to that of wlieat-!— For a variety of good rea* ions, . CHAPTER XVI. Page 85. Rye considered by some a profitable grain. — It will grow upon a sand where no other white crop- would grow.^The farmer who has such land ought to culti- vate it extensively.— Makes tolerable good bread mixed wrth wheat > flour.~ Its peculiarity, as a grain. 1. IJ V'j . \.f ^ ' m arms.— : affords slf and 1. plant.— dressing roduced — Many t to that lod rea* 33. •ofit'ablo i where .—The o ciilti- [)1 arable CHAPTER XVII. Pages*. Turnips excellent esculent roots. Fit for man and beast.— Time for sowing turnip.— It resists light frost very well. A recipe to save it from the fly.— Such as are best for culinary purposes— and for cattle.— Flow to save the seed, — It is an uncertain crop in Canada. — Carrot is tilled in same way — but must be sowa kooner. — Its peculiar qualities. It ia worthy of attention. — Cabbage to be planted in the fields irt drills. — When to raise the plants.— When to transplant them.— Canada an unfavourable place for this veffetable.'— Onions may be planted^ In drnls.— It grows well Jiere — -it is »> profitable crop,— Mangle wurzel a bene- ficial and very abundunt crop — its useau. «-^It ouffht to be cultivated,. CHAPTER XVlir. Page 8S.. Wheats different oj)inions relative to» the best time lor sowing it. — Spring the best time in all probability — tlie reasons why. — Certain rules to be always ob« Belayed for the purpose of obtaining av 106 I* > S:. good crop. — Criteria to judge the best seed.— What ought to follow a regular rotation of crops. — If it does it is likely to be good.— The avena or oat is now generally cutivated in Canada. — Its uses, -—Its peculiar property. — This is known to medical men. — It is better than beatis for horses.-^— It is not disseminated early enough here.— It has dwindled on that account. — It exhausts the soil.— However it is a good crop.^— Barley not much raised in this hemisphere — its uses. — It produces good spirit — worthy of culti- vation. ... , ' ■ , ; ,.' ..'■'' « -t_« I • - , • . • • '■ t 'I:: CHAPTER XIX. Page 92. }.,, Tobacco a plant much admired. — ^The mode of raising the plants — in boxes housed — and in hotbeds. — It grows so luxuriantly it requires to be pruned — except the plants intended for seed,— -A valuable crop — worth thirty pounds twelve shiUings per acre. — It ought to serve as a stimulus to the farmer. -* ^'«^ '^ ■»'- ^' 3..W V.'. he best regular IS likely is now [ts uses, I known n beans id early on that lowever t much ises. — It )f culti- 107 CHAPTER XX. Page 94. Every honest man should speak the truth and publish it freely. — ^The author in observing this principle has been oblig- ed to put forward some unpalatable truths. This he has done not to insult but serve the Canadians. — ^The Canadian will there- fore take his candour in good part. — The author sincerely hopes he may serve by this essay his Canadiaii Brethren. ■ w.'l ' ■■ n^ I.— The boxes Irows so 'uned — fed.— A I pounds tght to ..■4 V ^ .• *•» » « ' . . . I • t • • • • 1 • • • • I • . ' • • • • • ( ■:V