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Oil the A"nculluml History and Condition of Snnbury County, By Rkv. a. V. CI. WKUJIN.-^, D. I). 3sro. II- On the Agricultural History and Condition of Charlotte County, Br JA^.IES G. STEVENS, Esq. PUBLISHED BY AUTIIOKITY OF THE BOARD. KREDERICTON : I'WNTED BY J. ORAIIAM, " HEAD QUAUTEnS " OFFICE, FHEDEBICTOX, S. ». 1861. ■f i AGR] The cul Iininodiiite (Janlon of Adam was " God sent ho Avas tall mass of iin as lung as And U8 i tionin wlii pants ol'uu inferior to agricvdtur the mocha in proport none can ( for every ' existence, comforts a they are li hidy, but t " The prof In the 11 find, that 1 morce abr agricultur ct^ded by prosecutio And nol most hono a science fectly und FTilST PRIZE ESSAY, ON TU3 AGRICULTURAL HISTORY AND CONDITION or STJlSTBTJI^^Sr COTJ3SrT"5r. The cultivation of the soil k the most ancient of Inmian cniployments. Ininiediatoly after the creation, " God took Adam and put liim into tho (Jarden of Eden to cultivate and to guard it." And when for his disobedienco Adam was not pornutted any lon^;er to occupy that dcli^ditful rcfiidencc, " Uod sent him forth from the Garden of Kdon to till tho ground from whenco ho Avas taken."' And tlii.s has continued to bo th-e occupation of tho great mas.s of mankind from tlK> creation to the present day, and must so c(mtinuo as long as man remains, in his present condition, to occuj)y the earth. And as agriculture is the most ancient, bc is it the most im})ortant occupa- tion in which niiin can engage; and though tlie more polished and Avealthy occu- pants ofoar cities may look down >ipon the rough farmi-r as occujiyiiig a position inferior to their own, such was not the opinion of the ancients, who regarded^ agriculture as a more honorable employment than merchandise, or any of the mechanical arts. ..nd very properly so: for if we regard employments in proportion to the bearing upon the comforts and haj)[)iness of mankind none can compete successfully, on this ground, with the tiller of the soil: for every class of society depends, not only ibr its comforts, but for its very existence, upon the successful labours of the farmer. It is true many of our comforts and conveniences pass thrjugh the hands of various artificers before they are fitted to gratify the taste of the connoisseur, the epicure, or the fino lady, but all originally came from the soil. " The profits of the earth, says SolomoD, are for all. The King him'- '.'' is served by the field." In the most cursory review of the rise and fall of naii -ns we invariably find, that their ])rosperity at home, and the success of their arms and i^om- niorco abroad, have been in direct proportion to the Hkill and indu.stry of tho agriculturists of the country ; and their decline has been as invariablv pre- ceded by a neglect of agriculture, or a want of skill or diligence in it.s prosecution. And notn-itlr-tanding agriculture is th<» most ancient and important, tli.o most honorable and honest of human occu])ations, there is perhaps scarcely a science or mechanical art, the principles of which are generally so imper- fectly understood by the great mass of those engaged in it ; though to nono is HUccoHs iiiiin* (IcpciHlciit iijioii tlio !ii»plic!itiiiii ofcnrroot priiu-ipIcH. And W(,- ucol iKit I'l'i'l siir|.riscrin;.'iii;< to maturity tliK produc- tions of tlic ciirtli. Tlicy loosen tliu s(;il and a)>ply tin' tirdinary manures llirow ill ami lovi'r tin; siMil, and it sprin-s np aiid ripens they know nut liow. 'riie materials employed in Imildin-- np I lie orpmismrt 'of ilillerent [ilaiits, and tlio Hceret aj^vneies l.y whieh tinise ori,^anisms are formed aru snlijects whieh most fainii'rs nehiom think aiiout ; tlion^rii a correct knovv- ledp'oflhein is intimately comiected with Iho successful iHSiio of those ()|)erations. A^aicnllnral chenn'sts and vo,u'etaliIe phvsii.lo^rists have dono much, Hinco the commtMU-enient of the present eenturv, towanls develoiiin^' this int( roifinfj sciunce : hut the uriMt ma- s ol' fuiuers have neither- time, nor the necessarv preparatory knowledge, to avail thomselve^ of tlieso valuable descoveries. It has Iteeii well and wisely said. ••That he who ean-es two blades of ^^-ass to grow whero only one* grew hefore, is a henafictor to mankind ;"' if Ihero- iore my observations nju)!! the past and present condition of the agriculture of Sunbiiry, and any suggestions I may bo ei; ,Med to oiler tor its future inijirovement should enable tli.' i'armer'in any degree to increase the produc- tiveness of his fields, or tu employ those pVoiliu'tions Jiioro iudieiously in foodnig and improving his stock, my time and labour will not have been entirely misemployed. Hcfore eiKjuiring into (he agricultural history of the Ccmnty it may bo well to premise a few observations upon Its geographical features, the nature of Its soil, namral producLions. first settlement, presen': population, and of cominnnicatioii with other localities. Ilalii.urt(»n in his History of Xi.va Scotia remarks that ''the County of Hunimry originally comprised (Ik; whole- country bordering upon the River St. John;" though it has long since dwindled "down (o the vi'rv moderate proportions of alnrnt (17 miles in length bv ISi i„ width, eompris'in.r, accord- ing to .Muiiro, 782,0S() acres, about half of which has been gmided, the remainder being still at the disjiosal of the government. It is bounded on the South-East by Queen's. North by Northumberland. Xordi-West by York and South by (,'liarlo((e. Nearly the whole of (he Cuntv is capable «)f being brought under cultivation ; although in 1851 there were' only 15,o87 acres, or aiiout one-fiftieth part of it cleared. The general features of the County are flat, olTering few rl.structions to the o])erations of the farmer; tiiougli it must bo confessed that much of the soil on the Noith side of the St. John is of rather an inferior quality and at the present high j)rice of labour would scarcely repav the expense of reclaiming it from the forest. m div jclaimmg It from the forest. Every part of the (,\)un(y is well watered ami abounds in water power for ecl.anical imrposes. The St. John cuts i( across ncarlv at right angles, iVKling It into nearly two e,|ual sections, forming the great road of ooin- munication b<.(ween i( and the cities of St. dolin and Fredericton, upon which comtortable steam b(.)a(s ply directlv u|) j.nd down during the summer season, and airordiiig an excellent road on the ice in winter. The Oromoeto, a tributary of the St. .lohii. which it enters about (ho niidillo of the Countv, ex(ends 1(8 widely spreadiai. bmnelies over cvcrv portion of the- County houth of the St. John ; and (he l.ittle River, I'orto Bello and Millstream lalling intii French Lake, and various branches of the Gaspereaux and castle falling into (he tirand Lake in Queen's County spread their vs nuiiification.s over every portion of the North New- r'arioua ItH pfeogrfi of the curioi A (hill strati itself pr(>((y from the siir John, and n opinion that it by boring Few rock a| river consist Th(5 soil o gerville and of Maugervi Burton is m« which might slope to the lower part o the growth ( fair cro|)s of inclint!d to c The soil o of the St. J(i to my emjui the river aiK a small porti ferent ([ualit generally fn The forest with small q abundant tlu are also abui The native p (the latter ol with many o The popul increase for Its only vi Town claims along the bai Carlow in Mi These are all want of systt Maugervill iiice, having emigrants w! Bcxtbrd, nea up their uboi Oaangondy, Indians. In government > vol. 1 p. 248 On the arr hearts and w (I iiifiy 1>'< 10 nature , and of upon ItH jjco^^rapliir'al I'.'utiiron liiivo littlo <.n ll.o surfm-o to oxcitc tlio jiitrreHta (if tilt' ciuioiH, anil not imidi in known of itn liitMon tronnnroH. if huuIi oxint. A tliin !«hiitnm of vcrv pxid coal. n\umt tsvcntv im-lics in di-ptli, Mprcit(U itHolf piTtty widely over tlio northern |)artH ot'tlit! ('unnty,at no -^Tcat dt'ptii from the unrliiee, and ii ;.n,(.d deal is taken up annually and Mhi|>peil to St. Jolm, and nmch is distrilmted alxMit the County lor fuel. Manv are of opini(ai that thin coalfield rrosses the St. .lolin ; thnu^di an attempt to"di.scover it by lioriii^,' near Mr. Iliilihard'-^ in Mnrtoti Home years h>;o was not suceeHsfuI. Few rock appear m the surliiee. Tlios(! eroii[)ing out on the lianks of tho rivor consist mostly of new red Hand stone. The soil on the northern hank of the .'^t. John, firnen;; the front of .Muit- porville and Shellield, is, with the exception of a f<'\v miles of f he ui»per part of Mauperville, ti very rich an,'reat facilities. In the upper part of Burton und lower part of Lincoli; u sandy loam prevails, wiiieh, thou^^'h not favorahle to the (growth of prnss is well ada|ited to the produi-tion of roots, and vitlda fair crops of ^n-ain. The u[)per part of iiincoln is of a atitfer cluiracterjmore inclined to clay, and is much incumhered with stones. The soil of Hlissville, with tho exception of the intervaleH alonfr the oank-s of the St. John, is the host in the Tounty. Mr. W. K. Terley. M. P. I'., in reply to mv eiKjuiries, says, "The soil is composed of intervale on the hanks of the river and hij^di hinds easily worked and very pnxluctive, reijuiring only a small portion of manure? to make it produce excellent cro[)s. It is of dif- ferent (jualities, some bein<; composed of a light loam, nmcii of it yandy, hut generally free from stone." The forests (jf Sunhiiry rthound in ppruce, fir, birch, hemlock and cedar, ■with small (juantities of red and white pine, which formerly were nuich more abundant than at present. Rook and white maple, l)ircli, beech and poplar are also abundant, with hasswood, butternut and oak in smaller (pjantities. The native gra.sses are red top, blue joint, white clover, and joijit rushes', (the latter of which possesses hifjhly fattening and milkproducing qualities.) with many other less valuable varieties. The population of Sunhury in 1851 was 5,301, which, taking the average increase lor the previous ten years, probably now amounts to ti,50l,. Its only village is the Oroinocto, unless the little cluster of houses at Taylor Town claims that distinction. Its principal settlements, exclusive of those along the banks of the rivers, are the Geary, Shirlev and Victoria in Burton, Carlow in Maugerville, and Hardwood Ridge and S'ew Zion in Northlield! Those are all comparatively new settlements, and their systeni (or rather want of system) of farming, is of the most primitive kind. Maugerville and Sheflield are the oldest English settlements in the Prov- ince. having been selecteil, on account of their great fertilitv. by a board of emigrants who came from ,. ^ agricultural districts of Rowley, Andover, and Rexford, near Boston, in MiHsaciiusettH, in the years 17(i3 and 17(i4, to 'take up their abode, among tho aborigines of the country, on the banks of tho Ouangomhj, the name by which the St. John was then known among tho Indians. In 1765 the country bordering on this river was erected by the government of Nova Sooiia into a county called Sunbury. (Vide Hahburton vol. 1 p. 248), On the arrival of this little band of hardy pioneers, they began with stout hearts and willing hand^j to fell and clear away tho giant sons of tho foreat 1 fttul to occupy their pluces with the variuiu rootn nud cereuls which thfi^ hml Itr.Mi^'lit "with them, whirh in thu iifwiy chared impoiiitiui'nf. An early Inist .ut down the growiujj; crop hct'iire it u ih Hullieieittly ripe to he ol inuidi vidue ; and us the country atlurded no H>ipplies of I'ooil except firth from the river, and tin* uncertain priKhictionM of the chase, in which the new comers wero hut iitthi sliiih^d, th; them of their onlv means of killing; the hears and moose, with wliich the forests uhoumled, und on which they mainly depended for their daily ioixl. In 17(;i was put upon Hartlett's ^lillslrcam, now included in the Parish of ShelHeld, the lir.^^t Hour mill erected in the I'rovince, which continued for a great numher of years to grind all the grain grown in the surrounding countrv. In Xovomlter, 177G, a number of the new colonists, fired by tho revolu- tionary s[)irit which had latidy broken out in Massachusetts, joined a party of revolutionists from that country in attacking Fort (.'umherlaiid, and cap- tured and carried otV. during the "night, a small schooner which the retreating tide had left oii the Hats. 'J'heir success jiowever did not eventually turn out very jirotitalile. In \'is:i the su\all cokmy. wln"ch had struggleil on through many dillicidties, A'us recruited liy a large reinforcement of jjoyalists, who, on the conclusion of peace betwei'n (Jn-at Hritain and the rnited States, left their liomcs und all their i>ro])crty except Avhat litth* they ciuild carry with them, that they might enjoy, what was denied them in their native country, in the wilds of New lininswick, the lia])piness of being under tho British Constitution. A large numli-r of those settleil in the County of Sunbury, whose descendants now form a principal ])art of its population : and inheriting, as they generally «lo, the spirit that animated that nol)lo l)and of unilinching adherents to tho British Crown, are distinguished for their devoted attachment to British institutions. With res)iect to our markets, I may oliserve, tliat tho different lumbering parties in this and the adjoining Counties of Queen's and York, buy up a large portion of the surplus produce, for Avhicli they pay in the foUowin;-: Hiiunner, after tho lumber has reached St. .lohn. The remainder is sent t.- Frederictou and St. .b>hn, for tho conveyance of which tho daily steam t)oats in summer and fine roads on the ice in winter, alVord abundant facilities. In this way every article of surplus produce meets a ready sale, and gener- {iil\ al liigiily icmnueratiiig prices. bur farming statistics are not Avhat they should be when wc consider tho rapidly improving condition of the country. Whilst in tho I'nitcd States labor-saving machines are used in every department of farm work, hero tho hand hoe, ru honorrt on m dices HH to t the work of thrashing m muchinoH t^ 1)0 gaining r however, as loil and «(t'e Tilt! systo operations o improvemen tions, with t these opi nifii with eipuilly practised, crops but a was deeply would thus 1 excessive m valuable lar saturated wi any thing of With this our average farmer in Bi good seascmf wheat, 30 of peas are not Homewdiat h: 40, turnips, of the soil, ii eious treatm allow that tli tho treatme fertility. A to say, '' thai well," .said li cheat you." returning a as food for s every thing of tho soil tc crops. Und formerly yie quantity ; ai entertained this principL speaks of soi they contini tobacco ; but supplies wei the labour o: t I* ■liirh ihfij lortih' Hoil ahutuJiiiit 1 to HulVur )\vin>^ crop 10 country uiiccrtitiii tlo hkillotj, lute ill tliu liii'h ciiiiio 4 mill want onconnter. tlriu, wlio L> not at all .0 rilf?rim ir limiting vaiitap' of r ])ropi'rty in of their uI)iiuiiiI(mI, tlio l*ari«h itiiMU'd fi)r irroniKliiig ho revolu- ■d a jjarty I, and cap- ri'trcating :ually turn (iiHicnltioH, conclusion homes and that they he wilds of itution. A esccndantH y generally uts to the to British luniViering , huy up a ! following is sent tc itcam boats t facilities, and gencr- insider the itcd States i, hero tho I 7 hand hoe, rake and flail, scythe and reaping hook Htill ivtuiii their aucienU honors on most of our farms, .^^ome few have so far overcome aixient preju- dices Hs to employ the horse hoe and horse rake, hy which a-«t summer a large numher of nitpwing machines I .»vo been introduced along the banks of tho river, ami appear to be gaining more favor among the people. The great mass of the jieoplo however, as .Mr. I'eiley, whom I before (pujted, expresses it, '• riinfiinif to toil iind MU'cal it out in the otil vai/,'' The system of tillage, as well as the iiistniiiieiits by which the various operations of the farm are performed, has undergone" generally imt little improvement. I'otatoes are still planteil and tilled and dug, with few e.xcefK tions, with the hoe in the same way tis they were liity years ago. when mc theHeo/MnitiofiM might be j)erforiiied at less than one-ioiirth tlie c(tst, and with e(|iially good results. .'^hallMW ploughing is also still very generally practised. Few plough deeper than four or five inches, thus allording their crops but a seanty range for tho extension of their roots, which, if the soil was deeply tilled, would go eight or t.Ti inch's dnwn in search of fiod, ami would tiius be mmli better preparecl to withstand the etiects of drought or e.xcessivc moisture. Draining too is very little ittended tu, and thus much valuable land, which a little labor wouid vender highly productive, is so saturated with water during the early part of the seas(ti.,"that it never yielda any thing of value. With this imperi'ect system of management, we neecl lait be surprised that, our average crops are not more abundant. An intelligent and successful farmer in iJurton gives the following as th(> average in that J'arish: 'In good seasons," he .says, ''our average crops are from the acre IH bushels of wheat, yo of oats, 200 of potatoes, ."JO to 40 of buckwheat; rye, barlev and peas are not much grown." In .Maugerville and Shenield the avenige in somewhat higher, oats may be j)ut down at an average of 40 to 50, barley at 40, turnips, mangold wortzel and carrots at from GOO to 800. The fertility of the soil, in place of going on increasing, as it always will do under jndi- cious treatment, is universally admitted to have materially diminished. " All allow that the crops are not what they used to be. And when we think of the treatment the soil receives, we need not wonder at its diminished fertility. An old English farmer once remarked to me that his father used to say, " that land was the most honest thing in the world." "Treat it well," .said he, " and it will treat you well; cheat it, and it will be sure to cheat you." Our fanners do not seem to understand this ; for in j/lace of returning a large portion of the proceeds ot the soil to the shape of manure, as food for succeeding crops, the general system seems to have been, to sell every thing that could probably be spared and trust to the natural fertility of tho .soil to {)rovide, as best it could, supplies I'jr the production of futuro crops. Under this process of continued depletion, our rich intervales, which formerly yielded three tons of hay per acre, now scarcely avr had liccn ]iloughcd or niiuiured, This man was 56 years old, had been burn on the i'arm, which he had inherited iVnm his father. The soil was of the richest kind of intervale, and I well remember when it produced su])crior cro])s of corn, hay. oats and turnips." Jle then goes on to say, "I regret that such bad management and want of skill is too fre- quently apparent: a gt'neral belief prevailing that good inter\ale might bo mowed aiMinally, and closely ])astured in the fall, without impoverishing it." I fear my friend i'erhn' and" his neighbors in IMissville are labouring under the same delusion. Jn re|ily to my emiuiries respecting tin; rotation of crops in IJlissvilli'. he says, "(»ur rarming is carried on without i)aying any ])arti- cular attention to ii regular notation, as wo think the same kinds of grain Avill proiluco siicci>ssfully on the sarae ])iece of land twenty years in succes- sion iiy a small application of manure. Jn this (.pinion I believe we will be 8ustain(;d by some eminent farmers, although many think otherwise." Blissville may stand this tlepleting systi-m ibr ii few years longer; but tho end must come. As a natural eon.-.efiuence of this gradual deterioration of the soil, there has betm a ])ro])ortional falling olf in the numbers and (piality of farm stock. '^\\■ Jbirton friend. IVoni whose statement I ipioted tho average of crops for that I'arish, and whose grey hairs testify his long exjierience, in speaking of stock says, '' J can rememlier back 40 years well, and how was it, with the stock at that time? Could we look into the farm yards of Jacob Loder, Holland Bridges, Jeremiah .Burpee, James Taylor, Col. Miles. >"^amiiel Nevers, and some others 40 years back, who were called good farmers at that time, Avo should see iim^ cows and large oxen that would girth over Boven feet, well pro])ortioned with heavy bodies and short legs. One of those oxen or cows was worth two that we now have. More butter and cheese was mado in those days from one of these farms, than is made by four of our farmers now." Hut this depleting and deteriorating system appears to have passed its nadir, except in. /Jlis.sville, and Ave are i)egimiing gradually to ascend the path of improvement. An idea seems noAv generally to prevail, tho result of long and dear Ixmght ex])erience, that taking all tho land can yield and gmng back as little as ])ossible is not, under any circumstances, the most protitable Avay of farming. iMost farmers are beginning to see tho propriety of adopt- ing some sort of rotation of crops, though foAV carry it out into anything like a regular system. ^ly Burton friend, Avhoso opinions I have already twice (piottMl on other subjects, says, in reference to his oaa'u practice, *' Tho meadow lands generally as soon as tho grass bcgin.s to fail, Avhich is in from 4 to <> vears, is, if poKsible. plough.ed and fico crops of oats or buck- wheat taken, potatoes next Aveli manured, and then laid doAvn to grass Avith a crop of wh<.^;!t or oats. From pasture lauds avo take two grain crops and then lay down to pasture for 5 or 6 years." Manures i much of the Aveather. ^ manure froi: systematic i Not ten yea the bank of the liijuids 1 the bank to ing on agrii 4)bserved th thrown oA'ei our farmers but add lar^ absorb muci Avith it an ii but the exti extensive p In sjicak country, it i cultural Sot 'J'Im. Sunl apathy of it ]iroceeiling!; been a nieai the nine ye; 1 may safel; wurt/.(d, am requiremen excited by i qualities of most san<,ni aftiT having 43 tons of 1] Upon anoth tively, Averi iialf a( re of Society, thi pounds, a k These are r of competiti horses, neat the last fe\\ Agricultiira county, bot promise to our native liorns Avhicl Agricultura ficia! inline! together, tl to emulate are brought 9 to certain country, gviiin und grass, for mamiring xiiown. or alo fanner was well poor. To fl. lie siiul, IS 56 years lis father. !r when it n goes on is too fro- mi gilt be isliing it." ing under jnof crc)j)S any parti- ii of grain in siu'ces- ve will bo thcrwist'." ; but the soil, thero irm stock. crops for peaking of t witli the ob Loder, lel Nevers, that time, even feet, oxen or was mado ir farmers passed its 1(1 the path uiltof lung lud giving ; prolitublo | ■ of adopt- ? > anything I. re already ' t. practice, ^ , which is f A or buck* t ^ravss with J crops and I Manures too are much more highly prised than they formerly were, though much of their value is still lust by long and unnecessary ex|posuro to the weather. Very i'aw have, wliat every fanner ought to have, sheds to protect manure from the deteriorating elVeets of tiie sun and rain, or adopt any systematic measures for saving the li(jui(l jmrtitiiis from running to waste. Not ten years ago a wealthy i'armer in Shellieid, wiiose barn yard is near the bank of the river, had actually a drain cut across the road to convey all the Hipiids to tlu; riv(>r ; and as I have been told, had his straw thrown ovi'r the bank to get it out of his Avay. 1 had occasion to allude to this in lectur- ing on agriculture in that Parish some years ago, shortly after Avhich I observed the ilrain was closed, nor have T since heard of straw having been thrown over the bank. In ]ilace of this wanton Avaste of fertilizers, many of our farmers now not only carefully ju-eserve all they gather from the farm, but add largely to their stoek by hauling black mud into their farm yards to absorli much that nn'ght otherwise be lost. Knowledge is increasing, and witli it an improved practice in carrying out many of the details of the farm, but th(! extravagant price of i'arm labor is a very great impediment to any extensive plans of improvement. In siieaking of the past and present condition of thi; agriculture of the country, it may not be amiss to say a few words about the iulluenee of Agri- cultural Societies. Til,' Suubiiry Agrieultural Society has had much to coTilend with from tii« apathy of its friends and the sellisliiiess wliii'ii has characterised most of its •jiroceedings; yet notwithstanding \\\rroduetive ♦[ualities of the soil, and the residt has increased the antici[)ations of the most sanguine. The judges n])pointed to examine root crops in the field, after having measured the gmnud and weigh(Ml the roots, reported one year 4.3 tons of mangold wurt/.el to the acre, and .'{.'{ tons of white Helgian carrots. Upon another occasion 2i bushels of wheat and 52i bushels of oats respec- tively', were rc]»orted to have been threshed and measured from a nieasniH.'d half a( re of groiiml. And at the Exhibition of the Snnbury Agricultural Society, this autunm, a Jenny Liiid jiotato Avas exhibited that Aveighed three pounds, a long red mangold Avurtzel I-IA lbs., and a SAvedish turnij) 21^ lbs. These are results that never Avould ha\'e been attained Avithout the stimulus of competition, excited by the ])reiiiium list of the Agricultural ."^oeiety. Our horses, neat cattle, sheep, and sAvine have also been much inijiroA-ed Avithin the last few years by an admixture of imported blood, introdueed by the Agricultural Society. We have a number of |ture sliort horns now in the county, both males and females, Avhich thrive Avell on our intervales, and promise to produce a still greater improvement by judirion- i-mssing Avith our native breed. There is now a largi; number of growing grade short liorns which have a very promising appearance. Tlu; annual exhii)ition of Agricultural Societies, AA'hen properly managed, cannot fiiil to jiroduce a bene- ficial iniluonce. Not only are the best samples of -:t,'irkand prndu*"?^ brought together, that each may see Avhat others have produced, and he thus excited to emulate their success; but Avhat is not less important, liirmers themselves are brought together to discuss their various tojtics of interest. They talk B 10 to each (jt lie)' al)iiut llicir (•A|)orini(;iits nnd their ro.siiltf'.. HUfjp^ost iinprnvu- inciits mill riM-eivi' su^'-jzcslimis l'r"iii dthciv. Mind is linmaiit into cinifact with mind, and thi;y n.'turu huuie with inrrcisi'il knowledge, zeal, uud oaer;;y to carry out their various i)lans of iniprovemeut. llavin,n' given a 1)rierontlin(! of the j)a-t history and present eondition of the agrieultnre of Simlniry, I may ](erha|)> i)e |ienniltiMl to oHer a few sug- gestions resulting |i!inei|ial!y from my own personal exjierienco. During the thirty years that 1 have dalil)led in agrieultural pursuits, niuuv books on theoretical and jtractical agriculture have been read, many of their suggestions testeil, and many original exjieriments tried with deciiledh favourahlu results, in tli(,' lt(.'nelits of which 1 would wish others, who may liavo had less leisure and means for experimenting, t of the starvelings tuider your old system. After the first winter they will do well on straw and roots. 1 seldom feed hay at all during the winter to neat cattle, exce[)t calves. Even milch cows will do well anu yield a fair (puin- tity (if milch on good straw with half a bushel of roots daily, which I allow to each animal until toward the end of Ahirch, when 1 conunence giving hay an heaps, which niay well ])e called, the F'J.niHrs IJaitk. largely increased in quantity and 'mjtroveil in (juality, will respond freely to his drafts when tho root crops in the spring demand suj)})lies. It nnist be a very poor farm, or badly managed, that caiuiot be mad(» to "? ield five h with straw, middle of .\ the straw tl all) will nun cultivation woidd i'eeil alford manii the root cr, quantity an with a j'udii worth culti' Aviil improv The rota Juniurs op! sod intendc autumn. '1 ploughed di iraiild not Vi thc> sunmier s|)ring lay c: soil before ] quent care blessing, uji in course av which the li of red or 4 of hay and c low again, three years gi'ain crops a'.s.^ii)n, notA 1 consider it Under tin farms, one c of cult i vatic hay as aver <'ight years doubled the 1 cannot ( At least twi fully three-f season in lu during the i tion for puti the season, i do grf)AV is 1 oats, in plac sumed in th Their faruis 'J'hey may, ^ nnist be at t labor employ 11 \\e\i\ five humlred Inishols of turn U' .invito (ir mjiimold wortzd. Thee, with strav, would \\'v(\ six liciiil of cuttlt' rnuii tlic Isr Xovciiiln-r till tlio iTiiddlc of Ajiril. Tlir iiiiUiiirc iimdi' from litis stock, if [iropciiy liccldcd with the straw that tlicy will Icavo (for tlicy ouiflit not to lio r('(|ni'-((l to cat it all) will iiiaimn! an acre of ground the next \> (t: ,,iii1 tlii-', with [irofRT cidtivation and a favorulili; siMson, will yield eight hundred hush-'ls. wli'di would feed nine uniuids during the same period the iiext winter. This w'll atlord manure for ;• 'TO and a half tlie next fiea-oii. and thus tli;.> stoek and the root crops w,'l : t reciprocally upon each other, each increasing tlio cinantity and qua'!, of the other almost a(/ M;V' seeded down with a jteck of timothy seed and .S lbs. of hmI or 4 (if Alsike clover to the acre. This will afford three good crops of hay and on the intervale four or five, when the same rotation idiould fol- low again. Fields which are kept i)rinci[ially for pasture iruiy be grazed three years and cropped one, under which treatment both tlui pasture and grain crojis will improve in (piantity and (piality. ^J'u'o yrain frojts in nuc- ee^ssion, notwithstanding the jiractiee of many of our farmers to the contrary, 1 consider iifterhj lnco)isiiiti)if iriih jirojifuhlt- /(tnuiinj. Lender the system here reconuuended I have renovated two worn out farms, one of whicli J tilled for twenty years and left it in a very high stato of cultivation, yielding 1.000 Inishels of turnips, ;]() of wheat, and 2i tons of hay as average crops jier a(^re : the other, on which 1 now reside, during the eight years that 1 have tilled it, ha.s, without any extraneous aid, about doubled the value of its products. I caimot conclude without saying a few words about hinihe ring farmers. At least two-thirds of the niitle ]iopulation of Sunlmry (Mr. IVrley says it is fully three-fourths in IJlissville) are engaged more or less during the winter season in lumbering. Their attention is thus taken away I'rom their farms during the early spring. Avhen every energy shcjuld lie (lirecteil to i)repara- tion for putting in the crop ; and conse([U"ntly, when they do liegin late in the season, everything has to be hastily and slovenly done. And what they do grow is not allowed to remain to fertilize their farms. Their hay and oats, in place of being consumed on the farm, to keep up its fertility, is con- sumed in the Avoods and left there to fertilize the denizens of thii forest. Tlieir farms are thus starved and must evendially starve them in return. 1'hey may, some of them, get a little mon^ ready money at j)resent, but this must be at the expense of their future prospects. The same amount of labor employed iu clearing and enriching their farms would in ten years I I 12 aiinivl jiiucli proator profits, besides piittinp; tliom in a position of being indc- l)enil(Mit ill I'litiiro. It is an uliI ada^n' tliat whatever i.s worth doiii^^ at all iH worth iloin^j^ wcilJ, and to nothing is this more applicable than to the culti- vation oftlu! soil. One thing at a time is as niucli as any one can properly and prolilably att<>nd to. Lot the limner attend to his farm, and the lumberer to his logs, and both Avill get on nuieh better. Almost any honest employ- ment, it' diligently and ikillnlly followed, will afford a comfortiible and re- spectable living. A hidy in England, wishing to put her son to business, asked Itothschild what (lejjartment of business ho would recommend his en- gaging in. "Oil, anything,'' said he, "let him sell matches. It is as good as anytiiing, if well followed np ; hut Id him stick fo one thing.-' Do one thing, steadily, diligently, pcrscveringly, and success id almost iut!vital)le. AGR] In no in marked tin their wisln insunnoun tained ; th plain, the ] regions, hfi cxtremest arduous st jectured tl of the first io agriculti their endu sure wuul( in the resj: complished It will b details con the writer, to the all i The Pro able Secr( capacity o: counties ir yet may te the nTnnor arms, have pared herii sidered, u\ the prescr and consci _ Tlie Coil vince of N toing intlc- >iii^' at iill I till! r;ulti« 1 properly ; luniborui* st oniploy- lo and TO- bufliuovss, lul his cil- ia as good Do ono jvitablc. SECOND TRIZE ESSAY, ON Tua AGRICULTURAL HISTORY AND CONDITION OP CITA.R,LOTTE COTJ:^TT■'S^. In no instance is the indonjitahlo energy of the Anglo-Paxon race movo marked than in the wrestling with wiM nature, and subduing her to subserve their wishes and jturposes. No obstacle of a material kind presents now an insurmountable barrier to their progress; victory upon victory has beciu ob- tained ; the rude forest has given jilace to the liourishing city ; the barren plain, the rocky soil, the inhospitable land, a.' well as the richest and fairest regions, have lieen occupied by the sons uf Old England, and, in times of cxtremest emergency, their stout hearts have jiroved their fitness for the arduous struggles to which they have so often been called. It Uiay be con- jectured that there arc comparatively few who are at all aware of the trials of tlio first settlers in this Province, and was this essay not mainly coiijined to agricultural ohjedn, interesting information might be given illustrative of their endurance; and if the compass of this essay would permit, great plca- eure would bo experienced in making honoral)le mention of the early settlers in the respective parishes of this County, and what by them has been ac- complished ; but this I can do but in part and in a cursory manner. It will be also borne in mind that this essay will not purport to enter into details concerning other branches of industry, apart from agriculture, and if the writer, by this small means, can succeed in attracting a fuller attention to the all important subject of agriculture he will have an ample reward. The Provincial Board of Agriculture, in acting on the suggestion of their able Secretary, do well in endeavoring to obtain every information, in the capacity of individuals to render, as to the agricultural history of the several counties in this Province, and however imperfect such in cases may be, it yet may tend to rescue from oblivion some incidents which are locked up iu the memory of the few and aged pioneers, who, with loyal hearts and bravo arms, have done much in giving to the present active generation, as a pro- pared lieritage, one of the fairest and most eligible Provinces, all things con- sidered, upon which the sun has ever shone, and by tneir conduct teaching the present and future settlers lessons of eontentn.c-nt, patient endurance, and conscientious discharge of duty. The County of Charlotte is situated on the South-west corner of tlie Pro- vince of New Brunswick. " On the South it ia bounded by the Bay of I \\ Fiiiiily : West l>y tho I'ivcr .>^t. Croix and the Western Hhore of tlie Hay of l'assaiiiii(|Uoily tlio lino runniiit^ tnio Xortli, tliii'ty iiiilc< fidiii I'oint licprcaii. and survcyiMl l.y Dcjmtii's Willvin:ion and .Maliond, A. D. IM"); and Xoitli l>y the lino rnnnin^' Irno West iVuni the tcrniinntion of the la.«t nieiiiiiinod line, inclnilin;^ nil tlu' Islands ailjacent thereto, and tlic Island of (Jraml .Manan and the islands adjacent to it.'' TIk! Cunnty of Charlotto received its dcsi^niatiori and linn't hy letters patent in the year 17!^.'), then inrisdicti(!n of Nova •■^coiia. in the first scssinn of •nr I ro- liein;r nndcr th vincial Ijc^Islatnre in 'Hi (■eor;,'o HI., A. I>. ]1>*^\ the County was divideil into i'arishcs, viz. — St. .\ndre\V3. St. Stephen. St. David, St. I'atrick, St. (Jeorp-e, I'eindield, ami West Isles, the latter cnnsistin;L:' ef HeiT Island. Cani- ])oliello Island, Crand .Manan Island, .Moose Island, Frederick Inland, and J)inll(^y Islanil, with the lesser contij^non.s Islands. In the year ls(i;i, 4.'5 Cer)rp' III., Canipohello Island was cmi-titnted a separate i'arisii, and in the year ISJtl. !]('> (Jeorj^-e [II.. Crand Manan Island was ciCctcd into a separate" Parish. In 1 S.'it) St. I'atrick Parish was divided and Dninharton Parisli formed I'roin it, anay. studdeil with islands, add L^-eiitly to the )>ieture.sque, while in the more inland parts. lii>.di hills and line rivers ^-ive variety to tho view. From many of the high hills. cspiM 'ally near St. Andrews, the most sj)lendid iianoramic v'ews may he (obtained. The County ji;em:>rally is hilly and nmlulating. The chief river«i are the Digdeguash and the Magajiuadavie, lidling into the Passama(pioddy Brtv. and tiie river St. Croix falling into the Bay of Fundy. On these rivers Saw Mills are erected, where vast (pianti- ties are numerous smaller rivers, which are im))ortant as ]iossessing valua>ile Mill privileges, among which we may mention the Lepreau ]{iver. in lje[ireau I'arish known as Reynold's Mill, wdiicli is one of the finest Mill streams in the Province, as also the New River in same County, known as I'reseott and Lawrence Mill. The value of these respective rivers, coupled with the easy access to lumber for same, has only within the last six years been fully appreciated, and turniMl to such good account th.'it Reynold's .Mill has manufactured some eight million feet of luiniier, and the I'reseott eninsida in the Parish of St. (ieorge, near L'Ftang Harbor, where largo quantities of Lime are annually manufactured. Ry the census of 1851 the Value ol' Lime manuf.i -tared is put, doun at fl.'.lOO. Tndications of Leail liave been found (Ui the Island of Campobello, and Cray Sulfihuret of Copper on the shores of the Bay of P\indy. The ])rusencc of other minerals is iu- di(",ited by th ralogical feati yet imperfect examination, that Cliarlott< I'rom the uml of settlers, k eoimtry of tin the time of s( the Little Ri( roy Ridge, th Sorrel Ridge, valli;ys of sail tion. The yiopvda J):^8, but this ; so far as the ] ently taken, statistics fron ISIO, IS.ITS: and 1.^;M: of H l.s.H of l.TCU. l)een in ])ropo JS:}4. The fc from iS4() to latter may be census of that 18.".! IS-lt Increai Decrea The chief t^ Town, wdiich sessed among at present in forward with road, which h order, to an e again being ei Brewery, Ste; St. Ste])lieTi twenty miles of Maine. A important as j 1.') tlir.itod l>y llic r. ( lesiier it would aj)i)eiir that Charlutte Coiiiity possess, 's hi* share of valiialile minerals ami iiii'tajs. From the innlnlatory ehaia<'tei of the County \ve lind the ditfereut loealitii'S of settlers, known iis Kid^es, souietinies distinfiuishod by the iiauios of c-ountry iash and Miifraj:nadavic Rivers are tlii* valleys of same name, posses.sing line alluvial soil, capaide of liii^li cultiva- tion. The jtopidatiou of the County, liy tlie census of l^")!, is set down at 10,- 038, Init this may he consideriMl an under estimate, as it is suhmitted tliat, so liir as the Parisli of St. Stephen is concerneil, the census was )iot sulHci- ently taken. The progressive^ populati(jn may 1)0 le.irned from thi' following statisti<'s from census of l!S2f to l>.jl. In isiit. il.Ht;:) : in 1S;{4, ir),S.",2; i'u IS40, 1^,178; in 1S,")1, 10,9;i8. Shewing a numsTical increase hetwoen 1S24 and 18:M: of (],5S:{, hetween iS.'Uaml ISlOof 2,3:it;, and hetween 1S40 and 18,>1 of 1.7(10. it will thus he seen that tlie progressive increase lias not been in ]irop(jrtion with the increase of the first ten years, between lH21and 1S;}4. TIu! folloiviiig table will show the increase of the resjiective Parishes I'rom 1840 to IS.'jI, mul an actual decrease in the Parish of St. Stephen, which latter may be accounted for from the before mentioned suggestion, that tho census of that parish was under estimated. ■f. — — '— ?, r 6 , r- -2 13 JZ '--a •f. -r _o ~ "3 .^ o •A o ■J. ^ ^ , , . , ^ M< o M -*~i -i-i -^•t •^ .^ -4-' O 7t ■fj X ■11 •12 •/- X CL. S^ C^ 1851 1840 Increase. Decrease. i^OlO 28(i8 204;'. 17')(; l»;81 2263 1 I3G82 3405 2422 1155 l(iO!» 2013 1 228! 5211 GO 11 2501 213 043 170i 1252 1128 124, 8(j5 718 147 1187 1003 184 M 5371 The clii(!f toAvns and villages in this County are St. Andrews, tho Shiro Town, which some thirty years ago was a most flourishing pbno, and pos- sessed among its first settlers many able and enterprising merchants, it is at present in a somewdiat depressed state, and the inhabitants are looking forward with anxious and loti'.r exercised Iiope to the eumpletion of the Kail- road, which lias its starting point there, and is now completeil ami in running order, to an extent of G5 miles, and notwithstanding its many sus[)ensions is again being energetically pr'K'ceded with. Tliore is in this tmvn a Steam JJrewery, Steam Saw ^lill. and Injn P'oundry. St. Stiq)hen, a beautiful village lying on the banks of the St. Croi.x, about twenty miles .above St. Andrews, and directly o])[)osite to Calais, in the St.ato of Maine. About four miles below St. Stephen is sitiuited the Ledge, important as a place wjiere vessels of the largest burthen can harbour with 16 Kaf(-ty ; from tliis \)hco most of the luinbt.T is Hliippcd in largo vchkoIs to J']||''lilllfl. , , . i- r III order to tlio prospcritv of St. St<'i.li«'n iiii iilt.Tiition or cxcnij.tion tn.iu tlic .'Ni.ort (liitv laws, so tar as tliis jx.rt is cmi. ,Tiifr, with its a.Tompaiiying biisiut'ss, will bo at Ciihii-^: tlif shipping' duties there beln^- sn uiueli less. The Villa;;e utMilbown, situate^iw mills situated ,,ii the Ma-a-uadavic. A i.owder mill has als(. been here erect.d. Further n]. is the Cpper Mills \ illage, where eonsider- able business is done in the manufacture of lumber. Th(> S(>oteh, I'omerov, and I'.asswood Hid^a'S, bef North oi Ireland, alu.ut tiurty years a.-o. It is known also bv the naiim of Irish Settlement. The mliabit- unts arLM)f a siq.erior class, in comfortabl.! circumstan.-es : and these sett e- lueiits each alford a most strikin,^' example oi' the benehts ol a iiealthy •omi'-'ratioii of associated pcM-sons to same locality. 'J'o the Eastward of St. Andrews there arc many smaller but itonrislnn^ settlements occupied by industrious jieople, and we may remark that the Countv of Charlotte is Well settled both in ref^^ard to the numbers and ciiar- aeter (".f inhabitants ; numenms comlbrtable dwellings are to bo seen along the bve-r iirr, formed themselves into a body by the name ol the Lajx Ann ^Issoriutiou. haviinr hailed from that locality. During their lirst_ summer of the vear above named, their time was occupied with .surveyors in soiucUng land hn- settlement, which, when acc.miplished a grant by the above name was made. As the loyallsu-, came, and either as companies or indivuluals .-decled their locations, grants were issued accuidmgly. Th(^ Penobs the Digd.!gua> Anion;;- the tioi: ' ■' naiiM befo ■.• haiiied exemplary am at tliat time. now called Oa most praisewij in thi' >piii'g hired men : t preparatory t« with, and so v soil, that ill til hundred IhisIi^ busliels to till of pn(ato(>;;, t( Was the first t loyalist s('ttloi an abundant c gave place to proiitable to v crop. 'I'o the setl grinding the ; the site now 1 its com]>lttion ccura};e and i in sf> disadvai enced in the be expended Mr. Moore ha for tlie purpo mable privilej The names Vam^e, TIkmi Thomas, Josi, M'Allister. . More, settled and its inlets in other port children. Tl Bon, James N Bobb, Willia John Jordan, One of the out which it the abundanc at the Cove, gaapercaux \ the export r exchange am much regret! :i CBHC'ls to ion from ly <-;illr(l k'ill bo ut plii'ii, on illW, liist, of men. liirin;: or laliititntr*. ^t. ('ri)ix, 's : wliilo . mill the ivcc, with I has also ooiisidor- "hc'so are ifty years iho, witli inilitstry, localities, Ar opi-rii- le rarisii, PS, in the • GeneraK nil. This loiit thirty ic iuliahit- .•so settle- ix healthy loiirishin^ V that the and ehar- leen alon,i:; have com- IJeginient, isotts, and ire, of the lolin Dins- [100 to the Crtjjc Ann Slimmer of 1 rolcftlil^ )ove nuini' individuals Th.! Peiiohseot Association grant enihraees a V.w^o tract of_eountry on the I)ij.'fle^,'nash Hiver, settled hy h)yalistH fn ni reni.l)seot, in IT^l. Ain.m'-riie niauv worthv individuals who foinud the Caiu' Ann Assocui- tioi: '"ninne of" Willian'i MiK.rt- fatiier of William and Tri>tam .Moorfi, bcfo ■;. allied is peeuliarlv •les.Tviii';- of ni.tiee, he was, iierliaps, tlie most exeiiii.larv and s\icee.-;sfiil of the settlers— nnmiierin^' ahoiit twidve iamdiett at that tiiiie. Mr. MiMjre sideeted his firm alMmt four miles hack of what 18 now called Oak Uay, in the I' ari^li ot St. I)avid, where he at prii!^' of nf^5. Mr. Mi.oro was accc miaiiii d 1 y Ins m ns and several hired men : Ww itsiial tirst oj crati. n of cuttin^i' lieltf of p(:tat;;, t( o(.tli(.r with large (piaiitities of tuinips, heaiis, ) eas, Ac. 1 hi8 wa>^ the lirst crop taken IVdii tlie soil of the County (,f Cliarlotle, by the loyalist settlers, of which 1 have been able to learn. The siiereeding year aii abundant crop of hav filled the n.nvlv erected barn, and tlie wilderness gave place to tin; well stocked farm yard. At this lime it was l.mn.l most prolitable to rai-e spring wheat, tiien and for many subsequent years a sure crop. 1.1 r 'J'o the settlers who addicted firming as their I usincss, tho means lor grimline- the "-rain were soon made available. A grist mill was erected on the sitiMuav known as Jbiore's Mills; tin whole undertaking laAvever, belore its completion devolved upmi Mr. -Moore, who alnne, of all the settlers, had cciinige and f-tcadfastness to (iverci nu' the many obstacles to such a task, in sf) disadvantageous circumstaiiees. Some idea of the difliciilties experi- enced in the woik, may be conceived from the fact, that ab.out .i^OO lia, Thomas M'Laughlin. Rmibeii Smith. David Clemlinnin, Samuel Thomas, Josi;di llilehings, Francis Norwood. Nathaniel Parsons, and_ Daniel M'Allistcr. About Iburteeii heads of familes frcm same yilace, with Mr. More, settled about same time as he did, along the shore of the St. Croix and its inlets, manv of whom have left in common with the worthy .settlcrH in other portions of the County, the heritage of their ginxl name to their children. Tho names td" these settlers are Ivhouiid I>(.herty, James Ihomp- Bon, James Nieheivon, Zebediali Liniken, John M'MuUen, Joini Lily, Joshua Bol)b, William Gailo]., John I/'eman, Luther Daiiy, Alexamler I'aierson, John Jordan, Jacob young, John Ilo[ips. One of the great helps to the sustenance of the settlers— and mdeed with- out which it is dinieult to conceive how they could have succeeded— wae the abundance offish which swarmed in the river. In the St. Croix River at the Cove, (so called in St. Stephen) freiiuently two hundred barrels of gaspercanx were taken in a night, likewise abundance of shad and salmoij, the export of which became quite a remunerative bu.-in-ss, fnd by the exchange and returns, afforded material benefit to the settlers. It is to be much regretted that due precautionary measures were not miintamed to C" i . 18 h;ivc [iicscivi'il iVuin iiuw tnCil ilc-l iii:l imi, IVturi nuw rliist iiinl (liil't., tliji vain iMc siiiin',! nl' iiKHJiir-, iiml strict iitli'Hiidii Ikh'Ii ^ris(,'ii In tin- |iriivi twn liiiii'ln'il iiii-ii aii'l sixty t(Miii-« wi'v^^ criiplnytMl in tii« ri'M^^'iliitiirliniii nl' Mdnrc's .Mills ill |ii(HMiiin;j,' s(|iiiir<: tiiiilu'r. ^"1. Ainlrcwi liir'iiiiir w i-i ill tli'si' (1 iy> 11 iiusy > •i-ii", wliiti'iicd, iis it m'trii wa-", with tin Hiilsdl' I'lirly vi'ssi'l"! waiting' i'or tlicir I'arpics tu Miiirlaril or tlio \V(;h( III liiis. 'I'lic I']ii,;lisli .\'avy ri»iitra.;t fTivu ^rcat stini'llu ; to tlin liiiu'M'r tiusi- li(!ss, iiiisis rnuii till' st ilcly piii!' wen; |»riiciircil, uKMSiiriii;;' lOl) Irct in l(Mi^''t'i, I I'l'ct ill liii'l.aii'l so Well |»r()[)ortioiifil tliat, at luiji'lii nf TO I'l'i;! they Would III M>iir(! lliri'c I'l'i-t in iliaiii-liT ; wliilst suiiu! wcn^ olil liih'f! rory;'.nl« ims.i-urlii;^' in li'n'.::tli 1 1(1 Iri't. It is an int:!n'-liii!;' I'lct. t!i;it t!u! Il( n. l'i(!Hi- detit 111' llii' Iii';;i-Iiit ivc Cuiiiiil wa-^ anionic tli." nuinlicr wlio in tlioso dayg hclpi'd to I'.'ll I lie |iiii>', mar win 're now .-'ands (lie Cily oi'Caliii-t. So Im-rative was dm lai.-iiii ss ol' Iniiilicriii;.; that it. hci aiiu; the all a'lsorliiiij; <•(■< ii[ialiiin. Wlicri'Vi'r till- readiest cliair'e wis olFered lor its purpoHOs, si;ttli-!mont,H wore nrule, and ils pi'eiiniary retiirn-^ wi-re specily. All ne'essiirie-; tor consmnpti.)!! were readily supplied liy the iiiiiiii-rons vessels that !iwait(;d their car^'ooB uf Iniiilier; whilst, what was needcij tor wants wlii(di the ^rcund could sup- j)ly, w.is renilere(l, williriit nmeli elVorl, in cultiviitiri}; (he soil to fu' (,'oiinty (d' Charlotte, with its forests unsurpassed in riehiiess and variety, pn>sente(l irresistalde attractions, laiinherint: was the absorliing l)ii-iiies-j, and I'imiii that time to the present, ihe inlialiilants have hen slow to learn that it w.is ever capable of liciiifij other than a plai'(! for liuwors of ivooil. Agriculture, under such cireumsfaiices, made lilth^ prot';resH an ft skilll'iil and scj'iililic pursuit; niiu h hard labniii howevr. Iia.s lieeii la.'stowcd in all the Parishes, by many settlers, in the clcaiiiu,^ of tic land; and il is with much interest that I have listened tu tlie n irralive oltlie arduous work of laboriuj:; the most forbiddinij; soil, by one early and familiar settler in (hi« County, who so l(mij,and ably has filled the ofTiee of Iciislator in his adoptxjd Country, and liki; a second Cincinnatus called thereto from the plough. In all the I'arislies of the County llcre is a fair proportion of eye; luxuriant crops of turni|)s may lie scea around the. frontier jiort ions of St. Andrews Parish and clscwliore. Tlicir* are many acres of land in the (,'ounty, jjecniiarly adapted to the raising of the j;ra^ses; 1 nd'er to the vari.ais cedar and alder swamps, wiiich, by a vorj little attention and outlay, in dilchinti; ami draininj^'', mij^'ht be made most remun(M'ativ(>. Attention has been lieretcdbru directed, in most party, toth* cleariiiji,- of the hij^di lands. Farming; properly, so called, with sonu; exceptions, is far from bein^ riphtljf pracdised. Tlu; capabilitit's of the soil, by prop(.'r maiiurinj^ and cultivatioBj have never been fully tt'sted ; drainiiig is scarcely known, althoui,di now attention is Ixdn^ direct(!d to its importance. The system (d" rotation of crops- I'roin imprudence ami want of manajrcment — it has been inconvenioot to practice; f>louj^liiiip; has too often been little better than scratching tho Boil ; tlu; making and saving of manure has been little understoo<], and straiigidy iieglccti-d; t' v-upcriority of pure bre-.is not to take |iiacc. naturally be ( Ileii'e. while ami til" riiit( Kow is it t corcur in the a more lavi-s compr large dcmam affords to tin hia lab.our in the 'igriculti fitted to rais many eases i agricultural has been be; and liurning been little u to be of no i lift, tlili 'ri)vi(liri| I'irirtirig * it. t!iiii i| in tlt« Amlrcwj with llic 111! \V.;Ht I'icr biii^i- » Irct in i'ovA tliev lor Viirflii II. I'nini- loKc. ilayB Iii''ni(iv« ( ii)iatiiiii. irilH wore siiriipti.jD • CJII-'^ofiB iiillil siip- idduco ik" iioss aad il)S(irliirig ic'ii .slow lowors of rcHs iirt n lidstowcd and it is lulls work i>r in this s llilo|)t.ud ai^'li. In alijc Ian J, ■ullivatcd y lur suea '. Tlicr* •iiisin>^ 0/ liy a vorj laile most rty, to th« i^iriphtly iltiviitioB, )u,i:li now :)tution of onvcniont cliing the too'i Innilurin^r nprralinns, still .xtcml thoiriPAv irinrir,. Hl^'.'ts, t-. ii^ im^imt ai..l M.'i.dy rniM.it. N.-ry.ity |„,r, ti .or.. '.; i n.p.lN-l tli. -> uirr tn .].. tli.- l.-si l.r cnnM wi li ,m land: lir K"" '^ •'»» » 'livi.l-d all.niiMi to all inatt.Tr^ r •littn- I., u |.nJit;iMe hush.irln ; tl.- pnrMiit -.I' a-rirultiiiv lias b.Hi rat la' ' n tlic natn.v nl .1 n,ak'-liil't iHi' tin- tini- iH.Jnjr, aii.l tlic raim I.H.l on m with m> .-liul.l => i«"l«l, tlmt it- iM ^s.'ysor in manv <"isi-. !,i.- ••''••ii ready to ahaii.l.n it at I h> rn;;- .n-tion .v. • TV i-oimin- advcntnnr. Sn-h liax in^r Imci. too imirli the cisl. disro,,!.!,' '1 -'i.-caili-d: .•arinin- wouid imt pay: tl..' ianlf lia. \.rvu laid on til • 'i.nd : llir Coiintv and iiirniin,!.' 'Tied dnwn. ^ 'I'i.is load-; 11- lo i.otirc till' (•..nscpi 'lit cmiKratinii wliirli |.m- t,i.' l^-t t.n yoarK li... Ik-i. p-in- on to a Iarp> and aiariuiii- .•Mmt. a-; may !"• jmli-^." from tlio d.'Cfcas.. IVom tlio pm-rcsMVr iii.Tt-..^ in popnlatioii l.Hniv alhK r,| to. Minv iiidivMnals in t'li- Cn'inly ..wniii- tlirnin piod laims, ('apal.io with piopr ordinary attcntiMii. of iviid.riii;; a .•.•iiip.'toiu y, liav.. sol-l tlii'm far li.dnw .h.'ir vahir. liav p.ti'- to Miniirr r.'nioiis, whoiv .■xpt>ncn.;(> haa tan-ht lu'r -^ilnt .rv [.■s^ons and the waiidcicr has hccii l.atiiiiatc, il, Iroin wa-'lrd iiH'Uis. hohas had runn-h > pared to eiiahle him to ntnni to \n^ conntn- aprn, liap.r. to teaeh tin- lesson- nf .ontenlniei.t, and exeni.e hi.s infhieiie,- in st.vin/nti.eis iVeiii leaviii^^ their rarnis. as w.dl as !„■ nin- hi.» tc'tiuioi-v. that'faniiin-. when properly condnete,!. in this ( ounty will pa.v. It was lu.t lo I.eej.p.Ttrdthat immi-raiioii, nnder .Mieh eireiini^taTMes, w,,mN take phor. irmcnnfnieaiisde.ired to s. Ilie ill tlie Caintv, thev w.a.ld nafnrallv he deterred, if piided hy the e,.iiital and ansieculiarlv so for i^ome : possessin- reai' . kefs Inr bar!, r or ca-h. All tir.t would seem tola" wantinu- to ensure .Mi'cess.i-^ a spirit ol eontenlmeiit, con led with well directed eii-irv. providence and ocoiioiiiy m m in i.irement. O'n ena-narin" the -tatistieal n'tani' ,d' prndaee of the various ('(.unties of the I'nnin.'-. iMippears that Cliarlntte Cunnty his ;;n eoinl average, and on eome crops sicli as potatoes and Indian corn, a -nilir yield. 'I he markot prices compare favorably. Liimberiiifx h^-n\'A <'arried on so < :;tensive]y, a larjre dcmairl is made fir produce, especially hay; wltilst the same busine83 aftords to the small farmer an opportunity of ei'.riiin.L; soiiiu ready cash, trora his lai)our in th(- woods. Hut what ha.^ been, and still is to a t^n^at extent, the u^ricnll lira! condition of the County ? We have sud that tlio land is fitted to raise avorasjc crops with most of tln^ .ilher ciauitios; buttliism ma-iv cases tells of the vir^'in productivin"ss (.f the soil,— not the yield by aj^ricultural .skill: Vvhere land has been cultivated ari-ht, the annual return hm been boyoiid that obtained from same land aftcT the imiaediatc clearing and burnino^r the value of manure: the savinij:: and compostinir of same, has been little understo,,d: imperfect buildin-s for cattle, with numbors, seem to be of no account ; in short, the whole story of tho agricultural couditioa '•! I io of thn County, ho fur im tlie pursnit of furtnirit,' n^ a hu^inei^ri is mnconiod HVivIk; hiiiiu.mmI up l.y ,«iiyin^Mh;it, in .jnantl, as yv\, it is sccoixlan/ and suhmihiifii |(, (it III. r |iiisiiii'>s. Nfccssily, iiti'l tlii^ Irss.iiis (if cxpcricrK'c, nrc imw, Iiowcvor, iniikiii;;; con- Binfr;i;r,,„„.|,t df a^rrii'iiltnir. an 'vn upon the inhuliilants, and a healthy tone of feelin;,' fast takin^^ the plaee of complaint and / a sjiirtl of ui't (rr. In tliis County there are at present "four A-'rii'ultural Societies, al! ol winch ar-- mi a flonrisiiin.i; ccndition. The oldest of these is the -'Char- lutte County Society," estahli>hed sinre 1S:J(I: the other .-ocieties, of more recent date, are the " St. Crdx A,v'riciiltural Society," ♦he '• St. (Jeorgo and Peiinticld Soeiety," and the "St, I'atri.^k Central' Society," einl)ra(Mnp: ia their coiiipiss the lour inns of tlie County, and as a larfre conmiuiiitv is conipris(,.il in vwvU division, and (li>laiit from ("'aeh oth(M- at their nearest cen. tral |.oint some twenty miles, it will appear (juite necessary that there should exist tliis nunilu'r. Compri-in.'jr. as these societies do, nK*inl)ors of all pro- fessions and husiness. the imp irtant avocation and resp(>ctal)le character ol the firmer is upheld: emulation loosens the purse strin,iz:s of the more wea!t!iy, desirous of possessing- and exhil.it inp,- the hest hreeds of stock, which, when seen, evercise their inlluence. The hij,'her tlie standard of com|)arison is r.ii-ed, tlie more his the firmer striven to olitain t!ie knowledge ixMpiisite to pnuhicc --ood results, and the very lalior in its attainment tends to mako him appreciate his culling. It will not he sulfi-ient, however, to rest aatia- fied with the i^xhihitions of sto-k and proda'.;e, Model Farms require also to be presented to view. A'erv mu"!i of the success of ae-rii ■ulturc and the instilling ;, pn,per agricultur.il spirit throughout the community, must dejiend on uidindu'jl exertion and enterprise. Men of menus and taste for agricul. tnro are called upon to pre-^ent in the superior i'lrming, stock, machinery, buildings. A-c, a test and stimulus to the farmer, ..m. ■ t'r. ultiiral education of the most convincing kind js thus atl'orded. 'I ■; ..Itural sf ''t. we premiums to be I awarded in money. .^rg(j Attentitui has not yet boon snfTiciently turned towards the Lubor ijaving Machines. The high price of lal Dor i,s a great dr importance of •awback to suo? ces pra'-tical far i| Would III for th" exhiliil cultivated fan greatest impn Now that tl ture — :i miiclii suggestions v. the best inten 'I'hc County they are inui bestow the sal and on the str success attend that fortune w true as regiid professional m bering and tin in order to sm* more necessar nerative yeir I having an inte the work of esi of patriotism o the Well direct Agriculture, through them helping hand \ where it is i in till- hi'i^i way i)riiiiiTiif'i'>.tiii^' tlirir utility. Ah tin- prii-c of hmcIi arc Itcynnd ilir idciiiih of iiio,it ot'oiir |t.inr fiiriiuT.'*," if woiiM ,<»'(iii tlic [ic.-ij. liiir t)ri>vii»i'o of hOficticH to (issi^^l in this ro...|nM'i. ' um iiiii. li .li>iMi^r(l to think that .\;.'rlc iiltunil KnIuI "tidiis imvo ai'i'uiii|.l' ■! Iieir iiiiiiii f*j oxcrtioii, a-*i,||. tVniii iiiiy iirospcctivt. i^.tiii. What. now is (iitwt waiitnl is, fuciirajri'. iri'-nt Ity all aids t(t tho faniierM who arc in sitruinlituni'd circniri'.taiir s, but who arc determined tn live i. thrir faim-. Tin' larpfo aiiniiat cxjifudifuro ol'iircniinni niuiiey iiiijrht he iniieh ninrc profital-ly ii]i[ii;ed i,> the junvhaso and ly ti'rnis. It may he aisu nvirthv «jf mi^'frcstion, that it he niaile incumiient un thd-e tu whom pi-eminm- may ho awarded, to narrate hnw the particular pmdue,. wai< raised, what manure • Ned. what preparatiuii of.-oil, cn-i ..f lahor, and such like i)arl' iilars. that mni" pra'-tical piod may lie f^ained. It i> als-o worthy of otinsideration how lai- fl would hi- expedient, in li.calilies pc.piijoiis ennn'tih. to have local Fairs, for the exhiliiiinn and sale of >t,„-k. produce. cVe. IVemiiiui!* for the hust cidtivatod farms mi-lit al-o have -., must hcncfieial elU-et, as also for tho greatest improvement in sloi'k, or il- introduction. Now that the I.e;ris|ature have instituted a Provincial I5oard id' A{,'ricul. ture— a iiiiichinery nnich wanted — it may hi' looked lor that maiiv i)riictical HU^^'cstiims will tVom time to time he inade. and carrietl o, . e. "n iucivo to the lu'st interests of a^^riealtuie. 'Ihe ('(MHity id' Charlotte possesses mer) of sturdy armaiidt luriiifr sjiirit ; they are inured to iIk' hardest toil, and if once' they > ui e induced to bestow the sanii' ilili-iviice aud lahor on the farm as th'ey hav, in the woods and on th(> stream, they will not he louu' in iliscoNcriu;;' that a hiore lasting Huocess attenils their toil and perseveranc<'. They mn-t La .. however that fortune will ma Hivor a iliriflnl airl lii^lrni I, ,1 nil, ,,ii,,i, ■ !;ii.-mi'nt true as re-- lids also iju' meehanic. tlie in tniiiaeturer. the merci, mt, or tho professional iiriii. The time is close at Ii ;iid when, in this Connl , the lum- herin- aud the farmin,;:- interest must hecome distinct, and he pri served so in order to success in either. The interests f>f ajrriculture are dailv lu'com:;-^ more nece.s.sary to he attiUKhnl to. I.uml.erin^- is more diiiicidt and :-ss remiT- nerative year l.y year, hi order, tlieii, to i.reveiit depopulation, ali persona Jiavinf; au interest m the cmiut ry are imperatively called upon to I, Ip on in the work of estahlishing the basis of a country's prosperitv, be it Iron motives of patriotism or selfishness. .Much al