FARMER'S MONTHLY VISITOR ;

INTENDED TO PROMOTE

THE INTEREST OF THE FARMER;

TO DEFEND THE

DIGNITY OF THE AGRICULTURAL PROFESSION,

AND ENCOURAGE THE

PRACTICE OF DOMESTIC ECONOMY.

BY ISAAC HILL.

Vol. 1, for 1839.

CONCORD, N. H.

PUBLISHED BY WILLIAM P. FOSTER,

FOR THE EDITOR.

INDEX TO THE FIRST VOLUME OF THE FARMER'S MONTHLY VISITOR, 1839.

fairs in N. E. for 1839,

survey of the editor, 113 138

Agriculture, communication on, 51

connected with publica-
tions,

Bee, houses and hives, 88 89 90 91

94 Ferry, H. Esq. letter to the Ed.
148 Fine crop,

149 Fine wooled sheep,

150 Fire, prevention against,
150 Fireside amusements,
157 First Flower,

120 Fish, statistics of,

45 150 175 Flax, culture of,

!

Conducted by ISAAC HILL.

Published by WM. P. FOSTER.

"Those who labor in the earth are the chosen people of God, whose breasts he has made his peculiar deposite for substantial and genuine virtue."-JEFFERSON. VOLUME 1.

PROSPECTUS.

CONCORD, N. H., JANUARY 15, 1839.

The Farmer's Monthly Visitor.umbers six hundred and thirty-six thousand words.

cents, and five and six dollars for a year of twelve numbers. On a calculation by counting, it is It is proposed to publish at Concord, N.H. a found that a number of the VISITOR will contain periodical Journal, to be entitled about fifty-three thousand words, and the twelve novel of in two This work will be devoted to the exclusive ben-volumes, contains less than one hundred and eighty efit of the farming and producing interests, and thousand words: so that seven volumes of Scott's will containWaverly novels, which are no where procured at 1. Original essays and communications, em-less than fifty cents, and from that to two dollars bodying such suggestions of improvements in cul- the volume, will not contain more reading matter, tivation, in agricultural implements, and in genermuch less valuable information, than the al domestic economy, as may by the conductor be MONTHLY VISITOR will contain, at an expense of considered worthy of insertion. In this de-only seventy-five cents! The VISITOR will be one partment, every practical man may have an oppor- of the cheapest publications, for the amount of tunity to contribute his mite. For every original matter it will contain, ever published: it will even communication, which shall be deemed worthy of in- cost less than the condensed information of the sertion, the writer and author shall be entitled to common newspaper, and will be presented in a receive, after publication, at the rate of one dollar form which will not be less convenient for preserfor every thousand words, on application at the of-vation than a bound book. fice of publication.

and

The price to subscribers is Seventy-Five Cents 2. All such information contained in other ag- a year, or for twelve numbers, payable in advance. ricultural publications, and scientific works in Eu- No subscription will be taken for less than a year, rope and the United States, as may be useful to and payments will, in all cases, be made at the the cultivators of the soil. Under this head will be time of subscribing: no subscriber will be furnishembraced suggestions of improvements in agricul-ed beyond the time of his subscription and pay. tural implements, in the construction of farm- ment; and every person who fails to procure all buildings, in the application of chemistry to the the numbers, which shall be directed to him general purposes of agriculture, in the destruction through any post-office, shall be entitled to receive of insects injurious to vegetable life, in the eradi- the number or numbers missing, or be refunded the cation of weeds; the discovery of new varieties money which he has paid. Single numbers may be of grain, and other vegetables useful to man, or had for twelve and a half cents each. for the food of domestic animals; useful informa

The MONTHLY VISITOR will be under the direct tion in regard to the management of woods for fu- personal management of ISAAC HILL; and all el and timber; information relative to the best communications through the post-office (postage breeds of live stock, and the various methods of preventing and curing the diseases of cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry; and such articles as are adapted to encourage and recommend all measures calculated to improve the education of those who depend upon the cultivation of the soil for their sup

port.

paid) may be directed to WILLIAM P. FOSTER,
Concord, N. H. at the publication office, whose
receipts will be evidence of payment, and who will
receive all remittances, and make all disburse
ments, connected with the publication. The post-
age will be one cent a number, to subscribers with

in the State; and one and a half cent, to those re-
siding more than one hundred miles from the place
of publication.

15th of each month. Subscribers in any month
The VISITOR will be published hereafter on the

3. A monthly table of the prices of agricultural productions at the various principal markets of the United States, together with such other statistical tables of foreign and domestic production and wealth, as may be interesting for future reference. of the year may receive the back numbers, an extra 4. Each number to contain at least four engrav-number of which will be printed. ings illustrative of some implement of agriculture, some method of building or constructing farmyards, enclosures, or other improvements, or some animal deemed to be useful for its superior breed and qualities. The number of engravings, which will be expensive, will be increased, if the patronage will warrant it.

January 15, 1839.

Warner, N. H. Nov. 26, 1838. DEAR SIR-It is with much satisfaction I learn that you are about commencing the publication of an agricultural paper. It is the very thing needed in this section of the country; and I have no doubt but it will be popular under your management, and that it will obtain a large subscription. Certainly one fifth of the voters of this State ought to patronize it. Reading is nearly as necessary to the farmer for the successful prosecution of his business, as to the professional man.

The value of a well-conducted, cheap agricultural publication, such as it is designed to make the FARMER'S MONTHLY VISITOR, may be made to be many times greater than its cost. It is not intended that this publication shall interfere with any of the useful religious, political, or literary periodical publications, which are or may be before the public, nor with any other kindred agri- Professors of religion must have "line upon line, cultural Journal published in this or any other precept upon precept" to keep them in the path of State. With the present patronage extended to duty, or they are apt to go astray. The politician them, there will be ample room for ours. If every must have his weekly newspaper filled with all farmer in the country should become a subscriber kinds of inflammatory matter, to keep up his zeal,or to a work like ours, we feel bound to say, that not his patriotism will flag. And the same causes genone, at the end of the year, will have reason to re-erally produce the same effects. If our farmers gret the expense. For less than one dollar, includ- can be induced to take and read an agricultural paing postage to any part of the country, he will ob- per, it will stimulate them to greater exertion in tain an amount of information, that may be worth their labors; it will make them more ambitious to many dollars. And by preserving and binding the numbers into a handsome volume, at the end of the year, he will have on hand what is of much and neighbors. more value than the original cost. It is not un- I have been a constant reader of the New Engfrequently the case, that a simple, single sugges-land Farmer for over sixteen years, and think I can tion, contained in a work of this kind, will be speak from experience. I think I know in some worth much more than the price of subscription. measure what is needed to effect a radical change The VISITOR will be published, once a month, in our agricultural department. Some of the first on a sheet of superior paper, measuring 27 by 37 steps to be taken to effect an improvement must be inches, consisting of sixteen pages, containing to inculcate the importance of increasing the maeach three columns, and will be printed with a nure heap, by every possible means. The more expower press, on a new and beautiful brevier and tensive and general cultivation of roots for the minion type, procured for the purpose. A single feeding of cattle and swine, and perhaps the intronumber, the price of which is only 6 1-4 cents, duction of new kinds of grasses, (new to this sec. will contain, of fair and legible print, very nearly tion) viz: Lucerne, orchard grass, and the tall an equal amount of matter with a number of the meadow oat grass, all of which I have tried upon a ordinary monthly Magazines, whose price is fifty small scale, and intend to enlarge upon

improve their farms, more contented with their sit-
uation in life, and finally, better husbands, fathers,

NUMBER 1.

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"I shall hope to afford you some papers, occasionally, hereafter. The object is excellent. I can think of nothing almost more promising of good to the people of New Hampshire. I rejoice that you have taken it in hand. Your facilities, your tastes, which no other man enjoys to excite and direct the give you adventages yeomanry of the State in a matter of great impertance to all their interests. Nothing could be wiser, or more dignified, or useful. agriculture, commerce, manufactures, &c. &c. and "I am for all interests :-the learned professions, another. Agriculture has not had its chance and am for keeping them all in fair proportion to one place in the past history of the country. But it is coming up, and when it shall attain to its proper relation, it will keep all other departments in due consistency and order.

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"Please to put my name on your subscription list."

Lowell, Mass. Dec. 7, 1838. DEAR SIR-I received, a few days since, the Prospectus of "The Farmer's Monthly Visitor,"accompanied with your letter, requesting me to act as agent for Middlesex Co. &c. There is no doubt that agricultural knowledge is deemed of infinitely too little importance in New England, and finally every where else on this insignificant planet of ours. It is the nature of man to neglect the cultivation of the earth to engage in the chase, in fishing, in lumbering, in the professions, in trading and speculating, in every thing in heaven, earth, and

I spent the last thanksgiving in Kingston, N. H. and could not but notice the fact that most of the enterprising young men of that and the neighboring towns, instead of cultivating their farms, had betaken themselves to the precarious “shoe business" for a living. My brother-in-law, who is a physician, and resides there, owns four hundred acres of land, three hundred of which is under cultivation; and the rest of it is very good, some of it excellent, and yet he does not more than pay his expenses for all he raises! I could not but earnestly remonstrate with him for neglecting his farm to follow his profession. Why, he said, if 1 would come there, he would give me the use of it, as long as I would take a lease, if I would only board him and his mother, which would not be worth more than two hundred dollars per annum, or four dollars per week. Now I don't know what others might think of it, but I am half disposed to resign.my office, and take up with his offer. It is indeed strange how little we love the earth, which is our first, our last, our only steadfast and only unchanging, and disinterested friend-our mother and cradle, and our final resting place. I was bred a farmer, and still honor our hardy and honest yeomanBut this talk is most ry above all other men. likely idle as all the feelings that give rise to it, for I am probably doomed to drag out my days amid the cockneyism, intrigues, and felly of some one of our large towns-perhaps Lowell.

I will act, according to your request, as agent for