——

14 AGRICULTURAL REPORT.

to the land an equivalent in manure for what had been abstracted by the plants. The result has been, instead of full and abundant crops, the older cultivated fields do not yield at present half as much as formerly, and in many localities, not a third, nor even a quarter as nuch, without the application of extra supplies of manure. To carry the evil still further, many of the farmers and planters of the present day, along the Atlantic seaboard and on the Mexican Gulf, are still exhausting the fertilizing matter of their lands by adding thereto large quantities of Peruvian guano, or other concentrated manures, which, when their immediate effects are over, will generally leave the soil in a poorer condition than it was in before they were applied. A similar devastating course, it is to be regretted, is now being pur- sued by many of the agriculturists of the States west of the Appala- chians; and unless this improvident practice be checked, and due regard be paid to stock-raising—the very foundation of successful farming— and a judicious rotation of crops be observed, the result will inevitably be the same as it has been in the older-settled Ztates..

From entering at length and minutely into the rise and progress of agriculture in this country, we are prevented as much by the want of the necessary information, as by the immediate object and limited length of this paper. As all inquiries on this subject must be derived from facts, they can only be answered by history or statistics, which throw comparatively but little light on these topics up to the period of the formation of our government. It appears, however, that it was the wise and far-sighted policy of all the civilized nations who laid claim to American soil, except in some cases, where an insatiable avarice prevailed in subjecting the Indians to involuntary servitude, or otherwise depriving them of their natural rights, to encourage the agriculture of their respective territories by inducing emigration, in making free grants or concessions of land to companies, as well as to individuals; in conceding to them the exclusive possession and enjoyment thereof, by pre-emption, or by the payment of a nominal sum for such quantities as they might choose to Rold; and in foster- ing particular branches of rural industry bv awarding premiums or bounties for agricultural improvements or increased productions.

Thus, in 1495, shortly after the brilliant discoveries of Columbus, Spain,"in order the better to facilitate the emigration and perma- nent establishment of colonists, offered to all who wished to go, pro- visions for a year; to defray the transportation of their supplies and persons; exemption from all duties and imposts; and the perpetual ownership of the houses they might construct, and the lands they might cultivate.“

In 1523, among other regulations for the benefit of New Spain, it was ordained that, since it was a land newly discovered, and not peopled by Christians, there should be given to the first colonists, by way of reward and extra satisfaction for their labors, two knights' allotments of land to each, in the cities and towns which they might prefer, in order to build; and that they should be permitted to sell them and do with them as things belonging to themselves.