543 



There is, however, a great misapplication of time and labor, that may 

 be corrected. The recent improvements in the implements of hus- 

 bandry have effected a decided saving, and much more may, and un- 

 doubtedly will be done in the s<ime manner. But it is not to be ex- 

 pected that when inventions have reached the utmost limit of their 

 ability, and when their perfection shall have equalled the most sanguine 

 hopes of their authors, they will be so useful as to excuse the farmer 

 altogether from working and thinking. Labor will still be just as nec- 

 essary, just as desirable, but so facilitated that what required days and 

 weeks to accomplish, becomes but the work of a few moments. In 

 short, the difference now observable between the velocity of stage trav- 

 eling and railroad flight, of mail arrangements for the transmission of 

 intelligence and telegraphing, will be realized in the improved hus- 

 bandry that "in the fullness of time" is to take the place of the imper- 

 fect methods now in the van of agricultural civilization. Not that hot- 

 beds of novel construction, and new notions not now dreamed of, are to 

 relieve us of the necessity of patronizing old earth, for we shall hardly 

 be able to dispense with her offices, her fruits, her tillage; and we shall 

 without doubt be obliged to indulge her in her old ways, and cannot 

 accelerate her process of production. Yet there are some inventions 

 that are somewhat prophetic. For instance, some philosophical Paul 

 Pry, an enemy of the "busy bee," that venerable example of the work- 

 ing virtues, has invaded the sweet precincts of her dominion, supposed 

 to be sacred to these time honored insect laborers forever, and in defi- 

 ance of rights heretofore acknowledged to be absolute and exclusive, set 

 afloat a formula for making honey without the aid or co-operation of 

 his insect majesty, or his bee-hive retainers. These sacrilegious aggres- 

 sions must, however, have a limit. 



Reflect on the increased amount of corn one man witli his team and 

 plow is able to produce, over that to which he would be limited if he 

 had nothing to work with but his hands and a spade or hoe. If the 

 simple invention of the plow has so enhanced the power of the farmer, 

 and usefulness of his working animals and his farm, what may not be 

 done by other applications of animal and even steam power. All that 

 is wanted is the proper and practicable methods of applying the forces 

 to make the short turns and acute angles, necessary in the management 

 of farming utensils. The power is at hand, and why not use it ? When 



