FARMERS' CLUBS. 39 



The farrher, too, has become inquisitive and inspired. lie is 

 not satisfied now with turning up the furrows of the field because 

 it makes hoeing easier, but asks, " What action is going on in 

 these clods ? What are the rain and frost doing there ? What 

 office does this sand and these pebbles perform ? How came the 

 bone found in the garden a complete net-work of roots ? Why 

 was the wheat crop where lime was spread three times as much as 

 was ever obtained before ? Why have young pines covered the 

 ground where oaks were cut off four years ago ?" 



Many questions of this nature come from farmers, noiv, with an 

 evident desire to know more of the wonderful operations v/hich 

 affect their labors. Qustions are also asked that no mortal is wise 

 enough to answer; but at the present rate of inquiry and research, 

 may be solved, and enable the farmer to increase his crops, and at 

 the same time to lessen his labor. 



It is not long since the question was asked : " Can wool and 

 cotton be spun by machinery?" Your mills answer it affirma- 

 tively, and have hushed the cheerful hum of thousands of spinning 

 wheels around the domestic hearth. 



Every improvment in the arts or manufactures has a tendency 

 to elevate the race benefitted thereby. This elevation is the re- 

 ward of those who toil for it, and will live among men through 

 all time. 



When Harvey discovered the circulation of the blood, he dis- 

 covered no new thing in nature ; but by patient investigation, 

 revealed to us a truth ; such as renders the mind more capable of 

 perceiving new beauties on the earth, and proving that the true is 

 always the beautiful. 



Before entering upon suggestions as to how we can improve in 

 the art of farming, and make more money in it, let us inquire, 

 briefly, why it is that the occupation is unpopular ? That it is 

 so, may be abundantly proved in several ways, but sufficiently so 

 in the decrease of population in nearly all our rural towns ! That 

 is going on at an alarming rate, and threatens to prove disastrous 

 to the progress and permanent prosperity of the nation. 



Our employment is the oldest assigned to man. The first-born 

 of the earth were farmers, though mother Eve and her husband 

 commenced mechanical work in a small way. But while all con- 

 fess dependence on the labors of the husbandman, it is a little 

 singular that for a period of nearly six thousand years — with the 

 exception of the bright interval during the Greek and Roman re- 



