BOOK-FARMING NO BUGBEAR. 123 



been passing, may teach the lesson that a good comfortable 

 home and living in the country are better than the anxious, 

 feverish, sleepless strivings after wealth, in which so few 

 succeed, while the most are doomed to bitter disappoint- 

 ment. 



The fact may be here noted that the tiller of the soil is 

 not looked upon as an inferior, because of his occupation ; but 

 if he be intelligent, enterprising, and a man of integrity, he 

 not only zs, but is considered, the equal of any man in the 

 land. 



But I must close ; and, in doing so, I may say in general I 

 have been industrious and economical. Man and beast have 

 been amply fed, with no waste. I have attended closely to 

 my business, yet have always been a heavy sleeper and late 

 riser. I have not wholly deprived myself of the pleasures of 

 reading. In addition to other subjects which I sometimes 

 examine, I peruse regularly, and have for years, from eight 

 to twelve news, religious, agricultural, and horticultural 

 papers. 



A word in regard to what is sneeringly called " book-farm- 

 ing." An acquaintance expressed himself as follows : " I 

 don't believe in book-farming. Common-sense farming is 

 good enough for me." Just so. But what is common-sense 

 farming, except an application of correct principles to the 

 business ? And how shall we know those principles, without 

 learning them? And how can we so easily learn them as 

 from the words or writings of those, who, by experiment 

 and practice, have found them out before us ? 



It was my misfortune to be born very ignorant, and, desir- 

 ing knowledge, I sought it, even in books and papers ; and I 

 am free to admit that much of my success has resulted from 

 hints and suggestions derived therefrom. Many of our so- 

 called asricultural writers being mere theorists and visiona- 

 ries, one should discriminate, and follow only the teachings 

 of those who know whereof they affirm; and even correct 

 teachings must be varied to meet our special circumstances 

 of crops, soil, and climate. 



I have often been asked whether I work very hard. I 

 can answer, that we intend to labor ten hours per day, with 

 absolutely no work on Sunday, except the necessary care of 

 live-stock, and the saving of property unavoidably exposed 



