FARMS. 35 



marking for future use, almost every page in the book. The 

 idea of enriching, and permancr.tly improving an entire farm 

 from its own resources, should be the prominent action of every 

 farmer. The most judicious method of applying these re- 

 Bources. to obtain the greatest results, is the work of the mind. 

 These resources may be considered as distinct, the one natural 

 or mechanical, the other artificial or animal : the first costs the 

 farmer comparatively little more than the expense of removal 

 from their present location; the other, almost the entire pro- 

 ductrj of the farm, in its manufacture. By natural resources it 

 will readily be perceived that we refer to those means which 

 are availaHe, and within the reach of every one. Such are the 

 head lands cf his fields, the sides of his ditches, and other 

 portions of his farm, wliich have long remained unoccupied, and 

 have not only retained their natural richness, but have been 

 annually increasing in value by the increase of decomposed 

 vegetable materials. Clay is another resource which by being 

 exchanged, load for load, with some other portion of the farm, 

 will produce astonishing results. But a bed of good muck may 

 well be considered the farmer's bank, the capital of which is 

 unproductive until drawn out and put in circulation. It is like 

 the specie, which redeems all drafts presented, and is still 

 accumulating interest. Let every one who is a stockholder in 

 such a bank realize his facilities, by presenting his frequent 

 drafts upon the capital stock. The instance of Mr. Ashley is 

 more pertinent to the point, and unequivocal in demonstration, 

 than any theoretical argument however forcibly presented. 

 One fact, practically illustrated in agricultural pursuits, we 

 consider worth more than a thousand theories. And the state- 

 ments of Mr. Ashley we candidly recommend to the considera- 

 tion of every farmer, with the earnest hope that many of them 

 will thus be induced to realize the full amount of all their re- 

 <:)Ources, and communicate freely to the society the results of 

 their experience. 



Francis Brewer, Chairman. 



