Natural Laws. 465 



by placing the entire farm under contribution to supply 

 the necessary manure. 



If this process of depletion is continued, much of the 

 land of our State must be abandoned for agricultural pur- 

 poses, and, indeed, much that was once fertile has already 

 been left to the growth of bushes and briers, and thousands 

 of acres more scarcely pay for fencing, by the scanty pas- 

 turage which they afford. 



We hear complaints, too, that the farmer's lot is a hard, 

 slavish one, and that his business does not pay. From 

 what class of farmers does this complaint come ? From 

 those whose wheat fields yield thirty bushels per acre, 

 or those whose average "vneld is only ten ? Whose corn 

 fields yield sixty bushels per acre, or those who get but 

 half that yield ? Whose sheep produce eight pounds of 

 wool per head, while they sell their increase at high prices 

 because of their superiority of blood, or from those who 

 annually receive three or fom- pounds, and sell their sur- 

 plus stock at pelting prices ? Those whose horses are so 

 bred that they will command the highest market prices, or 

 those who breed scrub stock ? Those who have increased 

 the productive capacity of their cows to three hundred 

 pounds of butter per head yearly, or its equivalent, or the 

 average farmer, whose cows produce less than half that 

 amount ? Who complains that farming is a slavish and 

 menial calling ? Only those who conduct the business in a 

 stupid and thoughtless manner. 



But, says another, when have we time to learn all this ? 

 I reply, when can the lawyer, the clergyman, and the doc- 

 tor find time to master their professions ? They begin in 



