1856.] Our Vietvs and Bcvieivs. 109 



profusion before them ? Is there nothing hidden in the deep arcana of nature 

 which has not been fully unfolded to the sharp-sighted vision and clear compre- 

 hension of these intuitive wiseaa-es? 



" I know that some men are not always -wise, always infallible, in conducting 

 their operations, and, consequently, that 'experimental farmers' are not always 

 successful in making their farming business profitable. But, pray, how does that 

 unfavorably aflfect either j'ou or me ? The knowledge of a failure, in a particular 

 case, under particular circumstances, may be as profitable and as advantageous to 

 us as if the same experiment had proved eminently successful. It is quite as 

 necessary, £ind quite as prudent, to understand how and token to avoid eiils and dangers^ 

 as to profit by what is hnoicn to he good and s ife. 



*' la truth, follow citizens, while I claim to be highly conservative in most 

 things, and am regarded as an ' old fogy' in others, still, I must be permitted to 

 say, that I have no patience— no toleration— for that class of fiirmers who are 

 continually decrying agricultural education, and who would stop suddenly every 

 effort making to cultivate the intellect, and to improve and elevate the habits and 

 taste of those connected with country life. Their unconquerable obstinacy, their 

 mole-eyed and bitter prejudices, are equaled only by their deplorable ignorance 

 and tlieir unbearable pcrverseness. Their precept, example and influence are 

 continually evil. They not only refuse to enlighten themselves, but they dis- 

 courage others, and especially the young, in every good effort and commendable 

 undertaking.'' 



We cannot conclude our notice of this excellent address, without further quot- 

 ing the author's forcible remarks on the superior advantages farmers enjoy for 

 self-improvement. On this Mr. Millikin says : 



«' While you have these signal advantages and opportunities of discharging 

 your duties to your families, allow me to add, that you have time 2Md facilities for 

 your own daily advancement in knowledge. There is no class of our population 

 engaged in physical labor, who have more time at their command, for reading 

 and study, than have farmers. Every opportunity, and every hour not otherwise 

 necessarily occupied, should be eagerly embraced. A farmer has no right, even 

 after a day of toil, to quietly .sit himself down in the corner, and sluggishly doze 

 away valuable, precious, fleeting hours, which God has given him for improve- 

 ment, and which will return unto him no more. He should rather provide 

 interesting and valuable books and papers for himself, his wife, his sons, and his 

 daughters. These should be read over — should be studied —should be discussed, 

 and the family circle thus be made a school for intellectual, social, and moral 

 improvement. Make your homes, through these instrumentalities, and by culti- 

 vation of a taste for music, and all the refinements and courtesies of life, endear- 

 ing and agreeable to your family, and then your children will not be drawn into 

 the wicked and corrupting scenes of vice and dissipation which so frequently 

 tempt and allure them." 



« The Ohio Cultivator,"— published at Columbus, Ohio. 



This excellent agricultural journal is regularly sent to our «'excliancre.^' and 

 we can not better express our high appreciation of its sterlincr worth,"than by 

 saying that no Western farmer should be without it. Col. IJards, its editor, is a 

 fine writer; his knowledge is practical, and his taste refined. 



