THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



317 



which happily discriminates in the varied fruits of 

 the earth, in its ever differing inherent fertihty, 

 and its wide range of really valuable plants and 

 animals. We should study to multi])ly delightful 

 objects and scenes around our homes, and improve 

 such as Nature has scattered with a liberal hand 

 over all our acres, whether few or many. 



Let us consider what it is that renders land 

 beautiful for tillage. 



Corsider the first and most obvious wants of all 

 cultivated ground, and it will be seen that f ruitful- 

 ness is tiie function most needed. It is, however, 

 no more necessary to successful agriculture, than 

 expressive of natural beauty. A rich soil clothes 

 itself with noble forests ; and if these be removed, 

 as on extensive prairies, with the most luxuriant 

 and nutritious grasses. Fruitfulness of the earth 

 being an essential element of rurul beauty, to im- 

 pair the fertility of land is not merely to diminish 

 its money value for the growth of crops, but to 

 transform a landscape that once inspired universal 

 hope, confidence, pleasure, and industry, into a 

 barren waste, which, when fairly tilled, promises 

 little reward to honest toil, and actually yields less 

 than it promises. 



Under such circumstances, it is fortunate that 

 Science teaches us how we can best change a 

 sterile field, or an impoverished estate, into one 

 distinguished alike for its elegance and productive- 

 ness. Science also tells us that it is easier and 

 better to preserve the natural resources of land, than 

 to restore them when removed in crops, or washed 

 away by many heavy rains falling on shallow- 

 ploughed fields. To avoid loss in this particular, 

 it is important to know the precise things in the 

 soil tliat form agricultural plants, and how these 

 things are both lessened and augmented in all 

 farming operations. With this professional know- 

 ledge, the cultivator may profitably increase the 

 beauty and value of every rood of land on his 

 plantation. 



Having a critical knowledge of the constituents 

 of soils and their products, how is one to make a 

 truly beautiful landed estate ? 



This depends mainly on the circumstances with 

 which he is surrounded. He should examine these 

 with the utmost care, with a view to learn what is 

 practicable, not in itself, but to a man of his means, 

 acquirements, family ties and duties, and powers of 

 execution. Farm buildings and fences of some 

 kinds are indispensable ; and in their construction 

 and arrangement his taste and skill will inevitably 

 be revealed to his neighbours and the public. A 

 cultivated tas*e may be seen as well in the erection 

 of a log cottage as in that of the most costly 

 mansion. Nature displays the Beautiful not only 

 in the lowly and humble violet, hut in plants and 

 animals too small to be seen by the naked eye. 

 "Wisdom in the designer may be shown as effectively 

 in the arrangement and structure of little things as 

 in large ones. Dwelling-house architecture, whether 

 in cities, villages, or strictly country residences, is 

 susceptible of great improvement, judging from 

 the habitations of the million. These rarely 

 possess either convenience or beauty, or any other 

 merit to recommend them. Even in cheapness, 

 they fail as much as in other respects. The amount 



of money thrown away by the rich, and those who 

 would fain pass as such, on expensive buildings, 

 shows how little our taste in such matters has 

 been improved over that of savages. Fortunes are 

 often squandered in a few years on misshapen 

 palaces and villas. Some, less extravagant in 

 outlay, are more outn' in architectural folly, 

 adding to the residence of a private family, by way 

 of ornament, what would appear to be massive 

 columns, but which are generally made of wood, in 

 the ridiculous ambition of appearing to live in 

 something like a Grecian temple. In costly public 

 edifices, columns are appropriate, to aid in sup- 

 porting the great weight of a marble, granite, or 

 other structure ; but nothing is more hke an 

 eagle's feather stuck into the matted hair of a 

 savage, than the frail plank pillars or columns, 

 painted white, so ostentatiously stuck out in front 

 or at the sides of a dwelling-house. A worse taste 

 can hardly be imagined. Simplicity, neatness, and 

 quietness ever indicate contentment, gratitude to 

 (tod, and the promise of a long happy life. 

 Whereas, the straining for eflfect always suggests 

 unfavourable thoughts, and not unfrequently pro- 

 vokes remarks expi'essive of contempt rather than 

 of admiration. 



Whatever contributes to the comfort of a family 

 at a rural home, adds to its beauty, if properly 

 placed and constructed. Thus, a well-arranged 

 kitchen, with a wood-house, cement cistern for 

 holding rain water, and many other conveniences, 

 are not only matters of interest, but really increase 

 the attractiveness of a family residence. It is the 

 judicious planning, combination, and management 

 of all the affairs, both in doors and out, on a farm, 

 that make the farmer's hfe happier than that of 

 most other men engaged in different pursuits. He 

 has the constant assistance of those wonderful 

 powers known as vegetable and animal vitality, to 

 multiply his agricultural wealth and beautify his 

 plantation. Groves of forest trees, orchards of 

 fruit-trees, as well as all the benefits of the garden, 

 are at his command. Parks,*Jawns, and pleasure- 

 grounds he and his children may indulge in, if 

 their tastes appreciate and enjoy such improve- 

 ments ; and it is better to cultivate a taste in this 

 direction, than that which seeks amusement by 

 visiting distant watering-places and the gaieties of 

 cities. To the owner and cultivator of the soil, 

 Jiome should be the most agreeable place on earth. 

 There his best thoughts and efl^orts, his money 

 and his ambition, should find full employment. 

 Absenteeism is fatal to the Beautiful in agriculture. 

 A farmer should not only stay, as a general rule, 

 on his farm, but live there, in the best sense of the 

 term. This idea does not conflict with a reason- 

 able amount of travel, either for recreation, or to 

 obtain additional knowledge. Good books are now 

 so cheap and abundant, that a library composed in 

 a large degree of works on agricultural and 

 horticultural subjects, is found to yield both 

 amusement and instruction on better terms and 

 of a l)etter quality than the planter can obtain from 

 any other source. It is ([uite as easy to acquire a 

 taste for agricultural reading, as for tobacco, tea, or 

 coffee. Man is a creature of habit; and the best 

 way to avoid bad habits in our children, is to fix 



