A FARMER I ONCE KNEW. 



If 



the end the largest and longest-lived trees. Indeed, there seems reason to hope they 

 might be even more likely to live than in any other way. A moderate and sound 

 growth is indispensable in the young pear tree to its health and vigor at mature 

 age. This is secured by first working on the quince ; and it is certain that when- 

 ever the quince fails to give the pear stock the requisite nourishment, it will root 

 if it is favorably situated. It is as natural as for a man to eat when he is hungry 

 if food is at hand. What say you, Mr. Editor, to starting standard orchard pear 

 trees on the quince ? 



In another essay, if it is your wish, I will speak of my oddities in planting and 

 managing the orchard. 



A FARMER I ONCE KNEW. 



BY T. M. COOLET, TOLEDO, OUIO. 



I HAVE known in my life a good many farmers of enlarged means, whose sons, after 

 receiving what is commonly called a liberal education, invariably deserted the farm 

 and betook themselves to some other occupation, where they were furnished with con- 

 stant exercise for the mental faculties. It was not always — not often, perhaps — 

 ambitious views, or even the expectation of larger gains that induced them to desert 

 the farm, but ^ohat it was may, perhaps, be best illustrated by drawing a picture of 

 another farmer I once knew. 



This man lived upon a small farm in the State of New York, by the industrious 

 working of which he managed not only to earn a support, but also to lay aside a little 

 as well for an unfortunate day, as to supply his family with intellectual enjoyment. 

 His two sons had received some benefit from schools, but as a collegiate education was 

 expensive, the father resolved to do what he could towards educating them in another 

 mode. As his desire was that they should follow the same occupation with himselF, 

 it struck him as of primary importance that he should first interest them in that 

 employment, and then fit them for it. Though it might be very well for them to 

 spend years in acquiring a knowledge of the dead languages, he thought it still more 

 important that they should become intimately acquainted with the various soils, and 

 with the conditions necessary to the healthy growth of trees and crops ; and as life is 

 limited, and knowledge infinite, he thought it good policy that they should first 

 devote their time to that which was of greatest practical value. 



It would have done you good to witness the interest which his two boys took in 

 the various phenomena of nature to which he directed their attention. No professional 

 student was ever so much delighted with his books, and for the sufiicient reason that 

 no other volume ever presented such intellectual feasts as the great book of Nature 

 unfolds. The unchangable laws of animal and vegetable life upon which every 

 operation in agriculture is based, were daily exhibiting to them new and beautiful 

 illustrations ; and whether it was seed-time or harvest, summer or winter, any labor ^ 

 to which their time was devoted, had for them its peculiar interest. y£ 



