INTRODUCTION. 15 



the past season. He must make note of his failures in every 

 operation, and endeavor to have everything performed in the most 

 seasonable time, and in the most economical and farmer-like man 

 ner. And' 



A FAEMER MUST BE A LABORING MAN. 



On the other side of the great water, the landlord, the farmer, 

 and the laborer, exist in three distinct personages ; but in America, 

 for the most part, these three are united in one. The most suc 

 cessful cultivators of the soil in America, whose opinions on 

 agricultural subjects and whose practices are eagerly sought, and 

 widely disseminated and adopted, are most generally men who 

 are not ashamed nor mortified to be seen in a ditch, with a tow 

 frock on, or holding the plow, or swinging the cradle. Reason 

 and experience teach us that manual labor is by no means incom 

 patible with the growth and vigor of our intellects. Philosophy 

 and long experience have furnished us with the most indubitable 

 demonstration that active, energetic, manual employment, imparts 

 vigor to the corporeal system, and that vigor of the body invigor 

 ates the brain. Our systems are so constituted, that while our 

 hands are engaged in manual operations, the head and the heart 

 may be led on to knowledge. It injures no one to labor with 

 his hands ; and, although we were doomed to toil by the Creator, 

 (G-en. 3: 19,) it is one of the greatest temporal blessings, in 

 disguise, which mortals are permitted to enjoy. If a farmer's 

 business should be so extensive that all his time is consumed in 

 planning and in superintending, or if he is able to glide along 

 through the >vorld passively, still he ought to have a good under 

 standing of manual operations, so as to be able to instruct those 

 in his employ how to handle their tools with skill and efficiency. 

 No man ever shortened his days by energetic, manual labor, 

 alone ; but lad habits have sent thousands to an untimely grave, 

 whose demise was attributed to " hard work." Intellectual culture 

 and manual labor must go hand in hand. The time is fast hasten 

 ing on, when the hands of hard-fisted industry will sway the 

 destiny of the world. 



