BookV. capital of THE FARMER. 719 



stances, still bis profits have an absolute limit: for if an ordinary crop be as five, and 

 the best that can be grown be as seven, all that the most fortunate concurrence of 

 circumstances will give is not great and easily foreseen. It is hardly possible for a 

 farmer, paying the market price for his land, to make much more than a living for 

 himself and family. Those few who have exceeded this, will be found to have had 

 leases at low rents ; indulgent landlords ; to have profited by accidental rises in the 

 market or depreciation of currency ; or to have become dealers in corn and cattle : and 

 rarely indeed to have realized any thing considerable by mere good culture of a farm 

 at the market price. Very different is the case of a tradesman, who, with the properties 

 which we have mentioned as requisite for a good farmer, seldom fails of realizing an 

 independency. 



4452. Many persons, chagrined with a city life, or tired of their profession, fancy they 

 will find profit and happiness by retiring to the country and commencing farming. In- 

 dependently of the pecuniary losses attending such a change, none is more certain of 

 being attended with disappointment to the generality of men. The activity required, 

 and the privations that must be endured, are too painful to be submitted to ; whilst the 

 dull uniformity of a farmer's life to one accustomed to the bustle of cities, becomes 

 intolerable to such as do not find resources in their fire-sides, their own minds, or, as 

 Professor Thaer observes, in the study of nature. 



4453. The most likely persons to engage in farming with success, are the sons of farmers, 

 or such others as have been regularly brought up to the practice, with their own hands, 

 of every part of agriculture. They must also have an inclination, as well as competent 

 understanding of the theory or principles of the art. Books are to be found every 

 where, from which the science of the art is to be obtained ; and there are eminent 

 farmers in the improved districts who take apprentices as pupils. In The Husbandry of 

 Scotland, the case is mentioned of Walker, of Mellendean, an eminent farmer jn Rox- 

 burghshire, who rents about 2866 acres of arable land, and is distinguished for his skill 

 in agriculture, who takes young men under him as apprentices, who, instead of receiving 

 wages, have uniformly paid him ten pounds each. Some of them remain with him two 

 years, but the greater number only one. They eat in his kitchen, where they have 

 always plenty of plain wholesome food. He takes none who are above living in that 

 way, or who will not put their hand to every thing going forward on the farm. He has 

 sometimes been offered ten times the above sum, to take in young gentlemen to eat and 

 associate with his own family, but that he has uniformly declined. These young men 

 have an opportunity of attending to every operation of husbandry, as practised on 

 Walker's farm ; and are taught to hold the plough, to- sow, to build stacks, &c. 



Sect. II. Of the Capital required by the Farmer. 



4454. The importance of capital in every branch of industry is universally acknow- 

 ledged, and in none is it more requisite than in farming. When there is any deficiency in 

 that important particular, the farmer cannot derive an adequate profit from his exertions, 

 as he would necessarily be frequently obliged to dispose of his crops for less than their 

 value, to procure ready money ; and it would restrain him from making advantageous 

 purchases, when even the most favorable opportunities occurred. An industrious, 

 frugal, and intelligent farmer, who is punctual in his payments, and hence in good 

 credit, will strive with many difficulties, and get on with less money, than a man of a 

 different character. But if he has not sufficient live stock to work his lands in the best 

 manner, as well as to raise a sufficient quantity of manure ; nor money to purchase the 

 articles required for the farm, he must, under ordinary circumstances, live in a state of 

 penury and hard labor ; and the first unfavorable season, or other incidental misfortune, 

 will probably sink him under the weight of his accumulated burdens. Farmers are too 

 generally disposed to engage in larger farms than they have capital to stock and 

 cultivate. This is a great error ; for it makes many a person poor upon a large farm, 

 who might live in comfort and acquire property, upon one of less extent. No tenant 

 can be secure without a surplus at command, not only for defraying the common 

 expenses of labor, but those which may happen from any unexpected circumstance. 

 When a farmer, on the other hand, farms within his capital, he is enabled to embrace 

 every favorable opportunity of buying when prices are low, and of selling when they 

 are high. 



4455. The amount of capital required must depend upon a variety of circumstances; 

 as whether it is necessary for the farmer to expend any sum in the erection, or in the 

 repair of his farm-house and offices ; what sum an in-coming tenant has to pay to his 

 predecessor, for the straw of the crop, the dung left upon the farm, and other articles of 

 similar nature ; the condition of the farm at the commencement of the lease, and whether 

 any sums must be laid out in drainage, enclosure, irrigation, levelling ridges, &c. ; whether 

 i is necessary to purchase lime, or other extraneous manures, and to what extent ; on 



