ELEMENTS OF SUCCESS IN FARMING. 3 



in the light of past history, evince so little knowledge of the 

 science of government and political economy. Agriculture 

 has been too much left to the unaided efforts of nature to com- 

 pete successfully with other branches of industry, upon which 

 scientific labors have been abundantly bestowed. Ploughing, 

 and planting, and gathering the crops, have been considered 

 labors requiring but little physical, and less mental education. 

 That the only i<:nowledge requisite for the farmer could be 

 obtained in youth by the annual attendance of a few weeks at 

 school. This mistaken sentiment has kept the average of our 

 crops far below the capacity of the soil to produce. To-day 

 even, the proper manner of ploughing depends so much upon 

 the nature of the soil, the circumstances of its moisture and 

 dryness, that it is a subject of discussion. 



How and in wiiat manner to apply manures to secure the 

 largest return, is still a subject of experiment and uncertainty. 

 How many farmers are there who can by any knowledge they 

 have obtained by merely planting and reaping their lands, give 

 any accurate statement of the capacity of those lands to pro- 

 duce ? How many know the nature of Uie soil of their farms, 

 what ingredients it abounds with, and what it lacks for the 

 successful cultivation of either cereal or root crops ; to what 

 extent rotation in cultivation is necessary ; what crops should 

 follow in rotation ; what particular benefit, if any, is obtained 

 by allowing lands to lie fallow ; what is the best and most 

 economical method of keeping pasturage lands in good condi- 

 tion ; when is the most favorable time for harvesting grain ; 

 what the most economical manner of feeding out hay and other 

 food to cattle. 



All these are subjects of the highest importance, and should 

 he thoroughly understood by all who own or cultivate the land. 

 Yet upon every one of these subjects there remains a great 

 amount of knowledge to be obtained by study, deep thought, 

 research and experience, before they can be properly under- 

 stood, and most profitably carried into practice. In fact, 

 agriculture must be felt and understood to be a science en- 

 nobling in its study, and as honorable in its practice as it is 

 beneficial to the human race in its results, before it can assume 

 its proper place and sphere.- So long as it is regarded as a mere 

 industry to be learned and fully understood by a routine of 



