Conclusion. 245 



that by "the slightest effort it will produce an 

 abundant harvest ; " but in the East it is not only 

 essential that the farmer should possess a knowledge 

 of how to produce a crop from the soil, but how to 

 leave the soil in as good condition as before the crop 

 was taken, or better. This, in my opinion, is good 

 farming ; while he who harvests a crop at the expense 

 of the soil is not a true husbandman. 



Farming is an honorable profession, but he who 

 tries to obtain by it something for nothing is never 

 a credit to his profession. There seems to be among 

 some classes of farmers a great antipathy to what 

 they term book farmers. Why may every other 

 man learn what pertains to the advancement of 

 his business from books, and not the farmer? We 

 point with pride to this man or that man in the 

 medical profession, and say that he is a well-read 

 physician; to a lawyer, and say that he is a well- 

 read attorney ; to a citizen, and say that he is the 

 best-read man in the place. These are chosen and 

 preferred for their learning, and their excellence is 

 measured by the number of books they have mas- 

 tered. 



Again, why should farmers subscribe for two or 

 more papers devoted to politics, religion, or science, 

 and read them diligently, papers devoted to every 

 subject but one? Why purchase books of fiction, 

 books pertaining to all subjects but one, and that 

 one his own business? Why does he consult his 

 neighbor as to his methods of growing a certain 

 crop, and follow his example, when, if the neighbor 



