A PLEASANT VISIT TO AN EMINENT FARMER. 229 



doubted whether the progeny of these cattle, if transplanted to the South, and 

 there kept beyond the contagion of bad example — for with all animals " evil 

 conmiunications corrupt good manners " — whether, 1 say, the progeny of these 

 cattle would not retain the quiet and unobtrusive disposition which restrains 

 tiiem from walking, as southern cattle would, over such fences ; or is it that in 

 the more scanty pastures of the South hunger sharpens their faculties and causes 

 them to " break "in and steal ? " The inquiry is worthy of the philosopher and 

 ihe naturalist, with some of the most inijuisitive of whom, I am disposed to ad- 

 mit, that with the dog and other domestic animals particular propensities and 

 obliquities of temper and character arc as inheritable as physical conforma- 

 tion and diseases of constitution. " Thou shalt not muzzle the ox," sailh 

 the Scripture, and these northern farmers seem to understand it in the manage- 

 ment of their cattle. 



Of the education of his children, (and at the very tliougiit of it I cannot but 

 pause to contemplate the utmost aicful resjionsitnlit y of parents on tins point,) 

 Mr. C. spoke as he acts, with becoming solicitude. His daughter was out now 

 to a better school than common. All his family assist in milking and in all the 

 operations of the dairy, cJntrnins: being his own work in that department. Speak- 

 ing of his daughter's education in household duties, and evidently as if he con- 

 sidered it one of its important degrees, he said she was now " beginning to bake ! " 

 For his land he would not take $60 per acre. 



An interesting fact, as connected with the dietary and economical habits of 

 the northern farmer, and which may be well applied to illustrate the question 

 of positive and comparative consumption of meal by ditferent classes and differ- 

 ent parts of the country, he said that for the use of his family, including an extra 

 hand hired on emergencies, he retained only the three smallest hogs in his 

 pen, weighing about 200 pounds each. This would be 600 pounds, equal to not 

 more than 500 weight of cured bacon : and for not less than six persons, being 

 not over two pounds per head per week. 



Thus, sir, considering how much more meat nature demands in northern thait 

 in southern climates, may it not be assumed as a fact, in our agricultural and 

 household economy, that two pounds of meat per head per week is the average 

 and sufficient consumption of the white rural population of this country, where 

 bread is eaten ad libitum, with the addition of milk, vegetables, eggs, poultry,, 

 fruit, tkc, to be had in the country everywhere. I have long been of opinion 

 that it may be so considered; but the problem is worthy of more exact solutioa 

 by statesmen and political and agricultural inquirers. 



If any one is curious to see a fail, he may be gratified by a Visit to this well- 

 stored barn of Mr. C, whose philosophy for persisting in the use of it is. that it 

 gives employment to poor men, Avho in the absence of work Avould have to be 

 supported "any how." I have not time to go into the calculation, how much 

 is won or lost by the use of it, and doubt if he has done it ; for, strange to say, 

 let me repeat, few farmers in this vicinity keep accounts. This calculation would 

 require that note be taken of the cost for getting out grain per bushel in this 

 way as compared with more expeditious processes ; and how much is gained in 

 the value of the straw, 7c/iere that is sold of the farm. For this there may be 

 ready demand at Saratoga Springs. But the practice of selling anythino off a 

 farm that may be converted into manure on it. is always a doubtful and suspi- 

 cious one, and he who does it ought to be heldio a strict accountability to prove 

 that it is not wasteful, especially where he is within striking distance of an 

 available market for milk, and butter, and veal, and meat of every sort ; and yet 

 more especially when the farmer happens to be the President of an Agricultural 

 Society. Be all this as it may, let it be known that Mr. C. depends on the slow 

 and hard knocks of the flail to get out his grain. True, his crops are not large, 

 from so small a farm, and might not justify the use of more expensive machinery. 

 The motive he assigned was one that does honor to his heart, and it may be 

 to his judgment, which in his general management is practical and sound. 

 These are the subjec's that Agricultural Societies ought to investigate, in- 

 stead of directing all their energies to some old, everlasting, stereotype questions, 

 as — Hotv much corn can be stuffed into, and how much fat be laid on a builoch or a 

 hog? or, for the ten thousandth time. How much corn can be made to grow on 

 an acre ? One fact was disclosed in the course of conversation with this gentle- 

 (m) 



