THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



201 



to him in the way of explanation. There are 

 none, (or instance, but must know, that ilie yeo- 

 manry of a country constitute the pay-ail -class ; 

 that they furnish the means of subsistence, both 

 in peace and war, lo all other classes ; that all 

 taxes for the support of government, or any other 

 public exigency, must ultimately cume out of the 

 land, and be drawn from it by the labor, skill and 

 industry of those who own and cultivate it. How 

 vastly important then, how absolutely necessary 

 is it, "that ihey should possess all the knowledtre 

 of their prolession, both scientific and practical, 

 which it is possible for them to acquire, since not 

 only their own welfare, but that of every other 

 class — nay, of the community itself of which they 

 are members, vitally depends upon the extent ol 

 this knowledge, and the persevering diligence 

 with which it is applied to all the various brandies 

 of husbandr}'. Yet, most strange to say, ours 

 is a profession which multitudes of us appear 

 to think may be practised successfully, as it were 

 by instinct, tor many, very many take it up with- 

 out the slightest previous study or experience, 

 and take it in high dudgeon, even if the oldest 

 farmers venture to question their qualifications. 

 What renders this misconception the more sur- 

 prising is, that it is never made in regard to the 

 simplest of all trades and callings, that even cob- 

 blers and tinkers are required to serve some ap- 

 prenticeship, belore they undertake to act as 

 master-workmen. But our farmers make no such 

 preparation, no, not they; although theirs is a 

 vocation, which if estimated by its national impor- 

 tance, and the great variety of knowledge essen- 

 tial to the attainment of excellence therein, must 

 certainly rank among the highest in society. 



As lo the means of our improvement in hus- 

 bandry, although some small capital in money, or 

 its equivalent, is generally deemed necessary lo 

 begin with, a capital in agricultural knowledge, 

 eobriely, honesty, industry, and economy, is still 

 more essential ; for without these, and a good 

 stock of them too, it is folly for any man to expect 

 to reach a high standing in his class. To do this, 

 he must carefully shun all extravagance, he'must 

 be just and (air in all his dealings, indefatigahly 

 diligent in all his (arming operations, giving to 

 each its due share of atteniion ; perfectly sober in 

 his habits, that he may be always fit for business 

 8s well as an example of sobriety to all under his 

 command ; and lo crown the whole he must ne- 

 glect no means within his reach lo improve himself, 

 both in the knowledge and practice of his profes- 

 Bion. One of the most obvious of these means, 

 especially (b: those who have no access to agri- 

 cultural books, nor lime to study them, is to be- 

 come a member of some well managed agricultu- 

 ral society. All of these associations meet once 

 or twice a year; and thus (ijrnish opportunities 

 for each member lo learn, if he pleases, all thai 

 may be known by the rest, within the limits of 

 their particular society. Here, then, any indivi- 

 dual member who seeks infbrmalion may acquire, 

 in a day or two, more knowledge of his proles- 

 sion than he would probably gain in some years, 

 by relying entirely on his own practice at home, 

 unaided either by books, or conversation with 

 farmers more experienced than himself. More- 

 over, his attendance on these meetings would be 

 apt to inspire him with a more humble sense of 

 his own agricultural knowledge, than most of ub 

 Vol. X.-26 



are apt to have who mix so little with our breth- 

 ren as to have no op|)oriunity of comparing our 

 own acquirements with Ihcirs. The neglect lo do 

 this is almost as sure to infect our minds with an 

 overweening notion of our own knowledge, as the 

 neglect to till our fields is, to fill them vviih nox- 

 ious and pestiferous weeds. In fact, without a 

 considerable degree of humility, there can be no 

 desire to learn, (or there is no consciousness of 

 deficiency, no belief hardly in the possibility that 

 others know more than we ourselves do. 



Another advantage in attending the meetings 

 of an agricultural society is, that we are apt to 

 feel a livelier interest in our vocation ; and to 

 take a more enlarged view of its national impor- 

 tance, than we would ever possess, if we willuily 

 neglected, as too many of our brethren are apt to 

 do. to look a little beyond our own thoughts for 

 tlie means of improvement. To efiiect this most 

 rapidly for our minds, Ireqaent interchanges of 

 opinion relative to every thing connected with 

 our profession is quite as necessary, as the fre- 

 quent application of (ertilizing substances is to 

 accomplish it (or our lands. And he who neglects 

 to avail himself of this all important (act, well 

 deserves to live and die under the (atal curse of 

 thai ignorance, which self-conceit, and its con- 

 stant companion, obstinacy, are sure to fix upon 

 all who give themselves up to iheir influence. 

 Most truly may it be said of any such man, 

 " there is more hopes of a (bol than of him." 



I have said that one of the means of our im- 

 provement in husbandry is, lo become an active 

 member of some agricultural society. But much 

 depends upon how this society is consliluied, and 

 how it is managed. To enable it lo effect well 

 the purposes lor which it was established, all who 

 become members should determine, and perseveie 

 in tliat determiniiiion, annually to do something 

 more towards its support and improvement, than 

 merely to pay pimciually their su(>scripiion, al- 

 though this should ever be deemed an indispen- 

 sable duty. Each cultivator of the soil, however 

 poor he might be, may certainly do this ; for it 

 does not require that a man should be rich to 

 make and report accurate experiments on a small 

 scale ; and such experiments have olien been 

 known lo result in the most important discoveries. 

 In fact, some of those which have been most 

 beneficial to mankind have been made by men 

 comparatively poor. Again, members who are 

 not cuhivalors, but belong lo other profiessiona 

 and callings, may aid the cause very much, by 

 always attending the meetings of Iheir society, 

 and exerting whatever influence ihey may pos- 

 sess to render it popular. We are all more or 

 less creatures of imitation, and generally prone 

 to do what we see others do. Of course, if many 

 unite zealously in any pursuit, especially if it be 

 one (or the promotion of that greatest and most 

 essential of all arts, the art of agriculiure, others 

 will assuredly follow, some merely (or company 

 sake, but numbers probably fi^om the laudable 

 motive of bearing a part in 'he general efibrt to 

 do good. 



Another means highly necessary lo the bene- 

 ficent operation of agricultural societies is, to es- 

 tablish and lo cherish correct opinions, as lo the 

 nature and objects of the premiums which arc 

 usually offered by them. These are to excite a 

 greater degree of fair, honorable competition, in 



