30 



Qlfie JTarmcv's illontl)lij lUsitor. 



Pennsvlviiii!!! pjcuiiife, lor llie ilicn jiioiliir coiiii- 

 tiy. On looking' ul tliir? oUirasliidned, sii|)cpceileil 

 pi-ess, tlic iiiiiiil is iiivolijiitni'ilv cii ricil liick to tlic: 

 period uiiil to ihe iniiij,tliu iii.sii'iiMJ<MJt lor the dil- 

 i'lis-ion ol'liiose ^'reat |.i':i<:lic:il iiilollectiial powers 

 wliicli liave wroiiylit so great a (•liaii{,'e in liiiiiiaii 

 ufiuir.", and tlie desiiiiies of nations. We see the 

 veiy press at v.liicli, eajly and late, tljat persevei'- 

 ing and sagacions yontli loiled « lio in later years 

 was deslinud to lie sri-ond alone to Wasluiiglon 

 in sustaining' llie conntry in its fireat stnigj;le, ant! 

 viin, when separation had heiii aecomplislied 

 and iiMlependene(^ aehieved, was so infliii'inial in 

 estahlisirnii; the ;,'reat national eharler, whieh has 

 proved llie happy fonndalion ol' so riiany hless- 

 iiigs. Id the same eolleetion is also the eani|) 

 chest of Washington, that attended him in all his 

 toils, privations ajid perils of the war. It affords 

 a lesson no less inslrnetive jierhaps, than the 

 press of Kraidilin, and in the pride and pomp ol" 

 this day, woidd he rejected for a like pnrposi!, Iiy 

 the veriest lienlenant in the service. 'J'his ehe.-^t 

 apjiears aliont two feet long and one and a half 

 in width, of pine; covered with seal skin, and lin- 

 ed with gre(Mi liaize to protect two or three sipjare 

 bottles lijr salt and vinegar, and half a dozen 

 pewter (dates. It is very innt-h fretted and worn 

 with the jonrni^ys, the haize is full of large holes. 

 Two knives and six fojks are with it, and one or 

 two tin hoiler.s, and a gridiron ahont six inches 

 square, make np the cookiiig iilensils of the nn- 

 ilying chiel'taiii. Close hy these in thesiime case 

 is the sword ami nniforni w hich he once wore, 

 and the "crah tree cane" left to him hy Fraidilin 

 in his last will, is also there. The press of Frank- 

 lin and the sword of Waslmigton, two of the 

 iniLdiliest instinnients that have ever yet appear- 

 ed in the fortunes and destinies of maidiind 1 An 

 awlnl snlilimity forces itself upon the niind in 

 I)( holding them; wealth, power, fame or glory 

 liavc seenjed to animate the lea<lers of other na- 

 tions ; jnslice ami the permanent happiness of 

 mankind appears to have alone animated the ho- 

 son)S of these, onr o\iii comilrvmen. 



That nnostentations merit which <-haracterized 

 these great men, seems to attend their relics. No 

 luhel, no hiazonry, nothing save the general cata- 

 logue, points llieiri to the stranger. All aromid, 

 up and down the spacious apartiijenr, " United 

 Slates Mvploring lOxpedition" meets ns, lest we 

 Bhonid f .rget the! perils and harvest of this enter- 

 prise, rich in Indian dresses, instruments of sav- 

 age warfare, and shells from thc^ sea-shore, he- 

 tokening what may he expi'cted liou] the opening 

 of the remaining hoxes when additional roou] 

 ehall have heen furnished. The.se things are 

 (loiditless tpiite interesting to the ein'ioiis, and 

 very innelj so to those who have collecled and 

 caused them to occupy so much of the room of 

 this national gallery ; hut to the imlearned in 

 thi;se grave matter.", of «liieli we were one, they 

 implant no uselid lesson, add nothing that can be 

 brought iniii the political or mr)ral si^ale for tlK- 

 bi'iielit of tiie human fuiuly, ami we should nal- 

 lu'ally lhiid( more of the exploringexpedilion if 

 we saw less of it. 'I'o the youth of our jirosper- 

 oiis conntry, to the fotnl ami amiiiiions parents, 

 something is suggested in tluM-elii's of Washiiig- 

 ton and Franklni to chasten and stdier these fas- 

 cinating aspirations. Washington, in tin; high 

 posts and in;portant trusts he occupied and lilled, 

 kept steadily in vicnv, tlic^ lime wiien he shouhl 

 be enabled to retire to his farm and prnsi'<'ule his 

 fiivoriie pursuit of ugrieidture. To this he di<l 

 at length retire, after beijig " (Irsl in war, and in 

 peace," and found in il that tranquil, unalloyed 

 enjoyment wlfndi is no where l()uud by the pnli- 

 lie man. l''raiiklin too, looked upon the culture 

 ol' the earth in tht; highest estimation, lor iii 

 writing to one of his friends whom he left in 

 France, he speaks in the most saiisliictory man- 

 ner of his grandson's having become a iiuirjer, 

 the most "rational, peaceful, and indeptMidenl" 

 of pursuits. Who cim call in ipiestion the wis- 

 dom or juilgmeni of these great men, who oci;n- 

 pii-d the hii:hest places in the departments id' 

 politics .and science, anil alii'r this with great ex- 

 periiUM-e and matnri'd judgment, they both c-on- 

 siilcred the enllivation of the soil as the most 

 di'sirable of employments, the most indepeiulent 

 of callings. With gooil habits and a somiil cmi- 

 stitiition, what youth is not capable of beiroming 

 a firini.'i- ? Our own granite based soil has un- 

 measured productions to ho calhid ioiili ; millions 

 on million.s of acres lie imlonehed towards the 



setting sun, and_\ei how many, aye how immer- 

 0U8 are those » ho look with aversion upon farm- 

 ing. Parents, with liivor and fomlness natural 

 and connnendable, look upon their children as a 

 sort of prodigies. The no more than coimnon 

 manifestations of. intellect are looked upon tis 

 evincing .-i promise of the highi.'st altaimnents. 

 Some elocinent divine, eminent lawyer, or eleva- 

 ted statesman, is looked upon r,s an exaniph: to 

 be reached, and cat(diing thi; future in the pres- 

 ent thi! fond parent pals the little fellow on the 

 head, anil half enjoys ihe pleasure, found in the 

 finlfdniejit of his hopes. In these die;ims our 

 colleges are tilled, where the reputation for mis- 

 chief; the resistance to wholesome authority is 

 too often found more attractive th.in exaltisil ex- 

 amples. Alas! if we |)arents would but calculate 

 how few they arc who succeed, and still fewer 

 who find that which is desirable even in that suc- 

 cess, we should not I think he so apt to wish our 

 children to enter upon these pursuits. Ilow many 

 commence the professions of law or medicine 

 to one that succeeds, and success is attended with 

 unceasing toil, anxiety and vexation. Of all lot- 

 teries these have the fewest prizi'S, ami the ad- 

 venturers are baidirnpt.s, if they fail for life. — 

 I'ride, and an .aversion to Labor in the calling of 

 agricidture, are rouled in the mind with habits 

 of idleness and discontentment. Education is 

 desirable, and in the stand the tilling of the earth 

 is attaining, is indispeiisaide, or will he, to the 

 first rate fiu'iner; but should we not act wiser, 

 to direct the atteiilion of our young men to that 

 calling in which, « iili indiislry and frugality there 

 are few if any hiihires — to that lottery of the soil 

 whose gri.'at scheme is the varying seasons of the 

 year, where the wheel is constantly turning, and 

 where the purchaser pays only labor and draws 

 oidy prizes.' 



If belore we should so ardently desire to see 

 our children in coaspicuous stations, we should, 

 after dediieling the chances of failure, look also 

 closely into the actual happiness of those few 

 who reach them, we should I think he less ambi- 

 tious. Health, independence and tranquility of 

 mind, seem almost every where, and in every in- 

 stance, to atleiifl the finiiier, and can this be said 

 of any other pursuit- P. 



For the Farmer's Monthly Visitor. 

 Feed Well. 



If we would have our laborers perform well, 

 give them good wholesome food, to sustain them 

 in their etf'orts. for according to Prolessor 

 Leibig, man is !i sort of living, walking furiiiice, 

 to which food is but the fuel, and the exhaustion 

 by life and labor must be supplied to keep it in 

 action. In cold climates, and in cool weather in 

 the changeable ones, as oin' own, more meat, and 

 the fatter the better and cheaper is required in 

 winter than in summer. This fmifishes the ne- 

 cessary I'arbon, which like the wood in our fire 

 pl.ices is fistest spent in the cohlt'st weather: — 

 and hence it woulil appear that lighter food, or 

 fruits are adapted to warm weather. In those 

 hot climates where no winter is known, pork is 

 prohihiti'd by religion, and wise it would .-:eem is 

 the |)rohiliilion ; and there rice ajid frnils are the 

 principid food of man. Fat meat, so acceptable 

 to our palate,', that is — u.-i farmers — is supposed 

 to be the most economical food, if we raise or 

 buy it. In the same number of pounds there is 

 more carbon, and hence a k'ss quantity satisfies 

 the appetites The only exception to this, perhaps, 

 was found in the a|iprenlice, w ho complained first 

 that the meat furm.-lied was too fat : it was (•han- 

 ged, and then, it was too lean ; and " what do you 

 want ■''' said his kind master. Why, "I want the 

 lean of liit meat," said the epicure. 



Feed your animals well, and the lietler the 

 feed, the less will thiiy eat, and will do their 

 work better and quicker. It is one source of 

 happiness to see our animals in good condition. 

 It makes us feel well when we observe our neigh- 

 bors taking notice of them ; and how does the 

 blood momit to our cheeks when we sit behind 

 oi- upon a poor skeleton of a bursts, and we hear 

 the voice of the traveller say to his companion 

 as we pass. *' b.are bones." Aniuads too, are bet- 

 ter tempered, as well as ourselves, when they are 

 lijil well. And the horsi: thief, who asked lliat 

 the jury might go to dinner before his trial, shew 

 his wisdom. True, the time was, when witchcraft 

 prevailed — that the liu'mer, with poor cattle had 

 an excuse — "the h itches! the witches! owed 



him a spite!" and while he was .asleep cruelly 

 rode his cattle. But they have all gone : no horse 

 shoes are now necessary over doors, or silver 

 shot to keep lhe.se niisclrevous creatures at u 

 distance. They have gone : for without the food 

 of persecution they pinial, and \\i\ trust have lijr- 

 ever perished. So ihat now the lean ox does not 

 break through the thin ice tiotn the weight of 

 unseen and invisible witches upon hisb.ack; and 

 speaking of water, it cannot he perhaps tooid'ten 

 recommended to have il good and sweet in the 

 barn y.ards wheie our .aiumals are kept in winter. 

 They camiot ihrivc without it; and they will not 

 go of themselves lai- for it in stormy weather, or 

 upon the ice or snow ; th.at is to .say, they will 

 often go wilhout when it woiihl be beneficial. — 

 And histly, if you would feed your cattle well, 

 and b(! accounted a good liver by your neiirhhorc, 

 why then it is indis()ensable to feed your land 

 well, for there must be a return to the generous 

 soil, to supply the exhaustion by the erop.s. In 

 my arrangement, to he sure, 1 have been some- 

 what of a bungler in beginning at the top of the 

 edifice instead of Ihe hoitoin or found.ition, for 

 as a good neighbor of mine once said — give riio 

 a good crop of Indian corn, and "I h;ive good 

 piL's, pork, beef, abundance of cL'gs, my horso.-< 

 are sleek, aiul I myself look cheerful and jolly." 

 I think we may lay it down as a general ride, that 

 where the land is taken good care of, deeply 

 ploughed and worked in good season, every thing 

 else seems to be in harmony ; there is thrift, 

 cheerfulness and inde|)enilence. To have good 

 crop.s, is the first and main object ; and to do th s, 

 the manure should lie taken care of as the 

 means, or one of them to effect it. If no other 

 benefit had resulted from agriciiliura! publica- 

 tions, and societies, that of awaking attention to 

 the saving, preparing and increasing of manures, 

 this alone would be sullicient to indemnify ii 

 hundred fold, all the time and expense which has 

 been devoted to these objects. We have .seen 

 liirmers near our cities, purchasing and carting 

 manure, while Large quantities were w.astin;; at 

 their doors. This was years back. Their barn 

 yards were carelessly laid out ; it was washed 

 away info the roads l)y the rains, and they never 

 thought of a compost heap, ll.ippily, and with 

 profit, these vvastefid days in general have passed 

 away, and we perceive care and judgment in 

 these matters at every turn. 



Another iidv.'intage froiii fertile land is found in 

 the vigor with which it sustains the crops in 

 winter, and during drouglils in sinnnier. In the 

 anim.il creation, the weak and fcelile soonest 

 perish ; anif this is not less true in the vegetable 

 kingdom. Every observing fiirmer must have 

 noticed that winter grains, and tlie grasses, are 

 less liable to be killed by the severity of the frost 

 when the land is in good heart. So also an ear- 

 lier maturity aKv.ays tittends the fertile hind. — 

 This fact is well known hy the market gardeners 

 near the large cities, and with whom a few dajs 

 is so advantageous in the prices they obtain. — 

 And it is .•ilinost iinpossihie in the ordinary dry 

 seasons tlijit oeeiu', to prevent a crop, smaller of 

 course, on the strong deep lille! laud. The pile 

 of manure never becomes dry. Open it ;il any 

 time,and there is plenty of moisture, and it per- 

 linins the same office in the soil by preventing; 

 in a degree the evaporation. Ami is not often 

 the case, that even our reduced returns, in dry 

 seasons, give us more nett profit than our greater 

 abundance produces when the season has been 

 liivorable. Let us he up and doiiii' iheu ; our land 

 in good heart, our animals in good heart, and wo 

 ourselves, brave and |irosperous. 



p. 



l''or llie Farmer's Monthly Visitor. 

 TSnok Farmiii!;. 



Aye, what liap|iiuess can exceed it, or rather 

 equal it, for it is admitted on all hands that farm- 

 ing is not rivalled by any other employment. — 

 The youth who peruses the works of the imagi- 

 nation, and in them fiincies that he finds there 

 the seinbl.aiice of real life, is not more at vari- 

 ance with the llict, than your genuine book farm- 

 er ; the dream of liincy now makes him ii 

 slalesnian, skilled in till the luts of diplomacy, 

 and the orator, or scholar, then he is an admiral, 

 and down goes the Hags of his vanquished ene- 

 mies amid peals of reverberating ihinider of iiis 

 cannon ; the general, w ith his vanquished bat- 

 lallions defiling before him,^and in sciunco the 



