®l)c JTarmcr's ilTontl)li) l)isitor. 



57 



oration of their Inte roittinnnilei-. Tims the 

 charter was always led at the lii'ad o(" the le^'i- 

 iiieiit oil a iiiaic-h, and at the station oTCa\vn|ioie, 

 Was usually iiulnl^'ud with taUinj; his aneicnl post 

 at the colour-stand, uliere the salute oC passili|f 

 s(|uaihons was given at drill and on reviews. 

 When the regiment was ordered home, the fimds 

 >)(' the privates rmmin;; lo.v, he was hoiijijht for 

 the same sum hy a relative of oin's, who provi- 

 ded funds and a padduok for him, where he 

 tniijht einl his days, in comfort; hut when the 

 corps had marched, and 'he sound ol the Iriuiipet 

 had departed, he refused to eal, and on the first 

 opportunity, hein^ hd out to exercise, he hroUe 

 from his i,'room, and pallo|)inL' to his ancient sta- 

 tion on the parade, after neighing alund, dro|)- 

 ped ilowu and died. — Home Alagnzine. 



Cuke for Paintfr's Colic— Forty-fonr drops 

 of sidphiuic acid (oil of vitriol) to a pint of svater 

 — two or three pints heing admiinstered in the 

 course of tweiity-(onr hoins. Patients sometimes 

 vomit it up ; hut they must persevere initil the 

 stomach is able to retain it. A siili>hiir balh must 

 he taken at the same time. The patient fretpicnt- 

 )y conies out of the bath as hiack as a negro. He 

 then takes half a pound of soft soap and a hard 

 lirnsli, and scrubs himself white. The sulphur 

 Iiatli is repeated as often as the color of llie skin 

 becomes changed, tind abandoned only when the 

 patient comes out white. The cliemicid explana- 

 tion of the above, which we get from the Medical 

 Journal, is supposed to be this, viz: The sulphu- 

 ric acid combines with the lead which is in the 

 system, and forms a harmless compound, called 

 snlphale, or perhaps the snlphuret of lead. 'I'his 

 inert material is gradually thrown ofl' from the 

 system, until it is till removed, and the .system 

 thus restored again to its natnial condition. Such 

 arc the revelations of chemistry. 



We copy the above from another paper; but 

 we hope, before any one tries it, the matter may 

 he well considered by persons more scientific 

 than we are. On the face of the [U'escription, we 

 would say that the swallowing of so miu-h oil of 

 vitriol would destroy the life of the strongest an- 

 imal. — Ed. Visitor. 



From the Rostnn CiiUivalor. 

 " Profits of Farming." 



While this subject was peiulingat the Agricul- 

 tural iMeeting, Rev. G. Leonaril, (of tlie House,) 

 of iMarshfiehl, addressed a letter to Ilev. Morrell 

 Allen of Penihroke, on the sulijecl, and the fol- 

 lowing is Mr. Allen's reply, which was read at 

 llie Meeting last wiek. As an inlelli^'eiit and 

 Micc<-'ssl'nl agricuhnrisl, iMr, Allen ranks aniong 

 llic fii>t in the country. Il should he cunsiden- 

 nl iliat he is at considerable dislatice (idm aiM 

 l.u-L'e market, ami llint he has allcudcil ic;. ilm 

 usual branches (jf farming, anil has not had any 

 adventitious or extraneous help in acipiiriiig not 

 only a competency, but a handsome Ibrtmic, or 

 has become wealthy from his industry and the 

 profiis of farminir. 



From inquiries which we made, when we had 

 lliir pleasure of vi-iling Air. Alien a lew years 

 sinrr-, we learned that his accumulation of prop- 

 erly was not owing to the rise in land, for be paid 

 rather a high price for his land, considering ii 

 was generally in an unproduclivi' condilion. — 

 i\lany of <inr readi.'i's will be ready to acroimt for 

 his prosperity li-om seeing Ktv. jircfixed to liis 

 name, but this was not the cause ol' his success. 

 His day of pleaching was when iiiinisiers ill ilie 

 coimcry worked willi their liand^, and his salary 

 was quite small. I>ut the reader is anxious to 

 get lo the end of onr renmrks ami hear ibis vete- 

 ran liirmer himself". 



Pkmbroke, iMaroli 2^, 1847. 



My Dear Sir:— With much inieresl the dis- 

 cussions in your Agricultural IMeelings have 

 been read, pai lii-ularly those of' some of ibc last 

 iiicilings. The |iro(ils of farming are greatly 

 iiiisiiuderstood in the conununiiy; in coi);;»Mpience 

 of which, the number of laborers in this oc.ciipa- 

 lion is fir less ihan ihe general interest and- pros- 

 perily demand. The accounts given us by gen- 

 tlemen, who possess the means of correct infor- 

 mation of the number of failures among ynmig 

 men, who are seeking more eligible situations 

 than farms, are truly alarming. Without some 

 change in the public senlitiieiit, it seems that iiii- 



mensc numbers of our citizens must be cast ns 

 heavy burdens on the kind ollices of friends, cr 

 subsist on govermnenlal provisions for the indi- 

 gent. 



The friends of agriculture have for several 

 years been cherishing the hope that the biisinesa 

 of furniine was rising in general estimation, and 

 that the iinmbers engaged in it would be increus- 

 ed ill just proportion to the numbers engaged in 

 other branches of interest. We may fear that 

 this hope will not be fully realized while any of 

 our men confideiilly preach the doctrine that a 

 prudent man on a farm worth $3000 can do no 

 more than live; that be can accumulate noihing. 

 Is this doctrine ill any instance legitimately de- 

 duced from unquestioned premises.' Is credit 

 given the farm for all which is taken from it? — 

 On almost every farm, buildings are either to be 

 erected or repaired nearly every year; the ex- 

 pense to a great extent, if not entirely, is drawn 

 from the farm and should be reckoned to its 

 credit. Then the article of fuel, a considerable 

 item in the expense of a family, is ordinarily 

 found on a farm, and sliouhl he considered as one 

 branch of Jhe income. Buildings and fuel wo 

 must have in every occupation, and we ciii nev- 

 er have them without cost. We know it is easy 

 for a farmer to expend all, and even much more 

 than the income of his farm in arranging and 

 beauiifjiiig his buildings; it is equally easy for 

 any artizaii to do the same. There is no |>rofes- 

 sion in society so lucrative, no resources so am- 

 ple as to enable a man lo lay up money, who is 

 determined lo gratify without restraint, a fastidi- 

 ous taste. 'J'lie proflls of firming, lo an indiviii- 

 ual, may be uneipial to what another individ- 

 ual is receiving for his services in a diflerent de- 

 parlment of liiisiness. Rot the comparison 

 should not be between individuals; let it he on 

 a general scale and we shall have no ground of 

 fear that the farming interest will occupy an ob- 

 scure place in the list. There were truths mer- 

 iting very grave cnnsideralioii in remarks made 

 a year ago, by IMr. Sheldon. He told us, from 

 the |)rofiis of liirms, a very large majority of all 

 the professional ineii in the commonwealth had 

 been educated, and that the nucleus of the im- 

 mense cnfiital which is moving the business of 

 the city, was drawn from ihe fiirins, and is from 

 the same source annually increased.. 



Some intelligent members in your meeting 

 have given the per centage annually made on 

 their farm?. These eslimales, it is supposed, 

 were drawn from accurale accounts of expenses 

 and income. Had il not been my fortune lo coin- 

 inence lile in poverty and at a time when the ag- 

 ricultural inlercst was lillle thought of, and less 

 respected, it would be extremely mortifjiiig to 

 acknowledge that no such accoonls li.ne bi.'cii 

 kept by me. Accounts arc as nancssaiy lo a 

 cle;ir personal understanding of tJie sinte of af- 

 fiiis lo ihe I'armer as lo llie merchant, and ihe 

 only m^nns Ihroogli v\bich the true cliaracter of 

 the business as a source of profit can be ascer- 

 tained. Willi the exception of two or lliree 

 years 1 should be able to give no more salifaclory 

 account of the profits of my I'ai'iii than bo\s 

 somelimes sivc w hen questioned concerning the 

 amoiint of moiuy expended on some holiday; 

 lliey lake from their pockets and show what is 

 left. What remains at the close of each, year 

 shows enough profit in the business lo give addi- 

 tional, :^e;d in fiilme experinienis and labor. 



My beginning in farming was on fifteen 

 acres of very rough land; afler clearing off 

 bushes and' rock-', the object was to get a.' 

 niurh produce as possible, from so small a qiian- 

 liiy of land. For llus purpose many innovalions 

 were maile on usual 'practices. Indian corn. f\ as 

 planted in drills, the laiiil'prep:ireil by verv> libe- 

 ral niunuring several years bel'oie ihe corn wiis 

 plaiiled, anil more perfect cultivalioii ihaii hail 

 iieeii usual wbile it was growing. In this course 

 tlfe product has been from sixiy lo one hundred 

 bushels 10 the acre i;ccording to the .season and 

 the stale of llio laiiil. In the cnllivation of grass 

 my chief dejiendcnce from ihe beginning has 

 been on surface manuring. This practice is de- 

 nounced by many writers, and may not be the 

 most useful on all soils; but with me it has been 

 too successful lo justify even a ihougbt of aban- 

 doning it. If the compost be judiciously formed 

 it is doubted whether ihcre be loss in spreading 

 on the surface of any soil. 



In the cultivntion of Indian corn and English 



grass the principal objects of early nttenlion i 

 some notice was very unexpectedly extended lo I 

 me ns a fiirmer. This circnmslaiice might have i 

 had some iidluence in leading to the purchase of I 

 iiiore land and at lenglh entering into com|icti- 

 tion for premiums for the best cullivaleil farm. 

 Ill 1827, as accurate an account of ihe expense 

 and income of the fiuiii then fiirty-three acres, ns 

 I was able lo give, was presented to the Trtisteca | 

 of the Plymouth Agricnlliiral Society. Tliut ac- 

 count will give some just views of what profit 

 the fjirni once yielded. The expenses in that i 

 year including use of tools, animal.s, manual la- 

 bor, seed, holh grain and grass, amonnled to 

 $441,12, and the products of the fiirm at a fair 

 nptirisetnent to $878,14. The cost of the 4.3 acres 

 was ,$2700. The expense of iliiprovemeiils on 

 this land, it is believed, have heeti liilly repaid in 

 the annual crop,-!. From this period, it has been 

 supposed, not it must be confessed without some 

 evidence, that there has been upon me a Itind fc' 

 ver ; the forty-three acres have grown into sev- 

 eral hundreds; and if like tlie boy with tha 

 spending money, I should tindertahe to .•ihon' 

 what remains, very many acres must he e.^bibit- 

 ed not much honored by the hantt o^' cultivation. 



About the year I8;i0, troin the tinowledge my 

 situations and duties had giren of the character 

 and conditions of soils in Plyinonth connty, it 

 seemed to me of great importance lo the welfare 

 of future generatrons that many of our extensive 

 tracts of sandy and exhausted lands should be 

 converted wilo forests. Fngagement in this work, 

 which has employed much of my time and atten- 

 tion, was prompted by a desire of henefitinj^ 

 those who will live hereal'ler, rather lliaii an ex- 

 pectation of personal benefit, Kiit this like nin- 

 ny other works of duly has brought a double re- 

 ward ; it li.-is served to sirenglhen every year the- 

 inipressious that fiiKire generations mu.-t derive 

 great benefiis, and at the same time has added 

 beyoni' all aulicipalions to the present value of 

 the land. Fields planted with forest trees tctr 

 years ago, have some of them quadrupled in val- 

 ue, and the present generalion will find miiclrof' 

 the wood ripe for the axe. 



In conclusion I will only remark lliat my lead'-- 

 ing ma.\ini in farming is, pa;/ Jiclils well for lohnl 

 is lalicn from llitm. The earth is an abounding 

 treasury for the supply of every human w.inr,, 

 and will never fiiil of making lilVral iliscouiils to- 

 prompt paymasters. 



Respecifiillv voiir.^,. 



MORRiLiL. A^EEEN. 



Rkv. Georgf. LEo.NA.r.r). 



Age op rt.yjJTs.— Some planl.«,.sueh as the- 

 minute Hingi lenmod mould, only live a few hoiiis 

 or at the mo.-rtia few day.--. Mosses lor Ihe most 

 part, .li.ve only one ai'ason, nsdoihe gari!i-n plains- 

 called ■■innuals, wbicll die of old age as soon a.<> 

 ihey ripen their seed.s Some again, as Ihe fox-- 

 glove and the hollyhock, live two years, occasion- 

 ally prolonged toiliree, if their flowering be pre- 

 vented. Trees again, planted in a suitable soif 

 and situation, live for centnrie.^. Thus the olive- 

 tree, may live throe hundred years ; the oak 

 .double that nnii)ber ; the chesnut is said to have- 

 lasted for nine hunilred and fifty years; the dnig- 

 on's-blood tree of Teneriffc, may be two tlimi-- 

 sand years old. When ihe wood of the intenoi"' 

 ceases to afford room, by ihe closeness of iis tex-- 

 I'ue, for ihe passage of pulp or .>iap, m- for the' 

 Ibrmalion of new vessels, it dies, and by all' its- 

 moistiire jiassing ofi' into the younger wood, llio- 

 fibres shrink, and are iilliiii;ilely rednreil lo-dust.- 

 Tlie centre of the iiee thus becomes dead, while- 

 llie oilier portion coiiiinues to live, and in thi.*!- 

 way trees may exist for many years before [\lvy,- 

 perish. — I'anner and Meclmnia 



I'roiii tliL' .Mliany CtiHivaltit. 

 Mode of Calliv.ntin^ I'reinium Cropss- 

 I.vnu.N Corm. — Jabez I'lirrows, of Clmmatf-'- 

 qne connly, N. Y. .oblaiiied a premium for a crop- 

 of 114 biisliels and '.fi. pounds of shelled con*' 

 grow n on one acre. Tli.i.s crop grew on what' 

 had been an old pasinre, wlwcb was turned over - 

 the latter part of May; il was then rolled, and' 

 twenty wagon loads of bain yanl manure .spread' 

 on and harrowed in; it w.-is markcil out in rows-' 

 three feet apart one way, hy fastening liiur chaiilB.^ 

 to a pole carried by two men ; it was |>lantcd on 

 the last day of iMay, in hills sixteen lo eighteen 

 inches ajiart in the rows, three kernels to a bill, > 



