1836.] 



FARMERS' REGISTER 



r37 



ters, farmers, &c. of this, my native stale. But be- 

 fore proceeding farther, I wish to say a word or two 

 in relation to a practice now becoming fashionable: 

 ibr it is fashion alone that holds the reins, not only 

 of government) but also in our domestic relations. 

 For instance, you hear of a new implement in 

 husbandry, used by a particular farmer; imme- 

 diately, without examination, without knowledge, 

 the tool goes the round of the neighborhood over 

 which his influence is exerted; and the conse- 

 quence is, that some half or three-fourths of those 

 trying it are disappointed most sadly; some not 

 understanding the nature of the tool, misapply it, 

 whilst others, making a very imperfect trial, pro- 

 nounce it a foolish and useless expenditure of time 

 and money, curses the day of its introduction, de- 

 nounces the inventor as an arrant impostor, and 

 he who uses it, a downright fool. Again; the 

 fashion is set, by some notable correspondent, per- 

 haps of the Register, to sign his name, (in propria 

 persona,) not thinking there are many persons so 

 blind as believe every thing they may chance to 

 meet with in print — especially if there is a respon- 

 sible undersigner at the close of the communica- 

 tion. Well ! the effect of all this, is to induce 

 others to follow suit; and every man who makes a 

 communication, is very careful to write at the bot- 

 tom his name in fair and legible characters; some, 

 no doubt, make this the plainest line upon the 

 sheet: I will not say, the most important one. But 

 let us see the effect of this fashion a lit tie more. 

 There are some men so constituted, that if they 

 really believed or thought it would be known who 

 the correspondent was, would suffer all the ink in 

 Christendom to dry up before you could prevail 

 on them even to make their ^ (mark.) Well! 

 we lose all such communicators; and many who 

 come under this denomination, are as good and 

 practical farmers as any the country affords. But 

 to be out of the fashion is the thing looked at; 

 for to all intents and purposes you had as well be 

 out of the world as to be out of the fashion. It 

 has, I believe, been recommended by some, not to 

 publish anonymous pieces. Now, my plan is, to 

 leave the fashions with the belles and dandies; 

 let the old men and plain farmers go along as it 

 best suits their feelings or inclinations. Some- 

 times you will meet with one going hand in hand 

 with the dandies; but at the same time, believe 

 me sir, his eye, if not his heart, is on some fair 

 miss in her teens. I have made, on former occa- 

 sions, a communication or so for your valuable pa- 

 per — but did not subscribe my real name, (Simon 



Pure,) thinking that was as well 



known ten miles off as Simon, and knowing the 

 fact that some men would believe every thing they 

 might hear from the old gentleman, whilst others 

 would believe nothing — crying out. "is not this 

 the carpenter's son?" I concluded to "cast my 

 bread upon the waters." I hope, Mr. Editor, 

 that nothing in these expressions will be consid- 

 ered as having a personal bearing; for such a 

 thing has not yet entered my thoughts — on the 

 other hand, I thank every gentleman for his com- 

 munication to your paper, whether his real name 

 is attached to it or not. 



The particular object of this communication is, 

 to impress on farmers generally, the important 

 idea in all permanent agricultural improvements 

 of making manure. I do not pretend to offer any 



VoUIl.— 93 



thing new on this part of my subject — but only to 

 keep its importance fully in mind. What is the 

 great object of labor? I answer, to make much, 

 and as much as is practicable to make, consistent 

 with religion and humanity. Now, how shall we 

 do this? Most certainly by applying our labor on 

 that soil which is at its highest degree of im- 

 provement, combined with the judicious applica- 

 tion of labor. But there is little or no soil of that 

 description in this region of the world. What 

 then must be done? The answer is, make it. 

 But if I were to attempt this, too little of the ne- 

 cessaries of life would be made to live on. Why 

 then, make as much as you can, consistent with 

 that view of the case. Be sure to make manure; 

 for this is the only subject with which the soil can 

 be enriched. Make it, whether from cows, horses, 

 hogs, or sheep; from corn-stalks, wheat-straw, or 

 hay; from clay, bones, or ashes; from blood, suds, 

 or liquor; from peas, be ms, or vines; from swamp, 

 or bank; from fowls, or beast; from field or woods; 

 from shell, or stone — make manure. Let this be your 

 main object; for without it there can be no ad- 

 vancement of a permanent character in the soil. 

 As for that kind of improvement which lasts but 

 a day, "Simon' 1 is of opinion that, it costs more 

 than it comes to. Ask yourself every Monday 

 morning, how much manure was made last week? 

 Can anj- be added this week? Do not wait for a 

 wet time or a dry time; and of all times carefully 

 avoid what is called "a convenient time." It 

 comes so seldom, and is gone so soon, that but 

 little is done in the way of making manure, En- 

 riching land is like putting out money on interest; 

 not however, at the poor pitilul rule of six per 

 cent; but if well managed, it counts up to thirty- 

 three and a third, sometimes, fifty per cent., and 

 occasionally, like compound interest, doubles 

 itself in a very short time. Now all who seek 

 for riches, may rest assured that this is the 

 way — I do not say the only way — for I know of 

 some, who by speculation, trick, or contrivance, 

 have been made rich in a day — but gener- 

 ally such persons soon become purse-proud, 

 and neglect their near and dear relations, who per- 

 haps gave to them the helping hand: not only so, 

 "they forget the God who made them." A great 

 deal has been, can be, and will be said as to the 

 quality of this important article in good husbandry. 

 Whilst it is admitted, that much depends both on 

 the nature of the soil, and manure, as to its proper 

 application, old Simon knows one thing — and that 

 right well — few, or none of us make enough of 

 any kind — that a still smaller number are suffi- 

 ciently acquainted with the particular quality of 

 manure in its various stages, degrees, &c, to say 

 at what particular time it should be used, or in 

 what particular way applied. I have used it mo- 

 derately on different soils — clay, sand, mould, new 

 and old, wet and dry — but never yet have I used 

 it in any way that was not more or less profitable. 

 Manure, like "marriage, is a good thing" — and, as 

 my old friend "Abstinence" says, it is good both 

 in "the positive, comparative, and superlative de- 

 gree;" and I would not give a bawbee for that 

 system which teaches otherwise. 



One of the best manures, in reach of every 

 man, I neglected to enumerate — that is, attention; 

 attention to small things — it not only acts very 

 quick, but it is of a permanent character, when 

 properly applied. It ia sometimes mild, some,- 



