1846.] Letters on Farming. 93 



soils and cheap lands, and every other disadvantage. It appears 

 to me that the first step to make our farmers improve, should be 

 to persuade them to give up the growing of such articles, and 

 enter upon the cultivation of such as they have a manifest and 

 real advantage in. And what are these articles ? 



In answering this question, I might enumerate a long list of 

 what may be called perishakle products of the soil, which I think 

 will exclude all our grains, and the growth of wool, and in con- 

 nection with them I would also include the raising and fattening 

 of animals for the butcher, and perhaps, collaterally the growth 

 of the mulberry and the raising of silk worms. I say collateral- 

 ly, because I think this business may be made profitable to the 

 farmer, as a secondary occupation for his family during hours 

 which they can readily spare for the care of worms, without in- 

 tefering with other avocations, and that in at least some cases, it 

 may be a valuable addition to the labor of the farm to fill up ac- 

 tually vacant time, when the farm is devoted to such objects of 

 culture as do not fill up the whole time. Such will be preemi- 

 nently the case in the instance of farming under the necessity" of 

 circumstances which I am about to mention, and which it strikes 

 me is the species of farming adapted to the Hudson river valley, 

 and the other great valleys and thoroughlares of this eastern part 

 of this continent, which have ready — easy — and rapid communi- 

 cation with the great markets of the country, and especially with 

 foreign markets. But I am an Orange county man, and I am 

 looking now principally at the interests of the river valley in 

 which I live. If my views appear to those farmers who live in 

 other sections as applicable to their condition and circumstances, 

 it is the easiest thing in the world for them to apply the sugges- 

 tions, which I can assure them they are fully welcome to, with 

 the wish that they may profit by them. But, gentlemen, my pen 

 is somewhat like my tongue, and I have overrun more room al- 

 ready than I intended to use in saying all I had to say when I 

 sat down. I will say the rest in another letter. 



j\^eioburgh, July 1, 1S46. 



