]846.] Profits of Cultivation. 299 



most of them are capal3le of yielding twice the quantity that they 

 now produce. Farmers wull not, however, abandon the raising 

 of the staple articles of the country, although gardens with a 

 smaller quantity of land, may obtain a much larger profit per 

 acre. 



Farming now has become an integral part of the commerce of 

 the land, and the policy in tilling the ground is to make money. 

 The object is not merely to obtain a livelihood, although that may 

 be the piimary motive, but not the engrossing one. A person 

 who engages in the trade of making shoes has an object in that 

 pursuit beyond supplying his own family with that article. Eve- 

 ry business enterprise, whether professional, mechanical or agri- 

 cultural, has an object in view beyond a nieie daily competency, 

 the accumulation of wealth. Speculation, however, in a spiral 

 form, will at times creep into these pursuits, and men will be 

 captivated by its charms. To gain in a few days Avhat it would 

 require years of labor and patience to obtain, is always desirable. 

 Hence farmers at times, on seeing the wonderful success of the 

 merchant, have sold their fanns and engaged in merchandize. 

 So merchants, mechanics and professional men have returned the 

 compliment, and become farmers. Not all, however, for the sake 

 of gain. 



Again, the science of chemistry has in modern times disclosed 

 some interesting facts in relation to vegetable physiology, and 

 these new discoveries Jiave startled that adventurous class of our 

 fellow citizens distinguished as scientific agriculturists, and hence 

 there has been a scrambling across lots to gain the citadel of 

 wealth. That the organization of animals and of vegetables 

 may be learned in the form of a science, is on all hands readily 

 conceded. It is the anatomical science of the gardener and the 

 herdsman. A knowledge of this science, embracing as it does 

 the proper food for plants and animals, will beyond all doubt aid 

 the farmer in bringing them forward as the objects of his care 

 and interest. But his practical knowledge in these matters will 

 be his safest guide. And although much has been said about 

 farmers adhering to the customs of their fathers, yet we ought 



