Notices for a Young Farmer* xliii 



pcnded on your own discoveries. In such case, you would 

 consume your labour, time, and means, which should be de« 

 voted to settled and kri >wn practice, in pursuing your own 

 suggestions ; or in clearing up your doubts on the experience 

 of others : most probably unprofitably and unnecessarily. 

 Listen to intelligent and successful practical men, whom you 

 will easily distinguish among your neighbours. Do not im- 

 itate the exclusive self approbation of too many farmers; who 

 Impatiently and heedlessly wait whilst information is offered ; 

 until they can relate what they are doing, and have done. 

 Yet where even a failure will be attended with no serious in- 

 jury or expense, fear not to attempt an improvement or dis- 

 covery ; although the endeavour may be unprecedented. It 

 most assuredly requires experiment to adapt foreign practice 

 to our climate and circumstances ; and to make essays to 

 change or meliorate our defective usages. But we are not 

 so far behind, as that most of the common operations are not 

 well understood and reputably executed. 



It is not intended to say any thing on the subject of profits 

 of husbandry, as these depend so much on the circumstances 

 both of the farmer and the farm ; accordingly as its culture 

 is applied to grain or grass, or mixed husbandry, and the 

 management and economy with which its business is conduct- 

 ed ; that no calculation can be made, on general principles, 

 with any degree of correctness. Those, however, who do not 

 personally labour, and have every thing to hire or purchase, 

 should be moderate in their expectations ; and for them a 

 grazing farm would be the most eligible. But a. farmer on 

 his own farm, as is the case with most of our husbandmen 

 in this happy country ; wherein they are burthened with no 

 tithes, heavy rents, and oppressive poor rates ; and pay, com- 

 paratively with other countries, light taxes , helping them- 

 selves and assisted by their families ; — thus avoiding the pay- 

 ment of much wages to hirelings ; and, of course, not sub- 

 jected to their caprices, vices, idleness, and defalcations ; 

 contented with, wholesome subsistence, in great plenty, and 

 reasonable profits ; can live well and independently, with even 

 a tolerably good system of husbandry; and sit « every man 



