52 



THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



he learned nothing by observation, and profiled 

 nothing Crom the experience of others ; and shall 

 he die without attenipiins; remuneration? JMany 

 farmers consider themselves independent of their 

 fellows; " The3Muiovv enough about iheir busi- 

 ness, and ask no favors." They pratile as Ioud!y 

 as pet geese, and I wish I had the means of let- 

 ting them linow that they have no more brains. 

 The most enlightened liirmer is yet comparatively 

 ignorant of his business as a science ; and untiJ 

 scientifically prosecuted there can be no comfort- 

 able profit. It is true, that many farmers do, by 

 dint of hard licks, ij^ather up a fortune; "but 

 when they die, they know not whether ihey leave 

 it (o a wise man, or a fool." When the farmers 

 as a body shall become convinced that they are 

 not mere drudges, and their olBcial duties more 

 than simple clod-knocking ; and that /or the sake 

 of health and weath, every art and science can, 

 and should be brought to their aid — then, and then 

 only, shall they and the nation prosper. I con- 

 tinually remember your motto, JVlr. Editor: 

 " that whosoever could make two ears of corn 

 to grow where only one grew belbre," &o., but, 

 sir, the process by which the double crop is pro- 

 duced must be promulgated, and then truly the 

 author "deserves better ol his country than all 

 the race of politicians put together." 



But whither am I wandering? When I took 

 my pen, it was with the intention of writing on 

 the subject of domestic animals ; but now I doubt 

 whether I shall at all touch the subject, yet, I be- 

 Beech you bear wiih me, and I know you v^ill, 

 v.rhcn I solemnly declare that my intentions are 

 honest and charitable. 



I spoke a short space back, of wealih, and now 

 let us inquire what consiitutes the farmer's 

 wealth? 1 wish I had the power of indelibly 

 imprinting in the farmer's mind, the (^uery. 

 What constitutes the farmer's wealth? Reflect 

 farmer; investigate the subject, lor investigation 

 leads to understanding; and when this matter is 

 understood, all will be plain sailing. Yes, although 

 the winds may blow anon, and the waves toss us 

 from the direct course, yet knowing the situation 

 of the breakers, we shall finally arrive sufi-ly in 

 port. 



What constitutes the farmer's weath? My 

 dear sir, this subject is too deep for me, but let me 

 try it. 



Does money constitute the farmer's wealth ? 

 Oh no; money is only the representative of pro- 

 perty ; I can neither eat, drink, nor wear it. It 

 will not manure my grounds, neither is it medicine. 



Is it waste or poor lands, which constiiule the 

 farmer's wealth? Oh no; these like the money 

 are unprofitable in any hands. It is true that the 

 stock of money may be improved by lendin.? it to 

 others on usury ; so likewise can the wasle and 

 poor lands be improved by a loan. If I lend to 

 my neighbor, I may lose, although I take security ; 

 but if I tend to my laud, I am certain, with pro- 

 fier demeanor on my part, to get back in due time 

 both principal and interest. 



Is it slavey which constitute the farmer's 

 wealth? Oh no ; tor although these constitute 

 a portion of the bone and sinew of the coimtry, 

 yet there is no dependence in them ; they must be 

 ordered, lullowed, and with few exceptions driven, 

 and sometimes whipped. In early days, when 

 the forests were to be felled, and the ground tilled 



with the coulter and hand hoe, slaves were valu- 

 able ; but now the scene is chanared ; the lands 

 are fenced, the s;ump3 gone, the grounds become 

 compact by the combined operations of sun, wind, 

 and ihe tramping of animals ; and consequently 

 a neat and scientific culture must be adopted, or 

 there is no profit. Our slaves are ignorant, which 

 is one great barrier to improvement ; but the 

 Erreatest is their lack of interest in their labors. 

 Where there is no interest, there is neither indus- 

 try, nor economy : and where these are wanting 

 all is misery. Be not uneasy, reader, 1 am a slave- 

 holder, and intend to hold on to them ; (or I am 

 persuaded that until a general emancipation I 

 can do no better. 



Is it race horses or whisky? Oh no; these 

 are always a curse in the hands of the farmer. 



Is it trading? Oh no ; remember the old adage 

 of too many irons in the fire ; a speculator cannot 

 be a farmer, nor vice versa. 



Is it a number of bony horses, cows, and pigs? 

 Oh no ; misery on the animals, and misery on 

 their owner. 



In what does the farmers' wealth consist? f 

 presume that it consists of strength of mind, 

 strensth of body, education, industry, economy, 

 rich lands, high fences, .stout horses, fat cows, 

 hogs, and sheep, a snug house, and a tidy wife. 



Just as I expected, my paper is out, and I have 

 not touched the intended subject, but I trust that 

 this is not my last. 



MoUJVTAINKEn. 



Amherst, Dec. 1840. 



SOWING GRASS SEKD THICK AND EVEIV, NOT 

 THIN Ar»:D IKREGULAR, I.S THK TRUE IN- 

 TEREST. 



From tlic Farmers' Cabinet. 

 One of the most frequent errors in agricultural 

 operations, is sowing grass seeds too thin and un- 

 evenly ; great is the loss in either case, while 

 nothing is easier than to remedy both. In the 

 spring of 1838, clover-seed was very scarce and 

 dear ; some sowed none, and others scattered it 

 as thin as possible over the ground, and the effects 

 of this proceeding have been visited with great 

 severity on the delinquents. There has been a 

 deficiency of hay and pasture, a thin, bare sod 

 to plouah down ; the n)anure heap has shrunk in 

 its dimensions for want of provender, and the sub- 

 sequent crops have been proportionably starved 

 and diminished. This season clover seed is very 

 abundant, cheap and of good quality, and it might 

 be well for the provident to lay in a store against 

 a season of scarcity and high prices, and this may 

 readily be accomplished by putting it in a tight, 

 dry cask, through the bung-hole, and bunging it 

 up and keeping it in a dry place where it is be- 

 lieved it wiii remain sood for several years to 

 come. Clover should be one of the grasses sown, 

 but other seeds should always accompany it, as 

 there is a larger crop where several kinds of 

 ijrasses are grown together, sometimes the sea- 

 son being favorable to one and not to another. 

 Many farmers begin to think it more profitable 

 to raise orchard grass than timothy, where selling 

 of hay is not intended, as it furnishes more pas- 

 ture, both early, and late, end is equally good, if 



