23Q 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER, 



JAN. 30, 1841. 



a.nn horticultural rugister. 

 Boston, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1841, 



FARMING. 



Can Farming be an Intellectual Pursuit ? 

 The subjects of inquiry and reflection that lie scatter- 

 ed over tlie farmer's fields are numerous enough and 

 vast enough lo give constant and full eriiploynient to 

 the most .nclive and the uiost comprehensive mind. Each 

 tree and plant, each meadow and each hill, every do- 

 mestic animal, and every operation upon the farm may 

 furnish food for the inlellecl. The laws of nature — the 

 rules by which the Invisible ever acts — must be known 

 in part and regarded by every cultivator of the soil. — 

 The more fully one understands these laws, the more 

 successful may he he in directing his own labors alonc^ 

 their course and making them his soccessful co-workers 

 in producing an abundant harvest. For instance, should 

 it be (rue that in every soil of good depth and fertility, 

 each blade of corn will send out its roots at that distance 

 below the surface of the ground which will place them 

 in the temperature and moistiire inosl favorable to their 

 health and lo vigorous action, then he avails himself 

 most successfully of nature's aid, whose hoe neither in- 

 creases nor diminishes their covering — -If, in certain 

 lands, those roots cannot find earth that is not more 

 moist than they desire, then he does wisely whose 

 plough opens furrows between the" rows by which the 

 superabundant moisture may be drawn off. If one in- 

 fers that his crop, without his help; probably will not 

 mature before the frosts of autumn, then it may be irood 

 husbandry to cut the roots of his corn with the plough ; 

 check the growth, and hasten the maturity of his crop. 

 He that would be a successful cultivator, must learn at 

 what stage of its growth his crop demands the most 

 Qoiirishmenl, and must know the degree of fermentation 

 his manure should undergo before its application^ in or- 

 der to impart the greatest amount of food in that month 

 in which it is most needed. The points of inquiry and 

 observation are countless in number, diSicult of solution, 

 and may keep the mind ever on the alert. He who 

 learns most and wisely applies his knowledge, will be 

 the most successful firmer. 



We say to all tillers of the soil, observe, compare, re- 

 flect, study : become a thinking class, tor thus you will 

 make your occupation more interesting and more profita- 

 ble Even in small matters, thought may be turned lo 

 profit. A few years since we were topping turnif s by 

 the side ofa younger brother. Each had his separate 

 basket, and he would fill his six times to our five. We 

 thought our hands moved as quickly as his, and a>ked 

 why we did not accomplish as much. Watching and 

 comparing movements, we soon saw that in the opera- 

 tion upon each turnip we made one motion which he 

 found no occasion for. A little practice enabled us al.'O 

 lo dispense with it and to accomplish the work with 

 greater dispatch. 



'I'he time is fast coming when our Oirmers must look 

 at more intently, and comnrehend more clearly, the prin- 

 ciples of good husbandry. And we fondly hope that 

 the boys on our farms will ho encouraged and aided to 

 inquire into and to master the reasons for every practice 

 upon the homestead. Let them know why the thing is 



done; le/ti/ on« process is lo be preferred lo another. 



Let them ask, — yes, grey haired farmers, even though 

 you may be made to blush beeiiusn you can give no oth- 

 er reason than that your father always did so, and yuu 

 have always done so, — yes, let the boys ask ; let tliem 



learn whether the old inill-liorse paths in whieh you 

 and your /iither have been going round and round for 

 lialfu century and more, are the besl paths. It is only 

 by making the pursuit more intellectual that you can 

 make the intelligen't and inquisitive boy conlanted 

 with agricultural liibi.rs. Thus only can you fit him 

 for successful conipeliiion and respectability among 

 those who are fast coming up to take the places which 

 we now fill. Rich treasures of knowledge can be found 

 in the barn, the liog-pen, the luanure heap and in the 

 soil of every field and pasture upon the farm. Let the 

 boys seek for the wealth, and do not forget to join theni 

 in the search. 



FIELD PREACHING —No. I. 



Ilav ing been in former years accustomed to sermoniz- 

 ing, our pen has a kink that way, which it is difficult to 

 straighten out, U e have left the pulpit and taken the 

 fitld: can we preach there .' What say, farmers, shall 

 we let the pen indulge in its old habits a little ? Will 

 you read a few short sermons.' Here follows the first 

 one. 



Be thou diligent to know the state nf thy flocks and look 

 well to thy herds. — .Solomon. 



This proverb, my hearers, is addressed to ijou ; to 

 owners and tenders of the animals from which our bel- 

 lies are filled, our bucks clothed, and our feet shod— 

 the sheep and the cow. In giving you dominion over 

 the beasts of the'field, the Chief Shepherd has iinpfised 

 also the duty of taking good care of those over whom 

 you are appointed lo rule. Though in early summer he 

 " tempers the wind to the shorn lamb,'' yet he expects 

 you to protect the ficirks from the bitings of winter's 

 cold, and the peltings of winter's storms. Neglect to 

 provide comfortable lodgings for your stock, argues dis- 

 regard to the will of Him who gives those flocks that 

 roam " upon the thousand hills;" it fails to win the 

 smile of Him who "gives the increase." Comfort is 

 the choice and nourishing food ofall those mute depen- 

 dants, whose "eyes wait upon you to give them their 

 meat in due season." Let them be well protected. Al- 

 so, let them daily find you early at the barn, shaking 

 well the matted hay that it may yield more readily and 

 fully to the action of their grinders, and thus become 

 more digestible and nourishing; let them find you mix- 

 ing well together the liays of various qualities, that the 

 food may be rendered more palatable ; let them find you 

 inferring that as you yourselfrelish changes in diet, so 

 they loo may like to have their fodder sometimes varied ; 

 let them find you patiently dealing out their feed in 

 quantities so small that they may never be forced to 

 lake in hay that has become oflensively fouled by 

 their own breath. Supply them abundantly with water 

 — good water. Keep them dry and clean. Feed them 

 too with animal magnetism — that is, elbow-grease,— that 

 is, the curry-comb. It is cheap food, contributing to 

 comfort, thrift and good ajipearance. Treat tlieiii with 

 gentleness, supply them diligently with good food and 

 drink, keep them comfortable — and ihen the earof faitli 

 will daily hear the voice of Him who speaks through 

 the speechless brute, saying " I will repay." The laws 

 of the Immutable will never permit a man to prosperin 

 his flocks who has no heart for them — no sympathies 

 with them — no fondness for them — no devotion to their 

 conif.rt and wants. — The dull eye, the doivn-benl head, 

 the up raised back, the projecting hips, llie hedge-hog 

 hairs, and the dung-hound hide, of ilie half-starved and 

 half-frozen beast, will all find tongues by which the In- 

 visible will »ny to the merciless owner, in startling tones, 

 " 1 will repay." 



COMMON SCHOOLS. 



Though common, these humble seminaries are mighty 

 agents : they ore the lever which has raised New Eng- 

 land to her high position. Much as we are indebted to 

 colleges, academies, and other similar in'>tiliitions, we 

 owe more — inestimably more — to common schools. Open- 

 ing their doors to all, sowing the seeds of learning broad- 

 cast over the land, their conlribuiions to intelligence, 

 and consequently to prosperity and enjoyment, though 

 bestowed in small portions lo each, yet in the aggregate 

 swell to a vast amount. From these primary assemblies, 

 ooze out the nils, which commingling form the streams 

 that are ever washing out our moral and political stains. 

 Slop the flowings of these waters, and our fair land 

 would fast blacken with ignorance, vice and crime. 

 Liberty would lose her richest nourishment, philanthro- 

 py her most invigorating draughts, Christianity her in- 

 valuable supplies. 



Christians, philanlhropisis, patriots — cherish these 

 nurseries of the mind and heart of the next generation. 

 Place them so high that the children of the rich shall 

 be sent here to meet and mingle with those of the poor; 

 here let all classes early take lessons in republican equal- 

 ly ; let ihe children of the wealthy heie learn in early 

 life that they are being trained up fi:)r scenes in which 

 the must industrious, the most intellectual, the most de- 

 serving are lo be at the head of the class; here let the 

 poor boy learn that when he outstrips the rich man's 

 son in the race of le.irning or moral excellence, that the 

 prize of distinction or approbation will be bestowed up- 

 on himself. 



Farmers, these schools are inv.tliiable lo your chil- 

 dren and to your country. Few higher duties rest upon 

 you than that of lending wise, generous and constant 

 aid to the school in your own district; notice and en- 

 courage the teacher ; by precept and example influence 

 all parents to send their children to the school; supply 

 your children well with books ; let them be at school in 

 season, and constant in attendance; help cheerfully to 

 make the house comfortable. These points are all of 

 them important; each is worthy of serious thoughts ; 

 and when well considered in all their bearings and influ- 

 ences, you cannot fail to see that faith in our country's 

 future eminence and true greatness must rest mainly 

 upon the efficiency and high character of the common 

 school. 



AGRICULTURAL MEETING AT THE STATE 

 HOUSE. 



On the evening of Thursday last about two hundred 

 gentlemen met in the Representative's Hall, for the pur- 

 pose of conference upon agricultural subjects. When 

 the meeting had been called to order, and a chairman 

 and secretary pro, tern, had been chosen, the Agricultu- 

 ral Commissioner addressed the meeting for about an 

 hour. Our position in the house was unfivorable for 

 taking notes, but as far as we recollect, he compared the 

 condition of New England farmers, with the tillers of 

 the soil in various other parts of the world, and main- 

 tained that we have abundant reason for gratitude and 

 contentinenl : contentment with what Providence and 

 society have done for us, though not with out own ad- 

 vancement in the science and art of husbandry. 



Dr C. T. Jackson was invited to favor tha meeting 

 with some account of the soil of Ike Islands iu Winne- 

 pisiogee lake, so famous for its pjoiluce of corn. In his 

 opinion, this soil is not nalur^ally of greater li^rlility than 

 that of many other spots in New England. Favorable 

 position, plentiful ma:i!4ring, and careful tillage, produce 

 the extraordinary results. One fiict was disclosed by 

 him of wbiQ^>y,e \y.ero i^qoraint ;. which is, that the mir- 



