20 



GENESEE FARMER. 



Jan. 



^Ve coinir. -ml the sound and liberal views of 

 the dignit_v of Agriculture, and the importance 

 of learning and naaiiii^, to the practical farmer, 

 which are set forth below by a distinguished and 

 successlul '* Plow-holder." — [En. 



For the Genesee J'.'iniicr. 



To the Farmers of Western New York. 



FiCLi.ow ('iLTivAi-ORs: — The time has at last 

 arrived when the tilling of the soil is considered 

 to be the most important pursuit for social man, 

 and its cultivators az"e acknowledged to be entitled 

 to the first rank in civilized society. And it 

 will depend much upon us, and our sons, whether 

 we prove ourselves deserving of the dignified 

 station which we ought to occupy ; or whether 

 the fond hopes of the future exalted state of so- 

 ciety shall be blasted, and prove nothing but a 

 visionary dream. 



Our avocation is more complicated, and requires 

 more perseverance, knowledge and skill, to be- 

 come master of it, than any other human pursuit; 

 yet it has too generally been considered the easiest 

 of all callings to acquire. But it is cheering to 

 know, that that fatal delusion is fast vanishing, 

 and that the tillers of the clay are beginning to 

 realize that it is necessary for them to have 

 knowledge — to possess skill — to be industrious 

 and econoiiiical — to enable them to be successful 

 in their laudable pursuit. Our profession con- 

 sists of two parts, very distinct and dilT'erent from 

 each other, but both equally essential for the 

 farmer to know, if he wishes to be deserving of 

 the honorable appellation of being a farmer. 

 The one is the operative or practical part, which 

 is more multifarious, and requires more experi- 

 ence and skill, to be master of it, than any of the 

 mechanical arts. 



The farmer has to lead and to drive the team — 

 to hcjld the plough — to use the axe, the hoe, the 

 fork and rake — to swing the scythe and cradle — 

 to load, mow, and thresli the grain — to plant and 

 sow, and numerous other things, all and each one 

 of which require much time, perseverance and 

 toil, to become master of them. Yet it is neces- 

 sary tliat they should all be learned to a degree 

 of perfection, to be a good jjractical operator — 

 which makes it so necessary for each one who 

 intends to be a farmer, to commence in early life. 

 And mucli will depend iq)on the judgment and 

 skill of the instructoi", Jis to the proficiency that 

 the pupil will make. 



VVhen boys first commence work, too much 

 care and pains cannot be taken to teach them the 

 riglit way to handle their tools, and learn to do 

 their work well. It is !i very common practice, 

 and a very injurious one, to stimulate boys (to 

 be what is called smai't,) to pass quickly over 

 their business. First learn them to do things 

 righf, and i/^'^ll. anfl then to be expeditious. When 

 boys acquire careless and slovenly habits, in per- 

 forming their work, it is very difficult to break 

 them of it. 



The second part, which is known as the theo- 

 ratical, or scientific part of Agriculture, viz : — 

 the knowledge which directs us in all our various 

 operations, and enables us to judge what it is best 

 for us to do, and how to do it so as to secure the 

 greatest amount of products from their labor, 

 which is called the skill of the farmer, but cor- 

 I'ectly speaking, it ish'm scientijic knoicled^e. It 

 is equally necessary for him to learn this as it is 

 to understand the operative ])art, and it is very 

 much to be regretted that this essential part of 

 farmer's instructions has heretofore been so much 

 neglected. 



No human pursuit — no scientific profession — 

 is so complicated and intricate, nor requires the 

 extent of knowledge and expansion of mind, as 

 the knowledge of the cultivation of the earth, 

 and its productions. Yet this is the knowledge 

 necessary for the farmer to know ; but the ques- 

 tion may be asked, •' how are we to acquire this 

 knowledge ?" Youth is the time to learn, but 

 there are not any of us too old to improve. 



There are various means of acquiring agri- 

 cultural knowledge. First by experimenting on, 

 and carefully observing the productions of the 

 soil, the growth of Plants and Animals, their 

 wants and necessities — the food best adapted to 

 supply their wants — and the adaptation of the va- 

 rious soils to produce said food. But thi^! knowl- 

 edge, which is so very necessary for every jarnier 

 to acquire, would be very limited if confined to 

 each individual alone ; his life would be far spent 

 before he could know much. 



Secondly, knowledge can be obtained by inter- 

 changing ideas with each other. This is useful- 

 It gives each individual the benefit of his neigh- 

 bors knowledge and experience, and by compar- 

 ing views with each other, it enables us to cor- 

 rect the errors which all are liable to fiill into. 

 But when this source is very limited ; few of 

 our leisure hours can be spent in conversation, 

 and when they are it is fre(iuently too hurried to 

 be remembered. 



Thirdly, reading is a valuable and extensive 

 source for obtaining agricultural knowledge, and 

 especially when it is united with the two former 

 — all leisure hours can thus be employed with- 

 out bodily exercise ; and your memories can be 

 refreshed at leisure. 



But I am awai'e that many of you believe that 

 no useful agricultural knowledge can be acquired 

 from Books and .Journals, which is a very great 

 mistake. What are liooks and Journals, l)Ut the 

 opinions of men put on paper 1 and what can 

 they lose in value for being printed, because 

 you find things in print which you do not approve, 

 or views different from your own? That is no 

 reason why you should condem themn and cease 

 to read. You and your neighbors frequently 

 disagree relative to your most intimate pursuits, 

 but you do not therefore condemn discussions 

 and cease to converse. Yet the one would be 



