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NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



July 



they are about fit to be transposed into monkeys 

 — the infant never likes it — the unsophisticated 

 and unperverted hate it. Not so with fruit. Man 

 in his normal state likes it ; his relish is not ac- 

 quired — God gave it to him. Physicians have 

 given repeated and emphatic testimony as well 

 to the nutritive qualities of fruit as to its emin- 

 ently healthful character. Men who deemed pills 

 essential to life have found in multitudes of cases 

 a pleasant substitute in fruit. Its free use would 

 be preventive of indigestion, headache, dyspepsia, 

 (my readers will find a complete list of the com- 

 plaints in the patent advertisements,) and I take 

 it for granted that when these diseases are cured, 

 melancholy and suicides will cease ; quarrels and 

 wars be done away with ; and peace on earth and 

 good will to men prevail. — Rural New-Yorker. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 AGRICULTUBE IN COMMON SCHOOLS. 



A common school education is deemed of great 

 importance, and the branches here taught should 

 be of practical utility. Among these no one will 

 rank higher than a knowledge of the elementary 

 principles of agriculture. If these are taught in 

 our common schools, impressions will be made on 

 the minds of youth highly salutary to their future 

 usefulness and happiness. They will be likely to 

 engage in agricultural pursuits, and deem the 

 employment of the husbandman the most honor- 

 ble and useful of all ; and when this is the case, 

 the earth will bud and blossom as the rose, and 

 under the smile of a merciful Providence peace 

 and plenty will be the common lot of man. 



Considerable efforts are being made at the 

 present day to elevate the standard of common 

 school education. But it is unpopular to say much 

 on the importance of instructing youth in the el- 

 ementary principles of agriculture. Books on al- 

 most all other branches are introduced into our 

 schools and highly extolled. But an elementary 

 book on the subject of agriculture is hardly 

 named, or if named, is said to be out of place ; 

 and a distaste is impressed on the minds of 

 youth against rural and agricultural pursuits. 

 This proves highly detrimental to their future 

 usefulness and happiness. How many young 

 men and young women scorn the idea of living a 

 farmer's life ? With them, some profession or 

 some splendid residence in a city is preferred to 

 a rural dwelling-place in the country, where the 

 mental and physical powers may be cultivated, 

 and where health and happiness may be enjoyed 

 so far as it is for the good of man in this world. 

 Will not the true friends of a good practical com- 

 mon school education discuss this subject through 

 the medium of the press, and give all classes of 

 people to understand the importance of introduc- 

 ing elementary books of agriculture into our 

 common schools ? John Wilcox. 



Xewport, N. H., 1858. 



Pepper. — Pepper is an almost universal con- 

 diment. Black pepper irritates and inflames the 

 coatings of the stomach, red pepper does not ; it 

 excites but does not irritate, consequently it 

 should be used instead of black pepper. It was 

 known to the Romans, and has been in use in 

 the East Indies from time immemorial, as it cor- 



rects that flatulence which attends the large use 

 of vegetable food. Persons in health do not 

 need any pepper in their food. But to those of 

 weak and languid stomach, it is manifold more 

 healthful to use cayenne pepper at meals than 

 any form of wine, brandy or beer that can be 

 named, because it stimulates without the reac- 

 tion of sleepiness or debility. — UalVs Journal of 

 Health. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 TOWN AND COUNTRY. 



Mr. Editor : — I believe it is Cowper who says, 

 "God made the country, and man made the 

 town." This does not appear to me to be strictly 

 true ; or, if it be true, it is to be understood with 

 certain limitations ; for, in both places, we are 

 alike surrounded by the works of God and man. 

 In the country, we see more of nature in its sim- 

 plicity, adaptation and loveliness, less perverted 

 by the artifices of man ; whereas, in the city, the 

 eye is limited to some narrow spot by streets and 

 walls of massive brick and stone. Men and their 

 arts appear in greater number and force in cities ; 

 but the hand of rural art and labor renders the 

 country the most picturesque and charming to 

 the eye of the beholder. In both situations, men 

 are toiling for gain and subsistence, but with this 

 difference ; in the city, they depend upon shrewd 

 bargains or upon their mechanical skill ; but, in 

 the country, upon the direct returns of their la- 

 bor in the products of the soil. As the inhabi- 

 tants of the country deal more directly with their 

 Creator, there is more constancy and security in 

 their gains, though they seldom accumulate great 

 fortunes. 



It is often asked whether life in the country or 

 in the city is, on the whole, most favorable to the 

 formation of the Christian character ; the pursuit 

 of true wisdom, virtue and holiness.? It Is not 

 my purpose to answer this question directly. It 

 is sufficient to say, that in both situations, there 

 is room for moral and intellectual improvement, 

 where there is a disposition. He who lives among 

 the crowds of the city, frequently ascribes to 

 their example his own vices ; and he who lives in 

 the retirement of the country, often refers his 

 rudeness to want of better opportunities. In both 

 situations, we are required to do an honest man's 

 earnest work, and to secure our own happiness 

 by a virtuous course of conduct. 



It appears to me, that, whether we live In the 

 country or in the city, we should remember we 

 are progressive beings, and endeavor to make 

 some progress, not only in our characters, but in 

 our business pursuits. There are some people, 

 with whom a whole century produces no visible 

 change for the better. They make no improve- 

 ments in their style of doing business, or in any 

 thing else. They seem to be the very type of 

 conservatism — immovable in the midst of inces- 

 sant change. If in the country, they remain on 

 the old homestead, and retain all their acres. 

 from generation to generation. To sell one o{ 

 their hundred acres, would be a downright dese- 

 cration, though they do not properly cultivate a 

 hundredth part. If they live in the city, theii 

 minds seem to have been stereotyped with all tht 

 old notions which prevailed before the flood. 

 John Goldsbury. 



