318 



NEW ENGLA^T) F.\IIMER. 



July 



found that just enough to make a barely pur- 

 ple tinge on the water used lor syringing is ef- 

 leetudl in destroying most inseets. If one dose 

 does not do, try another the next day. Bet- 

 ter use alight dose twice, than one heavy one, 

 which kills plants and inseets both. — Gurdtn- 

 er''s Monthly. 



For the New England Farmer, 

 SPBCIA-IiTIES IN" FARMING. 



It is usual for agricultural writers to urge 

 the importance to farmers of cultivating a va- 

 riety of crops, and rai^ing a variety of do- 

 mestic animals, so that if one kind fails or 

 does poorly, some other may yield so good re- 

 turns as to compensate for this partial failure. 



Doubtless such advice in the main is good ; 

 but, it seems to me, that specialties in farming 

 are no less important than in other depart- 

 ments of industry. I mean by this, that if a 

 farmer lives in a favorable section for orchard- 

 ing, for instance, and has a taste for it, he 

 should devote his attention, especially, to the 

 raising of fruit, and show to all around him 

 ■what is possible to be done in this direction 

 by one who understands his business. Not 

 that he should neglect to raise other crops ; 

 but while he does other things as well or even 

 better than the majority, let no one look upon 

 his farm without receiving the impression, 

 most forcibly, that in the department of or- 

 charding, he has few equals. 



In like manner, if one chooses dairying as 

 his favorite branch of agriculture, let it be his 

 determination to so fully understand his busi- 

 ness that he shall be able to produce the 

 choicest article, and sell it at the largest profit, 

 so that his neighbors shall be stimulated to try 

 and do likewise. 



]\Jen, who thus devote their energies to the 

 attainment of superior excellence in any one 

 branch of agriculture, occupy the exalted po- 

 sition of teachers of their specialty. And 

 not a few such men to-day have a world-wide 

 reputation and influence. Who, for example, 

 interested in fine wool raising, is not familiar 

 with such names as Hammond, ^anford, Siow- 

 ell, Wright, Rich, Randall, Atwood, Camp- 

 bell, and a score of others, scarcely less noted 

 as successful sheep breeilers ? Who can meas- 

 ure the influence of such men in raising the 

 standard of excellence? No live Yankee will 

 know it to be a fact that any of these leaders 

 have produced upwards of eight pounds of 

 cleansed wool frt)m one sheep in a single year, 

 and remain satisfied with a two-pound fleece. 

 There will be a general strife, in sections 

 •where the Merino is kept, to approach as 

 nearly as possible these high standards. 



In this way are the leaders in any depart- 

 ment of agriculture great public benefactors. 

 What we need is more such men. In every 

 community where any particular branch of 

 anriculture rightfully takes the lead, there 

 should be some bold leaders, capable of teach- 



ing the masses the possibilities of attainment 

 in that department. 



And there is every inducement for one to 

 strive to be a leader and teacher in the special 

 business of his choice. In no way can he 

 hope to do so much good, or secure so good 

 pay for his services. Look at the fortunes 

 made by some of the above named gentlemen 

 as the result of their ellbrts to produce the 

 best. The best always commands a high price. 

 Whether it be the best horse or hen, the best 

 cow or sheep, — he who has it, and can prove 

 his claim, has a fortune, and deserves one. 



W^e hear much said about '■'fancy'''' animals 

 and 'fancy'''' prices, as applied to the choice 

 ones of their class and the prices they com- • 

 mand. The term is applied in reproach, and 

 often very unjustly, ^uch animals are indeed 

 "fancy" so far as suiting the fancy or taste of ' 

 every sensible man. But they are not '•fancy" 

 in the sense of unreal, for they are most real 

 — the genuine substance, — while the ordinary 

 animals of the class are only the shadow of 

 of what they should be. 



Turning again to the sheep, for an illustra- 

 tion, who will call the one that shears eight 

 pounds o\i cleansed' yiool a 'fancy''' sheep, 

 and one shearing but two pounds a practical 

 one, — a reality, a substance? And, as to 

 price, while the inferior one is dear at 7io cost, 

 the superior one is cheap at any cost ; for, 

 while the former is capable of making a rich 

 man poor, the latter, if the product of his own 

 genius, cannot fail to make a poor man rich. 



But I cannot, within proper limits, develop 

 this subject as I had intended when I com- 

 menced. I wished to dwell upon the common 

 folly of attempting to raise a crop for which 

 the climate and soil are entirely unsuited. 

 IIow often this is done because the farmer 

 makes it a principle not to buy anything he 

 can raise. He raises his own wheat though it 

 costs him twice as much as it would to jpuy 

 the same. Such a course may be wise, but I 

 fail to see it. A. B. Palmer. 



Orfordville, N. H.. April 7, 18G8. 



VARIED AGBICUIjTUKAL USDUSTRY. 

 The following remarks from the report of 

 Mr. Newton, the late Agricultural Commis- 

 sioner, indicate a wise appreciation of the 

 principles of political economy, so far as they 

 relate to labor and especially to agricultural 

 labor. 



"Excessive increase of a single product 

 tending to over supply and a reduction of 

 price, and attended with heavy expenses for 

 outward freights, and the y)urchase of all farm 

 and family supplies, burUened with costs of 

 carriage and a long line of consuming com- 

 missions, points unerringly the way to na- 

 tional poverty, and individual bankruptcy. ,, 

 A proper equilibrium of the products of in- 



