1854. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



423 



I, too, have heard of farmers at the West get- 

 ting a living, and perhaps a surplus, by two or 

 three days' labor in a week ; in fact, I have heard 

 that some of them do not labor more than that 

 amount of time ; and in conjunction with the 

 doctor, it might form an interesting subject for 

 moralists to inquire how a major portion of their 

 time is occupied. As to the industry of people 

 from tlie cast acting as leaven among the easy 

 fanners of the West, if I am i-ightly informed, 

 the leaven generally operates the other way, and 

 nearly the whole become leavened with laziness. 



7th mo., 1854. i. s. 



PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT. 



The Agricultural Press of America is ])ecoming 

 powerful and popular, and undoubtedly accom- 

 plishing a vast amount of good — directly benefit- 

 ing the people and the country. Its weekly, semi- 

 montlily, and monthly issues, are extensively cir- 

 culated among the most enterprising and intelli- 

 gent farmers in all cultivated portions of the Un- 

 ion. Nearly every State and Territory has at 

 least one paper primaril}- devoted to the Agricul- 

 tural interest, while from New York, Massachu- 

 setts, and Ohio, emanate several agricultural and 

 horticultural journals which circulate generally — 

 a number of them having what may be termed a 

 national spiiere and influence, their readers and 

 correspondents extending from Maine to Minneso- 

 ta, and from Canada to California. 



The utility of judiciously conducted periodicals 

 devoted to tlie promotion of rural interests, is no 

 longer douljted ; for the great mass of farmers who 

 formerly ridiculed the idea of "book-farming," so 

 called, have either become convinced of their folly, 

 or sleep with those whose practices were their 

 chief guide — their fathers. Throughout the land, 

 the young and middle aged, and even the venera- 

 ble men now on the stage of action, very generally 

 concede the necessity and value of the Agricultural 

 Press, and cordially lend it substantial support 

 and warm encouragement. Many a farmer who, 

 only a few years since, could not be induced to 

 subscribe for a periodical devoted to his own busi- 

 ness, now takes, pays for, and reads from two to 

 ten agricultural papers, and considers the expense 

 a good investment. But the best and most nu- 

 merous supporters and advocates of rural litera- 

 ture, are the young men — those who have com- 

 menced farming for themselves within five or ten 

 years — and it is to this class that, more than any 

 or all others, the Agricultural Press is indebted 

 for its elevated position, and present and prospec- 

 tive prosperity. But we designed to speak of the 

 character and influence of Agricultural Journal- 

 ism, rather than of its supporters. And in these 

 respects, we conceive honor to l)e duo our contem- 

 poraries all over the land, for, as a general rule, 

 our journals are able, practical, and high toned. 

 As a whole, though comparatively young in years, 

 the Agricultural Press of America will suifer 

 nothing by comparison with the organs of any oth- 

 other interest or profession — religious, political, 

 literary or scientific. Indeed, we do not believe 

 there is an agricultural paper puljlishod in this 

 country, that is not worth far more than its sub- 

 scription price to any discriminating farmer — and 

 rarely one which would not be both safe and val- 

 uable as a family instructor on many important 



subjects. Their practical and useful character is 

 especially worthy of consideration, and aifords a 

 marked contrast with papers devoted principally 

 to political topics and ephemeral reading, and in- 

 stead of ranking next to political or literary jour- 

 nals, they ou^ht (on the principle that the useful 

 should be preferred to the ornamental, and business 

 precede pleasure,) to take precedence in the esti- 

 mation of every husbandman. 



The mission of the Agricultural journal is to in- 

 form, advise and instruct the farmer fl/i« hisfami- 

 lij, on essentials of every-day concernment, includ- 

 ing questions and practices, the elucidation and 

 discussion of which require experience, observation 

 and good judgment. It should Ije the medium of 

 communication between the best and most expe- 

 rienced cultivators, observers and investigators, and 

 the great mass of agriculturists. Earnestly aim- 

 ing to promote the best interests of community, 

 it should ever avoid and expose error and decep- 

 tion in every form. A desire to benefit tlieir fel- 

 low men — to enhance improvement, and enrich 

 the people and the country — should be, as vre trust 

 it generally is, the paramount object of agricultu- 

 ral editors. With such a purpose, and an energy 

 and zeal commensurate to the work, any and every 

 man connected with the rural Press of the coun- 

 try, can exercise a lasting influence upon the wel- 

 fare of community. The teachings of such men 

 as BuEL, Fessenden, Skinner, Gaylokd, Downing, 

 and others, did not cease with their departure 

 from earth — their "good deeds live after them," 

 and will continue to benefit mankind for centuries. 

 May their surviving contemporaries and successors 

 prove equally useful to their fellow men and the 

 country — each striving to excel in promoting the 

 good cause of rural and mental progress and im- 

 provement. — Rural New- Yorker. 



A REMEDY FOR SCARLET FEVER. 



The following cure for this malignant disease 

 is given in the Delaware Republican, by a physi- 

 cian : — 



Messrs. Editors : — You will confer a i'avoT on 

 some of your readers, at least, by publishing this 

 receipt for Scarlet Fever in all its stages, and which 

 will cure nineteen cases out of twenty, if strictly 

 attended to ; this treatment, although apparently 

 simple, you will find a sovereign remedy, and 

 will save many of your little ones from a prema- 

 ture grave, which is almost sure to follow the use 

 of calomel, which universally tends to increase 

 the disease instead of curing it. Treatment as fol- 

 lows : — Give a mild carthartic, such as castor 

 oil or some gentle pills, every two or tliree days, 

 and when there is fever present, sponge the body 

 with weak ley, and give some simple tea to pro- 

 mote a perspiration, such as catnip, sago, balm, 

 &e. ; and for the putrid symptoms give good brew- 

 er's yeast, mixed with cold water ; one tablo-spoon- 

 ful of tho former to two table-spoonfuls of the 

 latter, for children ten or twelve years old, and 

 younger ones according to age ; to bo repeated 

 from throe to five times a day ; and use as a gar- 

 gle yeast and cream or milk, equal parts, sweet- 

 ened with honey, and gargle the throat and mouth 

 frequently with it ; and if the throat is much 

 swollen, poultice with yeast and pulverized slip- 

 pery elm ; continue tho above treatment until 



