126 



Dr. Darlington'' s Address. 



Vol. IX. 



rant ; and when the wheat crop comes off, 

 apply a top dressing of lime on the young 

 Iierbagc — of clover and artificial grasses — 

 among the stubble. Proceed in this manner 

 with each small field— or so much of each 

 field as you can do justice to — in succession: 

 and in the mean time, as ability permits, 

 apply a top dressing of lime to such other 

 fields as are to remain a ?e\v years undis- 

 turbed by the plough. Let your slock be of 

 the most valuable kinds — and if they are 

 not so, go on selecting the best, until tliey 

 all become of that description ;— but keep 

 no more than can be loell kept: and so man- 

 age your stock and the vegetable products 

 of the farm, as to make the greatest possible 

 quantity of manure. Thes^e are, in brief, 

 the directions which have been found to an- 

 swer upon the worn-out lands of Chester; 

 and I presume they will prove equally suc- 

 cessful in all cases, of similar soil and cli- 

 mate. 



To enrich the land, and thereby to en- 

 hance the value of its products, is, of course, 

 the leading object of the agriculturist. To 

 this end, his studies and his labours are 

 mainly and properly directed. Eut there 

 are^ other objects demanding the attention 

 of the American farmer, which are scarcely 

 inferior in importance — whether considered 

 as auxiliaries to his prosperity, or as tending 

 to elevate his character as an intellectual 

 being, and to fit him for the station and du- 

 ties of a freeman. A farmer may be an 

 Ignorant, slovenly boor— with little more 

 mental endowments than the oxen he drives: 

 or he may be— and he ought to be— a gen- 

 tleman of enlarged views, correct intelli- 

 gence and cultivated taste. He should un- 

 derstand, not only the great leading interests 

 ot his profession, but also the economical 

 details which pertain to thrift and contribute 

 to success. He should, likewise, combine 

 with an accurate knowledge of the objects 

 of his care, a correct perception of all that 

 is calculated to enhance the symmetry and 

 beauty of his possessions. In reference to 

 economy, in agricultural management, I 

 would here notice a matter of considerable 

 importance, though surprisingly neglected 

 by many formers: I mean the preservation 

 ot agricultural implements. These should 

 never be left exposed to the weather when 

 not in use.^ Some careless farmers are in 

 the habit of leaving their ploughs, harrows, 

 rollers, and other utensils, on^'the cround'; 

 where they were last employed— bleaching 

 by the field side, or thrown into the corners 

 of the fence— where they lie rustino- and 

 rotting, untd required for the labours of the 

 ensuing year. The inevitable result of such 

 neglig'ence, js a set of imperfect, rickety I 



tools, and the necessity of speedily replacing 

 them at an inconvenient expense. The 

 man who thus manages, is sure to go behind 

 hand: his unthrift is soon remarked. His 

 more vigilant neiglibours find him a trouble- 

 some borrower — first of implements, and 

 then of money — which last, his impaired 

 credit renders it difficult for him to obtain. 

 Such has ever been the career — and such 

 will ever be the destiny of the sloven and 

 tlie slhggard. By carefully sheltering a 

 good set of farming utensils, I am satisfied, 

 from observation and experience, they will 

 endure, in good order, five times longer 

 tlian when exposed to all the destructive 

 vicissitudes of our climate. The economy 

 of the measure is, therefore, of no mean im- 

 portance. The saving of capital, as well 

 as the satisfaction of using perfect imple- 

 ments, is worthy the attention of every ag- 

 riculturist. Every vehicle, tool and imple- 

 ment, employed on a farm, should be put 

 under cover the moment we have done with 

 it. There should be a suitable place for 

 everything, and everything should be in its 

 place, so that we may certainly lay our 

 hands on it Vv'hen it is wanted, by day or by 

 night. 



Anotlicr important consideration which I 

 have often urged, but which I believe can- 

 not be too frequently pressed upon the notice 

 of the farmer, is the careful extirpation of 

 pernicious and worthless plants, and a vigi- 

 lant attention to the encroachments of all 

 weeds, having a strange or sinister aspect. 

 These cannot be too closely watched on 

 their first appearance : for a season or two 

 of neglect may allow them to gain such 

 possession of the soil, as to cause a vexa- 

 tious amount of unproductive labour, or a 

 serious depreciation in the value of the 

 farm. All worthless weeds should be kept 

 in subjection as completely as possible ; and 

 especially those of a pernicious character. 

 But in order to direct his efforts with effect, 

 the farmer should be able to distinguish the 

 most injurious, — and not, as I have some- 

 times seen him, be wasting his energies on 

 tliose which are comparatively harmless; 

 while far greater nuisances were flourishing 

 around him, unnoticed and unknown, ft 

 would be well to know the vilest intruders 

 J)y name, in order that he vnight make him- 

 self intelligible to his brother farmers ; and 

 I think every one will admit, tliat when he 

 goes forth to wage war with vegetable pests, 

 tliere would be a decided advantage in know- 

 ing them by sight! Tlie mere clodpoll, 

 who rejoices exclusively in Ihe vigor of his 

 muscles, may possibly object, that such 

 knowledge implies an exercise of brain, 

 and therefore comes not within his province. 



