No. 4. 



Dr. Darlington's Address. 



127 



It is true, that some degree of observation, 

 some portion of the faculties of perception 

 and comparison, is requisite for the purpose 

 in question : but I would fain hope that such 

 an objection will not be offered by any one 

 who occupies the position g.nd appreciates 

 the responsibilities of an American farmer. 

 Sure I am, it will never proceed from such 

 as are worthy of that high calling. Let us, 

 then, while we are enriching our lands, and 

 striving to improve the management of our 

 crops, let us resolve to become acquainted 

 with all the objects which demand our care 

 and attention. Let us study the history and I 

 the character of every product which affects 

 our interests, and learn to distinguish, with 

 intelligence and skill, between those which 

 deserve to be fostered, and those which 

 ought to be' excluded or expelled. I would 

 furthermore add, that while the farmer is 

 devoting his efforts to the primary objects of 

 fertilising the soil, and ascertaining the best 

 systems of culture, he should never disregard 

 the injunctions of good taste, in planning 

 his fields, planting his trees, and otherwise 

 beautifying his premises. Beauty and profit 

 are by no means incompatible in agriculture: 

 they, in fact, go hand in hand. The farm 

 which is laid out with the most skill — which 

 is under the highest culture, and the clear- 

 est of weeds, is not only the handsomest, 

 but, at the same time, the most valuable and 

 productive: its products are the purest, and 

 most sought after in the market. As the 

 best stock should be selected for feeding, so 

 should the best plants be cultivated, to feed 

 that stock. The worthless, or less valuable 

 portion, both of animal and vegetable pro- 

 ducts, should be made to give place to the 

 most valuable. This should be the constant 

 aim and object of the agriculturist ; and, 

 like every other earthly good, it is only to 

 be secured by continued vigilance. It must, 

 of course, be gradually attained ; but, by 

 perseverance, can certainly be accomplished. 

 The best managed farm, as I liave said, will 

 ever be tlie handsomest. The amount of 

 indispensable labour, on farms of a given 

 size, and in similar circumstances, is nearly 

 equal : the difference in their condition and 

 appearance, is the result of skill and taste 

 in the occupants. Our incessant study, then, 

 should be to acquire skill, and to discipline 

 our taste. Every field, when under culture, 

 should look like a garden; and when in 

 grass, should be as clean as a meadow. No 

 worthless Vv'eed should be permitted to rear 

 its head — or at least, to mature its blossoms 

 — not even in the lanes, the way-side, or the 

 corners of the fences. The skilful rotation 

 of crops, while it is most favourable to the 

 production of useful plants, aids powerfully 



in the extirpation of pernicious intruders, 

 [t is by this system that the agriculture of 

 Chester county has attained its character 

 for neatness and productiveness. Much, 

 however, remains yet to be done — even in 

 that county, and tliroughout Eastern Penn- 

 sylvania — in carrying out and perfecting 

 the system of neat and tidy farming. Slo- 

 vens are still to be found in every district, 

 where trashy weeds are permitted to usurp 

 the place of useful vegetation : but there 

 can be no doubt, that if the example of their 

 thrifty neighbours do not shame Ihem into 

 better management, the march of improve- 

 ment will soon dislodge them from their in- 

 congruous position in a prosperous commu- 

 nity. They will of necessity be compelled 

 to conform to the spirit of the age, or to 

 give place to those who feel the impetus of 

 the times. Where society is advancing, 

 and a generous competition pervades tlie 

 mass, no man can long sustain himself, who 

 is content to be a laggard in the race. 



When the best system of culture is ascer- 

 tained and established, the next thing is, to 

 adorn the premises with trees and shrub- 

 bery: but all these improvements may, and 

 should, proceed pari 2>assu. They do not 

 interfere, — and ought to commence together. 

 Moderate sized orchards, of the choicest 

 fruit, only, should be planted without delay: 

 and situations may often be advantageously 

 occupied by fruit trees, which are not so 

 well adapted to agricultural purposes. It 

 is one of the grievances of the present day, 

 that the few who take the pains to cultivate 

 good fruit, are annoyed by the marauding 

 incursions of the idle and improvident: 

 whereas, with a little attention at the proper 

 season, every family in the land might have 

 an ample supply at their own doors, of those 

 tempting delicacies which now incite the 

 rude and thoughtless to trespass on their 

 neighbours. The correction of this evil 

 would be found to be an important guard 

 and outpost, to the niinor morals of the com- 

 munity; and it can only be effectually ac- 

 complished by universal planting. 



The first leisure of the young farmer — ■ 

 especially when ne has erected a new resi- 

 dence — should be employed in laying out a 

 neat yard and garden, and in planting his 

 truit and shade trees with appropriate care 

 and taste. That being done, the trees and 

 shrubs will be coming on with annual in- 

 crease of beauty, shade and produce, to en- 

 hance the comforts of his rural home and 

 solace the languid hours of age and infirmity. 

 This is a duty which has been sadly ne- 

 glected, hitherto, in Pennsylvania. It is 

 really distressing to the eye of taste, to 

 witness the number of farm-houses in Q«r 



