PRACTICAL FARMER, 



19 



matter than the farmer himself. It may be assert- 

 ed, that few professional men, who are zealously 

 and successfully engaged in their several pursuits, 

 have more hours to devote to the acquisition of 

 general knowledge of a useful kind, than the far- 

 mer. All that is wanting is the taste for knowl- 

 edge — and this taste is usually an acquired one 

 — and the means of information will follow as a 

 matter of course. Papers, periodicals, books, are 

 all so plentiful and so cheap, and information on 

 most topics has been so condensed, that to plead 

 want of means, or want of time, for the acquisi- 

 tion of knowledge, in sealing our condemnation 

 ■with our own hand. True, a farmer must work, 

 and work hard — to labor is his glory, and in it he 

 finds his reward. The free laborer who tills his 

 own farm, has a prouder patent of nobility, and 

 can trace a longer pedigree, than any monarch- 

 made race of peers on earth ; but he must never 

 be ashamed of his calling, or ape the follies or 

 vices of those who ridiculously deem themselves 

 above him. 



Mem. Always to perform whatever I under- 

 take. The celebrated John Hunter, towards the 

 close of his life, was asked how he had been able 

 to accomplish so much labor. He replied, "by 

 always performing what I undertook. If an ob- 

 ject presented itself to me as desirable to be ac- 

 complished, I first inquired whether it could be 

 done — if it was necessary it should be done — 

 and these two points once settled, the conclusion 

 was I could do it as well as any one else, and by 

 perseverance it was done." This is the true course 

 to be pursued by the farmer. Only let him de- 

 termine what is indispensable, and necessary to 

 success in any farming operation, and he will rare- 

 ly fail. The object and the means of attaining it 

 should be distinct in the mind, and these should 

 be unhesitating'y pursued. Perseverance has 

 wrought wonders in the farming world, and its 

 efficiency is not by any means lost. The most 

 highly cultivated parts of Europe, were consider- 

 ed as hopelessly barren ; and our country exhibits 

 some more honorable examples of what skill and 

 determined industry can accomplish. 



Mem. Always to pay particular attention to 

 the garden. Home farmers, by their continued 

 borrowing, seem to believe in the maxim, that 

 "good neis:hhors are half one's living" but this I 

 would have apply lo my garden. If properly se- 

 lected, well manured, and carefully planted and 

 tended, a garden plat of half an acre will half 

 support a moderate family. The garden forms a 

 place into which a thousand scraps of time can be 

 profitably cast, and health and pleasure be, as they 

 unhappily not often are, combined. Flowers may 

 be called the poetry of the fixrnj, and they are so 

 closely allied, that he who loves not both of them, 

 may be said to have but half a heart, and the wo- 

 man who neglects them is — is unpardonable. 



Mem. Never to suffer the season of gathering 

 and securing seeds to pass, without laying in suf- 

 ficient quantity for my own use, of the very best 

 of all the necessary kinds than can be procured. 

 It costs but little trouble at the time ; it enables 

 you to be certain of the kind and quality ; and 

 when the season of planting or sowing arrives, 

 saves you an infinite deal of vexation and trouble 

 in looking them up. The governing maxim of 

 him who would be a thrifty fiirmer, so far as 

 concerns what can profitably be raised on his own 

 farm, must be — always to sell, never to buy. 



Mem. Always to pay particular attention to the 

 boundary fences of the farm; certainly to those 

 which serve as division fences between me and my 

 neighbors. It can hardly be questioned that two 

 thirds of the difficulties and hard feelings which 

 exist amoHj,' neighbors spring from this very 

 source. A law suit and a protracted quarrel has 

 been bequeathed to a third generation in conse- 

 quence of a single neglected rail. This source of 

 contention may be stopped in the very bud, by a 

 little attention to the fences early in the season, 

 and occasional repairs as they are required. If a 

 man was to judge by the condition of the fences 

 on many farms, by the top rails fallen off and ly- 

 ing rotting in the grass, by the unruly cattle, sheep, 

 and horses, that seem to have taken undisputed 

 possession, he would arrive at the conclusion that 

 the owner thought it beneath him to pick up a rail, 

 replace a post, or pile a few stones, that may have 

 fallen down. Many farmers adojjt a course, of all 

 others the best adapted to make their animals un- 

 ruly and troublesome. If a few rails get down, or 

 a top bar or two falls, instead of making a thor- 

 ough repair of the damage at once, they go to 

 work by piece-meal, adding a rail or bar at a time, 

 giving their cattle and colts the very practice ne- 

 cessary to enable them to obtain perfection in 

 jumping; a practice which rarely fails of complete 

 success. It may be laid down as a maxim, that 

 one unruly ox or horse, or even sheep, when not 

 confined, but allowed to run at large or with the 

 stock on the farm, will occasion more damage dur- 

 ing a season than they are worth ; not to speak of 

 the vexation and loss of time they produce. The 

 only safe place for an unruly horse is a stable ; 

 the only fit place for a troublesome ox or sheep is 

 the slaughter house. 



Mem. "Never to put off till to-morrow what 

 what may as well be done to-day." This maxim, 

 if acted up to, would prevent an infinite deal of 

 trouble. Pure laziness, or pure carelessness are 

 continually prompting us to take our ease and let 

 the world slide ; and in no sphere of life does the 

 indulgence of this disposition to jn'ocrastinate pro- 

 duce more injurious effects than in that of the 

 farmer. I never knew a " time enough yet " man, 

 who was not always behind his work, and in con- 

 sequence a serious annual loss. There are some 



