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Vol. 9. 



ROCHESTER, N. Y. — NOVEMBER, 1848. 



Ho. 11. 



THE GEK13SEE FARMER: 



Issued on (he first of each month, at Rochester, N. Y., by 



D. D. T. MOOHE, PROPRIETOR. 



DANIEL LEE & D. D. T. MOORE, Editors. 



p. BARRY, Oondnctor of Horticultural Department. 



FIFTY CENTS A YEAR: 

 Five copies for $2, and any larger number at the same rate, 

 if directed to indiTiduals. Eight copies for $.3, if only directed 

 to one person — and any larger number, addressed in like man- 

 ner, at the same rate. All subscriptions payable in advance, 

 and to cor.imence with the voUime. (/ij= Back numbers sup- 

 plied to new subscribers. 



Agricultural Heading. 



It is far easier to read good writing on agri- 

 cultural subjects than to write good reading on 

 the same. We make no pretensions to the latter 

 gift ; and generally aim at what we say on paper 

 to awaken thought, research, and a laudable de- 

 sire to improve. As rea.soning, intellectual 

 beings, the four millions of laboring farmers in 

 the United Spates, have derived very little benefit 

 from the art of printing, and their ability to 

 read the recorded experience, and understand 

 the dearly bought knowledge of the most skilful 

 agriculturists in the world. This neglect to turn 

 the noble art of printing, the power to read, 

 reason and impiove, to the most useful account, 

 is at once a serious private loss, and a great pub- 

 lic misfortune. The evil is plain, palpable, and 

 confessed by every well informed person. But 

 how is it to be removed ? That is the question 

 of questions with those that would banish all 

 prejudice an 1 gi'oss ignorance, all stupid indif- 

 ference from the popular mind ; and substitute 

 in their place cultivated reason, sound morality, 

 and an undying effort to make themselves and 

 the world in which they live, wiser, better and 

 happier than ever before. 



Deeply impressed with the belief that Printing 

 and Reading were the most available means to 

 improve both the soil and its cultivators, we 

 early began to use the Press as a medium through 

 which to arouse the farmers of the country to 

 the importance of educating every child, of 

 creating a taste for good books, and of striving 

 themselves to "teach one another," by writing for 

 agricultural journals. The longer we study our 

 system of persuading plain, common sense men 

 to " teach one another," in the pages of an ex- 

 ceedingly cheap periodical, like the Genesee 

 Farmer, the more valuable and feasible does the 

 plan appear for instructing and elevating the 

 thousands and millions wlio really need the 

 advantage of additional information and of men- 



tal culture. Common, practical farmers, best 

 understand the language, dit^culties, feelings 

 and interests of their own class — men surrounded 

 by circumstances and influences that bear nearly 

 alike on all American husbandmen. So far 

 this scheme has operated admirably. The Far- 

 mer has become one of the nnost popular jour- 

 nals of the day ; and bids fair soon to stand 

 without a rival in the extent of its circulation 

 and usefulness. 



In looking over the volumes for 184.5, 6 and 7, 

 we find them full of practical information on 

 almost every subject that belongs either to a^-ri- 

 culture or horticulture. A'' not a volume of 

 this work, now twenty years along in its endu- 

 ring race, will ever be again in type, so soon as 

 young farmers begin to feel a little professional 

 pride in their noble calling, and to collect libra- 

 ries, these records of the early agricultural lit- 

 erature of the Empire State, will become ob- 

 jects of lively interest. So far as the publisher 

 can supply the back volumes, those who have 

 them not, will do well to secure a set while they 

 can. We have no interest in the matter, other 

 than the good which it is believed the contribu- 

 tions of so many able pens will do if read and 

 heeded. It is compensation enough for us to 

 feel a strong assurance that American agricul- 

 ture will, at no distant epoch in our national 

 history, stand in advance of that of all other 

 nations on the globe. American Intellect, when 

 once foirly aroused on the subject of rural 

 sciences and practical improvements, will find 

 ways and means to found and maintain all need- 

 ful agricultural schools, for the gratuitous devel- 

 opment of the mind of every child that is ex- 

 pected to cultivate a rood of ground. This re- 

 sult will be achieved. 



Reading and reasoning, thinking and acting, 

 are rapidly changing the whole face of the 

 civilized world. Who does not sympathise with 

 the fitful throbs, the mighty heavings of the big 

 heart of Humanity ? It is a spark of the Divinity 

 that glows in the human bosom ; and no earthly 

 power can extinguish the expanding flame. 

 Let all'injustice, all wrong-doers, fear and trem- 

 ble at the certain triumph of printing, reading 

 and thinking. Such as persist in refusing to 

 read, study, and improve the inner man, will 

 travel in the footsteps of those tribes of untutored 

 savages who have become exti net on this continent 

 because they despised the admonitions of culti- 

 vated Reason. However successfully we may 

 keep good books out of our own hands, and 

 useful knowledge 'out of our own heads,, we- 



