-^^^Fmff^ 





Agricolture is the most Healthf and Honorable, as it is the most Natural and Useful pursuit of Man. 



ri 



VOL. XI. 



ROCHESTER, N. Y.— JANUARY, 1850. 



NO. 1. 



OUH CAUSE AND OURSELVES. 



Every one must have observed the progress of Agri- 

 cultural Improvement during the lastTWE.vTY tears. 

 The history of no century since man left that best of 

 farm?, in which " grew every tree that was pleasant 

 to the sight and good for food," exhibits such a rational 

 and rapid progress in the art that feeds the world. 

 Farmers are fast becoming reading and thinking 

 men — they are fast laying aside old prejudices and 

 notions and signs, and are beginning to realize that 

 common sense and intelligence can be as profitably 

 and as honorably employed in cultivating a farm — an 

 orchard — a garden — or in caring for the creatures 

 ovtr which God has given man dominion — as in any 

 other pursuit of life. The appearance of farms and 

 houses, barns and stables, gardens and orchards, in 

 almost every neighborhood, proclaim this improve- 

 ment, ill language not to be misunderstood by the 

 most careless observer. The slovenly, ill-managed, 

 unproductive farm of other years, has been succeeded 

 by one that is both a source of pride and profit to its 

 possessor. The barns and dwellings whose loose 

 boards were shaken like reeds by the wind, have 

 given place to others that afford safety to the crops 

 and comfort to the inmates. The "yard," so un- 

 sightly to behold, — the receptacle of refuse and 

 rubbish, has in many cases been transformed into 

 the flower-garden, or lawn, delighting the beholder 

 with beauty and fragrance, and denoting the im- 

 proved taste and increased happiness of the owners. 

 This progress in agriculture is doing much to 

 improve the unstable and roving disposition of our 

 people. A well kept garden and orchard, next to 

 wife and children, gives home its charm. To him 

 who loves his garden, or orchard, or farm, every 

 plant — every tree, — is a friend with whom he 

 communes. He has watched over its infancy — 

 supported it in its weakness - - given food in the time 

 of need, and water when it was parched with thirst. 

 He has curbed its disposition to ramble, and under 

 his guidance it has grown up with a fine form and 

 good habits. In return, it has poured into his lap its 

 otTering of gratitude. It has delighted hiin with its 

 beauty and fragrance ; and, as if this was not enough, 

 it is daily inviting him to partake of its fruits. A 

 man who thus erects Nature's temple around his home, 

 and worships ner there, will not be apt to relinquish 

 those pleasures for a "netv home" in a strange land, 

 or the gold of California ; and should stem duty 

 ever compel! him to desert the much loved spot, it 



will be dear to his memory. He will often say in 

 spirit — 



" An exile from home, splendor dazzles in vain. 

 And I sigh for my lonely thatched cottage again." 



This gratifying improvement has been effected 

 in a great degree by the Agricultural and Horticul- 

 tural periodicals. And we think we can with pro- 

 priety say that the Genesee Farmer has done its 

 share of the work. It.s low price has given it an 

 unprecedented circulation, and thrown it into thou- 

 sands of families where light was needed. The 

 ability of its writers and correspondents, who are 

 practical men, have given it a reputation as"a reliable 

 Farmer's Journal. This, together with its conve- 

 nient form for binding, has secured it a place in 

 almost every Farmers Library. 



Our present volume we intend to make more 

 attractive and more valuable. We shall endeavor 

 particularly to improve our Youth's Departme--»t. 

 We shall endeavor to interest, and while interesting, 

 instruct the Youth. 



Parents should teach their children to love and 

 practice gardening. It will learn them system and 

 order, patience and hope : it will give strength to 

 the body and the mind : it will improve the head and 

 the heart. It will teach them self-reliance — that 

 success is the reward of industry and perseverance, 

 while failure is the result of negligence. It will 

 teach them to 



'* Look from \aturo up to Nature's God." 

 What affords pleasure like visiting the scene of our 

 childhood, and there beholding, growing in majesty and 

 pride, the trees we planted in our childish glee. 

 What music so sweet as the shouting of the tempest 

 in their lofty tops. 



We shall endeavor to enforce this duty in otir 

 Ladies' Department, as also to urge upon our fair 

 readers the necessity of devoting a portion of their 

 own time to gardening. It will not only afford 

 pleasure, but health. It will furnish the luxuries — 

 the poetry of life, and the l.ealth essential to their 

 enjoyment. . Work among your flowers and plants 

 every day during the season ; it is the best cosmetic 

 in the world — it will drive away that sallow, billious 

 look. It will give you a cr Jor more beautiful, more 

 lasting than rose or carmini'. It will send the glow 

 of health to the cheek, and ,oy to the heart. 



With these few remarKs n the progress of the 

 CAUSE in which we are engaged, and ourselves in 

 particular, we wish our friends a Happy IS'ew Year. 



