AS AN EMPLOYMENT. 31 



engaged in the liberal professions, and in mercantile busi- 

 ness, are not only accustomed to do the like, but their 

 study is in a measure restricted to their particular calling. 

 The agriculturist, on the contrary, may devote his even- 

 ings, or most of them, to study — to the improvement of 

 his mind — to the acquisition of useful knowledge. He 

 may devote three hours out of the twenty-four to study, 

 without infringing upon his necessary business, or fatiguing 

 his mind, or impairing his health. This is allowing eight 

 hours for sleep, ten for labor, and three for contingencies. 

 What profession is there, which, if well conducted, gives 

 a larger portion of time to the acquisition of general 

 knowledge ? And what a scope of usefulness may be 

 embraced by these studies ! The properties of the soils 

 which give him bread and meat — their adaptation to par- 

 ticular crops — the cause of their deterioration — the modes 

 of renovating or increasing their fertility — by farm ma- 

 nures, by lime, gypsum, marl, and by admixture of earths ; 

 by draining, irrigation, and alternating crops: — the animals 

 which are consigned to his care — their form, internal 

 structure, appropriate management ; the nature, cause, 

 and cure of their diseases ; the various foods most profit- 

 ably raised for the nourishment of the different kinds ; 

 and the best modes of preparing and feeding it : — the 

 crops which he cultivates — their relative value, their hab- 

 its, proper succession, exhausting influence upon the soil, 

 and the best modes of their management : — the agency of 

 air, heat, light, and moisture in preparing vegetable food, 

 in the processes of vegetable nutrition and developement, 

 and the means of accelerating or retarding their agency ; 

 all these are matters which come specially within the 

 province of the agriculturist. The more knowledge he 

 has in these matters, the more likely he is to succeed. 

 His unaided observation and experience may do much ; 

 yet if to his own, he can add the observations and expe- 

 rience of hundreds of others, in his particular business, 

 as observing and intelligent as himself, he must certainly 

 be able to profit greatly by it, and to advance in improve- 

 *nent. 



Labor is in no wise incompatible with study ; but, on 



