THE FARMER'S CALLING. 43 



of society, dependent upon disease, disagreement and sin for 

 their bread. He sees the men of the various branches of busi- 

 ness, and sometimes regrets that he has chosen the business of 

 tilling the ground. These visions of fancy occasionally dance 

 before some farmer's eyes, and a majority of those who yield to 

 them are ruined men. 



The business of farming should not be made the stepping stone 

 to any other business ; farmers should strive to be better farmers. 

 This business is open to great improvements, and to succeed as 

 a farmer, intelligence and industry are required. A custom 

 which has prevailed in our country to a considerable extent, 

 has had a damaging effect among our farmers, — I mean the 

 custom of farmers educating their sons who are to adopt the 

 professions, and other branches of business, and neglecting such 

 sons as are intended for the farm. _ Farmers have encouraged 

 and aided their more hopeful sons to embark in lines of busi- 

 ness, and given them a liberal education, while those they 

 regarded less gifted have been less cared for, simply because 

 they proposed to make farmers of them. This may not be true 

 of any of the farmers in this society, but if it is I hope the evil 

 may be remedied. 



The business of farming requires the most extensive knowl- 

 edge, to be carried on with success. Let the boy who is to 

 become a farmer be thoroughly educated ; let him study those 

 branches which will fit him for his business, so that when he 

 becomes a farmer he can bring his knowledge of geology, 

 botany, and chemistry, to practical use. Let him know the soil, 

 and bring the same skill and learning to bear in farming, as 

 are brought to bear in some other brandies of business, and 

 these hills and valleys would fill our markets with abundance. 

 Not that I would undcr-estimate the farmers in this society, far 

 from that. Not but that you compare well with farmers 

 through the county, for you do ; but, I wish to be understood, 

 that there is room for improvement, and you are capable of 

 making that improvement. 



Every plant, and every tree, and every kernel of grain is a 

 volume of its own history ; but we are too ignorant to read it. 

 If we sliould be told that a learned and scientific farmer could 

 examine an ear of corn, and could read its history, could tell 

 how many days of sun it required to bring it to maturity, and 



