10 



successful farmer, then, is one that brings to his calling an 

 ardent love for the same, and the most just conception of its 

 nature aud its duties. And he must also possess a sound, 

 healthy, physical system ; we regard this qualification as in- 

 dispensable. While we freely admit that the invalid may 

 regain his health, by gentle, moderate exercise among the 

 healthful scenes of farm life, and that the imbecile may not 

 starve on the farm so long as his inherited acres remain to 

 him, and that the gentleman farmer may do much to improve 

 his lands, and his stock, as well as for the development of 

 new methods of culture, in which all his brethren may share, 

 without putting his own hands to the plough or the hoe, — and 

 that it show^s both goodness of heart, and wisdom of the 

 mind, when the aged and the infirm retire among the scenes 

 and the associations of their youth, to spend the evening of 

 their days in peace, and the happy reflections that come from 

 a well-spent life, — still we must insist that the man who 

 must expose himself to the elements, and brave the storms of 

 winter, and bear the heat of summer ; the man who must 

 guide his plough with his own hands, and pitch his neAv mown 

 hay over the great beams without a patent fork ; the man 

 who must build his own walls, and ditch his own meadows, — 

 will need to have a strong, healthy body, well developed, well 

 trained, and under ^e?yec^ control. He needs, and must have, 

 a physical system that does not need any of your bitter drugs 

 to give a relish for its food, or a cathartic to work it oif, or 

 powerful opiates to bring sleep to his eyelids. The success- 

 ful farmer not only needs a healthy, vigorous body, but a 

 sound, well-balanced mind, with the broadest culture. Away, 

 forever away, with the notion that any ignoramus w^ill do w^ell 

 enough for a farmer, or that farming is to be prosecuted sim- 



