lose his common sense, his prudence and his judg- 

 ment, whenever he takes up an agricultural paper or 

 opens a book upon husbandry ? Cannot one make 

 himself acquainted with the doings of others without 

 losing his power to judge whether it v/ould be well 

 for him, in his circumstances, to copy their examples ? 

 Our brains are not so weak as this. The knowledge 

 acquired from books does not make us all mad. But 

 if it did, there would be more zest and true enjoyment 

 in the learning mad-man's course, than in that of 

 him who has learned out, and who thinks that books 

 cannot make him wiser. I asked what book-fanxir 

 ing is ? Common book-farming is learning by 

 means of books, new facts, opinions, results of ex- 

 periments, modes of operation, and the using such 

 parts of the information as can be turned to profitar 

 ble account in our individual situations. If this be 

 folly, we are content to be called fools. An agricul- 

 tural paper will be worth to you every month, if not 

 every week, more than its annual cost, 



I have a few words for the farmers' wives. How- 

 ever skilful, industrious, and prudent your husbands 

 may be, their success in money making depends as 

 much upon you as upon them. Economy and skill 

 on your part, in turning every thing to the best ac- 

 count, are essential to profitable husbandry. Per-r 

 haps there is scope for study, experiments, and 

 improvement in your departments. All are not 

 equally successful in the management of the dairy. 

 Poor pastures, poor cows, poor cellars, are the alledg- 

 ed reasons for the difference in results. These 

 things undoubtedly are often the causes of failure to 



