30 MR. proctor's address. 



he there finds it forestalled by the products of the valleys 

 beyond the mountains, — where the fields are waiting to 

 be sown, and the forests of hundreds of years, have en- 

 riched them to overflowing. How can the farmer here 

 compete with the farmer there, in raising pork, with corn 

 at one dollar per bushel ; — when there it can be obtain- 

 ed at one quarter part of this sum, and when raised it 

 can be transported to our market at one quarter of a cent 

 per pound ? And so with wheat, with corn, and many 

 other articles on which the farmer used to rely for his 

 income, and for raising the means tor paying for his lands. 

 For so it is that most of those at the age of fifty, who 

 are found to be in the possession of their own acres, in 

 the most thriving condition, have purchased these acres 

 with their own earnings. In the agricultural, as in the 

 trading community, property will not adhere that is not 

 cemented by labor. The young man, therefore, who 

 sets out to be a farmer, must look about him and see 

 how farming can be supported. What kind of crops 

 there are that will pay for themselves, and something 

 more. He must so manage as to make both ends meet. 

 I cannot too strongly urge upon him the necessity of 

 keeping accurate minutes of what he does ; — and of 

 making exact estimates of the result of his labors and 

 experiments. Nothing is more detrimental to good hus- 

 bandry than uncertain conjectures. Though the result 

 of our operations may not correspond with our wishes 

 or expectations, we should not close our eyes upon the 

 facts. Truth, exact truth, will ever support itself and 

 him who cherishes it. I would not by any means dis- 

 courage the farmer in his labors by these suggestions ; 

 but would exhort him to vary his culture ; look about 

 him for a market ; select such articles for cultivation as 

 the demand requires ; so that when driven from one po- 

 sition, he may have another of more security in reserve. 

 Those are said to be the wisest commanders in war who 

 make certain a safe retreat. 



The implements and tools to be used by the farmer 

 demand much more attention than is usually given to 

 them. The difference between the application of labor 



