No. 4.] NEW ENGLAND AGRICULTURE. 109 



time for loafing and no means to waste on trifling indul- 

 gences. 



His plans of life having been once definitely formed, he 

 will not be easily swerved from them. A large crop with 

 small prices this year will not discourage him from raising 

 the same crop next year, unless it becomes obvious that 

 some great and permanent change in the market has taken 

 place ; and, on the other hand, if he finds a given crop 

 peculiarly profitable this year, he will not greatly enlarge 

 his operations with reference to that crop next year, be- 

 cause he will know that the strong tendencies of human 

 nature will mipel many others to do the samoi, and thus, 

 by overstocking the markets, minimize the profit to all 

 producers. 



In order to reach and occupy this high standing ground of 

 manly and contented independence, he will, as far as time 

 and means allows take pains to keep himself fully abreast 

 with the advancement of agricultural knowledo^e. He will 

 attend the meetings of the farmer's institutes, of the State 

 Board of Agriculture, of the State and county agricultural 

 and horticultural societies, — not as a passive listener, but 

 to present to his fellow farmers the best results of his own 

 experience and reflection, and to take an active part in the 

 discussions of subjects upon which he is ready either to re- 

 ceive or to give light. If he finds it impracticable to do all 

 this or any considerable part of it, he will at least keep him- 

 self acquainted w^ ith the printed proceedings of such bodies, 

 will subscribe to a few of the best periodicals, and especially 

 w^ill keep informed concerning the investigations and experi- 

 ments which are constantly under way at the agricultural 

 experiment stations, established in every State of the Union 

 and supported by the government of the United States. 

 The government spends in that way, in New England alone, 

 $90,000 every year ; and the results of this great and fruitful 

 activity are furnished to every farmer who desires them, 

 without money and without price. These investigations are 

 slowly but surely revolutionizing the business of farming, 

 and no man can stand in the front ranks of his industry or 

 profession who does not kec}) himself familiarized with the 

 best results of the work thus carried on. 



