156 Eidogium on JFU^m JVest. 



farming they pursue, admits of no alteration for the bet- 

 ter, will of course despise all information derived from 

 agricultural publications; and those who deem it a mis- 

 apphcation of time, or who are afraid that it will be 

 deemed an acknowledgment of their own inferiority to 

 go expressly to view the farms of others, will of course 

 long continue in the practices of their forefathers, how- 

 ever erroneous, and adopt all suggested improvements 

 with caution and reluctance. 



It was indicative of Mr. West's disposition to im- 

 prove, and an evidence of his freedom from prejudice, 

 that he at a very early period adopted the use of gyp- 

 sum as a manure ; conscious that he had much to learn, 

 he was always on the search for information, and he no 

 sooner heard of the beneficial effects, which had been 

 experienced from that singular substance on some of 

 the city lots, then he made further inquiry respecting it, 

 and saw and heard enough to satisfy him as to its uti- 

 lity. Without therefore hesitating as many did, because 

 he could not account for the theory of its operation, he 

 resolved upon its use. The first season convinced him 

 that it was a most important acquisition to the farmer 

 and the experience of every subsequent year confirmed 

 him in the opinion he at first had adopted. He defended 

 it against the futile and weak objection which he fre- 

 quently heard urged against it, that it acted upon vege- 

 tables like ardent spirits upon the human body, and like 

 them must finally exhaust the powers of the land : he 

 w^ould remind its opponents of the means wdiich it fur- 

 nished of adding to the vigour of the soil by means of 

 the great quantities of manure afforded by the addi- 

 tional number of cattle, which could be maintained from 



