2^ TRAXSACTIOICS 



policy of the farmer, who would grow a crop, without knowing 

 whether the elements of that crop are in his soil. 



He should also, understand the science of manures. He must 

 know their different qualities, and what it is in a given manure, that 

 gives it its chief value. This alone will enable him, to prepare his 

 compost-heap, so as to supply the wants of his soil, and his crops, to 

 the best advantage. There are store-houses of manures, or rather 

 divisors of manure ; on almost every farm, and the educated farmer 

 Avill know how to make the best use of the muck swamp, the leaf 

 deposits of the forest, the clay, or the sand bank, the lime rock, or 

 the deposit of marl. When the requisites of his crops are not to be 

 found, on his own premises, he will know how to supply the defi- 

 ciency from abroad, at the least expense. 



He must also be acquainted with the laws of reproduction, both 

 among plants and animals. Without this, he will not feel the im- 

 portance of procuring the best stock, or the best seeds for his farm, 

 or how to perpetuate these, when he has once obtained them. The 

 importance of this department of agricultural knowledge, is not suffi- 

 ciently understood. Other things being equal, the whole question 

 of profit or loss, may depend upon the quality of the seeds, and the 

 animals, Avith which a farm is stocked. 



Another item, in the education of the farmer, is a knowledge of the 

 markets, he has to supply. If he has only a distant markefi, he 

 would naturally turn his attention to the grains, or to beef and pork 

 —that beef keeps longer, and bears transportation better, than vege- 

 tables. If he has a home market, other articles can be grown^o 

 better advantage. Some farms, on account of their location, can be 

 worked, very profitably, for raising root crops, and vegetables, that 

 would pay small profits, for raising grain alone. It is quite as nec- 

 essary to market his crops well, as it is to have good crops. 



And to these items, a tact for neatness and good order, in his hus- 

 bandry, and the farmer is intellectually furnished for his work. Good 

 taste is as essential in his, as in any other calling ; and his success 

 in his business, quite as much depends upon it." The man, who can 

 always make sales in the market, a little higher than any body else, 

 is the man, who brings his articles in a little the neatest and clean- 

 liest style. This catches the eye, takes captive the olfactories, and 

 tickles the palate. The market man cannot resist him, for his works 

 praise him. The man, with these qualifications, is a scientific farmer. 

 He may not be educated in any thing else. He may not understand 



