AN OLD-STYLE FARM. \\ 



at least not in the way of that liberal and generous 

 culture which insures the largest product. I doubt 

 greatly if there be any people on the face of the 

 earth, equally intelligent, who farm so poorly as the 

 men of New England ; and there are tens of thou- 

 sands less intelligent who manage their lands infinitely 

 better. I do not quite understand why the American 

 character, which has shown such wonderful aptitude 

 for thrift in other directions, should have shown so 

 little in the direction of agriculture. I feel quite con- 

 fident that seven out of ten of the most accomplished 

 and successful nurserymen, gardeners, and farmers in 

 the country, are of foreign birth, or of foreign parent- 

 age. Within the limits of my own experience, I find 

 it infinitely more difficult to secure a good American 

 farmer, than to secure a good Scotch or even an Irish 

 one. And I observe with not a little shame, that 

 while the American is disposed to make up the tale 

 of his profits by sharp bargains, the Scotch are as 

 much disposed to make it up by liberal treatment of 

 the land. Why is this ? The American is not illib- 

 eral by nature ; a thousand proofs lie to the contrary ; 

 but by an unfortunate traditional belief he is disposed 

 to count the land only a rigorous step-dame from 

 which all possible benefit is to be wrested, and the 

 least possible return made. 



Is the Congressional grant for agricultural colleges 



