HORTICULTURE. 349 



Fanners resolve to make new breeds. They then resolve to 

 make them out of their old breeds ; and then resolve to let their 

 old breeds remain just as they are, until the new breeds are 

 formed. A far better series of resolutions would be to re- 

 solve, 1. to understand what their crops require; 2. to till less 

 land, and till it better ; 3. to furnish for their farm stock bet- 

 ter provisions ; and finally, retain for farm purposes the best 

 fodder, the best seeds, and the best stock. 



We would remark, in conclusion, that there are other ani- 

 mals, aside from those domesticated by the farmer, which 

 bear an important relation to the cultivated crops ; we refer 

 particularly to foxes and crows; as there is in many places, 

 a bounty paid by the State for their destruction. It would be 

 far wiser policy, to expend the same bounty for their protection. 

 A single fox in a meadow will often save a ton of hay in one 

 season, by destroying the mice ; while crows, and other birds 

 perform an equally valuable service, by destroying seeds, worms 

 and insects, which would otherwise injure or destroy the crops. 



CHAPTER IX. 



HORTICULTURE. 



Horticulture is so far a branch distinct from Agriculture, 

 that it has not only received a characteristic name, but is 

 generally treated of by writers in a separate treatise. We 

 should have said nothing upon the subject in this work,, but 

 for the fact that a few suggestions might be useful to the 

 common farmer, who does not make gardening a particulat 

 business, but wishes to understand several important processes 

 and principles connected with the art. It should be re- 

 marked, too, that the most important natural laws apply alike 



