234 CATECHISM OF 



of crops; 2d. The disposal of the crops; and 3d. The disposal d( 

 those things whick are produced by the crops. 



How niany thiugs are to be considered in the growing of 

 crops ? Four : the preparation of the ground ; the putting in of 

 the seed ; the care of the plants till matured ; and the preserva- 

 tion of the crop till disposed of. 



How are crops to be disposed of? Partly by sale ; partly as 

 food for the farmer's family, but principally as fodder for his ani- 

 mals. 



Why are crops to be consumed mainly on the farm ? That 

 their ingredients may be returned to the soil, to be transformed 

 into future crops. 



What are those secondary products of crops before spoken of? 

 Beef, pork, mutton, fowls, butter, cheese, and eggs. 



How are these products disposed of? Partly as food for the 

 family ; partly in barter for necessaries and luxuries not produced 

 on the farm ; and partly by sale, for the purpose of raising money. 



Does the farmer raise all the animals that eat his produce, and 

 no more ? That would be impossible ; for he does not know be- 

 forehand how much produce he will have; and therefore he 

 could not know how many to raise. 



If he should raise too many, what would he do ? He would 

 either sell some of his animals or buy produce. 



If he should raise too few ? He would either sell some of his 

 produce or buy other animals. 



Buying and seUing then is an important part of the farmer's 

 business ; whom is he like in this respect ? The merchant. 



What kind of knowledge does he need to discharge this part 

 of his duties well ? What would be called mercantile knowledge 

 — a knowledge of the prices current, of the present state of the 

 market, and of the probable changes. 



When the farmer manages to turn his soils and manures into 

 crops, and these again into beef, pork, butter, and cheese, whom 

 is he like ? The manufacturer. 



What kind of knowledge will best enable him to perform this 

 part of his business ? A knowledge of soils, plants, animals, and 

 manures. 



When the farmer has buildings to erect, fences to make, some 

 implements to manufacture, and others to repair, whom is he 

 hke? The mechanic. 



If then the farmer is to be a sort of a merchant, a manufac- 

 turer to some extent, and mechanic enough to be able to employ 

 the carpenter and the blacksmith advantageously, does not his 

 profession require great and varied knowledge ? It does. 



If a profession is to be estimated by the amount of knowledge 

 required to prosecute it in the best manner, what profession is 

 more honorable than the farmer's ? None. 



In farming, as in other things, there is a best way, and there are 



