84 farmers' a?jd mechanics' journal. 



also, to ascertain whether, in unfavorable seasons, or under par- 

 ticular circumstances, late planting would not ansv/er nearlj, or 

 quite as well, as standing in Grog-sho[)s and at corners, berating 

 Providprice. and prophesying no crops ! no crops ! 



We would here take the liberty of informing our captious breth- 

 ren, that, as •' one swallow makes no summer," so one experiment 

 in Agriculture, does not always elucidate or establish one fact. 

 Hence we intend to commit more breaches upon the common rou- 

 tine ; and be guilty of further folly, in vexing the soil, in our own 

 way. and tin)e. We keep a log-book, wherein we carefully record 

 our proceedings, and the various results of our labors, and we hope 

 so to do, for sixty years to come. We would recommend the plan 

 to all farmers. 



Our first knowledge of practical farming we obtained by imitat- 

 ing others. That is, by doing as those did, who were placed over 

 us and required to get as much labor out of the boijs as they could, 

 (not much at the most.) It was probably the same routine of ope- 

 ration practised by the veteran Pilgrims of the Mayflower, and 

 which has been handed down from father to son and from genera- 

 tion to generation, even unto the present day. We are as well 

 acquainted with it as we wish to be, for we had it fixed in our 

 memories by — what was then tedious — experience. We say te- 

 dious^ for we remember well the long and sultry days — and the 

 many anxious looks at the distance between the sun and his "hid- 

 ing place," verily believing that he stood still, as he did in the 

 days of Joshua. We like the business far better now ; and for this 

 reason, — we can see some meaning to it. Then it was a task. — 

 A business for the hands in which the head could discover neither 

 " Rhyme or Reason." Our corn must be planted nearly at such 

 a time. Why ? Because the planting bush was out.* The rows 

 miist be just the distance of the hoe-handle apart. Why ? Be- 

 cause it was just four feet. There must be just four kernels in a 

 place, and a pumkin (pompion) seed, in every-olher hill of every- 

 other row, — whether the soil was barren or fertile. Tlje soil in 

 some places, must be manured. Why ? Because it makes it richer. 

 How ? Because it does. 



We ascribe no blame to any one for this want of explanation. 

 We were kindly told all that they knew about it. It has been our 



* Pyriis Arhutifdlia of VV'illflenovv — Choke berry— Swamp pear — Plant- 

 injj hush, so calh-H. I)ecatise the Iiu'ians considered it an imlication that 

 the season had so far advanced tliat there was no danger from frost. 



