64 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Feb. 



of the neighborhood, bound on an excursion of 

 pleasure. 



She seemed to understand it all, and as their 

 merry voices rang a merry peal, she would start 

 up at a brisk trot, up hill and down, and returning 

 home, would of her own accord stop at each door, 

 deliver freight, and so on till the last batch was 

 disposed of. w. H. F. 



West Boxbury, Dec, 1862. 



ILLUSTRATED ANNUAL BEGISTER FOR 

 1863. 



This is the ninth number of this excellent work. 

 It is as full of valuable facts and suggestions as a 

 good nut is of meat. It has one hundred and 

 forty engravings, the times, tides, the changes of 

 the moon, how long the sun shines on us, and a 

 thousand other things that people desire and 

 ought to know. It is edited by Mr. J. J. Thomas, 

 and published by Luthek, Tucker and Son, 

 Albany, N. Y., who are also proprietors and pub- 

 lishers of the Country Gentleman and Cultivator. 

 Read the subjoined articles, and say whether we 

 have misjudged in our opinion of the merits of 

 this work. 



Application of Manures. — The following 

 conclusions were adopted at the discussion on 

 manures, at the State Fair at Watertowu : 



1. Manure which consists chiefly of the drop- 

 pings of animals should be applied as soon as 

 possible to the soil. 



2. Manure consisting largely of straw, corn 

 stalks, or other fibrous matter, should be first 

 rotted to become fine. 



3. Manure should be applied at or near the 

 surface of the soil, or should be slightly buried. 



4. For hoed crops, and especially for corn crops, 

 it may be buried deeper than for straw crops. 



What Young People should Know. — The 

 best inheritance that parents can leave their chil- 

 dren, is the ability to help themselves. This is 

 better than a hundred thousand dollars apiece. 

 In any trouble or difliculty, they will have two ex- 

 cellent servants ready, in the shape of their two 

 hands. Those who can do nothing, and have to 

 be waited on, are helpless, and easily disheartened 

 at the misfortunes of life. Tliose who are active 

 and handy, meet troubles with a cheerful face, and 

 soon surmount them. Let young people there- 

 fore, learn to do as many different useful things 

 as possible. 



Every Farmer's Boy should know how, sooner 

 or later, 



1. To dress himself, black his own shoes, cut 

 his brother's hair, wind a watch, sew on a button, 

 make a bed, and keep all his clothes in perfect oi'- 

 der, and neatly in place. 



2. To harness a horse, grease a wagon, and 

 drive a team. 



3. To carve, and wait on table. 



4. To milk the cows, shear the sheep, and dress 

 a veal or mutton. 



5. To reckon money and keep accounts accu- 

 rately, and according to good book-kee])ing rules. 



6. To write a neat, appropriate, briefly ex- 



pressed business letter, in a good hand, and fold 

 and superscribe it properly ; and write contracts. 



7. To plow, sow grain and grass seed, drive a 

 mowing machine, swing a scythe, build a neat stack 

 and pitch hay. 



8. To put up a package, build a fire, whitewash 

 a wall, mend broken tools, and regulate a clock. 



There are many other things which would render 

 boys more useful to themselves and others — these 

 are merely a specimen. But the young man who 

 can do all these things well, and who is ready at 

 all times to assist others, and be useful to his 

 mother and sisters, will command far more respect 

 and esteem than if he knew merely how to drive 

 fast horses, smoke cigars, play cards, and talk 

 nonsense to foolish young ladies at parties. 



For the New Eneland Farmer. 

 NEWSPAPER CONTROVERSY. 



"For when disputes are wearied out, 

 'Tis interest still resolves the doubt." 



Every man is morally bound to contend for what 

 he regards as true ; but when an opponent never 

 stoops to admit a plain truth from his antagonist, 

 or condescends to think it possible that he is in 

 the wrong, it is useless to spend words or ink up- 

 on him. In entering a controversy, men should 

 come with a spirit of condescension and accom- 

 modation ; a willingness to acknowledge error 

 when it is clearly shown — for truth is the object 

 sought — and not with an air and tone of infallibil- 

 ity, which repels all candid and just consideration 

 of the subject. One may Avell suspect his oppo- 

 nent's good faith, when he industriously shifts to 

 meet every minor or weak point, and remains si- 

 lent upon the great ones. It is hardly worth the 

 time to remind him more than once, that your 

 material points are not met. To reiterate it again 

 and again, as if to provoke him to an admission of 

 their soundness, would be folly. The best way is 

 simply to utter them, and let them take their 

 course, as if you believed in their power of making 

 their way against all but ignorant, wilful and 

 prejudiced minds. 



"For truth is precious and divine, 

 Too rich a pearl for carnal swine." 



Very rarely do persons enter into public, (or 

 even private) discussions, with true inquiring 

 minds. One party, or both, usually have some 

 interest in their positions, and wish to make a 

 proselyte of the other party. And when obvious 

 interest is absent, simple pride of opinion sets up 

 an adamantine barrier to concession. Controver- 

 sy thus conducted, is useless, and even worse. 

 Most of the religious disputes are entered upon 

 under these circumstances ; and whoever heard of 

 one party being convinced by the other ? The 

 result generally is a final belief, if not an expres- 

 sion, tliat their opponents belong to the species of 

 braying animals ! Who supposes that two great 

 pscudo saints, like Brigham Young and the Pope 

 of Rome, would enter into a polemical discussion 

 about their peculiar religious tenets with anj' 

 profit ? Both would be interested or biassed, and 

 both would be unyielding. The world does not 

 need learned men so much as honest and fearless 

 men — men who are ready to be convinced by a 

 lair process of reasoning, and equally ready to ac- 

 knowledge that conviction. 



