HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 79 



By a natural law, the great mass of the human race is found cultivating 

 the soil, or using it for pastoral purposes ; so that the interests of agricul- 

 ture are indirectly those of the entire community. This fact, which is 

 loosely admitted amongst us in this country, is appreciated to such an ex- 

 tent in Europe, that numerous special schools have been established under 

 government patronage, for education in practical and theoretical agricul- 

 ture, including the theories involved in the conversion of inorganic to or- 

 ganic matter, the action of manures, the nature of soils, the causes of their 

 deterioration, and the means of renovating them, rotation of crops, man- 

 agement of live stock, natural history of domestic animals, of useful and 

 hurtful plants and insects; and the various interests concerned in culti- 

 vation. 



A knowledge of the principles upon which the processes of active life de- 

 pend, with the extensive employment of machinery, causes fewer failures in 

 the results ; and consequently, less labor has to be repeated on account of 

 such failures ; whilst improved modes of cultivation yield a better reward 

 for a given amount of labor. Hence, such improvements afford leisure. 

 This may be employed in moral and mental improvement, or in farther in- 

 dustry, which yields a clear gain, and thus becomes wealth. Some with 

 Solomon, will prefer the former, and some the latter. 



It is stated in the published journal of one Lorenzo Dow, that from the 

 natural fertility of the soil of Ohio, which gave a large return for compara- 

 tively little labor, the farmers of that flourishing State had acquired lazy 

 habits; and although willing to take the remark with allowances in this case, 

 I cite it for the purpose of directing attention to the fact, that such a de- 

 plorable result is not to be regarded as impossible, when moral and mental 

 cultivation, and industrious and temperate habits do not accompany prosper- 

 ity, and the misfortune of having unemployed time. In the extensive exist- 

 ence of unemployed time, a careful historian might find sufficient cause to 

 account for the downfall of nations. 



A question now arises as to the mode in which spare time should be em- 

 ployed. I answer, in mental improvement — in becoming acquainted with 

 the principles of our pursuits, raising them in general estimation, and in the 

 case of agriculture, giving it the dignity of a profession. The average 

 compensation of clergymen, physicians, and advocates is much lower than is 

 generally supposed; and there is probably little to choose between their in- 

 come and the rewards of manual labor, especially if the first outlay for the 

 necessary knowledge is taken into account. But the calling of each of the 

 former is a profession, that of the latter an art or trade — and in many 

 cases it does not rank so high. The difference far from being arbitrary, is 



