life, Privileges and Prejudices of the Farmer. 511 
knowledge of chemistry is all important as people begin to con- 
cede. Botany would be useful and pleasing. For a farmer to 
be capable of analyzing the flowers of his field as he sees them 
aronnd him in his labors and travels over his farm the season 
throuo-h, in all their beauty and variety, would add interest and 
enjoyment to his life. 
Then he would see the richness, use and beauty of those splen- 
did ornaments of his hills and meadows, over which he now walks 
with indifference, or beholds them only as noxious weeds, offen- 
sive to his eye. With a knowledge of mineralogy, he would 
take pleasure in examining every thing forming his hills, rocks 
and soils, and in his soil. So with geology, and every branch of 
natural history. With a knowledge of entomology, every worm 
or insect now loathsome to his sight, would be interesting, even 
though it be injurious and predatory in its habits. The transfor- 
mations from the larva to the perfect insect which he would con- 
stantly behold in infinite variety, would teach him the great wis- 
dom which pervades the living world as established by the Great 
Author of all things. Ornithology would awaken him to the 
habits, language and songs of the birds which render his arbor, 
orchard and woodlands vocal with music, which otherwise he will 
see or listen to with indifference, and scarcely know or care when 
they come to cheer the land, or when they go to visit, cheer and 
enliven other climes. 
Without a mind to see and appreciate all these things, our 
lands might as well be under a monotony of eternal barreness, so 
far as ornament and taste are concerned. Variety is the great 
source of pleasure of this world. And in order that we might 
enjoy the world in which we are placed, boundless variety pre- 
vails, and the farmer has the best possible opportunity of realizing 
the enjoyment of it, if he would awaken his senses to what is 
around him. 
" This is all true," says the farmer, " but we have no time to 
study all these things, or if we understood them, we have no time 
to give to them." This is a great mistake. If one-half the time 
which is spent idly, should be given to study, a knowledge of all 
these branches would soon and easily be attained. 
The habits of the farmer cause him to move in one continuous 
round of toil, to the almost entire neglect of reading and study, so 
much so, that it is believed by many, that his life is one of drudgery 
and slavery. This continuous toil, as I said, causes the neglect of 
books, and the neglect of books and study superinduces greater 
disadvantages in labor. If the laboring man performed his tasks 
with the advantages of an enlightened mind, he would save much, 
both of his time and strength. 
