362 
SOUTHEKN CULT IV AT OE. 
THE BEAHTIEUL IN AGEICULTUSE. 
Both the art and the science of agriculture are suffici- 
ently advanced in this country to enable its citizens to 
study and practice the Bearttiful in planting, and in all 
feirming operations, with entire success. Beauty in rural 
objects and scenery is not confined to ernbellishments, but 
is attainab'e in all that relates to plants and their culture, 
to domesticated animals, forests, parks, fields, orchards 
and gardens. Nature kindly favors, and often suggests 
agreeable features to such as have an eye to see and heart to 
Seel the charms of beauty. She aids in a thousand ways 
to quicken into life and activity the dormant taste for the 
Beautiful placed in every bosom by a beneficent Creator. 
To develop and cultivate this latent and prolific source of 
enjoyment in mankind, is one of the highest duties of 
educated persons. It should prompt all to investigate the 
elements of beauty in natural objects, and in rural arts, 
svhether they relate to the vegetable, animal, or mineral 
kingdom. With each of these grand departments of Na- 
ture the cultivator has much to do ; and he should learn 
her processes and laws, from which he will at length fully 
ttaderstand that Beauty and Utility are integral parts of 
.anywise system of farm economy. 
If beauty in a country residence, in farm buildings of 
whatever kind, or in tillage, were incompatible with any- 
thing that is useful in agriculture, or important in house- 
fiold affairs, the fact would excuse the general neglect of 
this principle in nature. But so far from being hostile to 
the creation of wealth, or to its accumulation in the hands 
of the owners of the soil. Beauty is one of the most reli- 
able elements of money value in every species of property. 
In proof of this, we cite the facts that a beautiful horse 
often sells at from three to five hundred dollars, where an 
ugly one of the same weight and muscular power will 
■bring only a fifth of the sums named. A beautiful plan- 
tation has equal advantages over one quite destitute of 
pleasing and attractive features. As society advances, 
.and the popular appreciation of lovely and captivating 
-expressions becomes more accute and refined, it isobvious 
that Beauty must appreciate in cash value. Indeed, not 
^ne in a thousand knows how to turn to the most profit- 
-able account’ the intrinsic power and the solid merit of 
die Beautiful in agriculture. It is not as many suppose, 
a mere ideal matter, having no foundation in things sub- 
■stantial and enduring ; but it is a material part of that per- 
fect economy which owes its existence to the Supreme 
Architect of the universe. Hence, as planters and hus- 
fcaadmen, it is a part of our highest wisdom to cultivate 
that faculty within us which happily discriminates in 
the varied fruits of the earth, in its ever differing inherent 
fertility, and in its wide range of really valuable plants 
:aud animals. We should study to multiply delightful ob- 
J ectsand scenes around our homes, and improve such as 
nature has scattered with a liberal hand over all our acres, 
whether few or many. 
Let us consider what it is that renders land beauti- 
.fiil for tillage. 
•Consider the first and most obvious want of all culti- 
vated ground, and it will be seen that fndffubicss is the 
function most needed. It is, however, no more necessary 
to successful agriculture, than expressive of natural beau- 
ty. A rich soil clothes itself with noble forests, and if 
these be removed, as on extensive prairies, with the most 
luxuriant and nutritious grasses. Fruitfulness of the earth 
being an essential element of rural beauty, to impair the 
fertility ofland is not merely to diminish its money value 
for the growth of crops, but to transform a landscape that 
once inspired universal hope, confidence, pleasure and 
industry, into a barren waste, which, when lairly tilled, 
promises little reward to honest toil, and actually yields 
less than it promises. 
Under such circumstances, it is fortunate that Science 
teaches us how we can best change a sterile field, or an 
impoverished estate, into one distinguished alike for its 
elegance and productiveness. Science also tells us that it 
is easier and better to preserve the natural resources of 
land than to restore them when removed in crops, or 
washed away by many heavy rains falling on shallow 
plowed fields. To avoid loss in this particular, it is im- 
portant to know the precise things in the soil that form 
agricultural plants, and how these things are both lessen- 
ed and augmented in all farming operations. With this 
professional knowledge, the cultivator may profitably in- 
crease the beauty and value of every rood of land on his 
plantation. 
Having a critical knowledge of the constituents of soils 
and their products, how is one to make a truly beautiful 
landed estate I 
This depends mainly on the circumstances with whicli 
he is suiTounded. He should examine these with the ut- 
most care, with a view to learn what is practicable, not 
in itself, but to a man of his means, acquirements, familv 
ties and duties, and powers of execution. Farm build- 
ings and fences of some kinds are indispensable ; and in 
their construction and arrangement, his taste and skill will 
inevitably be revealed to his neighbors and the public. A 
cultivated taste may be seen as well in the erection of a 
log cottage as in that of the most costly mansion. Nature 
displays the Beautiful not only in the lowly and humble 
violet, but in plants and animals too small to be seen by 
the naked eye. Wisdom in the designer may be shown 
as effectively in the arrangement and structure of little 
things as in large ones. Dwelling-house architecture, 
whether in cities, villages, or strictly country residences , 
is susceptible of great improvement, judging from the hab- 
itations of the million. These rarely possess either con- 
venience or beauty, or any other merit to recommend 
them. Even in cheapness, they fail as much as in other 
respects. The amount of money thrown away by the 
rich, and those who would fain pass as such, on expensive 
buildings, shows how little our taste in such matters has 
been improved over that of savages. Fortunes are often 
squandered in a few years on mis-shapen palaces and 
villas — poor imitations' of European aristocracy — in this 
country. Some less extravagant in outlay are more outre 
in architectural folly, adding to the residence of a private 
family, by way of ornament, what -^vould appear to be 
massive columns, but which are generally made of wood, 
in the ridiculous ambition of appearing to live in some- 
thing like a Grecian temple. In costly public edifices, 
