SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
DBirOI'T cow, KATE KSARI^TEY-. 
Calired Mov. 30tli, 1850. Bred by Mr. W. Baker, Devonshire, England, Imj^rted b^f and the 
property of C. S. W'ainwriglit, The Meadorvs, near RMnebeck, N. "S’. 
TME FAKMEll\S PSiVATE EIBISARY. 
.If there is any man who needs a good private library, 
it is the farmer. For, in the hrst place, he has a 2^rofes- 
siov to master which requires as much study as any other, 
not excepting divinity, physic or law. This will appear 
evident, when we consider that a knowledge of the physi- 
cal sciences generally is essential to the best understand- 
ing of agriculture, and then he must liave immense prac- 
tical knowledge of his art, of the markets, of the law of 
exchanges, of men and of things, in order to tine greatest 
success. Besides, there is no reason why the firmer 
may not enjoy literature and science, books and lectures 
for their own sake, as well as the men of other callings. 
And there is the consideration, that he who tills the soil 
has considerable leisure in the course of a year to enjoy a 
good library, especially in . the winter, by his own fire- 
side. 
In the next place, to use a pulpit phrase, “ Knowkdge 
is Powci-y'’ to the farmer, as well -as to other men. It is 
power to increase his income from farming, power to 
guide his family and “ his affairs with discretion,’' pow 
er to give him an influence in his neighborhood and town, 
power to make his itiduence ffit abroad through lectures, 
speeches, editorials, and books : for a farmer may devote 
his leisure to lyceum lecturing, editing, authorship, and 
■even to serve his constituents of a winter in the State or 
national Capitol, if he has the necessary requirements. 
Thirdly, a farmer needs a good private library, or as 
good as his ineatis will allow him to secure, for ilie saJ:e 
of hos fomiiy, as well as for his ovvrt sake For he gene 
rally lives sornewh it lemote from the circulating ]i!»rary 
of lliP vili ige. even if there is such a lilirary; and the 
same is true of the winter course of popular lect ores. 
Thus he and his, being more con.^ined at home during 
long winter evenings, need more the moral and mental 
enjoyment and stimulus of a library. And tiiis .li'orary, 
to meet the wants of both the head of the house and his 
family, old and young, should embrace not only the lead- 
ing works on agn’iculture, but books on history, politics 
and religion; as well as biographies, travels, poetry, and 
miscellaneous literature, adapted to give the young a taste 
for reading, and the old the best solace amid their declin- 
ing 5 mars. Many who read these lines remember with 
pain how much time they lost under the roof a farmer in 
tlieir childhoodand ycDuth, for the lack of sm h a. lihrary as 
we have described. They dosed awav lor.g -.nvd precious 
winter evenings for the want of books, i. ooiis They 
wasted hours, weeks, months, or even years, at country 
taverns or shops, or else in bed, because tliey had not 
either acquired the love of reading, or else had not the 
books to read. 
Fourthly, a farmer’s private library is one of the best of 
home attractions. The importance of making his dwell- 
ing aUractive to his wife ami children, as well a.^ to him- 
self, cannot be over e.^timrited If it is not ondi red a 
place of happine-<3, the nivern, the shop, or some | lace of 
more douiiSiul indnence ma v lie .'lougl t for. winlmi; away 
piTcioiis time. The well filled library at home .-i r.- ,'isthe 
attention of every fmiilv, Idiere are illn.-'tr..ied luults 
fir the chil Iren, hooks of adveniuic lor (he cmaig and 
of solid reading f>r the lover of strong, rn. i *. I iond. 
I hiis [lUre and I li'Vnted ta^re.s are formi d t’lai m i- ill 
carry tiiroUgh 1 fe, hnrMii! places are aviiirc *, t m • -'lens 
are re- isted. the nece.-^.siiy for consointly miooi g t" he.ir 
lectures no 1 inger exi'l.sy tor one cm I'e ul : : u )' ' ■ ores 
HI iionie, and save expo-ure to night :dr ana ' a.,l\ '(.nil- 
j ated \ooms.~ idossac’iiis'. iis Plooghniait. 
