THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
in the open air, contrasts most favorably with 
the effeminacy, debility, and early decay of 
those who are confined in heated and close ma- 
nufactories, or in sedentary employments with- 
in doors. Nor in point of moral conduct, as far 
as mere occupation is concerned, is there any 
reason to suppose that the agricultural classes 
would suffer in comparison with the manufac- 
turing classes, or with the host of young women 
in cities, emplo}md in various trades and in-door 
occupations. We have few instances, in the 
free States, of women being employed in field 
labor. The women in Wethersfield, Connecti- 
cut, have for years been accustomed to the cul- 
tivation of onions, doing everything for the crop, 
excepting plowing and manuring the land, even 
to preparing it for the market. They certainly 
have suffered no evil, but the contrary. Can 
men, dependent upon their own exertions for 
support, find wives better able to manage their 
household affairs, more frugal, more industrious, 
than the young women of Wethersfield? It 
must seem strange to many persons, if I also 
add, as I know I may with truth, that many of 
these young women are persons of good educa- 
tion, and to a degree, allowing for .tbs retired 
condition of society in which they have been 
brought up, even of refined manners : so totally 
different, indeed, are the conditions of the labor- 
ing classes in England and the United States. 
In truth, no comparison can properly be institu- 
ted between them. In general, among the la- 
boring classes in England, their low condition, 
their ignorance, and want of education, and the 
almost absolute impossibility of raising above 
the estate in which they are born, render them, 
to a great degree, reckless and improvident. 
<Uharacter becomes consequently of far less im- 
portance than it would otherwise be. There 
are wanting, consequently, the motives to that 
self-respect, which constitutes the highest secu- 
rity of virtue ; and, under such a condition of 
things, it is not surprising to find a laxity of mo- 
rals, which produces swarms of illegitimate 
children. This is attended by the usual conse- 
quence — an absence, on the part of the parents, 
of thatsense of obligation to support and provide 
for their offspring, which is to be found in its 
purity and strength only in legal wedlock. 
From the Plow Boy. 
INDIVIDUALITY. 
Friends, can you fail to notice, day by day, 
the great difference there exists between us mem- 
bers of the human family 1 Do you not observe 
the analogy, that as there are no two leaves pre- 
cisely alike on the same tree, so there are no 
two individuals precisely alike in our common 
stock ? We cannot account for this truth, but it 
is evident to all our senses. It seems surprising, 
then, that our fellow creatures, with this truth 
before them, should act in any other way toward 
each other than that of charity. 
To illustrate it, let us take a plow for exam- 
ple, an implement which has called forth the 
genius of so many to improve. It is surprising 
what a number have been patented, and how fre- 
quently other new ones appear. If you go into 
Massachusetts, you will probably find them 
using a plow different in some particular to any 
you have ever seen before, and it you see the in- 
ventor of it, he will endeavor to show you the 
superiority of his plow over any other ; but you 
go elsewhere and see other kinds of plows, 
whose inventors will each tell you that their 
plows are superior to any other. Which would 
you take among so many ? Would you not get 
perplexed, and wish you had not seen them ? 
or would you not have rather to consider the 
form and quality of the land you possessed, and 
judge tor yourself which plow would best an- 
swer your purpose? Your decision proves your 
individuality. Each man knows best what will 
suit him ; therefore, his plow to him is better 
than any other plow. 
A man has invented a machine for brick- 
making, and from some of those who have 
adopted it, we are led to suppose that it is much 
superior to the old way, for that it performs 
much more and much better work, But other 
155 
parties who have tried it, say that it is quite a 
failure, for altogether the machine is far more 
expensive than the old way, and produces very 
inferior work. Who is to decide, when one 
man tells you it is right, and anothertelis you it 
is wrong? Why, our own reason and judg- 
ment must reign paramount. We must use our 
individuality and decide for ourselves, because 
what may suit one man may not suit another. 
So it is with diet ; as the old saying goes, 
“what is one man’s food is another man’s poi- 
son.” How common it is to hear persons say 
they could not live without tea and coffee, be- 
cause, perhaps, they never tried to live without 
it. Those in the habit of drinking whiskey 
have said the same thing, yet the coffee dritiker 
(not comprehending man’s individuality or natu- 
ral difference) condemns the whiskey drinker 
because he does not leave off his whiskey and 
live upon tea and coffee. Some persons, again, 
eat a great deal of meat, and say they could not 
exist without it — they should lose all their 
strength and not be able to perform their daily 
toil; without, at the same time, knowing that 
there are millions of human beings who have to 
perform their daily toil without ever tasting a 
bit of animal food, andsuch individuals no doubt 
would say that they could not exist if they gave 
up their vegetable diet and had to live on ani- 
mal food. 
Again— we must decide for ourselves which 
is best for us, by using our reason, and not con- 
demn a man and call him a fool for destroying 
his constitution, because he drinks nothing but 
the pure water from the crystal spring. 
Always bear this beautiful guiding principle 
foremost in your mind— that you may be 
wrong; but also exercise the reason God has 
given you to ascertain what is right or wrong 
lor yourself. 
Suppose you see your neighbor plowing his 
fields and planting his corn in some way diffe- 
rent from you : he may, for instance, be trying 
some new mode which he has learned through 
studying an agricultural paper, or by his reason- 
ing ascertained some facts in relation to the soil. 
Pray, then, throw aside the narrow prejudice 
and the short-sighted feeling which would pour 
forth its notes in ridicule. Wait patiently till 
you see the result, and it it proves successful, 
why you are, in common with many more, 
much benefitted thereby; and, if it should turn 
out a failure, you are likewise benefitted, for 
you feel the more satisfied that your own course 
is the best to pursue, and you are indebted to 
the individual who ventured beyond the common 
path for the sake of an investigation which 
might have benefitted all mankind. 
Remember public opinion, which is the great 
governing power in our land, is not always 
right, for very often the brave spirits who step 
aside or beyond it, are those to whom we are 
indebted lor some of the greatest blessings we 
now enjoy. If we were always to abide by pub- 
lic opinion, we should still continue plodding to 
the old church, on the old road, and putting our 
corn-meal across our horse’s back with a lot of 
stones on the other side to balance it. But this 
will not do : if we want to progress, we must use 
our own intellects. We must examine all 
things and hold fast that which we consider 
good, without regard to the ignorant prejudices 
of (unfortunately) too many of our brethren. 
Bear in mind that it is not alone lor self that we 
attain a new eminence, but for all those who 
choose to follow in our footsteps. But if we al- 
low ourselves to be bound by public opinion to 
do as our fathers have done before us, we shall 
indeed have mill-stones round our necks, going 
on, or rather standing still, with our rude log 
cabins and our corn bread and pork. “Well,” 
some of you may say, (to prove your difference 
of opinion,) “we are very well contented with 
all that.” “ So be it,” 1 would answer, you en- 
joy that ; but we will endeavor to go a little fur- 
ther, by using all our energies to build a better 
house wherein we can be free from many trou- 
blesome insects which we now have, and where 
we can enjoy a little more health and comfort. 
We would plant some fruit trees around our 
house, make us a tidy garden for domesiic vege- 
tables, adorned a little with some sweet-scented 
flowers to add a little more to our happiness; 
but our principal attention would be devoted to 
our fields, endeavoring to remedy deficiencies 
in the soil by applying the requisite manures 
and so on. If you differ from us, why well and 
good; you may go on in your old path and enjoy 
your corn and pork in contentment — though we 
cannot h-ave you this time, without saying a lew 
words more to remind you of the prejudices 
which mankind, and especially those in power, 
have had to anythin:^ new or anything differing 
from the present. Remember Galileo who, for 
proving that the earth went round the sun, stood 
in such danger of his life, remember the preju- 
dice and opposition Fulton had to contend with 
before he astonished the world by the power of 
steam: remember, also, the opposition manifest- 
ed at the Revolution, as to the practicability of 
a republican government. Yet, every day the 
more demonstrates its glorious advance. 
If you please, use your reason on "ur short 
essay and decide for yourself. Thougi: we are 
so different, there is no doubt but it is foi a good 
purpose, and that we are naturally so, 'c ought 
ever to bear in mind throughout all our wordly 
dealinss. 
A vpiy celebrated writer said he f ' and 
conscientiously believed that it was the v dl of 
the Almighty that there should he diversity of 
opinions among us, as it affords a larger field 
for our Christian kindness. 
From the New Genesee Farmer. 
COM FREY, 
PRTCKt.Y CoMFREY . — [Sijmphytum officinale.''^ 
If aU is true that has of late been published re- 
specting this plant, It promises to become a very 
important acquisition to our agricultural pro- 
ducts, not only as food for cattle, but lor man. 
It was first noticed as an agricultural plant in 
Loudon’s Gardener’s Magazine, in 1830, by D. 
Grant, of Lewisham; where it was tried by a 
number of'cultivators. Cattle of every kind are 
said to be fond of it: and Mr. Grant thinks an 
acre might be made to produce thirty tons of 
green fodder in one year. The plant is of easy 
propagation by seeds or roots; it is also of great 
durability, and if once established, would proba- 
bly continue to produce crops for many years ; 
and in that point of view, it would seem to be a 
valuable plant for the cottager who keeps a 
.cow. In the spring of last year, there appeared 
in the Keene Sentinel a letter from the Rev. E, 
Rich, of Troy, NewHampshire, recommending 
the cultivation of comfrey for its foliage as fod- 
der for stock, and for its roots as an article ot 
diet for man. He observes, “it will , probably 
yet prove one of the best and cheapest articles 
of healthful diet now known; not outdone by 
the potato or Indian corn !” He then details 
some experiments In the preparation and use ol 
the roots as food, by drying and grinding, then 
boiling as porridge, &c. ; and says he lound it 
very beneficial for colds and other diseases of 
the lungs and bowels. He advises mixing one- 
third of comfrey meal with wheat or Indian, for 
porridge, puddings, griddle-cakes, &c. ShenM 
the taste^ at first, be in any degree unpleasant 
as is often the case with new thins's, any agree- 
able condiments can be added. The letter fur- 
ther states, that the roots are to be dug once i» 
two years, and that they will yield at the rate of 
more than two thousand bushels per acre ; (1^ 
and the two cuttings of the tops in one season, 
gave at the rate of six tons of hay per acre. 
In an article on this subject in the Portsmouth 
Journal, last November, the editor, after alluding 
to the letter of Mr. Rich, states that Mr. A Rob- 
inson, of that town, planted a bed of comfrey 
his garden, last spring, halt a rod square, th« 
plants set in rows filteen inches distant. They 
scarcely started till July, and the season wai 
very dry; but on cutting the plants in Septem- 
ber, the product, when dried, was 22^ pounds. 
He has no doubt but that next season, when the 
roots become well set, the bed will yield, at 
least, two cuttings of twenty-five pounds each; 
or at the rate of about 8 tons per acre. Mr 
