DIVISION OF AGRICULTURAL LABOR.-THE PINE-TURNIP. 
183 
and cheaply produced when markets are convenient, 
and the cost of exchange is not too great, should 
in all cases be the main product of the farm. For 
instance, he who has a line grazing farm, natural to 
the growth of the best grasses, will better turn his 
■entire attention to wool-growing, stock-raising, or 
the dairy, than to only a part of all these, or a part 
only of either of them, and the balance of his time 
and labors to the growth of grains; and the posses¬ 
sor of the warm and arable soils where the grains 
are easily grown, and not so friendly to grass, will 
better consult his interest to enforce his whole atten¬ 
tion to the grains and their most perfect and abun¬ 
dant production, with sufficient grazing to turn his 
straw into manures, than by multiplying his staples, 
give a divided and imperfect attention to all. The 
confusion, too, resulting from the perpetual change 
of labor of one kind to that of another; the imper¬ 
fect, heedless, and slothful manner in which that 
labor is too generally performed in America by our 
** Jack-at-all-trade” practice, is a great drawback to 
the perfect and economical execution of farm work, 
and is an evil from which there is no present pros¬ 
pect of exemption. The mingling, also, of so many 
kinds of labor following one upon the heels of an¬ 
other, and as a consequence many of them alto¬ 
gether out of season, is attended with partial loss 
and perpetual anxiety and care, with unremitting 
and slavish toil to the farmer himself, or he is other¬ 
wise cheated out of half the time of his laborers and 
the loss of half his crops, with a perpetual sinking of 
his capital in the non-production of his soil, the 
neglect and decay of his implements and farm 
-structures. 
On the other hand, if but one or two objects com¬ 
prise his attention, although at times and in certain 
seasons extraordinary labors may press upon him, 
the husbandman is prepared to meet them promptly 
and efficiently ; and these once passed, they bring a 
season of comparative repose, which gives him lei¬ 
sure for reflection ; an opportunity to investigate all 
the subjects connected with his pursuits, and the 
means for improvement to its utmost extent, and the 
particular staples to which his attention is directed. 
Added to all these, he has time in the proper sea¬ 
sons for such recreation with his family and friends 
as may promote their mutual enjoyment and wel¬ 
fare. 
These are some of the advantages of a division 
of our agricultural labors; the adoption of which 
has given to the best agricultural countries of Eu¬ 
rope their astonishing ascendency over us in the 
extent and perfection of their products. From this 
subdivision of Agricultural labor has grown their 
system of fairs for the sale and exchange of all 
kinds of farm products, and farm stock, where each 
one, at the most profitable moment, may dispose of 
his surplus of whatever kind, and apply its proceeds 
to other and more seasonable objects of his atten¬ 
tion. Such may hardly be anticipated at present in 
our own country; but the time may eventually 
come when we shall approximate to the bet¬ 
ter systems of commercial agriculture adopted 
abroad. At all events, the advantages of singleiz- 
ing, if I may coin a word, our agricultural products 
is .manifest; and no doubt can be entertained that the 
most successful husbandman, to any extent in his 
occupation, is he, who well understanding the capa¬ 
bilities of his estate, adopts that mode of husbandry 
to which it is best fitted, in one principal item, and 
prosecutes that with the ability of which his advan¬ 
tages render him capable. 
When the larger farmers of our northern and 
middle States shall have extensively adopted sys¬ 
tems of this kind, then will they excel each in his 
own particular department; a feeling of rivalry and 
mutual interest will be excited ; individual reputa¬ 
tions will be reared and sustained, each conspicuous 
and honorable in its kind, and the entire agricultu¬ 
ral community will experience the benefit of that 
of which, not now seeing, they cannot imagine the 
importance; a community of husbandmen, all of 
the highest intelligence in their own particular pur¬ 
suit, and each producing the best and the most of 
which its kind upon the soil, and under the climate 
where produced, is capable. A spectacle gratifying 
to behold, and abundantly remunerating in its re¬ 
sults. 
Such is the condition of the best agriculture of 
Europe. Such, too, is the condition of the best 
American agriculture. Many instances may be 
named where the people of particular and very con¬ 
siderable sections of our Slates are engaged as 
wheat-growers, corn and pork-producers, stock- 
traders, graziers', dairy-men, wool-growers, or- 
chardists, &c., &c., in almost entire communities. 
Where such is the case, do these branches of agri¬ 
culture excel each in its kind; and in such commu¬ 
nities is the character of its husbandry, according to 
its class, of the highest order; all, the results of a 
division of labor. It gives to each one confidence 
in his pursuit, respectability to the mass, and is full 
of individual benefit in the freedom from distracting 
care and corroding anxiety; the bane of all real 
enjoyment and satisfaction. Let us of the agricul¬ 
tural community imitate our brethren of other pro¬ 
fessions. Let us, as our merchants, our mecha¬ 
nics, and our professional men have done, divide 
the realm of husbandry, and conquer success. 
Lewis F. Allen. 
Black Rock, April , 1847. 
THE PINE-TURNIP. 
In receiving a few turnips from my father-in- 
law, in New Jersey, this spring, I noticed among 
them a variety I had never seen before, a sample of 
which I herewith send you. It differs, you will 
perceive, from the common turnip in having eyes, 
or tubers, in all parts of it, as in the potatoe. 
Another peculiarity is, that it will keep for any 
length of time, without the least alteration or any 
appearance of decay. The specimen before you, 
it will be seen, is as sound and hard as it was the 
day it was unearthed ill the fall; and besides, it 
appears as green as if just taken from a hot-house. 
This turnip is hardy, and like the alpaca, will 
thrive on poor soil, as well as on that which is 
rich. As to its feeding qualities, my father informs 
me that it affords much more nourishment in pro¬ 
portion to its bulk than the ordinary turnip. As 
there is no particular name for. this variety within 
my knowledge, and as it greatly resembles a pine¬ 
apple in shape and size, I would suggest that it be 
called by the name of the “ Pine Turnip.” 
James Lane. 
New York, April 9th, 1847. 
