1849. 
THE CULTIVATOR 
219 
®f)e Jdrmcr s Note-Book. 
Coons’ Patent Drilling Machine. 
This machine is in many respects different from any 
before used for the same purpose. The inventor claims 
its superiority on account ol its simplicity, cheapness, 
durability, portableness, and its capability of working 
a line of drills by the power of one man-—the machine 
admitting any number of drill-shafts, and permitting 
the action of the drills within six inches of each other. 
Built on a large scale, it may be readily driven by horse, 
steam or water power. The original object of Mr. 
Coons, in the invention of this machine, was the advan¬ 
tage of its use in the erection of his patent fence, no¬ 
ticed in our last. A machine of proper size to drill the 
holes used in this kind of fence, will cost thirty to forty 
dollars, and will, it is stated, do the work of four hands, 
and in a more accurate manner than it can be done by 
hand labor. 
Any further information in regard to this machine, 
may be had by addressing M. P. Coons, Lansingburgh. 
Potatoes vs. Com. 
Eds. Cultivator— I noticed, in perusing the May 
number of your periodical, a piece entitled “ Potatoes 
exhaust the soil/’ with which I cannot agree. In fact, 
my experience does not coincide with that of the article 
mentioned. Five years ago I planted apiece of ground 
with corn and potatoes; manured the whole at the 
same time, and distributed it as equally as possible. 
The next year, sowed it with oafs, and as I was in the 
field one day, I looked at them to see how they were 
growing, and noticed quite a difference in them. The 
oats, where I had taken off the potatoes the year pre¬ 
vious, were at least one-third larger than where I had 
taken off the corn. The next year I mowed the piece, 
and there was quite as much difference as with the oats, 
and it is plainly to be seen to this day. Since that time 
I have taken notice, and have found the effect to be si¬ 
milar. Now how can this difference be accounted for, 
if corn is not a greater exhauster of the soil than po¬ 
tatoes ? 
If what our friend stated be true, (which I doubt 
not,) it must be that these crops operate very differ¬ 
ently on different soils. 
I wish some of your numerous correspondents who 
have made observations, would give us the result of 
their experience in this particular. A. K. Hartford , 
May 18, 1849. 
The Farmer’s Vocation. 
Eds. Cultivator— Those that obtain an 1 honest 
living ? by whatever means employed, are entitled to re¬ 
spect. All trades, occupations and professions, have 
their advocates and followers, and it is no part of our 
business to institute invidious comparisons as to which 
is the most respectable. As farmers, we have no rea¬ 
son to be ashamed or (o think lightly of our vocation. 
Though we may be obliged to obtain our living by the 
1 sweat of our brow,’ it need not lessen our indepen¬ 
dence or enjoyment. We are not obliged to bow to 
kings or despots for our daily bread; nor wait the ca¬ 
pricious will of another, to receive the reward of our 
labors. 
Not many years ago, there seemed to be a disposition 
among farmers’ boys to leave the farm and engage in 
mechanical, mercantile and professional pursuits. Then 
farming was not looked upon in the same light that it 
is now, being considered an employment that needed 
little knowledge; one, which those the most ignorant, 
or those of the feeblest intellect might pursue advanta¬ 
geously. Sinee then, “ a great change has been going 
on in the public mind ” in regard to it. It is becoming 
better understood and appreciated. Agricultural jour¬ 
nals have called attention to the importance of agricul¬ 
tural pursuits, and political, scientific and even literary 
periodicals have lent their aid to advance the interests 
of the farmer. Now, men holding the most, exalted 
positions, in government, in theology, in science, or in 
literature, may engage in agricultural occupations, 
without compromising in the least, their dignity or res¬ 
pectability. 
To engage in farming understanding^ and success¬ 
fully, requires mechanical skill, intellectual action, and 
scientific knowledge. 
Mechanical knowledge implies the use of tools. This 
is an important branch of husbandry, for it requires as 
much skill to guide a plow or swing a scythe rightly, 
as it does to use a plane or trowel. This knowledge in 
farmers is not intuitive; it must be learned. Farming 
is practical business, and practice in the use of tools is 
the only way to become skillful in using them. In this 
respect, farming is a trade, and requires mechanical 
skill. 
Farming requires intellectual effort. In the manage¬ 
ment of a farm, there must be thought and calculation. 
Even if a person works alone, he must think. He 
should study to know the best means adapted to the 
end in view. It may seem easy enough to know the pro¬ 
per time to sow, plant, or harvest, but to do these 
things in the best time and way, is difficult. And so of 
all the work of a farm. There is a great difference be¬ 
tween going to work understanding^, and -at bap-haz¬ 
ard, thinking nothing of the circumstances. True it is 
that like causes acting under like circumstances, pro* 
1 dtiee like effects; but here, circumstances differ so much 
