48 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
dom descends further than the third generation. The changes 
which take place in property here, more than in any other coun¬ 
try, operate as a stimulus, and add very much to the intrinsic va¬ 
lue, of self-instruction. With us, moreover, the acquisition of 
knowledge becomes a duty. Where all share alike in the privi¬ 
leges and responsibilities of freemen, we ought all to strive to 
bring the same, or at least competent talents, to aid us in the per¬ 
formance of common duties. If some of the minor classes of our 
population possess an undue influence in our civil affairs, a fact 
which is too manifest, they have acquired it by the power which 
knowledge has conferred upon them; and the best way to remedy 
the evil, is to impart more knowledge, which is power, to the 
major classes. The preservation of our freedom, and the perpe¬ 
tuity of our union, emphatically depend upon the general diffusion 
of knowledge, and a fair participation, of all classes, sects and 
professions, according to individual merit, in the honors and dis¬ 
tinctions of the social compact. We should all feel proud of our 
privileges, but feel prouder that we merit them, by an intelligent 
and faithful performance of our civil duties. 
In regard to this audience, and this community, the appeal is 
almost mandatory. There is not, to my knowledge, a place in 
the world, where the opportunities of self-instruction in useful 
knowledge, to the entire population, are more numerous and ad¬ 
vantageous than they are with us, or the chances of profiting by it 
more flattering. Our public schools are of the highest order.— 
Our libraries are respectable, and accessible to persons of the 
most humble means. Our Institute proffers to the aspirants to li¬ 
terary and scientific fame, important facilities for the gratifica¬ 
tion of their laudable ambition. Public lectures are frequent, and 
embrace all or most of the useful sciences. And this association of 
young men, whom I now have the honor to address, is perhaps 
nowhere surpassed in its numbers, respectability and means of in¬ 
formation. It realizes the best wishes, and promises to accom- 
lish the best hopes, of the philanthropist and patriot. Those who 
ave been instrumental in rearing it, and who have contributed 
to its usefulness and permanancy, deserve the highest praise, and 
will at least be richly rewarded in the consciousness, that they 
have contributed to a great public good. With all these means 
of self-instruction, and the strong motives which prompt to their 
use, our young men will be highly culpable, if they do not distin¬ 
guish themselves in intellectual improvement. Much has been 
been given, and much will be required. 
If, then, as I have endeavored to show, self-instruction affords 
a prominent means of promoting individual and public happiness— 
and if these means are virtually within the reach of all;—if for¬ 
tune is precarious, and friends are not to be depended on—how 
strong is the monition which these facts convey to those who are 
coming on the stage of action, to enter with spirit, upon the busi¬ 
ness of self-improvement,—to become the architects and conser¬ 
vators of their own fame;—and, disregarding the adventitious cir¬ 
cumstances of birth and fortune, or making these subsidiary to 
higher objects, to seek those substantial acquirements, which, 
under the favor of Providence, cannot fail to secure the great 
blessings of life. Every young man should resolve at least, to be¬ 
come respectable in his business or calling —by his personal ef¬ 
forts. Not that he is always to reject the proffered aid of others, 
but as this aid is at best precarious, and may disappoint his hopes, 
that he should’ be able, under every emergency, to sustain him¬ 
self by the resources of his mind, and the energies of his body.— 
He should assume a high standard for his honest hopes and expec¬ 
tations, and perseveringly strive, by all honorable means, to reach 
the goal of his ambition. Without this preliminary resolution, his 
energies are liable to be relaxed, or wasted upon trivial objects. 
It is a characteristic of the Yankees to try to do what they see 
others perform; and what they try to do, they generally succeed 
in doing. This Yankee notion is worthy of imitation, in whatever 
is commendable. Industry, and some degree of self-denial, must 
be employed in the outset; yet habit will not only render these 
less and less irksome, but will soon convert them into pleasures; 
while the rewards they bring will become stimulants to new exer¬ 
tions. Our habits are our companions: our attachments to them 
are apt to become strong, be they good or bad: and hence the 
great importance of selecting and adopting in early life, those 
only of which we shall not be ashamed in maturer years. Know¬ 
ledge is like money at interest: the more we have, the greater the 
income it yields us. 
Permit me, in closing these brief remarks, which have been ri¬ 
pened into convictions by the force of half a century’s experience 
and observation—to repeat to the young gentlemen of this associ¬ 
ation, that their future fame and fortune are in a great measure 
under their own control. Past ages tender to you the benefits of 
their experience, and the counsels of their wisdom ; and the pre¬ 
sent is everywhere replete with admonition and instruction.— 
Nurture the pride and independence which becomes you as free¬ 
men; and, while you claim the free exercise of your own, permit 
not yourselves to trespass upon the rights of others. There is no 
principle in our government, and there should be none recognized 
in our practice, which gives any other precedence than that which 
is due to merit. All share in the burthens, and all should alike 
participate, in proportion to their qualifications and virtues, in 
the distinctions and honors of society. Without this, our boasted 
equality is but a mockery—a bitter taunt. Decide upon the busi¬ 
ness which you intend to follow in life ; make it the object of your 
special attention; determine to become master of it, and to excel 
in it if possible ; and cultivate, with assiduity, in the hours which 
can be spared from that business, the faculties of the mind, which 
are ever the source of the purest and most exalted of human en¬ 
joyments. Then may you say, in the spirit of the poet, 
“ Though ’ns not in mortals to command success, 
We’ll do all we can —deserve it." 
THE CULTIVATOR-JUNE, 1835. 
TO IMPROVE THE SOIL AND THE MIND. 
THE TURNIP CULTURE, 
Is unquestionably rapidly increasing among us. There will pro¬ 
bably be quadruple the quantity grown this year, in the northern 
and western parts of the state, that was ever before produced in a 
season. We entertain this opinion from the unusual quantity of 
seed which has been sold at the seed shops. This augurs well: 
for we are satisfied from fifteen years’ experience, that there are 
few crops that make more than this for the interest of the farmer. 
As but few persons among us have as yet had experience in the 
culture of this root, we subjoin some brief directions, founded up¬ 
on our personal experience, in particular reference to the ruta ba- 
ga crop. 
The soil for turnips should be such as will grow good Indian 
corn. It should be rich and dry, and, with these qualifications, the 
more that sand preponderates the better. Clay is the worst, and 
wet soils do not answer much better. 
Preparation .—Our general practice has been to manure well a 
piece of pasture, or a clover lay from which the hay has been just 
cut, the last of June, plough it handsomely and harrow it well. 
A clover lay is preferable, as old sod does not rot, especially in a 
dry season, as was the case last year, in time for the wants of the 
crop. It is the practice of many to lay the ground in ridges of two 
and a half or three feet, and to cover the manure in these with a 
plough. This plan cannot be readily adopted upon a sward, but 
upon grounds under previous tillage, and to correct a wet soil, or 
economise manure, it is often the preferable mode. 
Sowing , S)'c .—-'The seed may be sown broad-cast or in drills. 
The latter is far the best mode, and the drill-barrow is an impor¬ 
tant aid in the process. The sooner the operations of manuring, 
ploughing, harrowing and sowing succeed each other the better, 
as seeds germinate soonest in fresh ploughed ground. If the drill- 
barrow is employed, a trace chain may be passed round the coul¬ 
ter, and the ends suffered to drag after it, which will cover the 
seeds sufficiently. Sometimes a small roller is attached to the 
barrow, to press the earth upon the seeds. We allow a pound of 
seed to the acre, though half this quantity, well distributed, is 
enough. The seed should be sown from the 20th June to the 5th 
July. If sown earlier, the turnip is apt to become hollow before 
harvesting, the water gets in and induces rot. We have never 
succeeded well in transplanting. 
Culture .—We use a cultivator, that may be graduated to the 
space between the rows, drawn by a horse, as soon as the plants 
can be well distinguished. This is repeated in a few days, twice 
in a space, and the implement carried so close to the drills, as to 
leave only strips of from two to six inches, which are then tho¬ 
roughly cleaned with a skim-hoe, and the plants thinned to eight 
and ten inches distance. The cultivator soon follows for a third 
