THE CULTIVATOR. 
63 
They stalk about Irom one place to another without any definite object in 
view—look at every thing around with a kind ot unconscious gaze—an 
glad to indulge in trifling talk and gossip with every one they meet—a. d, 
leeling how little enjoyment they derive liotn their own teflections, noi 
unlrcquen'ly slide into habits ol'sensuality and intemperance. 
From what we have stateil on this topic, it evidently appears that the 
puisuits of science aie fitted to yield a positive gratification to every la- 
tional mind. It presents to view processes, combinations, metamorpho¬ 
ses, motioi s, and objects of various descriptions calculated to arrest the 
attention and to astonish the mind, far more than all the romances and 
tales ot wonder that were ever invented by the human imagination.— 
When the pleasure arising from such studies are rendered accessible to 
all, human happiness will ne nearly on a level, and the different ranks ol 
mankind will enjoy it nearly in an equal degree. As true enjoyment de¬ 
pends chiefly on the state of the mind, and the train of thought that passes 
through it, it follows, that when a man prosecutes a rational tiain 01 
thought, and finds a pleasure in the conteii plation ot intellectual ob. 
jects. Iris happiness is less dependent on mcie sensitive enjoyments, 
and a smaller poition of external comfoits wilt le productive ot enjoy, 
m -lit than in the case of those whose chief pleasure consists in sen- 
su,l gratifications. When intellectual pursuits, therelbie, shall occupy 
the chief attention of mankind, we may indulge the hope, that those lest 
less and insatiable desires which avarice and ambition never cease to cre¬ 
ate, will seldom torment the soul, and that a noble generosity ot mind in 
relation to tiches will distinguish persons of every rank, and tie the means 
of producing enjoyment w herever its influi nee extends.— Dick. 
WHY SHOULDN'T A FARMER KNOW A THING OR TWO? 
W hy should not a tanner know more than other lolks? They certainly 
ought to, tor they have in this country more to do than others. 1 hey have 
to make more use of the pow ers or laws of nature than other folks; — they 
have to use the elements for tools—they are indeed practical chemists, 
(whether they are aware ot it or not,) for they have to make use of the va¬ 
rious substances which Nature gave them—they have to combine, sepa¬ 
rate, modify and change both simples and compounds. Their farm is at 
one and the same time a laboratory and a workshop, and in proportion as 
they operate in such a way as to afford the several elements of which the 
substances are composed, and upon which they are operating, to disunite 
or combine, will be their success. They depend upon Die vegetable 
world lor subsistence—their labor is among and upon tbe plants of the 
earth —why should they not know the proper name and nature of every 
tiee and herb and plant? 'I hey have to contend with insects and animals 
—why should they not know the habits, and the natures of these as well 
or better than any other class of people? They have to work upon the 
earth—they have to put it in a condition to bear a good crop--!hey have 
to change the state ol it anil adapt it to the various purposes and cions— 
why should they not know more and better respecting the ingredients ot 
their soil—the various mineral or fossil substances which they may find 
either upon their own or others’ farms? They have to “ discern the face 
of the sky,” and watch tire changes ot the atmosphere, and regulate their 
n overnents in accordance to the changes of tile w eather, temperature, &c. 
Why should they not know as much or more ot the composition ot the air or 
atmosphere, and the science of meteorology than any other people? They 
must use tools or implements of labor. They must take advantage of the 
principles ol mechanics and the application ot mathematics to piactical life. 
Is mere any good reason why they should not know as much or more than 
olheis, respecting (he science of mechanics or natural philosophy ? In tins 
countiy they have to contribute largely to the support and formation of the 
government, and upon them depends the election of rulers and law makers 
—why should they not understand the fundamental principles of national 
law—political science and political economy? They have to administer 
to the sickness of animals under their charge—heal w ounds and restore 
health—why should they not perfectly understand comparative anatomy, 
at hast, and also, physiology and the symptoms and treatment of diseases, 
as well as any others ? Indeed so wide is the field ot his labors, so nume¬ 
rous the objiels with which he is connected, so various the operations 
which he has to perform, th it we verily think that a farmer ought to be 
the most learned man upon earth. But can a man conquer or make 
himself perfectly familiar with every science and every thing? By no 
meaiS—yi t nevertheless he should have his mind so well stored with 
the general principles of all the sciences, that he can be guided by 
them when it becomes necessary to be more particular, and to know, 
when he employs a man devoted particularly to any one branch, whether 
lie is competent to the la-k, and will discharge his duty to him with fide¬ 
lity and precision.— Maine Farmer. 
“ The constant habit ol’enjo ing good thiuos is hurtful.”— Pub. 
Lee. Nothing is more prejudicial to the health or constitution 
than a too great indulgence in luxuries. Use but do not abuse the 
good things of the world* 
41 The love of money increases with our wealth, and lie who pos¬ 
sesses the least in general wishes the least for it.”— Juvenal. 
THE CULTIVATOR—JULY, 1835. 
TO IMPROVE THU SOIL AND THU MIND. 
LOOK AHEAD! 
Our northern farmers should be admonished, by the scarcity of 
cattle fodder, coarse grain and vegetables during the last spring, 
and by the inauspicious prospects of the season, to adopt extia 
means to provide for the coming winter. In this neighboihood, 
we may anticipate great loss in our wheat crop from the grain 
worm. In the south, particularly in Virginia, it is already ascer¬ 
tained that this crop will prove greatly delicient. Our Indian com 
has been planted late, on account of the backwardness of the sea¬ 
son ; and the uncommon devastations of the grub and wire-worms 
have rendered it necessary to plant much of it a second lime. Our 
meadows are unpromising, and the worms are doing much injury 
in them also. On the whole, we have reason to apprehend a scar¬ 
city, though even this apprehension, should it become general, 
will tend to economy and better management. The season will 
still admit of expedients to mitigate or to avert the anticipated 
evil. Some of these we will venture to enumerate, viz : 
1. Millet may yet be sown, by those who can procure the seed. 
It may be sown broad-cast, at the rate of four to six quarts an acre, 
and harrowed in, on any tolerable soil; and though it may not 
mature its seed, if cut and cured will serve as an excellent winter 
fodder, and will yield at the rate of one or two tons the acre, ac¬ 
cording to the richness of the soil. It is cut and cured like hay. 
2. Turnips. —These may be sown all this month, as a separate 
crop, or among Indian corn, at the last dressing. In open plant¬ 
ing, and w here the corn has partially failed, a considerable crop 
may be expected, and more particularly if the corn is cut and 
stooked, as our practice has uniformly been, as soon as the grain 
becomes glazed. The yellow Aberdeen keep best. The crop may 
be secured in pits, as directed for ruta baga, taking the precau¬ 
tion, by all means, of limiting the breadth of the pits to 21, or 3 
feet, and of giving vent holes for the ratified air to escape at the 
crown of the pile. They should he deposited in as dry a condi¬ 
tion as possible. 
3. Corn stalks and husks. —The ordinary value of these may 
be trebled or quadrupled as cattle fodder, by the mode we have 
often recommended in the Cultivator, particularly if they are cut 
small and steamed. 
4. Potatoes, pumpkins and apples. —By husbandi tg these, and 
not permitting them to he wasted through carelessness, and by 
COOKING them for swine, a great saving of coarse grain may be 
made. Let it be remembered, that the value of these, for hog teed, 
is at least doubled by the process of cooking, intimately mixing 
them, and suffering the mass to become sour before it is fed out. 
5. Cut provender. —We have the testimony of some of the most 
eminent horse and cattle managers in Great Britain and in the 
United States, founded on numerous and nicely managed experi¬ 
ments, that by cutting the straw and hay for our domestic animals, 
a saving of more than fifty per cent may he effected. The ordina¬ 
ry ration for a horse, is 28 lbs. of hay for 24 hours. It is found, 
that by cutting and mixing it with their grain, 8 to 12 lbs. will do 
as well as 28, fed in the ordinary n ay. But one fact is to be borne 
in mind—the feed must be given in mangers and not in racks. 
One-third to one-half of our hay is wasted, from the difficulty of 
masticating the long stocks, and from our slovenly mode of feed¬ 
ing it either on the ground, where much is trodden under foot and 
spoilt, or in illy constructed racks. 
6. Buckwheat, though not a common crop with good farmers, 
may be a profitable one in 1835. It may be sown during the 
coming fortnight in the north. A new kind, denominated Indian 
Wheat, the seed of which is small, is represented to be superior 
in quality, and more productive, than the common kind. 
BUDDING. 
The effect of propagating choice fruit, about a farmer’s premi¬ 
ses is, figuratively, to grow the rose where only grew the thorn, 
and literally, to provide for one’s family and friends, some of the 
choicest luxuries of life ; and these luxuries far surpass those of 
a like kind which are purchased with money, because upon one’s 
own trees, they may be permitted to attain their highest perfec- 
