40 
THE CULTIVATOR, 
their color and shape, and perfection in the purposes 
they serve. Also, minerals may be examined and 
compared, their properties investigated and the pro¬ 
portion in which they exist in the composition of 
different rocks learned. It may be shown that the 
crumbling down of rocks and the admixture of vege¬ 
table matter, form soils, which according to the 
presence or absence of certain elements are rendered 
fertile or barren: that the elements which compose 
vegetable substances are derived from the soil and 
atmosphere, and that these support animal life and 
promote animal growth. In this way, by improving 
the means within reach, the young may be educated 
in the sciences that relate to agriculture, and there 
may be a constant progression. But some perhaps 
who almost consider it sacrilege to be wiser than 
their fathers were, may inquire, “What is the use 
of ail this learning?” True, it may not be of much 
use simply to know what is quartz, feldspar, lime¬ 
stone, potash or soda, or to know that stamens and 
pistils are a part of blossoms, but it is beneficial in con¬ 
nection with this, to know what soils are adapted to 
different vegetables; what vegetables are best for the 
growth of animals; and what causes fertility or 
sterility in plants that produce fruits, as well as in 
soils that produce vegetables. We might retort 
back upon such querists, and ask them what is the 
use of ignorantly laboring a whole life in obedience 
to the thought, “ What shall we eat? or, What shall 
we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” 
and measure our success by the amount of property 
we expect to leave our heirs? 
“ A man is known by the company he keeps,” and 
equally as well by the paper he takes, or the book he 
buys. We do not expect to find an intelligent famil}' 
where there are no papers or books, neither do we ex¬ 
pect that farmer to keep up with the times, who does 
not read his agricultural journal. The various agri¬ 
cultural books and papers now published, have a 
wide-spread influence, and may be considered as 
great and efficient helps in acquiring an education, 
and as such, are not to be neglected. 
Some of our colleges have established an agricultu¬ 
ral department in their respective institutions, for 
the purpose of teaching agricultural science. This 
is very laudable, but it does not fully meet the wants 
of the people. Practice must be taught with theory, 
to be effective; for, though a man may understand 
all science, if he does not know how to labor, he 
would starve if the support of his physical system 
depended upon his own exertions. The efforts that 
have been made in New-York and Massachusetts to 
establish Agricultural Colleges, are worthy of much 
commendation, and will no doubt, ere long, be suc¬ 
cessful. Such schools, rightly conducted, will exert 
a tremendous influence over the future destiny of 
our country, although but few, comparatively, may 
avail themselves of the facilities thereby presented, 
Jan. 
for acquiring an education. But their beneficial 
effects will be in a great degree owing to their reflex 
influence. This will be according to the success of 
the graduates in the communities in which they re¬ 
side and labor. If they are successful in carrying 
out the principles they have learned, their neighbors 
will adopt the same measures, and pursue a like 
course in the management of their farms. Thus 
knowledge will be increased. But no doubt the in¬ 
struction imparted in these schools would be much 
more efficient if the agricultural and scientific edu¬ 
cation of the pupil was commenced by their natural 
teachers at home. Having learned the rudiments of 
science, they would make greater proficiency on en¬ 
tering the schools, and when their school education 
was completed, they would be better prepared to 
pursue their studies in the book of Nature. 
There is to the farmers “a good time coming,” 
undoubtedly. They are awaking from the long, 
dreamy sleep of years, to a sense of their capabili¬ 
ties, their rights, and their proper position among 
men. The advantages of a good education are being 
appreciated; science is called to the aid of experi¬ 
ence; better modes of husbandry are sought out and 
adopted, and every new discovery is leading to others 
no less important. Indications of good are all 
around. To the young, especially, who have chosen 
agriculture as their vocation, there are encouraging 
prospects ahead, such as their fathers never knew. 
With so many means within their reach, to acquire 
an education suited to their wants, it may not only be 
a pleasure, but it is positively a duty as it will be so 
necessary to success in life. There should be a love 
of knowledge, and a resolution to obtain it, and— 
“ la the lexicon of youth, which fate reserves 
For a bright manhood; there is no such word 
As FAIL.” 
East Weave, N. //. W. L. Eaton. 
- +&< - 
HARVESTING MACHINES. 
In our November number, we gave a letter from Sir. 
Dennison, an English correspondent, making some 
inquiries in relation to machines used in this country 
for cutting grain. In answer to those inquiries, we 
have received several communications, furnishing 
much useful information. In connection with these, 
we give also cuts of Mr. McCormick’s and Mr. Hus¬ 
sey’s machines. Eds. 
Better from the Inventor of McCormick’s Reaper. 
Editors Cultivator —I most cheerfully comply 
with your request, in furnishing the following “par¬ 
ticulars respecting Reaping Machines,” in answer 
to your London correspondent, so far as I can give 
the information he desires. 
I have manufactured at this place the three last 
years, for use on the prairies of the ivest, 500, 1,500, 
and 1,600 of “McCormick’s Patent Virginia Reap¬ 
ers,” and am now engaged in providing a like sup¬ 
ply of them for the next harvest. I sell my 
reaper for $115 cash, or $120, part cash and part on 
