1851 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
133 
whoso shall fail to be convinced, will thereby demon¬ 
strate his inability to comprehend-. 
If we lightly remember, as early as 1790-5, was the 
attention of Jefferson and Pickering directed to the 
formation of the mould-board of the plow, on scientific 
principles. They thought much and compared their 
views. Which originated most improvement we will not 
presume to say-. Their object was not so much to se¬ 
cure patents, as to secure improvements. The result 
was the publication of a new form of structure, with an 
explanation of the principle of operation. In 1803, Mr. 
Smith of Pennsylvania, substituted the cast-iron for the 
wooden mould-hoard. Since then a very great variety 
o'f modifications and combinations, (too numerous to 
mention,) some founded on 'principles tangible , and oth¬ 
ers on principles imaginary , have been brought forward. 
But if we do not mistake, nearly all that is valuable in 
these improvements, was embraced in the contemplations 
of these original minds. By so doing, they literally con¬ 
verted the weapons they had so successfully wielded, 
into plowshares—benefiting the world more than any 
victories at arms. 
. Col. Pickering’s mind was so disciplined to accuracy 
of thought and logical conclusions, that he could not en¬ 
dure with patience, the ill-founded notions and whims, 
that frequently have a pervading influence on many 
minds in the community. Illustrative of this, we remem¬ 
ber an incident that occurred at one of the meetings of 
the board of trustees, over which he presided. One of 
the members of the board, a practical farmer, possess¬ 
ed of more acres than ideas , had been discoursing, with 
more ardor than discretion, upon the proper age of the 
moon , in which hushes should be mown., that they might 
not sprout again ; and had specified a certain day of the 
first or last quarter, (we do not remember which,) in 
the month of August, provided the moon should be in 
the right sign, with her horns in right position, &e„, &c„ 
The speaker having triumphantly put forth his theory, 
confirmed by observations for a time the memory of 
man runneth not to the contrary, calmly waited for oth¬ 
ers to say amen! “ My friends,” says the Colonel, 11 1 
hope never again to hear from you, or any other mem¬ 
ber of this board anything, whatever, of the influence of 
the moon, upon any of the operations in agriculture. I 
should as soon think of calling in the aid of 1 the Man 
in the Moon ,’ to assist in the labors of the field—be they 
chopping, plowing, sowing, mowing, hoeing, harvesting, 
or whatever they may be,—as to expect any favorable 
or unfavorable influences, from the age or position of 
the moon. Let me tell you, that old man, pictured in 
the Farmer’s Almanac, surrounded with the twelve 
signs, and as many jaw cracking names, and pierced by 
as many arrows, has done more harm than all the mete¬ 
orological prognostications of the most weather-wise cal¬ 
culators, have ever done good. I want such rules only, 
for labor, in the operations on the farm, as are supported 
by reason, and are in harmony with common sense.” It is 
unnecessary to say that the gentleman’s argument was 
never again urged in the presence of the president, 
He was remarkable for regular and temperate habits^- 
no man more so. This, not in conformity with the fash¬ 
ion or custom of the day—but because of his thorough 
belief in the utility of such habits. ¥e remember to 
have heard him say, that he had taken medicine but 
once, for more than forty years. This, he said, was on 
the day preceding the battle at Yorktown (we think,) 
when having been much exposed in attending to the du¬ 
ties of his department, he was severely attacked with a 
feverish affection. A seasonable prescription from an 
intelligent Scotch physician afforded relief. Ordinarily, 
abstinence was his regulator of bodily infirmities. Never¬ 
theless, his good sense taught him, that there are ex¬ 
ceptions to all general rules;—and therefore he consent¬ 
ed to be advised, when he could not do without the ad¬ 
vise. 11 Whenever,” said he, u I find my system in the 
least disordered, I refrain from crowding the stomach, 
make such external applications to the skin, as tend to 
correct the inconvenience. In this way, have I kept 
my system free of all poisonous annoyances.” Absti¬ 
nence from everything prejudicial, either to mind or 
body, was with him a cardinal virtue. On this principle 
he avoided the use of tobacco, and discouraged its use 
in others. 
In the domestic relations of life, were the qualities of 
his nature most full} 7 developed. Blessed with a com¬ 
panion entirely worthy of him,—chosen in youth, when 
heart unites with heart by ties irrevocable,—and with 
eight sons and two charming twin daughters, his home 
was ever the abode of the best affections. Stern as he 
might be, in the rougher paths of the world, when ming¬ 
ling with his family, he was gentle and conciliatory al¬ 
most to a fault. No man loved his family better,—no 
man ever found his love more cordially reciprocated. 
Col. Pickering was truly a religious man. At all 
times he seemed to be fully impressed with that most sa¬ 
lutary of admonitions — u Thou God seest me,” His re¬ 
ligion was of that elass that moves the inner man —and 
not that which exhausts itself in vapi professions. He 
was strictly exemplary in his observance of all the cus¬ 
toms and ordinances of the class of Christians with whom 
it was his happiness to associate; scrupulously careful 
of avoiding offence to those who conscientiously enter¬ 
tained different views; confident and fully persuaded in 
his own belief, and ever ready to give a reason for the 
faith that was in him; still charitable enough to view 
with favor, all, of whatever name or sect they might be, 
who honestly and intelligently believed, and lived ac¬ 
cordingly. He never pretended to have any religion to 
speak of. Nevertheless, none could have witnessed his 
venerable form in the church, (where he constantly at¬ 
tended,) at the table of the Lord, without being fully 
impressed with the text, u Behold an Israelite indeed, 
jn whom there is no guile,” 
It may be interesting to those who never saw Col. P. 
to be informed of his personal appearance. This was 
peculiarly striking. It brought to mind distinctly the 
notion formed of the old Roman character. In this he 
was not unlike Gen. Jackson, for whom he entertained 
a high respect, He was tall, (six feet at least,) a hletic, 
erect, square shouldered, full in the breast, muscular, 
and his entire movement marked the perfect man. But 
above all, his high forehead and prominent brow, with the 
piercing eye beneath, and the general expression of in¬ 
telligence about the head, never failed to leave a convic¬ 
tion on the mind, of his intellectual superiority. 
This was frequently noticed in his intercourse withtho 
