THE CULTIVATOR. 
135 
been laid on, having been found to tear a closer and a better crop 
of grass than that which had been recently applied. 
4. Shelly marl, which is evidently produced by the remains of 
testaceous fish, which, dying in their shells, become, in process of 
time, converted into calcareous earth, and their bodies, when decom¬ 
posed, furnish a kind of mould composed of animal substance, which 
is no doubt analogous to the effect of dung. It is, therefore, highly 
fertilizing when judiciously applied to soils of every kind, which are 
either in themselves dry, or which have been properly drained. 
Such are the most common denominations by which marl is usu¬ 
ally distinguished, though it is susceptible of many subdivisions by 
those who affect to treat the subject scientifically. It is, however, 
more frequently classed under the sole characters of siliceous, argi- 
laceous, or calcareous, according as sard, clay, or lime predominates 
in its composition, but, for a'l practical purposes, it may be suffi¬ 
cient to divide it into earth-marl and shell-marl.—Library of Useful 
Knowledge, Farmer's Series. 
Young Men’s Department. 
ON THE USE OF HISTORY— by j. inghajvi. ~ 
By studying history and examining causes and effects, a man may 
sharpen his penetration, fix the attention of his mind, and strength¬ 
en his judgment. Thus he learns how to exert that flexibility and 
steadiness which are necessary to be joined in the conduct of all 
affairs that depend upon the opposition of other men. All of our 
powers must improve by exercise. Now history presents us with 
the same exercises and objects which we meet with in the transac¬ 
tion of business through life. Therefore they excite the same kind 
of reflections, and give the same exercise to our thoughts, and thus 
produce the same turn of mind. By the use of history we begin 
our acquaintance with the world sooner, and bring into the busi¬ 
ness of it such a habit and temper of mind as is acquired by pass¬ 
ing through it; and which will make us appear to far greater ad¬ 
vantage in it, and not such mere novices, upon our introduction in¬ 
to it, as we should otherwise be. We should study history as we 
would philosophy, and then we are certain to collect and distinguish 
such principles and rules of conduct which are generally true ; be¬ 
cause they are conformable to the invariable nature of things ; and 
by so doing we can also form to ourselves a system of ethics and 
politics on a solid foundation. The impressions which this antici¬ 
pated knowledge makes upon us, it is certain will not be so deep as 
those which are the result of our own personal acquaintance ; and our 
maxims of conduct formed in this manner, will not be so firmly rivited 
in our minds. But then they will have the advantage of being more 
correct, and of being a better guide to us than any thing we could 
have learned from our own random experience. This is because 
the examples of history are generally complete. History opens 
every thing before us. W e can view men and things at, their full 
length, as we say; and we generally see them through a medium 
which is less partial than that of experience. Whereas in real life 
every scene opens very flowery, we see therefore but a small part 
of an object at one time, and are consequently liable to be deceived 
into a very fallacious judgment. It was a want of acquaintance 
with history that made the Chinese express their wonder and as¬ 
tonishment to find their country make so small a figure on the map 
of the world, which was showed them by the Jesuits of that coun¬ 
try. Without the aid of history, the advantages of our rational 
nature would be extremely circumscribed ; and the more complete, 
the more exact and comprehensive is our furniture of historical 
knowledge. “ Knowledge is powerand all the excellence of 
human nature, all the advantage we have above the brutes, is de¬ 
rived from the use of our intellectual powers. History gratifies 
that curiosity which is common in man. It is delightful to those 
whose intellect is just dawning, and to those whose faculties are 
matured by the lapse of time and the process of cultivation. It 
traces the progress of man from the savage state, and through the 
intermediate degrees of civilization, to the nearest approaches of 
perfection. It rates the effects of laws and political regulations 
which have been produced by external violence; and no less aston¬ 
ishing changes, which have been occasioned by the corruption of 
ancient systems of governments. It points out the sources of the 
errors of former days, and leads us to the discernment of the means 
which have crowned with success such plans as have been produc¬ 
tive of benefit to the public. It tends to prevent the recurrence, 
and to diminish the remaining influence of superstition and reli¬ 
gious persecutions, and Of the long train Of calamities with which 
those enemies of human happihess are accompanied. Fot who can 
read the memorials of the papal usurpation in the dark ages, and of 
the melancholy consequences by which they were followed, without 
imbibing a spirit of tolerance, and a determined disposition to dis¬ 
countenance any claims which may receive the unjust assumption 
of inordinate spiritual power. We learn, also from history, that 
Gideon, the renowned champion and Judge of Israel, quitted the 
threshing floor to preside in the public assembly of his countrymen; 
and Cincinnatus, the Conqueror of the Volsci, left his plough to 
lead the Roman armies to battle; afterwards declined the reward 
gained by his victories, to return to his native fields. In short, it 
instructs us how miseries and misfortunes may hereafter be avoided. 
Natural history, which generally signifies a knowledge of the whole 
world, is of great use to all who wish to become acquainted with 
natural objects. Every young man, by acquiring a knowledge of 
natural history, can take great delight in an object of almost any 
kind. The farmer ought to possess a thorough knowledge of this 
branch of education, which would make him admire the works of 
GOD with more pleasure, and therefore learn wisdom from the 
works of HIS ALMIGHTY POWER. 
Manheim, Herkimer co. August 11th, 1836. 
HINTS TO YOUNG FARMERS. 
Several numbers, being “ Hints to Farmers,” were written by the Conduc¬ 
tor, and published, some three or four years ago. To give them a more ex¬ 
tended circulation, we intend to transfer such of them occasionally, in - o the 
Cuhivtaor, as may seem most worthy of the notice of our young readers. 
On leaving the paternal roof, to seek my fortune in the wide 
world, when about 18 years of age, my father gave me this partincr 
admonition : “ My son, take care always to let well enough alone.” 
The occasion served to impress the advice deeply on my mind, and 
amid the diversified scenes of the subsequent thirty-five years, it has 
seldom been forgotten; and I have reason to believe it has had a 
very salutary influence upon my prosperity and happiness. It has 
afforded, withal, something of a standard by which to gauge the in¬ 
discretions of others. How often has a disregard, in others, to this 
maxim, reminded me of the Italian epitaph : “ I was well, wished to 
be better, took physic, and here I am.” The true philosophy of 
happiness is to depend on one’s self for the blessing—on the lively 
exercise of the virtues which can alone confer it.. The man who is 
industrious and frugal, and who scrupulously fulfils the relative and 
social duties, whatever be his condition or profession, stands the best 
chance of enjoying a goodly portion of the comforts and pleasures 
of life, and of perpetuating in his children his habits and his virtues. 
While he who would live by the industry of others, or who expects 
to find happiness in the frail applause which wealth or ostentation may- 
extort from those around him, seldom succeeds in his desires. 
Tom Tape was my schoolmate. Tom had rather high notions 
from his boyhood; and persuaded his father to put him to a mer¬ 
chant. In due time Tom became the master of a shop of goods, 
was attentive and fortunate, and acquired a snug estate. Had he 
let well enough alone, he might now have been the head man of our 
town. But pride got the better of prudence, and persuaded him 
that he might do better at New-York. He went there, figured as a 
wholesale merchant, for which neither his capital nor his experience 
were adequate, for three years, and then came the notice in the 
state paper for his creditors to show cause, &c. 
Tjerck Wessel’s farm joined mine. He was one of our best far¬ 
mers, and understood the value of u come boys,” as well as any one. 
Good luck was so constantly by his side, that he considered that any 
man might get rich who had a mind to. Yet he could not let well 
enough alone —he wished to do better. He therefore removed to 
the village and opened a tavern, and had the promise of the justice 
courts and of the stage custom. “ Go boys,” did not improve the 
farm, and it soon became neglected and unproductive. By and by 
the courts were removed by law, the stage went to the new hotel, 
and the temperance era wound up the tavern business. Tjerck 
has got back to the farm, with habits very much altered, and his 
fortune not a little impaired. Yet he consoles himself, that he is 
not half so bad off as 
Joe Sledge, once our master blacksmith, afterwards a mer¬ 
chant, and now a journeyman. Joe was so famous for his 
edge tools, that people came to him from all parts. He had 
his journeymen and his apprentices, and was always present 
to oversee them, and to be seen by his customers, as all 
