THE CULTIVATOR. 
79 
Original (Hommunications. 
“In Agriculture, Experience is of great value— Theories of 
little, excepting as they are directly deducible from actual ex¬ 
periments and well attested facts.” 
Loretto, Va. March 16, 1841. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker —If the only object of my hum¬ 
ble efforts to aid our cause, were the approbation of my agri¬ 
cultural brethren, the favorable notices bestowed on these ef¬ 
forts by yourselves and some of your numerous correspond¬ 
ents, would induce me to make no more, lest I should forfeit 
by future attempts, all the commendation which the past have 
already procured for me. But much as I confess that such 
approbation has gratified me, I prefer risking the loss of all I 
have gained, rather than to be suspected of acting solely, or 
even chiefly, from so selfish a motive. I shall therefore con¬ 
tinue my communications from time to time, or at least so long 
as you continue to publish them; for that circumstance will 
satisfy me, that you yourselves believe they* may contribute 
something worth a place in your paper, towards promoting 
the great ends I always have in view, which are, the improve¬ 
ment of American Husbandry, and the elevation of our class 
to its proper rank in society. Once for all, let this suffice for 
an explanation, (should any be deemed necessary,) of the mo¬ 
tives which have induced me so often to write for the Cultiva¬ 
tor. A small degree of success will be deemed an ample re¬ 
ward for my trouble; and should I fail, the consciousness of 
having earnestly and honestly labored in so glorious a cause, 
will console me for my disappointment. 
A few more preliminary remarks shall bring me to the sub¬ 
jects of my present communication. 
There are certain duties to ourselves and others, which are 
very seldom regarded by young persons as matters of any im¬ 
mediate or particular importance; much less as indispensable 
to the prosperity and welfare of all mankind. Many of these 
duties apply chiefly to that portion of those devoted to agricul¬ 
ture, as I propose presently to show; premising, however, that 
the serious consideration of a single fact, ought to convince all 
who are thus engaged, of the absolute necessity, the paramount 
obligation to fulfil mem. It is, that if we habitually neglect them 
in early life, we inevitably subject our latter days to very many 
grievous losses and crosses, for which no remedy whatever can 
then be found. The acquisition of wealth and respectability— 
of health of body and peace of mind—of all the conveniences, 
comforts and enjoyments of life, depends upon our strict and 
faithful performance of these duties. And although some of 
them may seem in their enunciation, to be mere prudential 
and economical precepts, applicable chiefly to our own individ¬ 
ual domestic concerns, yet the greater part will be found, upon 
due consideration, to involve momentous moral obligations. 
Being now an old man, I can confidently affirm, that I not 
only believe, but know, all which I have said, or shall say of 
them, to be true to the very letter—having witnessed numer¬ 
ous most distressing instances of whole families reduced to. ex¬ 
treme want, by the failure of those upon whom they depend¬ 
ed—constantly to inculcate, both by precept and example, the 
absolute necessity of unceasing obedience to these duties. 
Most sincerely therefore, do I hope that at least the youthful 
portion of my agricultural brethren, in whose welfare I feel 
the deepest interest, will take my word for it, when I solemn¬ 
ly assure them, that the strict and faithful observance, while 
they are young, of the maxims and precepts to which I am 
about respectfully to solicit their earnest attention, is the only 
thing that can possibly secure them in old age, from sufferings, 
for which they may seek, but will never find entire relief on 
this side the grave. I mean not to affirm that all are equally 
essential, for I speak of them in the aggregate. But. if my 
young friends postpone the adoption of the most important of 
these salutary rules of conduct, as is too commonly the case, 
until their own bitter, dear-bought experience forces upon 
them the full conviction of their inestimable value, it will tnen 
alas! be too late—utterly, irretrievably too late. 
. Permit me now, to present_ them for the special considera¬ 
tion of the youthful portion of my readers; and to express the 
earnest hope, that they will regard them as the offering of one 
of their most sincere and devoted old friends, who may now, 
perhaps, be addressing them for the last time. 
Maxims and Precepts for Young; Partners. 
I. —Regard all persons whose time and labor are wholly at 
your command, as beings for whose health, comfort, and good 
conduct in this life, you will be held most fearfully responsible 
in the life to come. 
II. —Never forget that both moral and bodily health depend 
on the same thing; that is, temperance in food, drink, and all 
sensual indulgences ; and temperance in the use of means to 
get rich. 
III. —To wish well , is not enough ; you must also do well , or 
your benevolence, like faith without good works, will be dead 
and utterly worthless. 
IV. —Ever bear in mind, that useful knowledge, and the 
proper application of it, are to the health of the soul, what 
wholesome food and appropriate exercise are to the health of 
the body. 
V. —Value as you ought, the experience of others, and your 
own will cost you far less than without such aid ; since to use 
theirs costs only an effort of memory, whereas the price paid 
for your own will often be the loss of health, fortune, and cha¬ 
racter. 
VI. —The more you strive to enrich your minds with every 
good thing which men and books can teach, the greater will 
be your power to gain wealth, honor, fame, and every ration¬ 
al enjoyment. 
VII. —Tru-t not others to do for you, what you can readily 
and as well do for yourselves. 
VIII. —The farmer who is ashamed of manual labor, will 
very soon find cause to be much more ashamed of himself. 
IX. —If you ever make a business of your pleasures, they 
will most assuredly soon make an end of your business. 
X. —Leave show to spendthrifts and fools, while you and 
your families consult only tasteful simplicity, comfort and use¬ 
fulness, in all your arrangements and expenses. 
XI. —Love not money for its own sake; still less for the 
power it gives you to gratify selfish and sinful passions. But 
fail not to regard it as the most, efficient means to accomplish 
all benevolent purposes. You will (hus make it a blessing, 
instead of a curse, both to yourselves and ot ,ers. 
XII. —True economy, consists not so much in saving mo¬ 
ney, as in spending it when made, solely and judiciously for 
purposes really useful. This annually increases your profits, 
instead of diminishing or keeping them stationary. 
XIII. —Avoid debt as you would a pestilence, for it hum¬ 
bles, debases, and degrades a man in his own eyes; subjects 
him to insults and persecutions from others; but stiff worse, it 
is a perpetual temptation, however anxiously resisted, to fraud, 
falsehood and theft—nay, not unfrequently, to despair and 
self-murder. 
XIV. —To take advantage in a bargain, is virtually to take 
money out of another’s pocket, who is not aware of it. World¬ 
lings call it ‘ fair play,” but all honest men call it “ cheating 
and swindling.” 
XV. —The only just means of increasing wealth, are con¬ 
stant industry—true economy of time as well as money—well 
directed labor, and the regular application of a portion of our 
fair profits to increase our capital. 
XVI. —Never expect your lands to give you much, if you 
give them little; nor to make you rich, if you make themyioor. 
Therefore, always manure them to the full extent of your 
means, and they will ever make you ample returns in rapidly 
increasing productions. 
XVII. —Economy, not less than humanity, requires you to 
keep ail your farming stock in thriving condition ; for a work¬ 
ing animal in good order, will do much more work, and eat 
less than a poor one; while the rest of your stock, well kept, 
will yield more of every thing, than double their number, if 
half starved, as such animals often are. 
XVIII.—To “ save at the spigot, and let out at thebung,” will 
soon empty the biggest hogshead; so will economy in small 
matters, and waste in large ones, speedily squander the largest 
estate. 
XIX. —In all your farming operations, never forget that 
time, like money, if once lostormis-spent, is forever past recov¬ 
ery. 
XX. —Constantly arrange beforehand, the daily work of 
your farms. Then none of your laborers need ever be idle in 
waiting to be told what he has to do. 
XXI. —Provide a place for every thing, and misplace noth¬ 
ing. No time will ever then be lost in searching for what you 
want. 
XXII. —Keep double sets of such plantation implements as 
are most used, and most exposed to wear and tear. The 
whole cost of extra sets, will be amply repaid bv saving the 
whole time lost in waiting for repairs, where only single sets 
are kept. 
XXIII.—Never resort to what are called “ make shifts,'' 
when it is possible to avoid it; for they encourage carlessness 
and sloth, of which they are almost always sure signs. 
XXIV. —The very reverse of the lawyer’s maxim — 11 de 
minimis non curat Lex,” —the law regards not the smallest mat¬ 
ters—must be the farmer’s guide, or his largest concerns can 
never prosper as they might. 
XXV. —To keep good gates and fences, saves much time 
and labor in preventing tresspasses; much loss of crops from 
depredations; and best of all, it saves much wrangling and iff 
will among neighbors, about mischievous stock. 
XXVI. —If you would excel in your profession, the diligent 
culture of your mind is as indispensable as that of your fields. 
XXVII.—Never commit the self-hurtful folly of looking up¬ 
on any of the honest trades, professions and callings, as inim¬ 
ical to your own ; for there is a natural bond of interest and 
amity between the whole, which cannot possibly be preserved, 
without the cordial co-operation of all. 
XXVIII.—Encourage, both by precept and example, the 
true spirit of Husbandry; for it promotes harmony, good will, 
and social intercourse among all with whom you deal; it 
tends to elevate your own class to its proper rank; and above 
all, it advances the welfare of ycJftr country, by promoting the 
most important of all her great interests. 
XXIX.—Never flatter yourselves, as some silly people do, 
that you know all which can be known, even of the most simple 
branch of your profession, or you will soon know much less 
than thousands of your more modest, less assuming brethren. 
But always act under the firm belief that there is no ascer¬ 
tainable limit to our acquisitions in any art or science what¬ 
ever; nor any difficulties which constant, diligent study can 
not overcome. Your progress, then, towards the highest at¬ 
tainable point in whichever you prefer, will be as sure as fate 
itself. The accidents and vicissitudes of life may possibly in¬ 
terrupt your course; but only persevere, and you will finally 
conquer, with absolute certainty, all obstacles that are not in¬ 
superable. 
And now, Messrs. Editors, suffer me in conclusion, to ad¬ 
dress a few deprecatory remarks to the older class of your 
readers, lest they should possibly suppose I was vain enough 
to believe, that there was something new to them in what I 
have just written. My only purpose was the one first avow¬ 
ed ; and that is, to endeavor to render some service to my 
youthful brethren, upon whose characters and conduct so 
much of their country’s good depends; by imparting for their 
special use, the results of many years experience and obser¬ 
vation. In executing this purpose, it occurred to me that to 
give these results the form of detached maxims and precepts, 
would probably be more apt to engage their attention, than if 
I presented them in the more diffuse, connected style of an 
essay or lecture. With this explanation I leave them to their 
fate; but with the confident hope that all will approve the mo¬ 
tive which prompted them, whatever some may think of the 
matter and manner of the author. Yours, with regard. 
JAMES M. GARNETT. 
P- S. 1 —Your correspondent, Mr. George II Chrisman, has 
requested to know “ the character of the soil and subsoil upon 
which my experiments were made,” with cow-pen manure al¬ 
ternately plowed in, and left on the surface, until the following 
spring ; and it gives me pleasure to give him the required in¬ 
formation. The soil was dry, shallow, somewhat light, and 
of a greyish color, with a large mixture of sand. The subsoil 
was of a pale yellow color, gradually deepening, but still hav¬ 
ing a considerable portion of sand, to a depth beyond the reach 
of any plow. The texture, however, of the soil, had it been 
stiff, would not very materially varied the result, if my conjec¬ 
ture be correct, which is, that the fertilizing principles of all 
vegetp-animnl manure, (unless perhaps it be the gases they 
contain,) sink more or less, as soon as the rain dissolves them ; 
and to a depth, in all arable soils, if plowed or spaded in, seve¬ 
ral months before seed-time, below the roots of any but long, 
tap-rooted plants. If the power of the sun to exhale these 
principles, were stronger than that of the soil to absorb, to 
amalgamate with, and to retain them, then, even to bury them 
by the plow, would not secure them in the earth; for we all 
know that evaporation is constantly going on, and from a 
great depth below the surface. 
With your permission, I will take this opportunity to say a 
few words to another of your correspondents—Mr. F. H. 
Gordon, of Tennessee. In the first place, I beg him to ac¬ 
cept my thanks for his favorable opinion of myself and my 
newspaper labors, and to assure him that it would gratify me 
much to see at my house, either him, or any other such good 
friend to Agriculture, as he appears to be. But candor re¬ 
quires me to tell him, (and to my shame be it spoken,) that he 
would find me to be one of those very numerous volunteer 
teachers of good doctrines and their application, who are far 
from always “ practicing what they preach.” This however, 
should not invalidate the doctrines themselves, nor the most 
approved modes of applying them; since if it did, the progress 
of mankind in any branch of knowledge connected with prac¬ 
tical morality, would be infinitely slower than it has ever yet 
been. Once convinced that a thing is right, we must not wait 
to do it for the example of our instructors, much as they are 
in duty bound to give it, but commence the good work, with¬ 
out delay, or we may lose the opportunity altogether. 
I concur entirely with Mr. Gordon, in thinking that the 
best use our government could make of Mr. Smythson’s lega¬ 
cy, would be to establish with it a great National School of 
Agriculture, connected with a National Agricultural Society 
and Experimental Farm, upon which annual fairs should be 
held. But I much fear, that if Congress should ever be will- 
ing'to spare sufficient time from their seemingly endless party 
quarrels, to attend to a matter apparently of such inferior in¬ 
terest to them, as the appropriation of this most munificent 
and philanthropic gift, their inquiry after the money will be 
a “non est inventur and this I say without any allusion to 
any person or persons whatever; for I know not what has be¬ 
come of the cash. 
In speaking of the means most likely to effect the establish¬ 
ment of a National Society of Agriculture in connection with 
a great Agricultural School, Mr. Gordon asks:—“ Cannot 
half a dozen such men as Mr. Garnett, induce a few promi¬ 
nent members of Congress to take a prominent stand in favor 
of the measure ?” In reply, I have it in my power to assure 
him, that one “ such man,” even Mr. Garnett himself, did, du¬ 
ring the past session, write to three prominent members of 
that body, on the subject of a National Agricultural Society. 
Two of them were members of the lower nouse, and one of 
the Senate. From the two M. C.’s he received a letter each, 
full of kind expressions and as much praise of the scheme as 
the most sanguine among us could possibly desire; but pro¬ 
nouncing the limes decidedly unfavorable to its consumma¬ 
tion ;—ergo, they were not the men to attempt it. Of course, 
I neither wished nor expected they should, contrary to their 
own opinion. From the prominent Senator alluded to, I re¬ 
ceived a letter, in which he expresses the liveliest interest in 
the cause of Agriculture; a strong wish to promote it; and an 
assurance, that should any meeting be gotten up, at the extra 
session of Congress, for establishing a National Society of 
Agriculture, he will give it all the attendance which his offi¬ 
cial duties will permit. This assurance has inspired me with 
a degree of hope which was almost extinct; for confident I 
am, that if such a meeting should take place, that Senator’s 
moral influence alone would be almost sure to accomplish its 
object. 
Canada Thistles. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker— In the last Cultivator, I find 
an inquiry as to the best method of destroying Canada this¬ 
tles; in answer to which, I propose to give to the public 
through the Cultivator, some part of my experience and prac¬ 
tice on the subject. For large pieces, the best method is to 
plow them several times in the course of the season; this may 
be done without inconvenience on summer fallows, or fields 
to be plowed the season following; for small pieces, covering 
with turf, I have found the most effectual. Cutting with a 
sythe or hoe, will undoubtedly have the desired effect, but is 
attended with far more labor than covering, on account of its 
having to be so often repeated. The main root of the thistle 
grows in a horizontal direction, with buds at a greater or less 
distance; each of those buds sending up a thistle. I know 
not to what length those roots will grow, but I have traced 
them over thirty feet, and found their appearance very similar 
the whole length; consequently if we puff up the thistle, un¬ 
less we break it from the horizontal root, so as to destroy the 
bud, it will sprout again; or if we cut it with a sythe or hoe, 
it checks the growth for the time being, and as far as the main 
root depends on the exposure of the sprouts to the light and 
air for support, so far that is checked in its growth. Judge 
Buel compares the leaves of plants to the lungs of animals, and 
says they are as essential to their existence ; if so, it is obvious 
that the complete destruction of the plant, deprives the root of 
further nourishment, and the desired object is attained. For 
small pieces, I use a spade, after the plant is six or eight inch¬ 
es high, and cover thin with turf, repeating it whenever more 
plants appear that much above the ground. Three operations 
is generally sufficient with the spade; the plough generally re¬ 
quiring more, as it is not so effectually done. Thistles, before 
the horizontal roots are formed, may be destroyed by once 
pulling. Pasturing with sheep for several seasons, will very 
much reduce the number and size of the thistles, and I once 
thought I should succeed in clearing a field in that way, but 
on plowing again, I found some left. Sowing with buckwheat, 
will diminish them very much, and I believe a succession of 
such crops would entirely destroy them ; my experience how¬ 
ever, goes no farther than two years. I do not suppose the 
crop has any tendency to destroy the thistle, but the season of 
plowing is the most suitable for their destruction. 
The larger the thistle, when plowed under, the more likely 
to be destroyed. There should be no part of the leaves expo¬ 
sed from which the roots can receive support. 
DANIEL S. CURTIS. 
Canaan Center, N. F., March 11, 1841. 
“ Bulleting.” 
“ A Subscriber,” at Connellsville, Pa., who inquires 
respecting the efficacy of the process called buffeting as 
practiced in Kentucky as a substitute for spaying, is in¬ 
formed that so far as we have been able to learn, the 
practice, as with him, has been a failure when attempt¬ 
ed in this part of the United States. It is probable that 
spaying is to be preferrel, as not essentially more diffi¬ 
cult of operation, and certainly effectual in its results. 
