If we would enjoy ourselves, we must take the world as it is-mix up a thousand spots of sunshine 22 a cloud here and there-a bright sky-a storm to-day, FIRST LESSONS IN AGRICULTURE. have been designed for a single chain-the numerous gradations being links in this chain. No one can deny that much might be said of the plausibility of such a theory—a multitude of facts might be reached, interesting to the speculative mind, and puzzling, in the extreme, to those who adhere with tenacious jealousy to the systems and dogmas embraced in childhood and youth. Without entering into philosophical speculations of this sort, it is sufficient for our present purpose to use wellestablished facts in animal economy, to establish corresponding ones in the vegetable world. The latter, to the unlearned, may not be apparent; but, to the man of science, they are as well authenticated as the former. The position has been assumed, that vegetables require food as well as animals. But this is not all. We well know, that the same kind of food is not suited to the constitution, and the taste, and organs of all kinds of animals. By their distinctive organs, one class is carnivorous and another granivorous. Those of the ocean generally require different food from those on the land. And, among the latter, the instincts of hunger are nearly innumerable. The noble horse and the enduring ox are disposed to feed on the verdant grass. Grain and insects are particularly suited to the tenants of the poultry-yard. The dog will contentedly gnaw his bone for hours. The hog gloats on the refuse of his owner's table, while even carrion is adapted to the appetite of the vulture. The food that some would devour with instinctive rapacity, others would instinctively avoid as they would poison. And that which would nourish one species impoverishes another, even to death. The vegetable instincts for food are alike various. Think you, that the dainty celery would flourish in company with the moss, in the barren regions of the poles? or, that upon the farm, the several articles of culture require precisely the same elements to produce a luxurious growth? True, certain elements may be needed by all in common, only in different quantities; while one will be nourished mainly by one elementary principle, a second by a different elementary principle, and so on through the whole range of vegetable nature. The philosophy of what is called a rotation of crops is based on these characteristics of vegetable formations. Each crop, in its turn, draws from the earth much of the elementary principle required for its growth. A second succeeds, and, requiring a different elementary principle, does the same. So do the third and the fourth; each taking from the soil what is needed in its own production. And hence, if Indian corn, for instance, were planted year after year, till all the element essential in its forma Men often employ their first years so as to make their last miserable. a calm to-morrow-the chill, piercing winds of autumn, and the bland, reviving air of summer. Deceive not. Profanity and falsehood are marks of low breeding. Show us the tion were exhausted, the farmer could no more obtain another crop of it than the dairywoman could obtain butter from churning buttermilk. She might, indeed, mix more cream with her buttermilk, and renew the process of churning with success; but, otherwise, she could not. The farmer, in like manner, if determined on having still another crop of Indian corn, must cast upon the soil manure, containing the exhausted element, to supply the deficiency occasioned by previous crops. Then, he may succeed; but, if he neglect thus to replenish the soil, he will not succeed. He may plough his land; he may plant the seed; he may dig about it; but, in the season of harvest, will find himself disappointed of an adequate compensation for his labor. The subject may be further elucidated. The farmer takes a sack of corn to the grist mill, and the miller gives him in return a sack filled with meal. This is a commonplace transaction. It is done time after time, the year through. Whenever the sack of corn is carried, a sack of meal may be brought back. But, let him go without his sack of corn, and the miller would promptly decline to deliver him the meal, saying, bring your corn, and you may expect meal in return, but, otherwise, you cannot expect it. The farmer has no more right to expect good crops of grain from his fields, without manuring them, than to expect meal from the miller not furnished with the grain of which it is to be made. Or, suppose the farmer take a sack of oats to the grist-mill, and requests the miller to grind it into cora-meal; but the miller replies to him, This I cannot do; I cannot make corn-meal of oats; if you desire the corn-meal, you must bring me a sack of Indian corn. Nor is this any more unreasonable in the farmer, than to expect a particular crop from a particular lot of land-for instance, a crop of wheat, when the land is only in a condition to produce potatoes, or Indian corn, or buckwheat, From these palpable cases, and others that might be given, it is apparent that a farmer should be skilled in the nature of soils, and the physiology of vegetation. He must know the constituents of soils, and the constituents of different vegetable substances. Or, he must pursue his agricultural labors as if he knew them. It is not, indeed, essential that he learn them from books. He may be ignorant of the scientific terms used in their description. He may cultivate the earth as the parrot talks or the mocking-bird sings, in simple imitation of others. He may bountifully manure his land, because his father always did it before him; or because his neighbors do it. He may make and preserve manures on the most approved principles, Marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures. "Swear not at all." trembles on his tongue-a falsehood is never breathed from his lips. Let such an one be your pattern. Injuries.—If a bee stings you, will you to the hive and destroy it! Would not a thousand come upon you? If you 24 receive a trifling injury, do not go about the streets proclaiming it, FIRST LESSONS IN AGRICULTURE. in the way of imitating others, till the habit has become a kind of instinct. And in the same manner he may pursue, in his process of farming, a rotation of crops, without the least conception of the philosophy of it. This may answer a tolerable purpose. It is far better than not to do it at all. The housekeeper may never have seen a book on chemistry; she may not imagine that she understands an atom of the science; yet, she duly proportions the materials for making bread--she mixes them--she kneads the compound; she allows a suitable period for fermentation; all being a chemical process; and hen, properly regulating the temperature of her oven, produces a better article than could be produced by the most learned college pro fes-ors. This is all well; and it is hoped we shall not be obliged to eat poor bread till our wives and daughters become able to deliver a profound lecture on the science so well developed in many of the operations of cookery! And, if we were to have no good crops from our farms till all our farmers and laborers become adepts in chemical agriculture, it is apprehended the population of the world would ere long be reduced, by famine, to a point that would prevent the sale of wild lands. Nevertheless, the science is equally important, whether the agriculturist adopts it understandingly, or only in the manner suggested. It is most evident that such a process is a grovel ing and degraded one. He takes no more pleasure in it than the parrot in uttering the words heard from those around her, without knowing their signification; or than the mocking-bird feels in rehearsing the notes of other songsters, without feeling the power of the melody; or than the young linguist in repeating the words and sentences of an unknown language. The ox labors patiently; but does he experience the pleasure in his toils that he would if he understood that they were designed to produce future supplies of sustenance? It cannot be presumed. So the agriculturist, who understands the reasons for all the operations necessary for successful results, feels a peculiar satisfaction; he sympathizes with the man of science; holds communion with him in word and thought; and, especially, he rises by ecstatic impulses to fellowship with the Great Being who is over us; feeling a conscious dignity, felt by no one else, in being able to comprehend a measure of the laws by which He governs the world. Our remembering an injury often does more hurt than receiving it. and be anxious to avenge it. Let it drop; it is wisdom to say little respecting the injuries you may have received. you could not review with a quiet conscience on your dying bed. THE EDUCATION OF FARMERS. 25 Spend it in nothing which you might not safely and properly be found doing, if death should surprise you in the act. THE EDUCATION OF FARMERS. What great effects from little causes spring! What wealth does well-directed labor bring! PREVIOUS to going upon what might be viewed the main portion of our work, I will introduce a chapter on education. This may be judged an incident suitable for an appendix, rather than a leading article for so prominent a place. But it should be kept in mind that most farmers have families of children, whose mental culture may properly take precedence over the culture of the farm. It is not less important that a man provide intellectual food for his children, than that he provide wholesome aliment for the nourishment and growth of their bodies. There should be no delay in providing it; and it should also be of the best kind. If they have not a sufficient quantity of food for animal sustenance, and of proper quality, they will become stinted, and their physical powers will not be developed ; the same as calves and young swine, in a manner, are never able to recover from it, if not properly fed. If you desire that your son become a man of good stature, healthy, athletic, and powerful, nourish him prudently and freely with invigorating food, give him habitual exercise, judiciously adapted to his increasing strength; let him gradually become exposed to the air, the weather, and whatever surrounding influences attend the Labors of manhood. There may be instances where all this will be insufficient; where naturally feeble constitution, sickness, or Some unlooked for opposing circumstances, will prevent the anticipated result. These, however, are exceptions to a general rule, and furnish no argument against the practice recomBut, it is even more important that the parent, if he desire his children to become distinguished in society for respectability and usefulness-his sons capable of filling the high stations of the republic, as magistrates, as legislators, as merchants, as professional men—and his daughters to become the wives of such, mended. Prepare for sickness in health, and for old age in youth. Ilore to spend Time. -Spend your time in nothing which you know must be repented of Spend it in nothing which Self education. We all of us have two educations, one of which we receive from others; another, and the most 26 valuable, which we give ourselves. It is this last which fixes THE EDUCATION OF FARMERS. or, in all cases, as mothers, at the head of the household, capa- Only good and wise men can be friends; others are but companions. our grade in society, and eventually our actual value in this life, and perhaps the color of our fate hereafter. |