Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-10-28
From the Oxford N. c. E~xanincrl
FARMERS ~ARTTHNETlCn

I'll ~ H
Profits IF .fgriclalure-Ift the great Frank
IN had lived IN the country, his observing
eye would have noticed, and his discrininat
ing Judgment have solved the following diff
fcult prohlems:
l. Farmers are more imposed on than any
other class 0. the community: they paw near.
ly the whole Of the expense of the state ca
vernment, are oppressed by the commercial
regulations oil foreign nations; never bare
much money, vet every industrious prudent
farmer grows rich.
2Ihe mechanic receives his rs cents or
a dollar a DAY, yet remains poor: the farmer
earns his seventeen ceats a day, and grows
richi 49,
s.. Merchants, physicians, lawyers, and O..
theirs receive their thousands per asnum. die
poor; while The farmer scarcely receives as
many tens, yetdic rich!
how are all these strange results produceda
All calculations IN dollars ard cents Gail to &C
count Tor II. Those who are determined 10
bring every thing to the standard OF dollars
onu cents pronounce agriculture to be wholly
unprohtabie, when the fact that nearly an
me wealth OF the country has been obtained
~ agriculture, stares them in the face. In
Tue OPINION OF these calcilaters, agriculture
E'NtNa pursuit vi &uGti 9UIt as nave
not sense enough 10 pursue any thing else.
The miscbiels which sach calculations are
dong in our country, FIRST induced me TO call
public attention TO the Farmers arithmetic.
but having been more accustomed 10 hand
Ing the plough than the pen, | am alioaetb
err unable to do justice to The subject. If
some abler hand would take it up, dispel the
must TOW resting on the subject, and show US
clearly the whole truth Of the matter, il would
90 sufficient good TO compensate the labours
OF the abiest patriot
When the mechanic lays down his tools.
and the professional man is idle, they are
SINKING, because ~tfleirexpenses are going an.
and their profits suspended. Moi so the Jar-
ms'- while &c sleeps, his crop grows, and his
stock continues 10 increase, and when he
spends a social evening with his ~neiaIIkor.
every thing continues TO advance. The Far
ane's ,fi7thasetie, shows that the farmer grows
rich by saving, while others continue poor
by spending. Others have FIRST 10 rake mo
neY, and then give it fer meat, drink and raj
ment while the farmer obtains ali these at
home Ii he wants a fat lamb or pig. b. has
one without losing a day or twoin trl ing 10
buy enc. II he wants a new coat, the indus
Try ct his wife supplies il. 1t Shot. he wants
but few, very few things, which he cannot
obtain on his own farm. WHY, then, should
the farmer rcpine because he has not the mo
neg to buy abroad? or measure his wealth hv
comparing his money with that Of other,, who
must give 1t ali Tor things which be has with
cut byiag? Sarcly a farmer may without q
sigh resign to others the gaudy fabrics of for
elgn artists, while hc is clothed by the labor
OF, the hand that soothes his cares, an,stress
with pleasure his journey through lie. VIXEN
| sec a farmer appear in company g~enteely
dressed in henespun, | think Of Solornon's
descriptions of a good wife: :.IIor husband is
known ia the gates when be stitch among
the elders" aud most cordially do | sonsra-
tulate the possessor Of such a prize.