Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-01-05
FOR FARMERS.
From the American Farmer.

From the American Farmer
There Is no country on earth in which
the condition Of the asrie ul,uraI com
munity Is susceptible Of being made SO
comfortable and happy, as ia the Uni
ted States. While in the most favor.
ed country on the globe, except this,
the iabour at farmers is taxed to almost
. moiety Of its earnings, il is here com
paratively unvisited by the tax.rath-
erer. We know very well that much
and loud complaint has been made by
our farmers against the oppression oG
taxes; but let them look at the amount
OF taxes paid by the agricuiturists Of
any other, we care not what country.
and their complaints will CEASE
That their condition is at present not
prosperous. is readily admitted, but
we contend that the fault il with them
selves and nothing but the unexam-
pied fertility Of our natural soil, and
the propitiousness Of our climate:
saves them from utter ruin. How
long would the farmers Of England
keep themselves from starvation IL they
pursued the system generally prac,ised
IN this country?
II Is not for want Of information that
so little improvement is made in our
agriculture but from the neglect Of
them. This arises from. besides a
prejudice for old customs-they are
UNIV orthy ofthe title ofsystems-a pre-
JUDGE against "book farming" az il
is termed. This has done much iniu.
ry. and is utterly groundless. Ii is
book farming" that has brought our
agriculture even TO its present state
The fact is, that agriculture has de-
rived as much benefit from the inycn
ton OF printing, as any other depart
ment Of human industry. Through
the medium Of the press farmers have
been Informed Of the objects Of acri
cultural attention in distant parts, and
thus been enabled to introduce such
OF them rs we're adapted TO their sol,
and climate. But that every subject
oil agricultural attention is susceptible
OF improvement, is easily proved; aud
IT so, that il is the interest of farmers
to make the improvements. will not be
denied. Let u glance at a few in.
stances oi improvement that are how
considered m a state of perfection bv
farmers generally. Wheat IN iis ma.
turai state was scarcely any thing more
than cheat. Potatoes were small.
contemplate. roots, such as We, at Thu,
t'me' would searcely think Of taking
from the ground. Cabb1ges in a state
ut nature, are little better than Wild
mustard ; and cotton. now one of the
I principal staples, and source of
wealth TO our country. in its original
state could scarcely be appropriated
to the use Of man. These are but few
instances; the whole catalogue &c agri.
cultural products were IN the sa,na
state, till human Wisdom and indus
Try improved them 10y cultivation. II,
then, such has been done. may we not
fairly conclude that the process of i'm.
proveinent my be continued F! for, az
1t Is not allowed To human nature In
attain state Of perfection. so we NAV
fairly conclude, that the works Of man
are imperfect. and are capable Ut ina
Provemeni al D,Gnifvm
"Ihfre is as much IN picking nh a,
there Is in digging. I'VE have seen
an excellent article showing 20 farmer.
AMI mechanics the disastrous eon.s.
quenee OF earelessness IN keeping their
accounts. 1t sllodes 10 the common
practice OF making piece Of chalk and
pine board constitute the only msteri-
Isls Of record thus rendering the ~h0le
labor Ut the season liable 80 be totally
Lost by the slightest &C eident. aad also
to the neglect IN collecting dues 81 the
proper seasons this want Of st.euti,n
We will venture 10 say, hss ruined AZ
many mechanics as any other one thipe.
Their payment fOg labor and stock are
PeTiodiesl and regular, while that Of
their customers - the reverse. thsv
depend spon being paid without ask
'ng f"F u they are disappointed aud
OF course disappoInt Othefs--iher ere
Dat once gone they are ruined"
LAED.--Some weeks since We stated
that some brisk sales d farms in ihis eous-
/ " had been made. ssd that there wa
visible improvement "a the prices Of nod
lgeBeFslly S,Gee that time. oihss estases,
sbicb have long beeo IN n,srket, have been
disposed % ~ price, ysyng from $50 Il
so PER acre 'JIaSerstO'rn Heed.