Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-08-22

Supposed Conversation betaceen q Prorident
and InpfoUident Farmer, and their
aespeettve crops aud stocks.
Frank Father which is the most profita-
Die breed of sheep for the farner2 | should
suppose the largest, as sheep is sheep you
know, and large one is of the more value
than small one
Father. A prudent man will advise with
his land on that subject.
Frank. But can his land advise with hinl2
Father. Yes, and the lessons which far
rner is taught by his land, as, according TO the
old adage, ''boeght aeit is best" sometimes
fancy that my crops converse with me, when
l visit them of an evening, and if could do
justice to these fancied dialogues which seem
to have, and could commit them to paper, they
would, | think, make a pleasant addition to
your book.
Ffa1lh Oh, do try, nothing IS impossible
to ,ciHtag mind you know.
Father. Most opportunely, quoted the fert
now for the sermon.
We will suppose then that slovenly pro
crastinator is visiting his fields on a glorious
evening at the present in just such fruitful
season as we are now blessed with. He goes
up to No. | which is WHEAT, and begins:
Crab. Good evening; fine weather this;
but don't think you look quite 50 well as you
did the last time saw you.
Wheat. | wonder how should--do you
not see how | am choled with weeds2 how the
thistles are goading me with their spikes, and
the ragweeds are taking the food cut Of my
mouth, while the bind weeds are dragging me
down to the earth, and how that am smother
ed with evils innumerable2
Crab. But | allowed you fallow and
plenty OF manure; you ought at least to have
been able to cope with the weeds.
Wheat. You forgot that ''the earth is the
own mother to the weeds, while she is only
mother-in-law to the crops that are planted in
her bosom;o besides, you talk of a fallow-
why this great thistle on my right, and which
has one Of his spikes fixed in my side, has just
informed me that he is one of the progeny
which was reared in this same fallow OF yours
his parent being the incidental thistle under
which the farmer sat On horseback and esca-
ped drenching while his neighbors were wet
TO the skim You seem to have forgotten that
zone years. seeding is north seuea gears 'ceed-
ing"
Crab. An well! Tl get these weeds
pulled.
Wheat. As you said mouth ago, and will
say again, and never do il
Frank Excellent But you never fallow
or dung for wheat
Father Nor have ever such fine thistles.
always dung for green crops, and insure two
things at the same tinle-lnore food for cattle,
and of course, larger dunghills. My object Is
to Tetard the growth Of the wheat, that II may
be strong in the stalk, and | therefore do not
encourage its lavish growth by manure and
fallow. Now for No. 2.
2. Com. Crab Why you look very
sickly; thought you would do better, judging
from the appearance you pnt on at first coming
hp-how's this2
Corn. Ask yourself You thought you
were cheating me, when you sowed without
manure-a favor you always promised me;
relied upon that promise and came up, with
the expectation that | should find it when
needed it; but after sending my roots below III
search for it, find your promises are false
you complain of my sickly look? can only
saw, If you had no more to feed upon than
have. YOU would not have sheled the three
lower buttons on your waistcoatl Crab tucked
tffe shucks into the holes and walked on.
Frank. now find that crops can advise,
and admonish too: but could not the farmer do
something in the way of top dressing to rene
DIV part Of the evil
Farbey. Yes, but he had no manure
3 Barley. Crab. All! you'll come to
.ac.fsiag
RarLeu. I thank you and return the COM
nl;ment. But what did you expect when you
sawed me after once ploughing, on stiff and