The Southern journal., 1846-04-25
AGRICULTURAL
Education Of Farmers Daughters.

=" VIC i"u'iies Vi many FARMERS
there are far too many unproductive
hands. In the changes which, since
the introduction OF extensive manufac-
tories Of cotton and wooien among us,
have taken place in our habits Of
domestic labor, some ofthe internal
resources Of the farmer have been
dried up, and new occasions Of expen.
diture introduced. l cannot better
illustrate this matter than by a recur-
renee to conversation which l had
with one Of the most respectable far
mers in the country. "Sir," said he
to me, III am a widower, and have
only one daughter at home. I have
gone to the utmost extent Of my limi-
ted means for her education. She is
a good scholar, and has every where
stood high in her classes, and acquit,
ted herself 10 the satisfaction Of her
instructors. She is expert in all the
common branches of education. She
reads Latin and French; she under.
stands mineralogy and botany: and !
can show you with pleasure some of
her fine needle work, embroidery, and
drawings. In the loss of her mother
she is my whole dependence; but
instead Of waiting upon me, ] am
obliged to hire servant to wait upon
her; want her to take charge of my
dairy, but she cannot think of milk.
ing; and as her mother was anxious
that her child should be saved from
all hardship--for she used to say the
poor girl would have enough of that
by and by--she never allowed her to
share in her labor; and therefore she
knows no more of the care of the
dairy, or indeed Of house keeping,
than any city milliner; so that in fact
! have sold all my cows but one.
Ihis COW supplies US with what milk
we want, but l buy my butter and
cheese. / told her few days since
that my stockings were worn out,
and that l had good deal of wool in
the chamber, which l wished, she
would card and spin. Her reply was,
in the tone of unaffected surprise.
'Why, father, no young lady does that;
and besides il is so much easier to
send it 10 the G-lill and have it carded
there."-'Well,' l continued, 'you
will knit the stockings if get the
wool spun?' 'Why, no, father! mo-
ther never taught me how to knit,
because she said it would interfere
with my lessons; and then, if knew
how it would take a great deal of
time, and be much cheaper to buy
the stockings at the store.'"
This incident illustrates perfectly
the condition of many farmers
family, and exhibits serious draw.
back upon his property, and great
impediment to his success. The false
notions which prevail among us in
regard to labor, create distaste for
it; and the fact that, if the time requir.
ed to be employed in many articles
of household manufacture be reckon.
ed at its ordinary value, the cost of
making many articles of clothing
would exceed that for which they
could be purchased at the store, is
deemed a sufficientreason for abandon.
ing their production at home. In
many cases, however, the time is
turned to no account, but absolutely
squandered. But the clothing, if not
made; must be bought; and they who
might produce it must be sustained at
an equal expense, whether they work
or are idle.--Fonrth Annual Report of
the Amertcan Central Board of Educa-
tion.
~--~~--0-~-------~~-------
The Best Book.-The best book for
a farmer is the Bible; and the next
hest workz ara those J,v.tJ