The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-09-26


for this purpose, than it for cotton in 1926.
All need not enter upon the same business, for
your lands, your means, your tastes, your AFFINITY
70 labor are diverse; but every one may do some
thing which will be advantageous TO himself, his
family, and the community.
The best way TO increase your population, To re-
claim your lands, TO enable every one to have
competence, TO abolish your poor houses, TO build
school houses and churches is 'no TO despse small
things" More should be done within your own
families, and thereby save much money that ID now
needlessly spent.
AS far as you can, rear up and encourage small
manufactories-th will create villages, which VIII
furnish IA steady and good market for all your pro-
auctions. Go TO New England, and see the source
Of their wealth; the mines from which the people
there are building ships, steamboats,, railroads. and
are able TO engage III every good work-giying eyes
to the blind, tongues and ears To the mute, an asy-
lum to the oucast widow, employment and intelli-
gence to the orphan, and the gospel of peace and
salvation to the destitute in the isles Of the and
in the four quarters of the globe You the effect
OF manufacturing villages at the Laurel factory,
Ellicotts Mills, and other places.
You would find great economy in using oxen and
mules instead of horses, both of which should be
raised here. Horses are expensive animals to keep,
and injure your land. Dispense with many OF
them as possible. Those you retain should be kept
in good flesh, and used with and good judg-
ment. Your attention is invited 10 article in
the last number Of "1he Plough, the Loom, and
the Anvil," of unsurpassed excellence, on the use
of oxen, by friend Stabler. Having been requested
TO say something the subject, was gratifed to
be learner rather than an Instructor.
There is some land in this county that would be
benefited by draining Open drains in meadows
and pastures useful but, when the land is to be
cultivated with the plough it is necessary to make
under drains, or, they sometimes denom-
mated, blind drains. These formed by
waiting the earth so deep that plough will never
disturb the stone, tile wood placed at the bottom
Of the ditch; and it is sad for thorough draining,
the main ditch should be dug three feet deep and
ten inches wide, and that the tributary bitches
should be thirty inches deep and seven inches wide.
Wood should never be used where stone or tile can
be obtained; and 1t is found, by experience, that
tile is cheaper than stone where clay can be had.
Gentlemen who wish to reclaim their moist,
or swampy land, will find particular instructions
to the mode of constructing these under drains and
the expense, in the last report OF the New York
State Agricultural Society; but by far the most
elaborate and complete treatise to be found in any
American work on this subject, is contained in the
I'd volume of the Farmers Library, with more than
eighty engravings.
Large tracts Of worthless land in England and
Scotland valuable by such drains; and
lands long cultivated, and esteemed of ordinary
fertility, have doubled and tripled in productive
ness, and of course the same ratio in rent by the
discovery which, in Europe and in America, is con-
sidered among the most important of the age in
promoting the interests of agriculturists
In selecting stock, advise you to confer with the
public spirited gentlemen members of this society,
who have devoted much time and money in OBJ
tanning information and making purchases. We
find in northern Ohio, that the common breed, for
the dairy, when well fed, is the most profitable
The greatest waste of labor, time, and money, is
in working poor land and keeping neglected stock.
There is nothing wanting but union of action and
perseverance, to make your cultivated lands fruit
full fields, build up hourishng villages, and to
increase your population and wealth.
If were young man, and wished to make my
self the most useful to my fellow men, and to enjoy
the most independent, peaceful, and quiet life, l
would be husbandman-a tiller of the ground. 1t
is a subject worthy of consideration with parents
having sons they design should become practical
farmers, what instruction and education they will
give them. In any other calling or profession,
there would be doubt that the instruction would
be adapted and suited to the business calling to
be pursued. son destined for the army would be
sent TO West Point Academy; for the navy, to An
napolis; for of the learned professions TO col
lege, and then under the care of some one distin
guished in the particular profession he was to fol-
low; and this principle would be observed If a
mechanical trade was to be the employment for
life, But so common and simple is the cultivation
of the earth supposed TO be, that il has not been
deemed TO be necessary to give any instruction not
derived from the ordinary round and routine OF
business, which is followed with little thought
and reflection as to the quality Of the soil, its
adaptation TO particular crop, or what ingre-
dent il needs to restore its fertility. The body
is employed; but the mnd-which is the source
of all enjoyment and pleasure-is passive, and
labor becomes burdensoIne. The young man turns
from IL with disgust, without knowing exactly
why, and is led away by vain amusement, and falls
| avoid this broad road, young should be suit
ably instructed in the cart and mystery" of farm
ing. There have been many attempts in different
parts of the country TO establish manual labor
schools, which believe have generally failed to
answer the wishes of their patrons. This has been
owing, most probably, 10 the fact that the instruc
tors were not themselves practical farmers. They
could teach the general sciences but they were de-
hcient in the science of practical agriculture.
We all know how permanent Impressions are,
which made minds in childhood; and,
perhaps, there is work which will be more
acceptable 10 the agricultural community, or OF
more benefit TO the rising generation, If introduced
into common schools, than a small work, entitled
| elements Of Agriculture" for the use of primary
and secondary schools translated from the French,
by F. G.. Skinner late junior editor of The Plough,
the Loom, and the Anri at the request of his father,
| senior editor Of that work. IL has been recon-
mended by Mr.. Randall, late deputy superintend-
| ent OF common schools in the State of New York,
! and by your esteemed fellow citizen, Friend Ed
ward Staber, and by other gentlemen. The elder
Mr.. Skinner has placed copy OF II IN my hands,
| to present TO the President of the society, and
| assure every schoo-boy, that for the trihing sum
Of twenty cents, invested in this work, he Will
obtain more knowledge, derive more rational plea
sure, and be better qualified for usefulness 10 his
| country, than he will in the expenditure OF any
amount in the purchase Of segars and tobacco.
The institution that has most attracted my at
tention lately, by the advertisement, is established
and conducted by John Wilkinson, at Mount Airy,
Germantown, Pennsylvania. There arc two terms
OF nNe months eaCh, the expense OF eaCn - Slp,
for board, tuition, washing, mending, fuel, and
lights.
"Tbe practical course consists Of instruction in
the practice and principles of the rotation of crops;
the best mode Of tilage; rearing, selecting, and
foddcring stock; breaking and training horses and
oxen; slaughtering and curing meats; horticul-
ture forestry, and Horticulture; fencing, road max
ing, leveng, grading, seeding, and laying out or
naInental grounds; the application OF steam and
/ other motive power; the construction and uses Of
farm machinery and implements. Half the day is
spent in the practical department; the afternoon
and evening in the literary department, which CON
ssts Of the collateral branches; the natural sciences
as applied 10 agriculture, mathematics, both theo
retical and practical; the modern languages; also
| n thorough elementary academic course. Each
student is required 10 lecture on the science nc is
pursuing, 10 make surveys with plats and maps of
the same, and aso 10 keep a complete journal or
diary of all experiments and farm operations. Two
evenings Of each week devoted 70 the discussion
Of practical subjects, which full notes pre-
served for reference"
neither suppose nor desire that our colleges and
universities be superseded by manual labor nstitu
tons; but young men thoroughly instructed, as
proposed by Mr. wilkinson, will be well prepared
II - A.