The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-08-09
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Improved Farming.

1t is admitted that we may learn the
principles of farming by sfudy,-then
why i'll the name of common sense, may
we not study books? Why should we be
compelled to grope along in darkness,
when we may walk firmly and securely
would we but open our eyes! A young
man comes into possession of farm OF
poor light soil, upon which his predeces-
sors raised by dint of hard labor, small
crop of hay and potatoes, and smaller
crop of stinted corn; now shall he toll on
all his days in ploughing, sowing, and
cropping his field, in the same way and
with the same result! or rather would it
not be better 10 farm little by the book,
TO learn the nature of soils and the differ
ent effects and qualities of manure; to IN
troduce the culture of other crops, and
thus by a little book science double his
produce and the value of his land at the
same time? 1t is allowed that even those
who have a horror of book knowledge,
adopt Improvements az soon as they can
see them practised with success IN their
neighborhood; bat they adopt only when
they see them; and if all others were to
do as they do, nothing new would ever
take place amongst them To be sure
there are some new modes of cultivation
and new articles of culture which find
their way by this mode, but they are in
troduced too slowly; they do not keep
pace with the Improvements of the age;
the good old way is adhered to, merely
because it is old, and a thorough contempt
is often felt for new things, and especially
if they are taught by book, merely because
thev are new. 1t was this spirit and feel
ing that was the cause of many of our
most valuable crops remaining for years
out of cultivation in many parts of the
country, while elsewhere they had been
introduced and found to be of immense
advantage to the cultiyators of the soil;
and the ruta baga and other roots are as
yet but partially known, and scarcely tol-
Grated even now. 1t was forty years af-
ter spinach was introduced into the gard
ems of the opulent, before it could be pur-
chased in the Boston market; the pie plant
or rhubarb, was twenty years in coming
into favor; the tomato, nearly as long;
while the sea kale, one of the most delici-
Gus vegetables known in England, has not
vet been able to tempt single cultivator.
But this spirit is not confined TO oar farm
ers and gardeners; for the medical faculty
at Paris prescribed as poisonous the pota-
to, one hundred years after that plant
had raised millions of vigorous troops,
who, under Marlborough, had again and
again beaten the finest armies of France.
And | repeat, how few of our farmers
make any Improvements, save those they
see instituted by their nearest neighbors!
But why man may not as well learn
from the results of his neighbor's expert
ence and science, when studied in book,
as when seen on farm, it is difficult to
conceive; assuredly, the man who, enter
tanning contempt for scientific cultivation
merely because it is book kneuciedge, will
soon find himself growing worse in his
circums lances; while his enlightened
neighbor will be taking advantage of the
Improvements arising from the study OF
the science of agriculture, and bettering
his condition. To this science, obtained
by reading and study, is. Mr.. Coke, OF
: HOLMAN, indebted for the unparalleled in.
crease in the value of his estate. Some
sixty years ago, he inhttated tract o.
fpoor land in the county Of Norfolk of the
value of $4,000 per annum, but by read
ing and study, has raised his income tc
100000, or "a times its original value
But if he had only adopted what he saat
/ his neighbors do, his whole estate woult
: have been vast rabbit bitbarren.-Earners
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