Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-10-29
PLEASURES OF RURAL LIFE.

No one can imagine the interest that is
felt in watching the progress of vegetation,
unless he has had experience in this de-
partment OF rural science. The agricu,u-
rlst with nothing more than common men,
tai endowments, may here become philo-
soPher, an enthusiast, profound sch olar in
natural history. With the best of all pos
slbe laboratories before him, he becomes
his own teacher--a most skilful lecturer
,ha. is, if so disposed. farmer may here,
in this branch of knowledge, become as
learned as the professor in university halls.
lie may become so engrossed with the sub
ject as to watch the growth of some part
cular seed, the daily growth Of its first germs,
and all ulterior developments, with solic-
tude intense and constant, like that Of the
astronomer, who spends his midnight hours
for years, to ascertain the laws of the ccme-
tary system, or to discover some new astel-
lite to those distant and gigantic globes
which constitute the outposls Of our system.
We almost envy the astronomer his Joy,
when comprehending some new fact in the
science 10 which he devotes himself if the
fact is All important one, the plaudits Of the
civilized world are heaped upon him, and
his name descends in triumph to the latest
pos,erily. The discovery of the laws which
govern the circulation of the blood in the
animal system has made the name of Har-
vey immortal. How analogous this to the
fluids which circulate and give life in the
vegetable kingdom! Here, too, persons
have acquired imperishable fame. Others
may still do it. The mysteries Of this king
dom are by no means all unfolded. The
earth is full of them. 1t may be presumed
that the career of discovery therein is now
in its infancy that there will be the same
opportunities, even with unborn generations,
to become renowned, that there was for
Linnnus!
We know, too, with wba, assduity the
inventor of machinery anticipates all results
flowing from his labors. And we know
with what unceasing apprehension the mer-
chant broods over his departing ships, when
ploughing distant oceans, and till their re-
turn assures him of profitable adventure
N OF unlike this, in character, are the tho',s
OF the man who tills the ground. Hence
the agricul,urst may be interested in the
progress of vegetable life, in y tw o-fod mea-
sure as philosopher, in searching out the
laws which control it; and as political
economist in reaching its pecuniary advan
,ages. In the former he is governed like
any man Of science, for .hc intellectual sat-
to be received in the latter ho is
governed like the man of business, for the
prospect Of means on which to subsist. He
may therefore nationally watch the growth
of his melons, and cabbage, and strawber-
ries, and peaches. to say nothing Of the more
important branches of his labor, with as
much earnes,ness as the merchant contem-
plates the profits on a cargo of teas or silks
Perhaps the merchant may sneer at the COM
parison. BE i. so; but it may be said to
him, there is more of philosophy, Of mental
culture, connected with the labors of agr-
culture, than in specializing on the profits
of merchandise. If an agricuIturist, owing
to his greater skill, obtains better crop of
wheat, or corn, or potatoes, than any one
else has obtained under similar circum-
stances, thereby teaching all others to do
the same, is ii no cause of sell-complaccn-
cy: Is it no occasion for the plaudts of
the community? Which is the greater
benctactor to socIety,-the merchant, who,
by accident, as it were, clears ten thousand
dollars from single voyage of his ship, or
the man that, in all coming time, aud
our broad land, makes two spires
of grass or two ears Of corn grow, where
only one grew before Besides, if the mcr-
chant occasionally obtains a better prof, on
his investment than the farmer, he may, ten
times to one, make no profit at all and per