The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1850-10-18
AGRICULTURE.
The farmers Note Book.

auScTNuLVu' NiCatioH, will "h'AA"'D ca
inanimate, lies before him, and, being ne
cesssrily much out Of doors. ebservatio
becomes subject Of interest to him rathe
than otherwise. 1t is at all times usefu
to observe facts and become famiiarze
with those more Immediately counecte'
with his profession; and the relation hav
solargely traced as existing between ag
riculture and the sciences may show tn
immense extent of the field of observation
in which the student may occupy himself
Nor let him suppose that any fact is to-
trivial for observation, as the minutes
may form a connecting link between great,
erones, which may exhibit no Relationship
to one another, but through the minute
one. In course of time, observation vii
enable him 10 discriminate between phe
Dolnena that influence one another, anC
that stand in isolation and the discrmina.
ton win only be learned in time for every
fact will appear to him at first alike val
uable and valueless.
1t tshould be kept in remembrance that
!. is no easy matter to observe phenomcna
with accuracy. There is tide in then
existence, as in the affairs Of men, which,
when taken at the proper time, may lead
10 sound conviction; but ifnot, to crronc,
Gus deduction. How many systems OF
belief have arisen from improper observa-
ton confirm not preconceived notions, the
phenomenon is neglected or perverted; but
the agricultural student should have no
prejudced notions, and regard every oc.
currence with calmness. and determina-
ton to arrive at the truth. Il il only in
such state Of mind he can hope to make
the results Of actual observation in the tipIl
subservient to acquiring practical knowl-
sge Of agriculture.
The facts to which lie should first d.
rect his attention, are the effects Of the
weather for the time on the operations Of
the fields and their products, AMI on the
condition of the live stock. He should no
tice every remarkable occurrence of heat
or cold, rain or drought, unpleasant or
agreeable feeling in the air; the effects fol-
lowing any peculiar state Of the clouds or
other meteors in the air--astorms, aurora.
borealis, haloes, and the like; the par,icu-
lar effect Of rain or drought, heat or cold,
in retarding or materially altering the la
bors Of the field, and the length of time and
quantity of rain required to produce such
an effect, on the health or growth OF plans,
and the comfort and condition of animals.
lie should mark the time each kind Of
eropis committed to the ground--how long
it takes to appear above it. when it cones
into ear, and the period Of harvest; also
try to ascertain the qsantity of every kind
of crop on the ground before it is cut down,
and observe whether the event corrobo.
rates previous judgment; estimate he
weight of cattle by the eye at difcrcnt pc,
riods Of their growth. and check the trials
by measurements; the handling of beasts
for this purpose will convey much informa-
ton regarding their progressive state Of
improyement;attend to sheep when slaush.
tered, weigh the carcass, and endeavor to
discover the sources of error committed in
estimating their weights.
He should keep a register Of cach Geld
of the farm; note the quantity of labor i;
has received. the quantity of manure ap.
Piled, the kind of crop sown. with the cir
cumstances attending these operations
whethar done quickly and in good style,
or interruptedly, from the hin Trance Of
weather or other circumstances. He sho'J
ascertain in each field the number OF rilt-
es required to make an acre. and whether
me ridges DC oi equal length or not. By
this he will the more easily ascertain how
much dung the field receives per acre,
the time taken to perform the work on
ridges OF different length, and the CON-
parative value ofthe crop produced on an
acre in different parts of the fell. The
subdivision of the field into acres will ena.
BILE comparison to be made of the rrla.
tive value ofthe crops produced on vari,.
ties ofsoil in the same field. under the same
treatment.
The easiest way ofpreserving facts is in
the tabular form. which admits of every
one being put down under its proper head.
A table not only exhibits al the fac.s at
glance, but records every sone with The
least trouble in writing. Tie advan;ag
of writing them down is to inn Ir.ss Them
more strongly on the memory. The la.
bles should consist Of ruled columns, in a
book ofsuficient sire cfleaf tv contain col
pmns for every subject.
There should be plan Of the farm, with
every field having its figure. dimensions