Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-09-10
AGRICULTURAL SCIENTIFIC.
A FARMERS LIFE.

" delivered an address before the Michi-
gan State Agricultural Society, at Ann Ar
Dor, which is distinguished by the sound
ness of its views, no less than by the per-
spicuity with which they are advanced
We sincerely wish that we could afford
room, consistently with our engagements,
for the whole of this sterling production
but being unable to do 50, we present to our
readers an extract from it, devoted to a
consideration Of the farmers calling. 1t is
as follows:
The best faculties Of men must be de-
voted to the farmers pursuits; the best in
tellect must be engaged in it and the far
mers life must be field wide and attract
i've enough for the engrossment and devel
opment Of every human faculty, or error. or
ignorance and thriftlessness. will not be ex-
plored, and the calling will not secure the
elevated position 1t deserves. Happily, a
rapid change is perceptible. The relative
position of professional, mercantile and far
ming pursuits, are changing, day by day
The first are no longer sought with so much
ayidity, the last no longer stunned. A
wise man should never encourage his chill
dren to assume the duties, yexation and
hazards of precarious and unhealthy pur-
suits, no matter how dazzling the prospect,
how brilliant the prize. There is higher
object than wealth to be gained-sound
sleep and sound health higher object
than personal distinction--a composed con-
science. In times past there seems to have
been kind of infatuation among the farm
ing community in regard to evasion of their
honorable calling. Thirty years ago, ia
Their was prone 10 act with his children as
though he himself followed degraded call
ing. He seemed to deem professional or
mercantile life the only road to high res
probability Of social and official distinction.
The WebsterS, the Wrights, and the Fill
mores, were not retained to ennoble their
own, but crowded to illustrate and adorn
some other profession. 1t has somewhat
rnended of late. The public mind has be-
come more sound. II bids fair to become
perfectly sound. 1t certainly will, if men
will speak the truth, and hear the truth, and
practice on its precepts. The world
will never regard the farmers calling as
the most honorable till it is so cherished by
himself. In public estimation a pursuit is
appreciated at the value placed upon it by
those who follow it. Turn back then the
tide OF public sentiment among the agricul-
tural population. The sturdy sense of ma
ny sturdy farmer pierces the gauze delu-
Sons thrown around the fanciful and frivo-
Ious llte OF the townsman. In the express
sion OF his judgment sound, he yet practi-
cauy may have sought all his life to make
his children the very butterflies he detests
If he would have his occupation take rank
as the most respected and most dignifed a.
mong men, he must not himself act as
though he regarded it as dull and stupid
exercise of human powers. I know not so
small farm, so limited garden, that they
Eay not engross all mans faculties and
consume all his leisure. The time may be
distant when each farmer may be a geolo-
glst naturalist, chemist-but the time
has already arrived when the application of
science to agriculture is producing peace
iId, certain, and gigantic revolution, eleva-
ting the calling, multiplying its results, in
creasing its comforts, and promoting high
er civilization of the race.
"a farmer should not consider it pre-
sumption, but duty, to gladden. his home
With all true, and genial, and intrinsically
valuable comforts, that shed a glow and at
tracbyenesS around the private home of the
citizen. He can make it more inviting
There are few comforts and appliances "a
bout the home ola townsman which a coun-
tryman cannot enjoy. There are athousand
pleasures around a country residence which
all the capital of city cannot buy. A far
mer surveys from his window with unal-
1oyed delight the field now groaning by su-
perIor cultivation, under twice the crop
OF previous years. While he gains it, the
world gains it. 1t is so much added to pro-
duction. But multiplied and dubious are
the ways in which townsman makes his
gains. Sometimes tbs the pound of flesh.
Sometimes It's extortion. Sometimes a
double value is given to the raw material,
but ottener his gain is loss to another. To
say the least, the townsman is sometimes
exposed to the inevitable necessity of expe-
diency and dishonor. From such necessl-
ties the farmer can, if he will, always be free.
God made the country man made the
town. Just so superior as Gods works are
to mans works, just so far superior are the
studies OF the country 10 the studies of the
town. If You look upon the rich and COR
geous development of nature from spring to
tail, from the tiny germ to the abundant
crop, with no more delight than on piles of
stone, and brick, and mortar, then your life
anywhere will be desultory, hard and dull.
When he gazed upon the miracle of his own
frame, in awe and admiration, David ex-
claimed: 4 am fearfully and wonderfully
made Yet each plant and spire of grass
each tree and fruit, each creature, every
form Of vegetable and animal life is a crow
ing and living miracle, no less wonderful
than the frame of man. If he studies them
all as living illustrations of scientific truths
and ne delights at each new discovery of
The capacity and properties of plant or an
animal, and each new insight into the laws
which regulate its propagation and perfect
growth, then, indeed, will farmer become
a philosopher and man of science, and his
lite will be q ceaseless round of triumphant
experiment and success. From the most
triling act, to the performance of the high
est duty of noble calling, his life will be
full OF delightful satisfaction. The favorite
domestic animal, which he has watched
and fed from nursing seems to lick his
hand in gratitude, and almost eager to con-
tribute to his support. Look along that av-
enue OF stately trees, groaning beneath an
abundance Of delicious fruit, or throwing a.