Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-03-31
ron rnE SPECTATOR.
TO TIE FARMERS OF WEST y,Rc,NIA.

TO HE FARMERS OF VI EST VIRGINIA. /
Geniirmen when We read what Is I
written we often wish TO know something
about the writer. As you (some of you at
LEAST may be little curious to know who
is writing what you are now reading, let
me give you single paragraph OF "auto-
biography"
My grandfather and great-grand-iather'
were, believe, both very clever men but
as have no right to claim any Of their
merit, let them pass without further notice;
When the history of my ancestry IS traced
back to it s earliest period, the fact comes
out, that descended from gardener. =
My own father, bowerer,when | was born,
had arisen to the dignity of "iarmer'-so,
You see my genealogy is emphatically az
riculiwal. WAsa was born, and whcre ARE
matters for which am in no degree re-
sponsible, and therefore they need not be
stated. Others, too, must ans wcr for my
name as 1t rs not thing of my own choos-
ing. Whether was a every smart child
or not, is not now emembered; but why
should they not have placed me IN the
Some things, however, about the early part
of my life | do very we'll remember. In
the sawky days Of my 5oy-hood before my
beard had yet grown it was my good for
tune to follow the plough. Those were
happy days; and happy would still be in
pursuit OF the same innocent, and indepen-
dent employment, if circumstances were
such as to allow it. II would be well, too,
for many Of your sons it they would be
content to hold fast the plough, and leave
the green bag" and ''pil-box" to those
who can see no loneliness in rural lie. Do
SO many forsake the plough, because there
are other callings that present wider and
riches fields of thought 1t is only the gen
uine clodhopper who whistles for want of
thought" As the glittering share turns up
the fertilizing mould, he never stops to ask
what there is in that ifeless earth to give
vital action to the seed he is preparing to
sow. When the mantlres are applied he
never perplexes his mind by inquiring why
this is better fertilizer than that. Such
was once the case with myself. had help
ed to sow and reap many field, before
thought of asking why one ton of ashes was
worth more than three or four of the best
barn manure. If such inquiries had occur
red to my mind, it is probable they would
have passed away uninvestigated for, like
most Of my nelghbors, | had strong pref
udice against looking INTO book to learn
anything about farming. But, by the way,
it must be said in justice to my father, that
he was far from being SO foolish as was.
1t was not from him, but from others that
my prejudices on this subject were derived.
Since | have grown older, hope that lit
tie stock of wisdom has been added with
my years. When my little field demands
attention, it is source of pleasure to in
qulre how that attention may be best be-
slowed. | am not ashamed Of practical
book-farming."
Please excuse any traces of eeotism that
may appear in what you have Just read,
and allow me to ask whether you partici-
pate in the vulgar prejudice that some have
long entertained against those who are Of
ten sneeringly called Book-iarmers.'-
This prejudice arose, no doubt, from the
following facts A few men, in every de-
partment OF industry, losing sight of practi-
cal experience, ''run wild" in pursuit of
some favorite theory. The opposite class,
dlsregarding the theoretical principles on
which they are themselves operating, pur-
sue only what they have sesn successfully
tried by others. When these two classes
are brought into comparison, the latter is
found to succeed best-especially is this
the case among farmers, as many of you
can verify testify. The one class are en-
tirely absorbed in theorizing the other I'M
willing to turn aside, are content to plod a
long the old beaten path of past genera
tons, advancing no further than those did
who lived hundred years ago. Let us re-
fleet upon the question if they are not both
wroag; and if a compromise might not be
entered into which would be advantageous
to both. 1t the boatmen Of the Ohio, when
they heard OF Fulton's first steamer on the
Hudson, had concluded at once to burn all
their old crafts, and buik steamers enough !
to carry all the freight ON the river, the step
would have been premature--lt would have
been adopting theory before it had been
fairly tried. They knew that the old fiat
boat would do good service in its humble
way, and that the new craft had not been
fully tried. They talked about the new in
ventlon-some of them, who had time and
means at command tried it, and soon found
1t valuable improvement. The principles
and application of steam were studied
One modification after another was added,
until the floating palaces, that now adorn our
great rivers were the result. Many of these
Ohio boatmen would have preferred cling
ing to the fat-boat TO this day. They were
like the 'anti-book farmers,n ever saying
"Lct the world go on as fast as it pleases,
We will stay just where we are.
will close with one or two questions,
which you may discuss among yourselves
until you hear from me again:
LIST. Why are many OF the old farms
of the eastern section of our State becom-
ing more and more productive every year?
I'd. Why was a correspondent of the
Spectator writing from Pennsylvania, a few
weeks since, constrained to say elbow far
our good farmers of Augusta. Rockingham,
&c, are behind these best of farmers here,
feel reluctant to say lest be looked up
on as ronaneing9"
COLONUs.