The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1853-07-27

From The Ohio Farm.
BOOK FARmING.

b0Oh FAkmlNG
There is a class Of men to be met
with In almost every community, who
cry out against" !" Book Farming" Go
TO this class and ask them to subscribe
for any Of the cheap Agricultural pa
pers published in the co6ntry, and ten
chances to one If they will not laugh
you in the face, and call you silly
theorist. Undertake to hold an argu-
ment with them to show them the ad-
vantages of reading good Agricultural
works. and self esteem will rise in a
moment to such prodigious height
that they can coolly assert that they
know already all that can be Known
about the art and science Of Agricul-
ture. and perhaps they may 60 so far as
to claim that they are indeed wise
above what is written. Such men have
their hobby, and that is ssPractical Ag-
riculture." Do they not know how to
hold the plow, ply the hoe, swing the
scythe, and handle the sicklel Can
they not make pork and beef, butter
and cheese, as well as the subscribers
to your Agricultural Journalist
Individuals who mount hobby, SO
far as have had the means Of Judging.
are apt to be little one-sided in their
opinions. Once fairly mounted. they
set spurs to their charger, be he Of large
or small dimensions, and so rush for
ward till they fancy change would be
for their interest and save the life Of
their poor jaded nag.
| Practical Agriculture has long been
the hobby Of tens Of thousands. II has
been rode so long and so hard, that ma
ny have been forced 10 see that the old
nag could not always hold out and do
the highest justice to the parties who
had been for long years spurring her on
/ to the top Of her speed.
For years all along the route, one
and another have been hopping of, and
bidding adieu to the jade with sense.
less erciusiUeness, and have been anx-
iously casting about for more correct
theory and elevated practice.
i But all the riders are not yet unhors
ed. Notwithstanding the jade is old
and from long service is wofully CALLED
and is always getting fresh stabs from
those who have been regenerated and
made believers in a sounder and more
wholesome doctrine in agriculture, wht
would gladly see supplanted in the
! bourse BY nag Of improved blood, hel
still devoted riders, with their feet il
the stirrups clear up to their heels
and both hands clutching the name, ar,
, squirting her on, vainly supposing the.
, are in advance of all the rest of tn,
; world, and are likely to remain so.
Practical Agriculture, rightly ap
! pretended. is undoubtedly Of mucl
, more Importance than mere speculative
; "Book Farming" Men may writ
4 books on agriculture that shall b
n wholly destitute Of practical principles
and therefore of no advantage to tn
!. practical farmer, or to any one else
!, There are, however, but few sue
works allowed to come before the pub
!. lie.
So thoroughly aroused has the scier
tiic world become upon the subject
improvement in our Agriculture, tina
no work, destitute of real intrinsi
: worth, can long hope to survive tn
rigid ordeal to which it must be. sui
:, !. mitted upon its first appearance befor
: . the public.
j. The class Of Agricultural works ths
ID find least favor in the eyes Of the 6
called practical farmers. are those dc
: signed to elucidate the scientific prir
ciples applicable to Agriculture I; sue
as Geology, Mineralogy. Meteorolog.
q Chemistry, Botany, &c.
These sciences are all taught in Il
higher class Of schools, and there is NJ
one of them but is of more practical II
portance to the farmer than to any 9TH
class of men.
The practical farmer has before hi
al. every day the subject upon which thu
e; treat, and can he be any less prac1
8 cal farmer, if he understands clear
" " the principles upon which he work
=. and which, adhered to, crown his v
Of rious manipulations with successi
e; If the practical farmer, one the mo
u- ultra in his denunciations Of " Boz
Farming" were desirous of making h
= son q practical mathematician of Il
i, highest order, would he commence Il
:, work by forbidding him the use Of boo
" treating of the science Of mathematic