The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-03-22
English Ladies And Agriculture,

We arc indebted to Hon. C. p. Holcomb
of Delaware, for copy of his address, deIiv.
cred before the Maryland State Agricultural
Society, at its last annual exhibition at Bal.
timore. 1t reviews the progress made in arri.
culture, and contains excellent suggestions
for future improvement. Touching the Dart
which ladies should take in rural pursuits.
he relates an anecdote which, as L offers 4
striking contrast TO the knowledge possess
scd by many American ladies', is worth re-
peating g--Country Gentleman.
"As showing the interst Englisl. Ladies
take in Agriculture, cannot but relate n
casual interview l chanced 10 have with an
English lady, IN going up in the express
train from London to York. Her husband
had bought book at the stand rs We were
about starting, aud remarked TO her that i,
was one of her favorite American authors
Howthorn.' casually obscrcd, | was pleased
to sec young American authors found nd :
mirers with English ladies when the convcr.
sation turned on books and authors. But |
said to myself pretty soon, this is a literary
lady-probably her husband is an Editor or
Reviewer and she uses the scissors for him :
ut all events, Rust retreat from this discus
sion about authors, modern poets, and poetry
What should farmer know critically OF
such things, II was only in those fields
if the conversation could be made TO turn
upon crops, or cattle, then | should fee
quite at home. finally pointed out field
of wheat and remarke ed it was very fine. The
lady carefully observing ii, said: .SI, think
1t Is too thin-a common fault this season
rs the seeding was late those drills she
added, turning to her husband for his conlir.
nation cannot be more than ten inches
apart, and you see sir, the ground is not ON.
potely coyerel--twelve, and zen fifteen in.
ches is now preferred for the width of drills
and two bushels of fseed to the acre will then
entirely cover the ground, on good land, SC
you can hardly distinguish the drills
''lf the Goddess Ceres had appeared with
her sheaf or her cornucopia, could not have
been taken more by surprise. A lady descan.
ting on the width of wheat drills, and the
quantity Of seed!
II willtry her again, :this may be chance
shot, and remarked in reference TO a field of
P'owed ground We were passing, that il
oroSe up In great Jumps and could hardly
be put in good tilth. we have mach CLAW
land like this she ieplied, and formerly il
was difficult to cultivate it in a tillaoc cr1n
bat since the introduction Of CTosskili',
Patent Clod Crusher they will make In,
most beautiful tilth on these lands, and whicI
are now regarded as among our best whoa
lands
Conversation turned on cattle; she spok
of the best breeds of cows for the pail, Tn,
Ayrshres and the Dcvons) told me wher,
Z the best cheese was madc-Cheshire-
best Observation-Disclosures the milk maid
where to be found-Wales-Oh | wa
mistaking; this charming, intelligent wo
manActing, so natural and unaffected; drcsse,
80 neat and so very plain, must be farmer
wife and what help mate he hls in her
She is not an extravigant wife either, not a,
ornament about heT--yes asingIc bracele
clasps fair rounded arm-thats AL Th,
train stopped at York; no sooner had m,
travelling companions steppsdupo the plat
form than noticed they were surrounde,
by halfa dozen servants men and maids IN,
men In full livery. II turned out to be 81
John and Lady H. This gentleman Iearne,
was one of the largest landed proprietors il
Berkshire, and his lady the daugter of No
bleman, Peeress in her own right bu
her title added nothing to her, she was
noble woman without" Southern CuItiro
tor.