Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-05-16
HELP FOR THE FARMER.

In no one thing do people commit a greater
error than in undertaking the Importance of Ag-
rieulture and its kindred and essential aduncts.
1t seems to be a prevalent idea that while the
trades and professions require a regular appren-
ticeship, and considerable patient study, that of
the farmer can be understood and practiced by
any one and every body-as though the knowl
edge essential to the successful cultivation Of the
soil could be acquired as oysters do their pearls
by gaping. And yet it needs but small
amount of augmentation to show that q great
deal more Of solid learning, sound judgement,
and careful observation is essential, if not abso-
lutely indispensable. to enable one TO cultivate
the earth with pleasure and profit, than to insure
success in almost any other ayocation, For be
it remembered, that all other arts, sciences, pro-
fessions and callings are in some way related to
Agriculture. To be sure, man may be cx.
tremely ignorant and stupid, and still be quail
fed for mere drudge newer of wood and
drawer of water-but we do not now speak of
such. We refer especially to that numerous and
respectable class of producers who aim at being
something more than drudges-who are anxious
to qualify themselves for managing q farm in
the best possible way, and who seek to render
their industry and intelligence subservient to an
increase of their wealth. and their accumulation
of wealth, honestly acquired, subservent to their
Improvement, tranquility and happiness.
Men of this class often find it necessary to
employ "help"-and for such as viii answer
their purpose they are willing to pay a fair
price. Without entering into q discussion of
the rights of the employer, or those of the en-
ployee, we take it as granted that it is often
tually beneficial to both parties, for the one to
labor faithfully and honestly fo- the time agreed
upon, and for the other to pay him a fair price
for the service thus rendered But we submit
it to our intelligent readers, that no one young
or old, should claim full wages, unless he is, by
study and practice, qualified for the business he
undertakes. We would have the farmers of the
country distinguished by their open-handed gen.
erosity-willing to pay liberal compensation
to those who are employed to help them in
their arduous and honorable avocation; but
we would kindly admonish them that BY pay
ing too literally to those who are mere pre-
tenders and bunglers at the business, they
virtually offer premium for the best speci-
mems of ignorance and lazyness thereby
disconraging young men of higher aims from
endeavors to- become better qualified, or prac-
tically conversant with those discoveries
and improvements which are so powerfully ten
ding to ennoble and render attractive the pro-
fession of :he Cultivator. Mechanics unskiled
in the use Of tools-clergymen deficient in a
knowledge of theology-doctors unacquainted
with Materia Medica-teachers who stand in
need of being taught-men of all trades and
calings, destitute of suitable qualifications, are
soon helped to find their places, by a discrimi-
mating public. Why should agriculture be an
exception to general rule?
Two qualifications are indispensable in
profitable hand for the farm-First, physical
powers, equal to the labor he undertakes to
perform-Second intelligence, adequate to the
profitable direction of those powers. Of the
first may be said, in all seriousness, that no man
can possess them, unless he has been accustom
ed to labor, and is habitually temperate in all
things. As we cannot reasonably expect to
gather grapes from thorns, or figs of thistles'
so we may not hope for strength, or the power
of endurance, to one unaccustomed to the ex-
ercise Of his muscles, or addicted to any OF
those pernicious habits which diminish the
strength and ultimately ruin the cona.itution.--