The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-11-10

WHAT A FARMER NEEDS -Ihc first thing
of all is a thorough practical and scientific
knowledge of his business. To acquire this
he must have experience by either working
with good farmer or by seeing such work.
ing. Good farmers are not made by reading
alone | do not object to reading but insist
that to be good farmer there must he much
reading. for information must he had and it
matters not whether it is obtained by hearing
and seeing or by reading. For instance, sup
pose man sees his ncighbor usin. some in
vcnton or some improvement either in farm
machinery or in the rotation or cultvaionof
crops, and after thoroughly testing it himself,
he should write out a description and have it
printed in an agricultural paper or in a book.
Would it not be as well to adopt after reading
about it, as to wait till it is told face to face
The next thing is to have some capital
If you have no capital, work farm on shares
or hire one till you have. There is no t,sc of
exposure to the hard>hips and risks Of drain
Ing and cultvating the woods or the prairie
unless there is some money to provide for ne
rcsSities. A hard working man. with onlya
few hundred dollars, can mike money on I'M
improved land, hut it is hard business One
or two thousand dollars will buy a good farm
IN the West, with dwelling, ou-hp,ls,S and
at the cast. and make money a great deal Eas
ter. 1t is true that in all new States there
arc agrcs and levers, but there arc offsets by
the absence Of consumption inflammation Of
the lungs, and the like eastern diseases. A
western man breads the eastern dscas, about
AZ much as the eastern breads the wrStcrn--
Large farmers need machinery. such as now
Ing and rraping machines, corn shelters and
lhraShng and cleaning machines also. a saw
mill to saw all the pine wood and saw boards,
and other lumber inlo rickcts or into any re-
quiSitc form grist mill To grind corn and
all other kinds of grain as fine as farmer
requires; straw cutter, a cider mill and
press, which also answers for a cheese or
wine press, all Of which machines cost only
about thirty dollars piece, and for which
the same horse power will answer; all are
extensively desirable and valuable if not
positively necessary. The above mentioned
machines are simple in their construction,
and are cheap. desirable and profitable.
Farming requires no more labor tl,an most
other kinds Of business, hut it must he strict
ly attended to- A head is worth as much as
hand. Everything must he done i'll its sea-
son. The weather Is particularly to be con-
suited. to do which knowledge Of the rain
is desirable. II is surprising how accurately
the wrathcr-wiSe predict the coming storm.
Study the winds and the clouds Have also
comfortable shelters for stock Much less
food is consumed by an animal in good
wa,m protection than when exposed. Above
all let farmer take good care of his own
health and that Of his family. Without health
there is little prosperity and much less hap
pimcSs. There is much sickness occasioncd
by wet feet and by keeping on damp clothes.
1t should be Il rule never to sci down in damp
clothing. Nature has her laws and will be
omycd. Yours truly. D. ii. {.
Toledo, Ohio, Oct. 1855.