The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-03-17
agricultural.

...a' ~sSLtkltlttilt&l.
SUCCESS OF THE FARMER. success of
the lar'neris in proportion to the amount Of
knoWe ledge he brings to bear upon his profess
sion, and not on the strong hands or capital
employed, nor any other exterior advantage.
Like most other undertakings. it depends on
the maud Of the man. The hands are The in
srnmcns by viii the plow is guided or "a
sythe Or fork is welded and strong ones are
necessary for the work; but they are only
the instruments of the controlling intellect
which plans. drviScs, arrangcs, and controls
the whole. Dolts do not make the best far.
nGs, hut the men who think. are they who
Will succeed here just as they will any were
else.
II Tins be true We can sec Mt glance where
Improvement i'll agriculture is to commence.
Tho farmer is required to he thinking man.
and he is che best farmer who brings the best
fraiort mtellcci to the work-thc soundest
logic, the best Judgment. and the pureSt heart
1t is true that men acquire considerable skill
IN most pursuits by mere repetition ofthcir
processes ) habit farmer may go through
tie yearly routine of sowing a crop. rcaping
and harvesting the same just as his father
had done, without ever thinking ofthc reasons
which should decide his course. A certain
degree of success will often attend such far
'nIng, but let anything new occur to break in
upon his habit or routine of things, and our
lIiator is at his wit S end at the first corner.
N'rr instinct never invented anything new,
but it may repeat old processes skifully.
The farmer is styled the Lord orthc Soil, ;"
and certainly the appclation pertains to him
II he has the ability to appreciate the high
station. This ability is the result of know
ledge This knowledge, too enables him to
unite science and art. which is necessary to
constitute good farmer. This union must
be derived from book learning, which by too
many has been considered wholly supcrnuous
md Its teachings distascful What other
art or science is supposed to be attainable in
any considerable degree without learning or
study (! Why should the farmer alone RELY
on lntuiton-on instruction his Improvement |
and be directed in his employment by habit?
Why should he consider himsclfnothing moro
thsn the head tool of his implements and but |
the handspring Of their movements, while tho
mechanic and the artizan, by their science,
seem to in(use intellect into them.
II knowledge be necessary in any occu-
patton, it is prominently so in that Of the |
farmer The mechanic has no call to inycsti-
gate the clements which are the boss of tbc
material of his lianticraft. His stock is be-
fore him. and his tool guided by the uncrrins
hand and practical eye of professional skill.
gives force and finish to his work. Not so
with the business of the former; he may as
readily learn its mechanical parts, but he has
problems tosolvc andmystcrics to investigate.
lie should be familiar with the componcnt
parts Of the substance on which he bcstows
his labor-thcir relative proportious tl,eir
"i'in!ics, their scpratc and compound arcn-
clcs and the influence of other bodies in lluir
adaptation to the results he is tailoring to oh
tam. In short, he mus: know the necessary
and intimate connection between cause and
.!ir.t
have said that the profession OF ncrcul
ture requires more study than that OF the az
t'%"n. If this DO true, it is fortunate for the !
Turner that he can command more time for
Its acquisition. Winter is comp lrativcly,
and to him moro peculiarly n season of lois
ure. Those who do not possess books Oh |
ms subject can readily borrow them. But a |
farmer Is tho last person who should live BY
borrowing Let Inc rcccomncd better
course. Let an agricultural liLary DC estab-
llshcd by an association in the town consis |
ting Of select number Of standard works |
upon this subject, with tho lighter produc-
tions OF the day. General knowledge, indie
pendent Of mental enjoyment, is important in |
all occnpations-not only as it may direct the
land, hut rs it calls into exercise other oner
g'cs conducive to human good.