New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-10-05
WHAT FARMERS READ.
re De Edro, Of The n Y TriJYne

To ne Edi,oy Of The " i. Tribune.
SIR An article appeared in the last weeks TR'f-
ryE rejoicing In the founda ion OF Agricultural Lit
erature and recommending more liberal purchase OF
work, which treat of farming for District Libra
RES. an always glad to anything in the papers
which tends 10 foster spirit Of inquiry and dspo-
siton TO mental culture among farmers. He would be
gre., benefactor to the agricultural community vino
could infuse into them a determination to occupy
norton of their time to the Improvement OF their
minds as well Of of their lands How this can be done
know not; but until it is accomplished, tue purchase
of agricultural works for libraries will be of little avail
will take district as an example II may DE coz
sdered fair average Of rural Districts perhaps above
the average for have sustained good lyceum iOr
ten yea ethiDg which no Deighborug district mas
done-aId VIC have iartd better than many win re,
gard TO our ibrsry Consisting of perhaps hundred
and twenty volumes it contains az least half dozen
on sg iculure. These works, although some of them
have been for eight ten years in the library, are s
good new looking books, which arises from the tact
that very few have read them The remainder OF Tue
library is made up 10 great ex'eot OF substin'la-
some of them standard-works on history, biography
and various departments Of science; and these, TOO
show that they have been bat little used, while 1t is
general complaint that our library is m'eraOie-it
contains 20 few books that one wishes 10 read.
In an age which abOdDds so much in readlng, II Is
matter of surprise aud regret that 80 few works OF u'-
iiy find n place by the farmers hearth IL 10 true
portion of the community read perhaps majority
but made the righ! selections To refer again to our
library while the works from which useful knowledge
would be gained are new in appearance, the few vol.
umes which treat Of adventures, wonders, wars and
crimes bear rapidly increasing marks Of the wear and
tear Of use.
Especially does the farmer seem TO have strong
aversion to works which treat of his vocation In
most e the trades and pursuits of life, men must serve
an apprenticeship of year, but the op0ion seems to be
rrevale nj that men may he farmers by intuition. Most
9th r Classts of men give you some information
touching the branches of business which they pursue,
because they have devoted years to Improvement
therein. But not the farmer. IL the boy can hoe
corn NOW grass and the like, he il amply qualified
for Il G cul ure of the coil. Ask them how gypsum
tends TO give luxuriance TO their pastures what is the
ac IN of lime, what substances most essential 10
the growth of grains, and most farmers will very
likely prove j. norabt as a city dandy or the
beasts they own. il is 10. so much matter either
for wonder perhaps regret, that lien whose
hairs are grown gray, neglect the new light which
Chemistry has thrown upon farm cuturei but 1t as de-
porsble that young farmers. as Is really tie case,
should so ally prefer the trashy contents OF yellow
covered novels, to the pure delights OF substantial
scerce. Such is tie case To one volume of John.
sion Elements of Agricultural Choms.ry you ATE very
likely in farm houses TO find ten copies of Dare Devil
Dick, and kindred publications. While the rising
screration of farmers thus occupy their leisure hours
in useless reading or the less useless occupation OF
bup,ipg or dancing we cannot hope for the general
rreyaence of enlightened views upon the hllage OF
The coil How is ths vitiaed taste to receive correc-
ton rAhNLh'
farm Of he WalO'cs Sept 3, 1855.