Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-11-26

; SUBJECT IN order to bring you to just esti
mate OF Its Importance. A scklv prejudic,
has obtained among certain classes of societ,
to the vocation of farmer. Now the impor-
tance or standing of any profession depends
upon the responsibilities attached to 1t, and
the manner in which those vino represent il
discharge theirs. And what are the depen-
dencies of agriculture? Not individual inter
est, or fame, or the success of any one class
Of society or branch of commerce. Nations,
society, humanity, all depend on it as the
vitalizing agent of their existence; and the
| bread that gives US life, is testimony as to
the manner in which its representatives dis.
charge their responsibilities. -+'
In our own county it is a source of delight
to witness the evidences of home industry
which surround us when we reflect on the
comparative difficulties with which the farmer
| has to contend. Here amid the forests and
frosts of the Alleghenies, where 's winter lin
gers long in the lap of spring." the husband
man is no pampered favorite of nature. La
bor, rude un@earied toll, is the only precur-
! sor of an approach to agricultural success
None but minds imbued with manly fortitude
and hearts throbbing with energy, would
dare to encounter the barriers which nature
seems to present to the pursuits of the hus-
bandman Yet even these characteristics of
our mountain home, which at first appear to
be serious objections, will upon reflection dis
cover themselves to us in different shape
Te counteract them, we have the advantages
of a salubrious climate favorable to the vigor-
Gus growth of animal life in all its varied
forms. Ia cold rugged countries muscular
energy is greatly increased by much higher
demand upon it. The necessity of labor to
{ the enjoyment of life, is imprinted in strong
characters on the structure of man. The Crea-
tor has so arranged the external world as to
cultivate his powers of body and mind. The
soil on which he treads is endowed with
Thousand capacities of production, which re-
qure only to be excited by his Intelligence to
yield him the most ample return. Man can
not arrest the sun in its course so as to avert
the wintry storm, and cause perpetual spring
to bloom around him; but by thc proper exer-
else of his energies and corporeal powers, put
forth according to the constitution of sur
rounding nature, he is able to foresee the ap-
proach of bleak skies and ride winds, and to
place himself in safety from their injurious
effects. These powers of controlling nature,
and of accommodating his conduct to its
course, are the result of his faculties. and in
proportion to their cultivation is his sway ex-
tended ard his position elevated. IF the I
rains fall the winds blow, and the frosts of
winter chill the air, the mere animal must |!
endure all. Man, while ignorant. continues |
in condition equally helpless. But let him
put forth bis capacities, aud he finds himself /
invested with power to build, to fabricate, :
and to cause the earth to bear him plenty at |
the proper season which he may store away, /
and by availing himself of these resources,
OF Natures laws, he is able to smile in safety |
beside the cheerful health, while the elements
maintain their fercest war abroad
Thus upon our knowledge of the laws of
nature with particular reference to those which /
govern the vegetable kingdom along with ex- /
perience of their practicable application and
results, and a conformity of our energies to
them rests the chances of our success as hUs-
bandmen. 1t is not every man who lives on
land which he claims to cultivate who deserves
the name of farmer 1t requires more than
this to complete the constituent characteristics
of husbandman. To cultivate the soil sue
we must in addition to an industri-
Gus application of manual labor exercise our
Judgment and experience. For
example we know a natural law establishes
that certain grain must be planted in the
spring but we are not sufficiently conversant
with the law, without the exercise of observa-
ton aud experience to know at what particu-
lar period of that season the planting must be
in order to insure an abundant crop. The
nearer we arrive at compliance with the de-
nan6s of nature in respect to our crops pro
greater success will attend our
labor. Because in the raising and frultion OF
crops there are fixed laws which govern them
and upon an observance of which rests their /
failure or abundance. Hence it should be
leading consideration with the farmer to ac
4uire a knowledge of these laws. This is not
accomplished alone by books. These afford
one means of knowledge while observation on
the habits and actions of nature herself affords +
US another and perhaps surer intelligence Of
The laws which govern her kingdom. None
have ampler opportunities for study like this
than the farmer. The continued round of his
iaiy employment is book from which he
may study the choicest knowledge of his pro-
fession. He may
. Find tongues in rrees, books in the running
BROOKS g i
Sermons in stones and good in every thing" G +
The various indigenous productions ofdif
ferent localities should be minutely studied by
every farmer. Nature affords In them basis
to estimate the fertility of the soils by which
they produced. In this manner without
the aid of science, he may be able to select
the most productive portions of land with sur
prising success. BY this means he will also
be enabled to determine for the growth OF
what particular production certain localities
are most favorable Having selected the site
IF his farm. if it be woodland not reclaimed
by previous labor from the wiidness of nature
his first attention must be devoted to clearing
August is the period at which this task is said
to be most successfully performed. The lar
pest trees ara uenarallu disnosad of by Cird- !