Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-12-09

,,sa,espsxk from ls ,..seaais filings and the true<
Ihildpphy sof, natulp. Ihsle - many who cay
Nak most 1ar1edly about Achemistry, the nature q
She smosphese, ana the effects o. light and heat
who have no practical knowledge of farming, and
who would barely be able 10 subsist with good
force on the richest lands. 1t is practice which
makes perfect in this as in every thing else know
two farmers, one an educated man, graduate oft
University the other unlettered uneducated, but
characterized by energy and sound common sense.
They are among the best farmers and Worthest citi
zens of my acquaintance. | do not believe the grad
uate is superior in his modes of culture, in the
quantity and quality Of his crops. to Ills uneducated
neghbor-uneducated SO far as books are concerned;
though the graduate has brought to his aid much
knowledge acquired at school and from books
This is no argument gentlemen, against science or
against knowledge as essential to successful farming
I make the comparison to show what industry, and
without the aid Of learning. My unlcttered friend
has acquired his knowledge and his skill in farming
by observation, by practice by his own experience
and the experience of those around him.. He is q
scientific farmer, without knowing by9their names
the rules Of the science by which he succeeds; just
as some persons write good English without know
ing the rules Of graz mar laid down in the books,
and some are accomplished soldiers without be-
ing familiar with the tactics Of Scott Wellington.
And know another farmer, who was bred me-
chanic, native Of Connecticut. | doubt whether
he ever read book or paper on farming; but he
practices what he observed and learned when a boy
in his native State, among people who attained
long since a high position as ters of the soil. He
reads his Bible and his hymn book-puss his trust
in the God of the atmosphere, the sun, and the
showers-sows, labors, and reaps abundant crops.
His farm is small, and originally poor consist
ing for the most part of light and gravely and what
is called in his County, chinQuepin land. Without
slaves, with no horses, but with never less than
three yoke of oxen, he has raised large family on
this farm and now has competency in his old age.
There are no briars, no sprouts no weeds in bis
fields, his fence-corners, or turning rows, but his
farm looks like garden, and his stock fat and
sleek have often when boy been with him in
his labors; and though pious old Methodist, have
heard him whistiing Yankee Doodle as he drove his
team atied because it reminded him, he said Of the
New England hills among which he first heard it,
and Of Bunker Hill where Putnam fought and War
rem died. He il a Yankee. Would that there were
many more such Yankees in this State and in all
New England!
Agriculture is the safest and most pleasant Of all
pursuits. l can imagine no situation more desirable
than that Of the farmer, living his own land,
rounded by his household and by his hocks and
herds-independent, out Of debt, relying the
earth and on nature for support and comfort, and
laying by something the end of each year for him
SELF for his child who are to take his place when
he is gone and for those worthy objects around him
which have claim on his attention, his sympathy
or care. 1t is the patrarchal the primitive con-
diton, which the smile Of Goa Immediately rests.
1t is the condition in which all good all bad gov
eminent begins. A government based thrifty
and vrtuOus households is best prepared to resist
dangerous innovations, the alluremcnts of luxury,
and the wear OF time Such man as have de-
scribed knows the laws only in their benefcence,
not in their penalties terrors He is not afraid to
tie sheriff. is he troubled by taxes provided
he nAicsn ,li.I
Banks and other corporations may suspend or fail
whole cities may go down into the vortex Of insov
ency and trades proud empires haste to swift de-
cay but none Of these things move him, save to
curiosity or sympathy, provided he has been careful
to put gold ard silver in his till, or has secured
what is so abundant just now, the notes of sound
speciei"yimg Banks. He finds out ifo;hers do not,
THAT the best bank after all is a bank of EARTH and
the best share plonghshare."
The profits Of the farmer may not be so large or
so apparent as those Of others, but they sure.
His wealth increases while he sleeps. Day and
night Gods chemistry works for him in the silent
clods. The sunshine the atmosphere, the dcws and
fross of night and the revolutions of the seasons
all attend upon his labors and contribute to increase
his store 1t has been said, with equal beauty and
truth that
"The heart issues bills which are never protested
When drawn the firm of wife, children, and friends
But the farmer draws upon the earth, the common
and the laws Of nature. which never change, honor
his drafts. He depends not upon the cold bnt upon
the warm earth, in whose bosom the seeds germi-
nate and upon whose surface the fruits mature and
the flowers are born and il he learns to labor and
to watt" he never waits in vain. Every time the
farmer plants fruit tree. cuts ditch. or builds
house which is needed, paints or repairs those
he already has or improves his stock by jndicious
purchases and crossings; renders his land, by
whatever mode. tlabe and fertile; or improves
the roads and about his lands; adds to his i'm.
p,ements Of husbandry-he ia laying mp sold treas.
ures which will repay him. some thirty, some six
ty. and some an hundred fold"
Too many Of our young men are engaging, or seek
ing to engage, in mercantile and professional pnr.
suits Nearly every bright boy, after being eduea.
ted the saying is, is put to profession. or placed
in some store a clerk. or set up without expe
rience in business q merchant; while the dut
bows, so called. put to farming or acme mechan
cal trade This is a great mistake, and one pecu'a,
to the Southern country. Many of these bright
young men, called, fail in their professions or al
merchants and return to the farm, but at too late
period in life to succeed. Judgment is better thar
genius; and learning be honorably and prof
itably employed in cutivating the earth as in any
thing else The hard rough struggles of life are, at
ter ALL the tests Of endurance Of usefulness of will
and Of mind; and the dull young man often ont
strips the bright one, aboring step by step up thu
hill Of fame. Let us put sons on farms as vi
put them to professions; say to them that is the
dependence, and in nine cases out Of ten they vii
succeed and prosper Let them be their own over
seers for
Gle that BY the plough would thrive
Must either hold himself, or drive"
No business can be successfully conducted for Sc
ries Of years by agents. And for my part despair
Of that young man who is above labor ard who con
siders farming beneath him. If too proud to farm
to manage his own hands and pitch his own crops
he will turn out to he too indolent succeed in AM
thing. Why. the greatest and best men the work
has ever contained tlers Of the soil, and work
ed with their own hands. Cincinnatus Edmund