Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-04-10


Taylor the sword of the brave La Vega.
[From the "Soil of the Soulful
Maxims for Young Farmers and
Overseers.
The following ten maxims are respect
fully dedicated to young planters and
overseers, in the hope that in this day of
agricultural progress they may effect
some good;
FOR YOUNG FARMERS.
l. As soon as you have planted your
crop, be sure to make calculation how
much you will make If you have made
liberal allowances for bad seasons, sick
ness, and such subtractions. you will
probably be not more than two-thirds
over the mark but then, you will have
had all the pleasure of anticipation, and
you can easily convince yourself that
your arithmetic was right, if something
else was wrong
2. Be sure not to plough deep. Ge-
ologists say the earth is hollow globe,
and you might get through the crust
Besides, if the current philosophy be
true, that the interior is liquid fire, you
might get your feet burnt.
3. The old adage that "time is money!
may do well for the face Of Yankee
clock, but is altogether beneath the phi
losophy of Young America. Therefore,
lie in bed till your breakfast is ready,
and be sure to go fishing every Satur-
day evening. Your corn and cotton
will grow as well whilo you sleep, as
when you are awake and if the grass
grows too, who cares for grass2
4. Scientific agriculturalists make
great noise about rotation Of crops
Don't believe word they say. "Rota-
ton of crops" indeed ! Wonder if tho
rotation of the wagon wheel don't land it
in mud hole at last? Bug who p
Everybody knows that good land makes
more cotton than poor land-so continue
to plant your best field in cotton as long
as you please. If it wears out, you can
go to Texas.
5. As you value your future prospects
in life, and your reputation as a physiolo-
gist, never suffer a curry comb to scratch
the sides of your mules. 1t wears them
out, 0he eurry-combs) and curry-combs
cost money. If the pores of their skin
should be clogged up with dust, they can
rub themselves against tree or the cor
ner of n fence; and everybody knows
there is glorious luxury il scratching
FOR ovERsEERs.
6. II you are an overseer, and young
one at that, look sour at your negroes
the first day, and kick up general row
the second. Africans are nothing but
brutes, and they will love you the better
for whipping, whether they deserve it or
not. Besides, by this manly course, you
will show your spunk. To be sure, a
half dozen Of them may take to the
woods, but this is no loss to you.
7. BE sure to make your Office n sine
cure. Congressman, Judges and civil
officers generally, do so, and why may
not overseers? To this end, ride once
in the forenoon to where you can see
your hands, and then gallop off to some
store, blacksmith shop, or wherever you
can find crowd to listen 10 your inter
esting conversation. This is the only
way 80 magnify your Office"
N. Il. Whatever else you may neg
lect, never forget to put yourself in the
possessice case in regard to your employ
er's property-say "my negroes, my
mules, my cotton" &c. Your employer
is lazy skunk, and has no right TO any
thing.
8. Swear like tour army in Flap
ders," yourself; but whip every negro
on the plantation who dares TO use pro-
fame language etony scamps, what
right have they TO initiate their over
seer?
8. If your horse becomes lame, or
from any other cause cannot carry you,
as in No. Z, seek some "boundless CON
tiguity Of shade" where you can en-
joy a comfortable snooze-nothing like
"otium cum dignitotc."
10. If your employer desires you 10
plant his cotton or corn in manner diff
fercnt from that which you think best,
be sure TO spoil everything in its cuItiva-
ton. You will then prove to him that
his plans are wrong, and yours right.
CLOD THUMPER.