Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-09-17
From the Eural Ns~ Worker.
Thoughts for the Thoughtful.

Nf NhutA Aot HAtt't ANN AAEuNis A'l
woald We discourage nor undcryaluc the ~
suits OF his lAhors and experiments. In the
few hints We are about 70 prJscnt. our only
ohject Is 10 oGer few thoughts which may
BE- Of some service 70 tho-o in pursuit Of
knowlciro. IfcHperimeuis are conducted
Io3thc purpose Of cluciiatiuga a certain prop
o.ition. they are most likely to result in
good but such experiments as many Of
thosc reported in the Agricultural Journals
Of this country. arc, ia great dcgrcc. aim
loss, and give bot "an uncertain sound. -
Gryat and hidden truths remain TO bcdsvcl-
opcl L., Us search Tor them ia earnest,
as though We realized the importance OF the
work, bad strong faith in our ability 70 AID
in its accomplishments.
Tho manufacturer Of voolen cloth, buys
the Kind of wool he needs !or the production
Of The article which i in greatest demand,
or upon which ne can realize the greatest
profit lie is - well acquainted with the
cost oi manufacture that be can tell the
price he can AFFORD TO pay Cor the several
grades, and the profit that will result from
tbc operation. Hence our readers will Oft
en- sse it stated in our rvPort OF the wool
maikct. that ''at present rates, manuiactur-
crs buy very sparingly," or In sorne cases,
that they refuse TO buy altogether at the
ruling priccs The same j, trueof the man
uiaeturcs Of almost all articles % commerce.
There j. no guess work about il. Every
thing has been reduced to rule by expert
mcut and practice. The farm i a manu-
factory OF wheat, corn, potatoes, bcei, NUT
ton. poTk. wool, and all nccc.saries Of life
The farmer j. the manufacturer, depending
upon the profits derived from the mauuiac-
turc Of ,hcs5 articles for the support Of him
selfand family. Aud yet, who, among the
Hundreds ol thousands engaged in the busi-
nee, can tell what IL cost. him 70 rai.e
busbel 90 wheat, or corn, o. r0utrcs' >
Who can tell what {; costs him % make a
quart Of milk. or pound Of cheyseF Who
can tell how much pork or bccf he can make
foom bu.hcl Of c5ru2 Who can tell the
comparative value Of hay, and corn, aud
carrots On the manufacture oi b,ef. and az
what price. it would o. most profitable %
sclI the one and ic,I the other? These are
important questions, affecting directly the
bu.in,ss and profits Of the farmer. Well
DO we know that the pursui, Of the farmer,
i. more than any oshgg az 'ctel by c0giin-
rcnccs entirely beyond his control, such as
the weather. diseases. insect &c., yet, tax
Ing all these things into consideration, we
would a.k our readers II there i not an on
necessary lack Of information on those
poiuts' Scientific men present. " with an
aly-,s 81 thc different articles OF TODD, and
from these calculate their comparative vail
ue but these results are often found false
in practice. Careful experiments have al.1
b,eu made in Europe, with ducct reference
o. some Of tho,c questions, but our climate
and other circumstance, ar 80 different,
that while the-e results are Of groa, value
in many way., they aGjrl Us no true guide
in practice. We must saarch lor ourselves,
and instead Of relying on the labor. or 9th.
err. add our mite TO tie stock Of universal
kn0wlcjsc.
Thorough experiments to obtain reliable
r..ults would De tedious and expensive, and
on an extensive sale, perhaps, nigh; bee
done bss, by rome Of our Agricultural So
cieti,., under the Supervision Of some com.
pcteut person. In Europe, ucn Of wealth,
lovers ol truth and science have devoted
their livos and fortunes to these subjects,
and have produced the most valuable results,
tha, will crown them with honor as long
a. time Jndurls Hero We have icw men Of
leisure and wealth, very few designated IN
our directories as "gHiim.u, aud thcs,
are looked upon a. some strange animals.
Something. however. has been done by iu-
diuluai,. and much more might, and Ne
hjpc, will be accomplished In this way
One poiu, thoroughly tested, is worth a
thou,auI Lali.iriei experiments Or uuirisd
theories
Another point that needs Investigation, Is
the actual AID comparative value Of ma
nur,, There is much ned OF ]. sht on thi,
important subject. as il seems to Be very lit
d, understood. and those who know the
met. f,,l most the want Of the teaching, of
experience. and facts demonstrated by we'll
tried experiments. Can the farmer afford
10 draw manure from Eve tO eight miles, az
trrlyius thrsc or four shi!liugs Tor a CONE
mon wagon Load, f5r the purpose Of manu-
featuring corn at sixty cynts a bushel THIS
thing j. done every year, IN the ncighbor-
hood OF cities. and Vet we have never been
able % obtain a satisfactory answer % this
question ofany person engaged In the work.
There must BE- point at which It would he
cheaper to usa gulnO than 10 purchase and
draw manure, and in most elses there Is
djub,lcss better way than either Last
SIMMER We were informed by several farm
ers on Loog Island tn, guano was tho
cheapest manure they oo-!l use. much more
80 than that brought from the stables in the
city, or tie sWeepinss Of the streets
Leached ashes Is alsJ a h,orite manure for
the light lands u the Island, and they are
brOu-ht a tsreat If..apss ir s,fns rasas even