The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-04-28

the idea struck me that l should send you copy
of it for publication that it might STIR up some
Of orr conservative Hunterdon Go. farmers and
set them to thinking, and If 1t shall exert this
influence upon any of them shall feel amply re-
paid for the trouble of copying it. Here it is:
DEAR WILLIAM
Thy interesting favor was received yester
day. and must say that | am very much sur
prsed to find thee at the Farm School, and
though l am surprised, am far from being dis
pleased No, no, right glad am I that thee has
thought it worth while to serve an apprentice
ship to this important and scientific persuit, in
stead Of rushing blindy into the business with
out any knowledge or forethought of the thou
sand and-one duties that devolve upon the prac
teal and successful farmer Too many of our
people seem to think that any unlettered rustic
any thoughtless STRIPPING, can become farmer
without any preparation or study, and they rush
into the business expecting to reap abundant
harvests and become wealthy in a year or two.
They enter upon the performance of their duty
With cldtcu CHtHuSldSu ytC dldn, GAOy w Ho9
knowipw to properly cultivate the soil; intact
they do everything to the halves and thee knows
that the soil cannot be cheated it is just as
honest as the day is long and hence it returns to
theme just recompense which is just half crop
for a half cultivation of the soil and VIM. we
find these ignorant people rushing madly on in
the business, butchering their FARMS producing
less and less every year, until they no longer af-
ford susteEance to their miserably ignorant
tiller, apologies for farmers) and hence as a
natural consequence we find them leaving their
worn out detected farms, selling them for mere
cypher, leaving the business and heaping IN
numbered imprecations upon this most import
ant, influential, and health giving of all sublu-
nary avocations. Right glad am that thee has
given the subject so much consideration that
thee has wisely arrived at the conclusion to un-
derstand thy business before thee attempts to
practice it. Thee can now enter Understandings
into its every operation-thou canst now scatter
Improvement broadcast throughout the length
and breadth of the country wherever thee may
60, until it shall blossom like the rose and while
the untutored, ignorant tiers of the soil, q will
rot call them farmers) act upon the soil like
whitening, blighting curse, scattering privation
want, and misery all around them, thy effect
upon the soil will be the reverse of all of this
for peaceful smiling plenty will ever crown the
efforts of the understanding workman who phys
himself with the zeal requisite for a farmer =
Many people instead of going to the Farm School
as thee has DONE would have gone to some of
our old farmers and received their information
in that manner. This plan would do very we'll
in some rare instances, bub1 tell thee VIM, in
nine cases out of ten it would be like the Inspired
Book tells us of certain teachers of Christianity
"They are blind leaders of the blind, and hence
they both fall into the ditch" The truth of the
matter is, we have too many conservative farm
ers in this country who are bringing up their
boys in what they term the "good old way"
which is in reality as far from it as night is from
day, and as light is from darkness The fact is, we
want more intelligent farmers-we want such an
intelligent tillage of the soil as shall cause it to
produce at least fifty per cent. more than it now
produces and this | honestly believe can be done
with less labor than is now bestowed upon the
cultivation of the soil, and believe that one of
the first and most important steps towards the
accomplishment of this most important result, is
to send our young men to well conducted Farm
School, and have them thoroughly understand
the theoretical and practical business of farming
and for these reasons rejoice to find thee amonp
the first to enroll thy name as member of snch
an institution. Long may such blessed institu-
tons live to bless the country; they are like
Apples of gold in pictures of silver" she'd
ding halo of glory around them diffusing knowl
edge, light and understanding throughout the
length and breadth of the broad old keystone
state, and rejecting its rays from one end of the
country to the other, sending out bright meteors
of flight, truth and knowledge in every direction
throughout the land, who shall go forth like wing
ed messengers from above, wherever they touch
the earth to cause bright verdure to spring forth
until the whole country, teeming with vegetation
and beauty, shall be what God designed it to be,
as perfect as the tGarden of Eden
IMPROVEMENT.