The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-11-02
THE CALEDONIA
farm. 6araeu aud Aitfhfn.
4 Good Dialogue.


picture OF the scene was prepared with the
original dialogue. and should be here, but We
have not the engraving at hand. The dia
logue is pleasing and instructive, and should
be read by every one.
The POTATOES they are small,
Over tncle, over there. OM Song.
!Smih-How is it, neiglbor Jones. that
YOUR potatoes are ST. large and tine, while just
over the fence, az Simiior sal, mine are as
small as pallets .gS> and precious te" a:
that?
Jones-l MANFRED this field with brains.
Sm1h-Pshaw. All the Cincinnati hog.
killers couldn't supply brains enough for this
ten-acre field.
Jones-I used human brains, of which
there are plenty.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. don't make fun
of ME because I'm unlucky, and Providence
has sent you good crop.
Jones-Providenc helps those who help
themselves. used my oun brains on this
field.
SmHh-So did l mine, and they are as
good as anybodys.
Jon,x--Ah. there's the trouble. You
know it all Yourself: don't, and so get
all the outside help can. I've been collect
ing other mems brains for my land for TWEEN
" years, and you see one result in tbs crop.
Smdh-Yes, see the result, but don't
understand it.
Jones-Well, when We began here twenty
years ago, thought myself good farmer,
but believed others had good ideas, too,
and made it my business to get at their
thoughts some found in agricultural pa
pers and books, others | picked up at the
County Fairs, by asking how the biz things
were raised, and often I've got good hint of
a neighbor
Smlh-I've always been down on this
shook farming" but your crops stagger me,
they're real knock. down arguments. I'm
sick of the poor show | get for all my work,
and am desperate enough 10 try anything for
improvement.
Jones-Iil give you my experience; it may
aid YOU. About nineteen years ago heard
that some men who had been brought up on
farms had dubbed together, and one of them
was going to publish paper, which should
consist mainly Of accounts ho~ different far
mers cultivated various crops, and such like
matters. | sent for the paper and have done
so every year since, and now have nineteen
large volumes, every page of which | have
read, a little at time, and the whole has not
cost the produce of single acre. Why | am
astonshed when | think over the the ten
thousand thoughts, and hints, and sugges-
tons have thus gathered. What a blank
would be left in my head, if these thoughts
were taken away.
Smith-But does the practice of farmers
on other kinds of soil and with different
climate, suit your wants?
Joncs-Why no, not exactly, perhaps. But
then, every thought get from another ,sturts
new thought IN my "wn mint, and thus |
am constantly improving my own skill and
practice. You see, ! get all the brains can
from other mems heads, and compost them
we'll in my own head with mixture Of COM
mon sense. and then make the application to
my fields. In that way. have MANFRED this
crop Of potatoes with plenty of brains. The
editor called here last week on his Western
tour among farmers, and seeing my good
crops, he asked me to write out Just how
have treated this field for years past, and
promised to do it as soon as nv crops are
gathered. He will probably print it, as he
constantly prints all such practical matters
and perhaps a hundred thousand persons viii
read it; and though nobody else may do just
as do, many will get new hint, and i'm
prove upon it. You may read it if you will
Smith, would like to borrow your pa
per.
Jones-Better take it yourself, for ther
you will be more likely to read it. You vii
find hundreds of plain talks about various
kinds Of crops, during single year. On
hint gave five bushels Of corn an each acr'
Of large field in a single year.
Smith, can't afford to take it this year.
Jones-You would think nothing of spend
cigar, or candy, and that's all the paper vii
cost. How little week it costs to suppl
yourself and family with large amount OF
information through any good paper.
!Smith--What are the politics Of that pa
per?
Jones-It doesn't touch politics. 1t is dt
voted to such subjects as field and garde
crops. animals, etc. and has, besides, goo'
deal about woman's work. which wife says
worth more than ten times the few pound
Of butter it costs to pay for the paper. Thel
there is also department for the youn
folks, containing many things which pleas
the children-not mere trashy stuff, such "a
is often printed for them, but informatio
that will have good influence on them.
would sell dozen bushels of wheat to hav
my young people get the good reading i
that paper, but the average price Of one busf
ell will pay for it year. My John says h
can pay for i, easy with the eggs from two c
three hens. If | was mechanic or merchar
and had only little garden, should TAX
the paper to tell me how to make the be.
use Of the little plot and if had not
foot of land should still want it for my vii
and children.
SmiA-Does the editor know anything q
bout farming
Jones-The editor who owns and publish
es the paper was brought up on farm, " her
he learned to work. lie has studied all tn
books on farming. and experienced for yeal
in the laboratory, and has besides, tray ellie
all over the country to see what was doin;
Then he has several Observation-Disclosures, ga
deners and housekeepers, who know wha
they write about, and among them all the
do gather up a wonderful lot of informatio
every year. The language, too, is S
plain, so like talking with you, that Ell
joy reading it. Then, too, every paper h
engravings, which show one exactly how an
mails and plants, and implements, and house
hold furniture look, much better than word
could describe them. Among these are plan
OF buildings, that help one to plan others
and also many very fine large pictures, whic
are worth more than the cost of whole vo
ume.