The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-04-06
Hints to Farmers.

The New jersey Farmer for March says -
Our agricultural friends will, shortly after
receiving this number, enter upon the most
arduous and laborious duties OF their calling,
and we deem il not inappropriate ut this
time to remind them of the old adage, that
"a stitch in time saves nine."
The success of an entire year sometimes
depends upon what is done and what may be
left undone at this time. a good farmer
should lay out the plan of his summer cam
paign at its commencement. lie should have
all his tools in order, the number OF hands
he means to employ engaged, the seed he
means TO plant or SOW selected. He should
leave nothing to chance, but be prepared for
every contingency which may arise. Every
thing should be so arranged us to lose not
moment of ftime-for time is money. especially
to the farmer. who has about half year to
make whole years living in. There is
plenty Of time for sport and recreation alter
the harvests are gathered and carefully
stacked or housed.
But besides the labOrs incident to the
present, we think the intelligent farm r
should look somewhat to the futurc-and ut
the same time that he should take care OF
himself, he should not be entirely regardless
of the general interests of his class. A Pc
culiarity is the agricultural profession in its
exemption from that miserable spirit of
rivalry which frowns ut the success ofa CO.
labOrcr, and hides what it knows for fear
that another might profit by it. Its labors
arc performed in the presence ofthc Divinity,
in the midst of all his great and glorious
works. and as an instrument of Ills grace and
providence, and hence all these petty and
sorlid feelings Of envy and jealousy rarely
find place in the breast of an intelligent
agriculturist. But there is q negligence in
many, which is not in keeping with the
liberal and generous sentiments of men en-
gagged in the high mission Of furnishing food
TO the world. We should not be satisfied
with doing well ourselves, but we should
endeayOr 10 induce our nciS)lbOrS to do like
wise. Every farmer should bea missionary
in the cause of good farming, and should
publish his experience for the guidance OF
Others, not only in vague, general terms, but
in detail. He should keep Journal, in
which should be entered every days work,
the character of the soil under tillage, its,
depth, the character OF sub soil, the mode OF
CultlNutlOn, tnc NuIldtiuH VI "NaNhNi @"'
climate, quality and quantity OF manures
used, and the mode of culture applied to
each crop the cost, the result and every partic-
ular connected with the operations OF tho
farm. Such n Journal would not only be of
incalculable benefit to the farmer himself, as
means Of comparing experiments and ascer-
tanning results for his own benefit, but it
will enable him to interchange information,
with some equally careful and judcious
neighbor, for their mutual benefit.
Without being either u prophet or the
son Of n prophet, we think we may venture
to predict an early season, and If any OF our
readers have been neglectful in preparing for
..seed time" we would advise them to be up
and doing, for the clerk Of the weather cares
for no man 5 convenience; and it is subject
of sell:reproach to spend time which ought
to be dedicated to ploughinS in ixingploughs
and harness, which ought to have been fixed
monthsago.