Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-02-16
Sarlners' nepartmsnt.

1T may be true that an uhtettefcu
laborer will lift as large stone ms he
could do with college education, that
he can drive horse or OK as we'll, and
get as much labor out of brute muscles.
But this does not prove that education
will not help him in his business.
small part ouly of farm labor consists
in dead lifts. The cultivator has many
occasions every day in which skill will
be worth more to him than strength, in
the use CT his own labor, as we'll as IN
directing the skill of others. 1t is I'M
doubtedIy true that education does beget
u distaste for a certain kind of manual
labor. The intelligent mind is not sat
isfed with this as an end. 1t Graves the
best results possible for every blow struck
upon the farm. An adventurous Yam
kee, in a back settlement, was PIT to
chopping wood with an old tool, looking
more like tomahawk than an axe.
When he found that he could not do q
half days work with it, he threw it
aside in contempt, declaring that the
money could not hire him to chop wood
with such an implement. His mental
culture had untitled him--not for man
ual labor-but for an unskilful and I'M
profitable use of his muscles. Every
blow that he struck reminded him pain
fully of the better tool to which he was
accustomed, and with which he could do
twice the work. He wanted something
more than wages for his toll. lie wanted
the work done in i manner profitable
to / is employer"
\ shrowd farmer urges the expcdl-
enoy Of keeping sets of farm accounts,
and gives his own experience, as iol-
lows: every evening during the past
working season. have posted up a
record Of the la1ors Of the day, giving
my best estimate of their money value
to each item Of work, and to everything
used on the farm. AS each crop was
committed to the earth I gave it an APP
proprate heading, and transferred to its
page in my book the items of labor, seed /,
manure, &c, belonging thereto, and
since harvest have closed tue account
with the several crops, or brought them
SO that can see very nearly their cost
and value. find this very convenient
as well as economical course of proce-
duro. In any other business it would
be waste Of words to argue in its ia
vor, Tor men seldom engage in other OPP
cratious, even of trihing extent, without
keeping an account Of outgo and in
come. Why should not the farmer do
so? There ig no good reason, and the
amount Of time aud thought it requires
cannot be bitter employed in furthering
the success of the enterprise in which he
has engaged.
The Country Gentleman, enforcing the
necessity of caring for wood lots on
farming property makes the following
lust reflections Occasionally we came
in contact with well-defned specimens
of the slipshod tribe of farmers. They
put off getting their wood 50 late in the
Winter, and to them, the snow came SC
carly and so unexpectedly deep, tina,
they could not then think of jamming
their cattle through the huge drifts SC
the Winter, as usual, passed off without
woodpile at the door, and the standing
trees remained for future g:owth M
Scared by the "woodman's axe" Blu
these families have made out to struggl
along, as usual, with what old rail-
boards and other trash the women folk
and children could pick up, aided some
what by occasionally having green
brushy topped tree twitched from tn
pasture by the old skeleton horse. b
these aids they have obtained fuel t
raise steam enough to do the cookin
and washing after 4 fashion. But tn
final result of such shiftcssness, is t
make smoky houses, slipshod and scold
ing wives, late and half-cooked meals
saucy and unruly children, and til
homes Of all such anything but pleasan
and happy"
Every soil admits of removal of
certain portion of its mineral matter
without impoverishment or danger {
exhaustion. The quantity that ma
thus be removed, is that which feel
yields naturally by the simplest tillagt
and without manure. 1t is what th
weathering each year renders solub
and available. The use Of manures, c
of more perfect tillage, is to supply th
excess of matters contained in fu
crop over what is contained in the pa
tial one which the ungarded soil ma
Weld. 1t is not necessary on fair sol
to add as much mineral matters as al
taken off, in order to maintain its usu
produetivencss, and If to any soil, 9TH
things being proper y adjusted, we al
- as much as is taken of, we increase
y fertility, because, then, tie disintegra
ing process constantly increases its tioa
ing or available capital
During February and March all tel
der trees and shrubs will be liable to il
Jury from frost. In the earlier mont
of the Winter they were in so deep
slumber, that there was little danger
their being awakened by the brishte
and warmest sunshine. But now, til;
have had q good nap and are ready
be aroused and the sun has risen high
in the heavens, and shines with great
power. For these reasons, tender veg
tation is liable to injury. Therefore,
any Que has hitherto neglected to pr
tect his tender trees, shrubs and vine
let him now do so without delay.
A correspondent Of the Toronto Clio
advances the opinion that rolling Il
Snow on the Autumn wheat in Whit
would be an effective means Of proven
ing Wintcr-kill, BY rendering the sno
not so liable to melt on every suddt
thaw that occurs He says that Il
practice is extensively followed in Sw
A good deal of discussion is taking pla
on this subject, from which we gath
that it yet requires the test of actual c
pertinent to decide whether any bene
is to be derived from the operation or nc
Al n raaant Ear.nn,.e, liscu ssinn In 90