The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-11-07
A Good Dialogue.

ieahlnS on tne renee looking wIstfully over
at Mr. Jones, who is digging a splendid
crop of big Potatoes. A picture of the
scene was prepared with the original
dialogue, and shonld be here, but we have
not the engraving at hand. The dialogue is
pleasing and instructive, and should be
read by every one.
"The Potatoes, they are small,
Over there, over there ."-OH Song.
Mr.. Smuh-How is il, neighbor Jones, that
your potatoes are SO large and fine, while
Just over the fence, on similar soil, mine are
as small as pullets eggs, and precious few
at that!
Mr.. Jones-I manured this field with
brains.
Mr. Smih-'Pshaw. All the Cincinnati
hog killers couldn't supply brains enough
for this :en- acre field.
Mr.. jones' used human brains, of which
there are plenty.
DIR. Smih-Nonsense-Now don't make
fun Of me because Pm unlucky, and Provi-
dence has sent you good crop.
Mr. JOnes-Providence helps those who
help themselves. | used my oarn brains on
this field.
Dir. Smith-So did | mine, and they are
as good as anybody's.
DIR. Jones-Ah There's the trouble
You know il all yourself don't, and so
gel all the outside help | can. I've been
collecting other mems brains for my land
for twenty years, and you see one result in
this crop.
Mr. Sm,th-Yes, see the result, but
don't understand it.
Mr. Jones-Well, when we began here 20
years ago, though: myself good farmer,
but | believed others had good ideas, too,
and | made it my business TO get at their
thoughts some | found in agricultural
books and papers, others ! picked up at
the County Fairs, by asking horO the big
things were raised, and often I've got good
hint from neighbor.
DIR. Smhh-I've always beon down on
this ''book farming" but your crops stag
ger me, they're real knock down arguments.
Pm sick of the poor show get for all my
work, and am desperate enough 10 try any
thing for improvement.
Dir JOnes-I'll give you my experience
ii 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 10 publish a
paper, which should consist mainly of ac-
counts of hotU different farmers 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,
little al time, and the whole has not cost
The produce of a single acre. Why am
astonished when think over The ten thou
sand thoughts, and hints, and suggestions
have thus gathered. What a blank would
be lett in my head, if these thoughts were
taken away.
| Mr. Smih-But does the practice of far
mers on other kinds of soil and with a
| different climate, suit your wants ?
| Mr Jones-Whv no. not exactly, perhaps.
| But then, every thought get from another,
starts new thought in my otcn mind, and
thus | am constantly improving my own
skill and practice. You see, get all the
brains can from other mems heads. and
compost them well in my own head with a
MIXTURE of common sense, and then make
the application to my fields. In that way,
have manured This crop of potatoes with
plenty of brains. The editor called here
last week on his Western tour among far
mers, and seeing my good crops, he asked
me TO write out just hop have treated this
field for years past, and promised 10 do il
as soon as my crops are gathered. He will
probably print it, as he constantly prints all
such practical matters, and perhaps hun
dred thousand persons will read it; and
though nobody else may do just as | do,
many will get new hint, and improve
upon it. You may read it if you will.
Mr.. Smih-I would like 10 borrow youl
paper.
Mr.. Jones-Better take il yourself, for then
you will be more likely to. read it. Yoc
will find hundreds of plain talks abou
various kinds of crops, during single
year One hint gave FIVE bushels of corn
on each acre of a large field in single
year.
Mr. Smifk-I can't afford to take it thi:
year.
Dir. Jones-You would think nothing o.
spending two cents a week for extra to-
bacco, or cigar, or candy, and that's al
the paper will cost. How ltle week i
costs to supply yourself and family with 9
large amount of information through any
good paper.
Mr.. Sm,th-What are the politics of thai
paper?
Mr.. Jones-ll doesn't touch politics ti'
devoted to such subjects as Field and Gar