St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-02-14
A Good Dialogue.

[The scene of the following Interesting
Dialogue is that Of two farmers on oppo-
site sides of fence. Mr.. Smith, who
has beside him basket Of very small po-
tatoes, is leaning on the fence looking
wistfully over at Mr.. Jones, who is Dig
ging splendid crop of big Potatoes. A
picture Of the scene was prepared with the
original dialogue, and should 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."-Old Song.
Mr.. Smith-How is it, 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. Smith-'Pshaw. All the Cincin-
natl hog-killers couldn't supply brains
enongh for this ten acre field.
Mr.. Jones-I used human brains, of
which there are plenty.
Mr.. Sm:th-Nonsense. Now don't
make fun Of me because I'm unlucky, and
Providence has sent you good crop.
Mr. Jones-Providence helps those who
help themselves. l used my o,on brains
on this field.
Mr.. Smith-So I did mine, aud they
arc as good as anybody's.
Mr.. Jones-Ah! There's the trouble.
You know it all yourself: I don't, and so
I get all the outside help I can. I've been
collecting other mems brains for my land
for twenty years, and you see one result in
this crop.
Mr.. Smith-Yes, see the result, but
don't understand it,
Mr.. Jones-Well, when we began here
twenty years ago, [ thought myself a good
farmer, but I believed others lad good
ideas, too, and I made it my business to
get at their thoughts some found in
agricultural books and papers, others I
picked up at the County Fairs, by asking
how the big things were raised, and often
I've got good hint from neighbor.
Mr.. Smith-Pve always been down on
this "book farming" but your crops stag
ger me, they're real knock down argu-
ments. I'm sick Of the poor show l get
for all my work, and am desperate enough
to try anything for improvement.
Mr.. Jones-PlI give you my experience
it may aid you. About nineteen years
ago, heard that some men who had been
brought up on farms mad dubbed togeth.
er, and one of them was going to publish a
paper, which should consist mainly of ac-
counts Of how different farmers cultivated
various crops, and such like matters. I
sent for the paper, and have done so ey-
cry year since, and now I have nineteen
large volumes, every page of which I have
read, little at time, and the whole has
not cost the produce of a single acre.
Why I am astonished when 1 think over
the ten thousand thoughts, and hints, and
suggestions I have thus gathered. What
a blank wonld be left in my head, if these
thoughts were taken away.
Mr.. Smith-But does the practice of
farmers on other kinds of soil and with a
different climate, suit your wants?
Mr.. Jones-Why no, not exactly, per-
haps. But then, every thought 1 get
from another, starts a neso thought u, my
oaon mind, and thus l ana continually i'm
proving my own skill and practice. You
see, get all the brains I can from other
mems heads, and compost them we'll in my
own head with 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 edi-
tor called here last week on his Western
tour among farmers, and seeing my good
crops, he asked me to write out just how
I have treated this fiel1 for years past, and
l promised to do it as soon as my crops are
gathered. He will probably print it, as he
conskanflu ,rints al such nractical maffors