North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-12-10
farmer's, Gnl um
EXAMPLE i'm AGRICULTURE.

"lf men are to be made intelligent" says
Henry Ward Becher, give them specimens
ofintelligence." And be illustrates this in
fuence Of example as follows;- = EE
Let a man 60 into village where the
Houses are all tumbling down, and where no
pains are taken with trees and flowers, and
Build q neat house, and enclose his grounds
with good fence, and tastefuully decorate
his yard with comely trees and beautiful flow
ers, and his example wilt be blessing to the
place 1t will not be three years before there
will be twenty neat houses, with good fences,
and ards decorated with trees and flowers, as
Che result of his judicions outlay of means.
The taste of the whole village will be edu-
Gated and improved by the influence that he
viii exert. through the instrumentality of the
advantages which he possesses over them.
We have observed the same thing in
agriculture. When thorough practical far
rner goes into neighborhood of worn OUT
farms, and engages in the work of recaiming
and improving his new purchase, his success
is sure to awaken spirit of inquiry, and his
example can but exert as improving influence
upon all who witness or hear of it-He is
seen to grow better crops than his neighbors
ON soil which has been comparatively sterile
heretofore, and the methods pursued are
sought out by those around him. 1t is found
that he does not grow crop after crop of
wheat, corn or grass onHthc same field, but he
grows good crops of these products upon diff
erent fields in series of years, entering at
once on a system of rotation. He introduces
rev and improved varieties of grains and:
seeds, the products of which are seen at a
glance to be better than those commonly
grown-at least they command better price
in market. The same is true Of his orchard
and garden. Better fruits and finer vegeta-
bles ar. introduced, such as at once arrest
the attention of the observer. The improved
breeds of live stock with their better care and
feeling, cannot fail to gain the notice of all
around him. With improved plows and 9th
er implements of tllage he accomplishes
more thorough cultivation Of the soil, giving
o deep and mellow seed bed, insuring the
crops against the excess of drouth ana moist
ure, and bringing abundant crops despite the
season go unreasonaby complained of by the
careless farmer. But as the real basis of inn
provement he is careful il making and saving
manure, seeking in every way to increase the
fertility Of his soil-to feed his crops, that
they may produce large and profitable re,
turns for his care and labor. And example
of clean culture is also given, and it is seen
how mush more the soil can do for the far
rher;s crop if no self sown intruding weeds are
allowed to rob it Of its proper sustenance.
These improvements and many others we
might pa.ticulariz as remarked before, ex-
ert an influence on the farms of those who
witness or hear of them. Their owners may
cavil for awhile, but the unmis taxable signs
of prosperity-of the paying nature of the
new system of management-wll generally
influence of the most incredulous into some
sort of an imitation, is nearly always follow
ed by better returns, encouraging further pro-
gress-and thus the work goes on until the
whole neighborhood shows the influence of
the example. In this way, and by the con-
stantly recurring lessons Of an enlarged ex-
nerience, better system of culture has been
i'm part introduced, and thus also dffused and,
extended.
Those vino learn by hearsay, we remark
are also influenced. The agricultural fair
has its part in this teaching but its great
apostle is the newspaper, filled in large part
BY the writings of experienced and skillful
farmers, who can"ot only tell how to work
profitable results, but draw their Illustrations
from their own experience. Though no Pc
Rod in the history of agriculture has been
without its examples of productive farming,
at no period, on the broad acres titled by
American industry, have so many bright
spots shown out to gladden. the hearts aud
encourage the hands of the friends of improve
Ihent. As much room as there evidently is
for Advancement, comparison of farming
row with that of even ten years ago, shows
marked progress. May it 60 or until thor
ough work shall make our land TEEN with
golden harvests, with the finest fiocks and
herds in the world, with peace, plenty and
universal liberty and intelligence Country
Gentlemen.