Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-12-18
drisnItarsl Department,
2he Farmer a Co-Worker with the Al
mighty.

Tn dealing with the land man is called to
be q co.wcrker with the Infinite mind. 1hl'
the foundation of the nobleness OK the far
mer's office. :.
The air is given to us. We cannot alter It's
constitution or change its currents. The sea
is not placed under our dominion. We can
not freshen it or increase its saltneSS we can
not level or raise its billows The rain is or
daiued for each latitude, and we cannot hasten
or vary the bounty of the clouds. Minerals
are provided in a definite, nnalterable measure
by the creative force. Bnt the soil We can
make our own. We can increase and renew
its richness GoD does not make it to be a
fixed, or selfperpetuating blessing, like the at
mosphere and the ocean. 1t is trust. 60
much be will DO for it but very great deal
is left for US to be faithful in. In the manage
ment of the soil, the Creator takes US into par
tnership and on OR fidelity within the
bounds of our trust, and the progress OF socIe'
ty depends.
In fact we shall not reach the right point
for approaching the eminence of agriculture as
q duty, profession and trust, until We see
that the earth is not yet finished. The Crea-
Tor has left part of the fushiOning 20 man, or
rather waits to work through man Is perfect
ing it. The air Genes up to the Divine idea
The sea also answers to the majesty of Cons
first conception of it. The clouds correspond,
in their charms of form and glory of color, TO
the archetypes of them in the divine imaeina"
ton. The highest mountain tops OF splinter,
ed crag or dazzling snow, cannot be improved
any more than they can be altered, bv the
power end wit of man
But the earth does not yet fulhll the q vine
intention. 1t was not made for nett'es, nor
for the manlnito and chaparral. 1t was made
for grain, for orchards, for the vine, for the
comfort ard luxuries of thrifty homes. ltwas
made for these through the educated, organ
lied, and moral labor of man. As plows run
deeper, as irrigation is better understood and
observed. as the capacities of different soils are
compreheDded, as types of vegetation are i'm
proved, as economy in the renewal OF the vital
ity of the land is learned and practced, the
process of creation goes on chaos subsidies !;
the divine power and beauty appear in nature.
In the first chapter of Genesis we read that
Con said on the third day, let the waters
under the heavens be gathered together into
one place, and let the dry land appear a; and
it was So" Commentators tell US now that
these days" of Genesis represented long pc
ricds and this third days work is not yet
over. 1t was only in the general and in the
rough" that the separation first took place.
The best lands of the globe are still saturated
and swampy. Man is to complete the fulfill
ment of that command. Drainage is the pro
cess that perfects it. Every acre of opulent
bog and bounteous tule from which the coarse
grasses are banished-of which the snakes
frogs and turtles are diSpossessed, adds new
evidence of its fuIfment, and promotes the
agent in it to the honor OF being an implement
of Providence in completing the task of Crea
ton.