The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-08-19
THn PERILs or AGRICUL-
TURE

dali ani stupid, as well a the wreck.
"a and reckless q mankind, turn to
farming As 6nal resort, aad after
much disappoin,meu, And on, their
mistake. Not every man who ihiaks
himself competent 70 be a farmer at.
tains his object. The men who are
truly successful in the husbandry Of
the land arc exceptions and really few
and far between. Look at our own
county q Hampton with its nearly
GOO square miles, IL population Of
more than 81 600, and It's estimated
5000 farms, some 81 which are as fine
alldyial a. the sun shines upon, and
tell Us how many q the yeomnnry are
perceplibly improving 10 their husi-
ness operations from year 10 year I
llow may are likely to make their
mark, or leave even trace d exper-
fence to guide future generations p
The fact is, agriculture, though the
most ancient and indispensable Of oe-
equations, is almost every where at low
ebb. because so little understood. -
When ignorance holds the helm the
ship is in peril, and max es no adyania-
geous progress. 10 be a successful
farmer requires experience, intelli-
genee, faculties Of great native breadth
and capacity. Men Of one idea, or
those without experience, OF with worn
out and perverted powers, need never
expect to rise above mediocrity Us
| farmers, il indeed they gain a liyeli-
hood.
We propose TO point out some OF
| the most common errors into which
agriculturists fall. First, there is al
ways danger in running in debt for q
farm. 4 debt is much easier incurred
than discharged, and farming is often
too slow coach to keep up with in.
teres,. The times change, aud so dc
market values. Hundreds Of owners
Of townships and stations at the West
who were enyied for their rising wealth
two years ago, are to-day unable t
pay interest and taxes. Those stand
surest who pay as they 60. One o
| the best farmers in Hampden county
who died few years since in this
city at the age of 50, traded often ant
heavily, left an estate Of about $40,
600, and yet the only bill presented
after his death was one Of 81 cents,
Few men who trade on borrowed cap,
ital leave wide margin enough for
profit and loss.
There is great danger Of getting toe
much land. Many sane man other
wise is insane on this point, and their
I fancied wealth increases their real pow
cry. A man greedy for land adjoin
ing him, when his present possessions
are poorly cultivated, is like a silly
child with both hands full, eager to
grapple more. 1t is much the safest
way TO extend ones area when moth
/ ing remains undone in home cultiva
ton. "A little farm well titled il
more profitable and comfortable thar
a large one neglected. Cropping lane
without correspondingly manuring il
Is another common error. Manure
lie at the foundation Of good farming
Double the manure heap, and you car
\ double the hay and other crops
Double the crops, and you can doubl,
barn-yard and other stocks. Double
the stocks, and you are on the higl
road TO prosperity. No man can right
ly take this last step FIRST, but mus
patiently follow the appointed round
Happily few men are so unfortunat,
as to be placed at the top Of the lad
der to start with.
II is great mistake, also, to trus
wholly to any one crop. Scattered
risks are safest. No known crop i
certain every season. One year frui
fails, another corn refuses to ripen
grass is sometimes slim, potatoes rel
cabbage grows cIub-footsd, grain il
invested with weavil and aphis, tobac
co is rayaged by worms, bail riddles
and hurricanes topple every exposed
thing, the changirfAeseasons are tot
wet or dry, hot or cold Some dissp
pointment is sure to follow the mar
Of one idea in farming. Its said tha
the onion maggoi 50 prevails this year
in Falmouth that net more than one
hundred bushels Of onions willbe saved
on ground which last year produced
| 8, 000-and il is well known that there
are fields Of corn and tobacco in the
I fa1ree4trut river VALLEY moi svorth tia