The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-01-25

w AVAI NOs 100
From tho ftofticultufist
RURAL FOOTPRINTS.
BY THE AUTHOR OF ''rEN ACRES ENOUGH"
It has been the burthen of modern wri
ters on horticulture, and Of the gentlemen
who come out Of great cities to deliver elo.
quent addresses at our agricultural fairs,
that We tillers of the soil should not only
attend these annual exhibitions, but that
we should take time to visit one another.
that each might thus learn something of " hat
the other was doing. Even the editorial
fraternity the wielders Of The pen and
scissors-upon whom so many thousands of
US pin our faith concerning the merit of 4
new process, freshly invented turnip slicer
or sausage stuffer, or the last new straw.
berry, which by some singular good fortune
is certain to be the best-eyen these are
prone to repeating the same recommends.
lion that the farmers Of one township should
precipitate themselves on those of another,
not to spy out the nakedness of the land,
but its abounding fatncss. I cannot re.
member that any distinguished lecturer
has thus invited all the world to come and
see him, though freely sxhorting it to call
upon his neighbors. The suggestion WAS
a good one for the world but the neigh.
bors must speak for themselves. Moreover,
it pre.supposes, and With diffident ?ropri.
ETY. peculiarly charming, the idea that no
one Of US knows everything-a fact of
which some Of US must have long since let
in az tkak hx,
thus exchanging visits We must of neces.
sity enlarge our stock Of knowledge
touching what belongs to our particular
vocation.
The pensive public, thus stimulated by
pen, by tongue; and by press, are not slow
to adopt these hospitable Recommendations.
There are circumstances in the case of par.
ticular individuals that. do not seem to re.
quire 80 powerful q combination of stimu-
lants to curiosity, as some who read this can
testify. There are searchers after knowl-
edge who, Of their own volition, 60 every.
where. Travellers are proverbially we'll.
informed men. If they traverse the world,
it is with the world itself that they become
acquainted, sccumulating facts and expe-
riences Of which they would learn nothing
in lifetime spent At home. It is no less
true Of every cultivator of the soil. In
his own way he should be traveller also,
and should visit not only the celebrities of
Of his profession, but his unpretending
fellow cultivators. He can 60 nowhere
without learning something instructive or
encouraging, seeing something to initiate,
or something to avoid. A hint dropped by
an intelligent cultivator may be worth
hundreds Of dollars to him, just as . single
paragraph in an agricultural paper touching
prices, has saved to the reader even larger
sum. .. "A
In ancient times the English law required
young man, on completion Of his appren-
ticeship, to travel over the country certain
number Of years, working at his trade, be-
fore he could be licensed to make pcrma-
nent beginning for himself. The object was
to compel him to become familiar with the
different modes in which other craftmen
conducted the business he had learned, 80
that by knowing all, he might become q
perfect workman. Travelling from one farm
to another, to learn what was going on upon
each, how this or that process was conduct.
ed, what machines were successful, which
were failures, what was the most profitable
fruit crop and how best to produce it, who
had the most successful green house, and
how it was built and heated, with the long
catalogue of items on kindred topics
would be a mere repetition Of the English
obligation to become perfect in the farmers
calling. --e-e-r-<z~~-~--.--
There are times throughout tha year
when most men can indulge in this useful
recreation, and there are those who syste-
matically devote to it portion of every
season. It serves instead of idling away
time at the seashore or the springs, besides
being infinitely cheaper. have indulged
in it myself, and have rarely gone anywhere
without learning something that was new
to me, and many times useful. On some
occasions have stumbled upon great estab-
lishments belonging to wealthy men, where
| the surroundings were 80 magnificent, and
the details so highly elaborated, as to sink,
even in my own estimation, the modest
holding whereon have been operating. /
was satisfied with it until saw what the
wealthy man had done. But if there were
regrets. there we're compcnsations at hand.
The condition Of the adjoining farm was in
strong contrast with that of the millionaire
and of my own. The lights and shadows
OF agricultural management thus succeeded
Aopsuiy W SACu VsuSAs IL suS IOItoeI uAA'
zled and abashed me, the latter fell CRATE
fully on the discouraged spirit-it was q
sort Of comfort to be assured that there
were worse farmers than myself. Curiously
enough, generally contrived TO pick up an
item Of knowledge from each. l was on
my travels, and why should l not learn!
But the wealthy man must farm to little
purpose indeed. If his establishment be des.
titute Of improvements, even in small things,
from which the lesser lights Of the profess.
ion can learn something useful. On these
brief perambulations have uniformly
found the latch string of the door within
sight and reach. Going in unheraldcd, and
even anonymously, have never been re.
ceived discourteously. The house dog may
have been snappish, but the proprietor has
been all suavity.
In common with my fellows of the plough
and hoe, have entertained my full share
Of curiosity hunters. There we're those
who had never seen strawberry bed, and
others who went of in raptures at the gor.
geous sight Of six acres Of blackberries
when in bloom. The mysteries Of under
draining confounded one class, while they
were fully appreciated by another. Some
were accomplished horticulturists, who gen.
erously excused my short comiDgs, while
others were the nerest literalists imagina-
BILE. One hot July afternoon, while waging
savage warfare with keen hoe among the
weeds, in all the luxury Of shirt sleeves and
timeworn straw hat, was suddenly &C.
costed by gcntlcmanly stranger who had
approached me unperceived, SO wholly had
>kA A.