Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-02-07
farm, GaEdsn 4 gollselluld.
NTELLTGE-N,ST FARMING.

lIN1SNtffftf1ttto
og an address delivered by Col. Daniel Need
ham. at Concord, N. H., Sept, 25th, which
bas many suggestions that are suited to other
ATTITUDES as well. We make the following
extracts:
esNew England farmers had not been busi-
ness men. They had not studied their pro-
fession. They had Rad books and papers,
bearing upon an unfolding Of their art spar
ingly. Time, which should have been spent
in reading and systematic study, had been
passed at the country store or poss-ofice.
The brain work, which enters iuto every sue
cessful department Of human industry, had
not been given 10 this complez aud undevel-
oped industry, which had gone under the
broad name of New England farming
''Let the farmer see his type Of success in
the mechanic, whose division Of labor hssnot
only developed skill, which otherwise eooid
never have been brought out, but contributed
vastly to the happiness Of the individual man
and the wealth OF society. Besore purchasing
his farm let him determine the branch Of
agriculture TO which be viii devote himself.
Let him get out Of all the old ruts in which
the fathers travelled; not try to do everything
bat try to do one thing, and DO that one thing
well. Not in his labors Of the farm, under
take to produce al the domestic animals
known 10 the raee-and all the roots and
cereals that three hundred years Of American
civilization has aggregates but determine TO
which one Of the great and varied pursuits OF
agriculture he will devote his time, his stady
and his skill. The unskilled farmer may get
a living; that is, keep ont Of the poor house,
and perhaps hall clothe aud half educate his
children. But who is, or should be, satisfied
with mere living; civilizaion-adyaneing
civilization, demands higher, social moral,
intellectual and religious culture, than con
stant physical labor can yield. There must
be time for study-for thought-for discus
sion. He in whose hands has been placed
the grandest industry the world has ever
known-the industry apon which all other
industries rest, and out Of which all other IN
dustries grow-he who can make all science
and art contribute to aid him in his daily toll,
should appreciate the high position placed
within bis reach.
'And seeing the fact which all history es-
tablishes, that division of labor has done
more than any other thing to ameliorate the
condition of labor and increase its rewards
he should divide up this great industry Of
agriculture, and taking one branch, devote
himself, body and mind to its fall develop
ment. Consulting his tastes, his locality, the
quality OF his land-let the young farmer de-
eide whether breeding Of horses, or sheep, Or
cattle, or swine-or whether raising Of cereals,
or roots, or seeds, shall be his speciality.
But by all means, let him devote himself to
one Of the grand divisions. If by inheritance
or otherwise, he owns lands not adapted to
the department Of farming, which his tastes
inclination orjudgmeut have led him to select
let him sell out, select and purchase another
spot, adapted to his wants The man Is O
more consequence than the farm. The farm
is but to develope the man; and no young
man should ever be subaerYient to position OF
locality--hut rising above them, should use
the material which nature has placed at hi
command for the greatest development Of hi,
manhood By all means, start right, and tn,
difficulty of securing headway afterward, is
matter Of no more anxiety, than the growtl
of healthy plant well set in a soil and eli
mate indigenous to its genus,
''As a merchant may be good judge Q
groceries and know nothing of cloths, or
good fnancier may know nothing of manu-
featuring, SO a farmer may raise splendi
horses and know nothing of sheep; may be
most successful shepherd and know nothin
Of cattle; may raise the best and purest o
cereals and seeds, and be ignorant Of cattle
horses and sheep. Let the young farmer de
eide with due deiberation upon the depart
meBt cfagricultural labor to which the genius
the SIN, the talent and industry of his lif
shall be given. Who shall say, that with sucl
deliberaton in a decision, and such applica
ton aferward, he viii not be eminent. tn
labor Of well directed life is thus given t
his calling, given in earnest, given with tn
spirit of enterprise and manhood, how ca
there be otherwise than great success-tha
rich reward-than comparative happines
than the addition Of an Impetus to society b
increased knowledge and wealth.