Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1869-11-18
Agricultural


4 r icultural Lectures and Discussions.
Tradition, hearsay, and partial expert
ence are not enough. Isolated facts, IN
divfdlil Efforts. and personal observation
are not enough. Every farmer should I'M
derstand the theory and history OF conoln-
sions as they are shown by the experiments
of othe rs, As well As by those Of his own.
For no farmer in this age can ''live unto
himself and attain to the hight OF success.
The most feasible method. as well a. the
most economical. for the contamination OF
such an end. is by discussions and lectures
Not lectures by some mere thcorisi. who. /
while they pirate of the dignity of labor,
would be shocked at the sight Of manure /
on their boots, but hoIas- made lectures from |
those who speak what they know, who draw /
inspirations from the book OF practical !
experience.
We have had too much of that iofty elo-
quence which aims at the stars. and hits
in the mud We want something plain and
substantial something reasonable in Its
cost and character.
While farmers are not insensihlc 10 the
attractions Of wit and learning. they are not
in>ensible To the fact. that most Of the fash
ionahle lectures do not touch the ground
they occupy.
With such data before Us we do not be-
licve that our farmers could do a better
work for themselves Shan by organizing
lyccuns or associations for lectures and
a - IL, -.
months Let each man lecture on the sub
jcci he is most familiar with and in which
he feels the deepest interest fit i the
rai>in. OF calves, then lecture on that. or
sheep or poultry. Or swine. or potatoes
or turnips. up matter what, FOR each Will
open ide and instructive feh FOR thought
and deduction. Farmers have at hand a
thousand topics. attractive and instructive
u every body. Their store house Of texts
j. illinltahle and inc1haustlyc In il sup
ply Call in the Mechanic. they can dis
course OF materials, OF con>truciion. Of in.
vcnaons aud Improvements in the variou,
indictments Of hu>bandry and labor sayin.
ma mines
same oftnc farmer, and mechanics those
who erA't frIt ii Meeting. can write. az,
then read /, amer il i written Then le
them write. not fine writing or careful,
practiced elocution. thisis not asked for OF
expected. but common sense. Informal ioi
: wanted On practical subjects and wan;
ed from men whom we know and have con
flcncc In. And besides. the call upon >ucl
s,v a.
hen. IL will ineite them TO reading an,
thinking I, Will teach them 10 arran-
theirIh pu-hts in logical order. and to PR
scnt them N some suitable manner !
would turn their convcr~a'ion upon sur
te = ~ practical Importance and less m
qucntly on ncighborhocd gossip. III
amour. Of talent 20 many four plain farm
ers possess, would bc Developed and arou.
ed p action. The happy influence Of sue
n >ystem would be III, from ncighborhoo
. nelShborhood and from town 10 town
Having organized these associations W
would recommend the formation Of L.hra
r.e> - says the -igrlcultHrist
Bu, every farmer can no; he expected 3
ownHll the books necessary FOR such iuVc>
WAY therefore. j. for The a-rlCul 'ur.>t> @
n u.i -ib-.rhe,',i 80 dub foz--thv.r and bu,
library ~ subscription. to he ihrlr ipiu
property cur >chpoi-dt-trirt L1r4rlc
...urr7ltv contain few volumes on hu ,oaud
~ which answers wei a. FAR A. they =
s4. IA a. not cover the whole Grouu,
w want several encyclopedias ~ asricu
turc b ,Dk> for Immediate r-fecn-e. Gtsin.
tn gist OF a subject in very few par
hen Ne n - trU "a r. t~t
on particular subjects which 20 IN trough
liz aAi flliy Into nh IN branches ~ = tupl,
For instance. who does not Ike to dip .
Times into such books ~ JoAu>ol'> EHCY
cltpe la Of 4 ,ricuiture, aud a % hertz. &c
Is rakc long drau-ht> out 20 such book /.
I..udlcy On Horticulture, French uu lar.
: Draining. Downing on Fru.ts. louatt o
the Horse. etc. etc. There j. a long ia
OF such exc, lIcnt books. which every farm
er and gardener would Ike TO read, thong
Ia might not expect - own them all
We repeat then. thatI The WY 10 get tn
use OF su1h works j. to form stock ca.apa
mics OF - he kind and paryht-c tAc - "
subscription. F5r urrs' Clubs might la
an annual tax OF one or wv ID Bilar> "a ca q
member to be used IN buying book. an
Ia subscriptions 10 standard periodicals
These books and papers 81 )u!i BE- Kept a
some central aud convenient point, and b
drawn out. subject to cerlain rules.
Does auy body object 10 this plan on &C
count OF it, cxpensIveness? Such confriou
ilans will. in the lon. run, Ill the pur>
fa-1er than they drain 1t Their good eject
VIII be seen ID improved fences. buildings
stpck> and crops, They will appear. too
ia thu zeal. lIigcucc, economy and cn
f"-nri>- with which the farmer will pa rsg,
the labors Of his calling.
ELEvE-