Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-04-06

Effects Of Agriculture on Health.

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Mr.. +. G. Pratt recently read paper be-
fore the Concord (Mass.) Farmers Club
on THE effects Of Agriculture on Health, q"
from which we take the following:
at Is the common opinion among all
classes Of society that the cultivation of
the soil is favorable to long life, and most
Of the jewellers of the cities look forward
to the time when they can sit under the
shade of their own trees, and enjoy a sense
of rest, independence and comfort not to
he found In city life. We know that few
ever come to realize these dreams, and we
know how many young men, brought up
On the farm, leave 1t as soon as possible
for the more bustling life of the city; but
do not also know that many of those, later
in life, return to the country. worn out
and broken down, to lay their bones in
peace near their early honest
Farmers are supposed TO live longer
than those of most other occupations. bu;
statistics seem to show this is not fully SO.
Travellers and natural philosophers aver
aye the longest lives, and even clergymen.
With little exercise, comparatively, live
longer, as class, than farmers. This
should not be SO, and perhaps we may
nnd what is the reason for 1t, and the rem
edy. 1t Is found that incessant thinking
on any one thing tends more 10 unhinge
the mind and body. Travellers use all
their powers-their eyes. feet, brain. and
all, and thereby give a healthy action 10 all
parts. On the contrary, book-keepers.
writers, and people of 'onc lea strain
their one idea to the destruction Of the rest
of the body.
The great mass OF farmers seem to hc
given To this one idea. Il i dig, and grub
I'D s-ff a. H.
With the mind never raised above this
every -day-ioil. The remedy TO me Is
plain. We are to look beyond our cattle,
our potatoes, our grass, and axe a por-
ton of our time for searching out the
causes and effects of the various operations
in which we have a hand. Book farming
gives US a chance to work our brain, while
our hands do the mechanical part. This
Il where l think our Farmers Club docs
the most good. We have done our DAYS
hard work. and now comes in play anoth-
or set of muscles, more delicate perhaps.
but for that reason more important. 10 be
exercised. II enlarges our minds. and
gives a healthy action between the brain
and hand, which will not he found when
either is used 10 excess.
Prof Pierce. OF Cambridge. who has
given much thought in this direction. re-
that. taking classes in the average. those
are the first TO die who are the dullest and
most stupid, while. a. a general rule.
those who exercise their brains, most con-
tsautly. thoroughly. and faithfully. are the
longest lived. This i in relation TO stu
dents of Harvard. 1t Is the same among
farmers, Ii is noticed in prisons, that
many of those sent in for long terms. or
Tor life. become idiotc; but OF these few
are TO be found who have had liberal cd
ucation or mental culture In any direction.
In foreign political prisons. highlycultiyat-
sd persons have spent the greater port Of
their lives in the darkness and solitude of
adongeon. and even then came out is their
old age. with mental and physical activity
unmpaired. MARY, Queen of Scots lin
gered eighteen years in prison. and then
went forth 10 the block with her full cor
OF mind, while an unrestricted farmer
SAYS DR. Hall. who can feed on the fat OF
the land-who passes II ar ihrcc-fourih>
Of his existence in the blessed sunlight.
greedily drinking in the luscious outdoor
air in all its purity. with no restraint OF
bodily liberty. but abandoning himself To
the dull routine which comprises about
nothing but to work and eat. and sleep
often finds in less time than fifteen years.
that vigor OF mind anu health OF body are
both on the wane."
II is no longer considered all sufficient
for farmer TO have vigorous frame and
intelligence enough TO skill ullv use Il tool
or drive team. There i something fur
Their. "ReIuuneraiiye farming is the re-
ward of those who have made themselves
familiar with the analysis of soils, who
have some knowledge of botany and veg
etable chemistry. and who have given
some study 10 ascertain the suresi way OF
obtaining the best seeds, and the best
breeds, and who have method in their
book madness" in the selection OF scions,
and gratis, and roots and plants Such
hot only make money by farming but have
q positive dell ut in their labor. and in
waiting for results for one of the sweet
est sensations possible TO the human mind
j. the development of useful facts, a. the
result of trials and experiments"
This is what is wanted TO lengthen a
farmers life and increased enjoyment OF
such life-more time 10 be taken from
the hand and added TO the mind.